Wealth Advisors Trust Company's trust officers have depth and breadth of experience in the trust industry. TODD BERNHARD
Todd brings 30 years of trust and bank management experience to Wealth Advisors Trust Company. During those years, he has worked with a wide variety of trust accounts. His most recent focus involves working with numerous wealthy American families living in multiple locations throughout the United States. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of South Dakota in 1979, he is a 1984 graduate of the American Bankers Association National Graduate Trust School.
LINDA VOLLER
For the most recent 16 years, Ms. Voller has administered trusts for several families living throughout the United States. With that experience, she has significant knowledge in all areas of personal trust administration. She administers and manages trusts with full discretionary authority. Ms. Voller works with the families and investment managers to adhere to the requirements of the trusts and meet the needs of the beneficiaries. She coordinates with accountants on preparing trust tax returns. Being involved with trusts for 16 years, she has gained valuable insight into South Dakota state banking and trust company requirements. In addition to her familiarity with and understanding of trust accounting, she also prepares and maintains corporate trustee financial statements. Ms. Voller's prior experience includes an accounting position with the South Dakota Bankers Association and extensive experience in the insurance industry. She holds an Associates Degree in Accounting from Bismarck State College.
Wealth Advisors Trust Company's Director of Business Development has a long history in the directed trust business assisting advisors on trust issues.
DANIEL EHRMENTRAUT, JD
Dan has over twenty-five years of trust experience. His trust banking experience includes positions in sales, sales management, trust administration, and department head. In 1997 Dan began his trust wholesaler career with a large financial service company in the Mid-West. Dan's trust wholesaling career has been dedicated to assisting financial advisors expand their trust practice and acquire trust assets under management.
Dan received a Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has active in local estate planning groups and civic organizations.
Wealth Advisors Trust Company's owners have depth and breadth of experience in the financial and legal industries.
CHUCK SHARPE, JD
Chuck is the principal of the law firm Sharpe & Associates, PLLC, which focuses on estate and business succession planning, charitable giving and asset protection. His background includes six years working in the Personal Financial Counseling Group at Ernst & Young LLP, where he advised corporate executives, entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals on a variety of estate planning issues including transfer planning, charitable giving, income taxation and diversification strategies. Chuck has extensive experience in the drafting of estate planning and asset protection documents, including wills, multiple gifting and charitable trusts, family limited partnerships and limited liability companies.
Chuck is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He was named a 2009 and 2010 Texas Monthly Five Star Wealth Manager and is on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Estate Planning Council. Chuck is licensed to practice law in Texas and Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant in Oklahoma.
MATTHEW M. PALADINI, CFP®
Matt Paladini CFP®, is a founder and a member of the Board of Directors of Wealth Advisors Trust Company. Prior to this, Matt founded and currently serves as President of Paladini Financial Management, Inc. (PFM). PFM provides fee-only independent financial advisory services primarily to healthcare professionals.
Prior to founding PFM, Matt developed his financial and investment advisory skills at two fee-only planning organizations. Matt spent four+ years at the international accounting firm of Ernst & Young, LLP in the Personal Financial Counseling/Investment Advisory Services division. At Ernst &Young, Matt provided personal financial consulting to corporate executives and business owners. Areas of specialized focus included investments, stock option planning, tax strategies, retirement planning, financial seminars, and estate planning.
In 2002, Matt joined Cain Watters & Associates, a Dallas CPA firm, that focuses on personal financial planning services for self-employed individuals, primarily dentists and other health care professionals. In addition to personal financial advisory services, Matt also worked on dental practice business valuations and practice transition strategies. Matt also provided specialized services to the Firm's retired clients, focusing on investment management, cash flow, tax, and estate planning.
Matt received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of North Texas; he is a Certified Financial Planner™.
STEVE BLANKENSHIP, CFP®
Steve Blankenship, CFP®, is the founding principal of Heritage Financial Planning in Grapevine, Texas. Prior to founding Heritage Financial Planning, Steve worked in a variety of positions in the financial planning industry including the Wealth Management practices of both Ernst & Young, LLP and Arthur Andersen, LLP. He also served clients at Quest Capital Management and State Farm Insurance earlier in his career. Steve's wide range of experience has allowed him to work with and be mentored by four planners who were ultimately named to Worth Magazine's Top Financial Advisors in America.
Steve has been featured on the cover of Financial Planning Magazine, and has appeared in numerous media outlets including theStreet.com, BusinessWeek Magazine, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Money Magazine and has served as a technical advisor for multiple articles in The Wall Street Journal. Steve has also appeared in numerous articles for local newspapers including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Steve has been consistently names one of the "Best Financial Planners in Dallas" by D Magazine and has also been named a "Five Star Wealth Manager" by Texas Monthly Magazine.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University, where he majored in Financial Services and Planning and was awarded "Most Outstanding Student in Financial Services and Planning."
CHRISTOPHER N. HOLTBY
Christopher Holtby is one of the founders and Board of Directors member for Wealth Advisors Trust Company. Prior to starting this administrative, non-custodial trust company, Christopher founded and currently runs a wealth management firm called Midland Wealth Management, Ltd. which he started after leaving Ernst & Young, LLP. At Ernst & Young, he advised wealthy families, grew the practice and co-led and sat on four national E&Y committees: Investment Education, Prime Brokerage, Alternative Investment and Investment Review. Along with his work on advising clients, Christopher was chosen to lead two consulting assignments at Ernst & Young in derivative risk management and hedge fund tax consulting. Christopher is currently a Certified Investment Management Analyst? (CIMA®) and a Certified Private Wealth AdvisorSM (CPWA®).
