Charlie's Compass
BEYOND THE LAST WILL
Perspectives Offered by Charles Curtin, JD, LLM, CTFA
SVP, Trust Officer
The Honesdale National Bank
My college roommate and I were very different. I was a bit shy and introverted. He was outgoing, and often the life of the party. Despite our differences, we got along remarkably well. We weren't exactly Felix and Oscar (younger readers may need to look that one up), but our contrasting personalities made us compatible roommates.
As you might imagine, our majors reflected those differences. I studied International Relations while he majored in Communications. Fun fact: after college, he actually made a living as a stand-up comedian. His communications background opened the door to several entertainment jobs in our college town of Washington, D.C. One of those positions was serving as a greeter and phone screener for a live late-night public television talk show called Late Night America with Dennis Wholey. What my roommate did not anticipate was how challenging it would be to work from midnight until 2:00 a.m. every weeknight while also attending classes. Fortunately for him, he found an easy mark, his roommate. Somehow, he convinced me to cover two or three nights a week while he handled the rest.
Although the hours were unusual, I look back on the experience fondly. I escorted guests through makeup and studio preparation and had the opportunity to meet numerous Washington insiders, along with entertainment and literary figures such as Les Paul, Clive Cussler, and The Amazing Kreskin. I even had a chance to practice holding conversations with accomplished and influential people in the green room, which was invaluable experience for a young college student.
What I admired most about the host, Dennis Wholey, was his preparation. He took his job seriously. He asked thoughtful, timely questions and kept the program running smoothly. Although a new guest appeared every day, Dennis never relied solely on notes. He took the time to thoroughly read each guest's book or biography before the interview. Dennis was a true professional.
I often think of Dennis when discussing estate planning because preparation is just as important in the administration of an estate as it is in hosting a successful interview. Many people assume that once they have signed a Financial Power of Attorney, Health Care Power of Attorney, Advance Directive, and Last Will and Testament, their estate plan is complete.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. A truly successful estate plan involves much more than legal documents.
The Bank is often asked to serve as Executor of estates. This commonly occurs when an individual has no immediate family available to assume the responsibility or when family dynamics make it difficult for a family member to serve in that role.
Over the years after handling numerous estates, I have learned that the more organized a person's affairs are before death, the smoother the administration process becomes afterward.
Consider the situation. Someone close to you has passed away, and while you are grieving, you have also been named Executor. That responsibility alone can feel overwhelming. Now imagine trying to locate scattered records, identify unknown assets, find missing documents, and answer unanswered questions at the same time. An already difficult task becomes significantly more challenging.
Taking the time to organize your affairs today may be one of the greatest gifts you can leave to those responsible for carrying out your wishes tomorrow.
I strongly recommend providing your Executor with, or attaching to your estate planning documents, a detailed inventory that includes:
- A list of relatives and heirs, including contact information.
- Funeral home preferences and contact information.
- Tax accountant contact information.
- Financial advisor contact information.
- Insurance advisor contact information.
- Bank account information.
- Investment and insurance account information.
- The location of important documents such as deeds, titles, and safe deposit keys.
- Other practical information, such as alarm codes, garage codes, digital account access instructions, and other details that may assist.
In addition to maintaining a detailed inventory, I also recommend completing a Personal Property Directive that clearly identifies who should receive specific personal belongings, such as furniture, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, and other sentimental items. In my experience administering estates, the greatest source of family conflict is rarely the bank accounts, investments, or retirement assets. More often, disputes arise over personal property and sentimental possessions.
I vividly recall two siblings nearly getting into a fistfight in my office over pieces of their late mother's jewelry. It was a heartbreaking situation that likely could have been avoided with a simple written list expressing her wishes.
When it comes to estate planning, preparation does not end when you sign your documents. In many ways, that is just the beginning. A well-prepared estate plan combines sound legal documents with thoughtful organization, clear communication, and updated records. Taking those additional steps can make an enormous difference for the loved ones and fiduciaries who will one day be called upon to administer your estate.
If you would like assistance organizing your affairs or reviewing your estate plan, please contact The Honesdale National Bank Trust Department.
The Honesdale National Bank and its employees do not render legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein. Furthermore, all decisions regarding financial, tax, and estate planning will ultimately rest with you and your legal, tax, and accounting advisors. Any description pertaining to federal taxation contained herein is not intended or written to be used and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
Investments are: *Not FDIC/NCUSIF insured *May lose value *Not financial institution guaranteed *Not a deposit *Not insured by any federal government agency.
Technology is allegedly supposed to make life easier. You can order a ride from your phone, use your debit card to pay for parking, and have a conversation with your car to adjust the temperature. All marvels for sure, but I can’t really say these examples have substantially enhanced the quality of my existence. In fact, I would argue technology has made daily living more cumbersome. I can only remember so many passwords.
The pace of technologic change has changed people’s attitudes on work and life. We are in our Instant Gratification Era. Instant riches are now expected. Patience from both the employee and employer is a thing of the past. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker only stays at his or her current employer for less than 4.5 years. Gone are the days where you can stay at a generous company for 35 years and receive a nice watch and pension for your service. This is not today’s world.
As people move from location to location, job to job, and romance to romance, they also coincidentally acquire a number of financial relationships. Most likely, one single person will have retirement, investment, bank, and other accounts spread across various institutions. This is an unorganized way to conduct business. Accounts are often forgotten or overlooked. In certain circumstances, tried and true practices may have greater value than spreading ourselves thin across the newest offerings. Having all of your financial accounts under one roof can provide benefits in more ways than you may expect.
Simplicity. The advent of electronic investing has been liberating. More people are deciding to go it alone with their investments, electing to not utilize traditional financial advisors. This type of investor often holds several brokerage and/or investment accounts. The Honesdale National Bank encourages a Trust Department custodial account as a better alternative.
A custodial account can consolidate all kinds of investments and cash into one single account. The account, including all investment decisions, are managed by you, the customer.
Earning Potential. You’ll be taking advantage of potentially higher interest rates on available cash, reduced trading costs and lower share costs with many brokerage houses due to the Bank’s status as an institutional investor. The Trust Department then collects all the accounts’ investments, income, interest, and dividends, and will also manage all of its bookkeeping and safekeeping responsibilities. The account can be further utilized like a personal bank account to pay bills on time or conduct any type of other banking transactions. Just think, instead of receiving a dozen tax reports at the end of the year from different investment companies, only one will be sent by the Trust Department.
Privacy. Trust custodial accounts are private. Bank trust departments are separate from the retail side of the bank. This means that only trust personnel have access to individual account information. In addition, all of HNB Trust Department’s accounts are pooled together in one large account held at a different financial institution. This pooled account contains no individual customer information, only the bank’s name. When a custodial account holder decides to make purchases or sales on behalf of their account, we contact our outside institution, who then makes the purchase or sale on the bank’s behalf. After the transaction settles, we internally debit or credit the particular customer’s account. This ensures that Trust Department transactions are completely anonymous.
Ease and Speed. Custodial accounts also offer estate planning benefits. The executor or executrix of an estate’s job is to gather up the assets of the deceased, pay debts, and then distribute the remainder to the heirs. It is a herculean chore, which becomes even harder if the estate has money at every bank or brokerage house known to man. If an estate does have assets at a number of different places, it often takes months to settle everything. A custodial account makes things much easier for the executor or executrix. Instead of contacting and preparing paperwork for numerous financial institutions, all they have to do is close out one custodial account. Further, the executor or executrix will not have to spend additional hours trying to value far flung assets because the custodial account should have all of the values recorded and in one place.
Getting Started. The creation of a custodial account at The Honesdale National Bank is simple. Upon entering into a custodial relationship with us, we will initiate a transfer of your investments to the account. After the Trust Department initiates management, you will continue to make all investment and withdrawal decisions. The Honesdale National Bank will have no discretion with regards to transactions.
For more information on the locally managed, sophisticated solutions offered by The Honesdale National Bank’s Trust Department visit hnbbank.bank or visit one of our convenient offices today.
ASKING FOR HELP: A LESSON IN TRUST
Perspectives Offered by Charles Curtin, JD, LLM, CTFA
VP, Trust Officer
Asking is not a weakness, it’s an opportunity.
I’ll admit—it’s really hard to ask for help. Like so many others, I often believe I can do everything on my own. Troubleshoot an iPhone? Sure. Bake a cake? No problem. Never mind that I have no technological or baking skills whatsoever. In truth, I’m often hopeless in these areas.
A perfect example of my ineptitude happened during my bachelor days, right after college. I lived in a tiny studio apartment—so small I could reach the refrigerator from my bed/couch/dining table. Convenient, right? My budget was tight, so cable TV was a luxury I couldn’t afford. My secondhand television picked up only two channels: NBC and PBS. I watched a lot of Antiques Roadshow back then. To this day, I can spot a fake Chinese porcelain vase from a mile away.
About a year into my rental bliss, my future brother-in-law came to visit. We got to talking about my limited TV options. Being a tech-savvy guy, he took one look at the back of the TV, fiddled with the inputs for about five seconds, and—voilà!—over 100 free channels appeared. I had been sitting on all that entertainment the whole time, simply because I didn’t know how to operate the television.
More importantly, I never asked for help.
That experience taught me a valuable lesson. Always ask. The more information you have and the sooner you have it can make all the difference. Admitting you are out of your comfort zone and gaining assistance will only provide opportunity to grow or make more informed decisions.
Time and resources – ask the professionals.
In my professional life, I see this lesson play out often with complex matters, such as trusts. According to a 2025 article in Trust & Will Magazine, over 60% of survey respondents said they plan to name a family member to manage their estate, including any trusts. While well-intentioned, these non-professional trustees often face steep challenges: investment oversight, tax filings, legal compliance, and beneficiary management.
At The Honesdale National Bank Trust Department, we can serve as an agent for individual trustees. This arrangement allows us to work alongside non-professional trustees with the specialized knowledge and experience needed to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities.
Importantly, this agency relationship does not override the original intent of the trust. The named trustee retains in ultimate control, while we assist where needed. It’s a symbiotic relationship—one that helps ensure the trust is managed effectively, efficiently, and responsibly.
Some of the key services we can provide whilst serving as an agent for a trust include:
- Investment Management – Developing a fiduciary-compliant investment strategy and monitoring performance.
- Administration – Maintaining accurate records and documentation to ensure all transactions are properly accounted for.
- Legal Compliance – Ensuring the trust remains in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Tax Services – Preparing and filing all necessary tax documents.
Alternatively, the Bank can also be named as a corporate trustee for various types of trusts, As a corporate trustee, we provide comprehensive administration of the trust in accordance with its terms. Most importantly, And often of greatest value, we are legally bound to administer these responsibilities impartially and with full transparency.
Finances are complicated. Life is complicated. Death is complicated. It’s okay to ask for help – and the earlier the ask, the less stressful the burden. The Honesdale National Bank Trust Department has been proudly serving our community with trust services for more than 100 years and we’re here to help with yours too.
We encourage you to contact The Honesdale National Bank Trust Department to make the ask and learn more.
The Honesdale National Bank and its employees do not render legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein. Furthermore, all decisions regarding financial, tax, and estate planning will ultimately rest with you and your legal, tax, and accounting advisors. Any description pertaining to federal taxation contained herein is not intended or written to be used and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
Investments are: *Not FDIC/NCUSIF insured *May lose value *Not financial institution guaranteed *Not a deposit *Not insured by any federal government agency.