Why South Dakota Trust Company?

SDTC currently has relationships with more than 60 billionaires internationally, additionally SDTC has relationships with more than 200 clients whose net worth average more than $100 million each. SDTC has approximately $9 billion in assets under administration as trustee and $60 billion as agent.

The two principals of SDTC (Please see management biographies here) have worked with wealthy families (including 15% of the Forbes 400) for several years. Based upon this experience and evaluating the needs of ultra wealthy clients, the principals created SDTC. Pierce McDowell, one of SDTC’s principals, is head of the South Dakota Legislative Committee and has been for quite some time, which has resulted in South Dakota having the best PFTC statutes in the U.S. and the most modern trust legislation for the wealthy in the U.S.. Additionally, Mr. McDowell and other SDTC personnel sit on the board of directors of many wealthy families' PFTCs. The experience and knowledge gained from working with these wealthy families since 1995 combined with the existing trust and legislative expertise makes SDTC's offering very unique.

The most important difference between South Dakota Trust Company, LLC and other trust companies and departments is our attitude in working with our clients. SDTC normally acts as corporate and/or trust agent for PFTCs which requires them to work with one or more family members and/or family advisors (i.e. investment mangers, CPA’s, attorneys, financial consultants and planners, etc…) to fulfill their obligation as a corporate and/or trustee agents.

Many times, a corporate fiduciary will demand or eventually seek total control in carrying out these trustee functions. A Private Trust Company with SDTC as agent prevents this from happening. Additionally, SDTC’s objective is not for the family and their advisors to lose control, but rather to gain more control and be able to execute their roles without being burdened by concerns over the administration functions. SDTC is able to efficiently accommodate with experienced and knowledgeable PFTC corporate and trust agents and state of the art technology. Additionally, SDTC's administrative, operations, compliance and tax staff have extensive experience in working with the wealthy and their trusts. Consequently, SDTC frequently provides families with key advice and suggestions regarding both their trusts and PFTCs.