Great leaders don’t do it alone. They seek outside assistance to help scale their teams, their goals, their companies and improve the ride for themselves. Partner with Professional Fiduciary Coach and get hands-on learning as you grow and build.
Professional Fiduciary Coach
About Company
Lindsay's Why
My name is Lindsay Leonard, PF (Professional Fiduciary), TEP (fully registered Trust and Estate Practioner), and when I started Santa Barbara Fiduciary in 2009, I confess that I was terrified. The economy was in the tank, I had never run a business before, I didn’t have any certifications, and I didn’t have any connections.
But I did have passion. The reason I started Santa Barbara Fiduciary was because while I was working as a financial analyst for a private equity firm, I took over the care of my beloved grandmother who had gotten ripped off while she was suffering from cancer. It was so hard to balance my job with both her financial and health care, and I realized that so many others needed the kind of help I was providing my grandmother. Soon after my grandmother passed away, I changed my life and started my company in her honor.
It was not easy at first, and I made a ton of mistakes. It was hard to find clients, and then I took on some clients who were terrible. I hired the wrong employees. I didn’t know how to charge for my services. I worked way too many hours for not enough money. I trusted professionals who I shouldn’t have.
Thankfully, I survived all my challenges, and now I want to give back by helping you create the professional fiduciary practice of your dreams.
We look forward to helping you to specifically and strategically visualize exactly the practice you want in your future. Getting from here to there will require something you haven’t had access to before: coaching from seasoned professionals who have “been there, done that.”
Why Us
- Expertise, experience & wisdom
- Accountability
- Objectivity
- Accessibility
- Confidentiality
Our Experience
About Founder
Lindsay Leonard, PF, TEP
Founder
Dedicated, driven, and results oriented, I bring over 12+ years of experience as a trust and fiduciary officer, and a comprehensive understanding of sophisticated estate, financial, and tax planning strategies to Professional Fiduciary Coach.
I am a graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara where I earned a degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. I have work experience in research and development of next generation antibody therapeutics and of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and in two, well known asset management firms in the Santa Barbara area as a junior analyst.
I have been a licensed California Professional Fiduciary since 2010 and have certifications in Professional Fiduciary Management for Conservators and Trustees. I am a National Certified Guardian, a fully registered Trust & Estate Practitioner (TEP), and member of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council.
Experience
- Created and launched strategic fiduciary services firm providing comprehensive implementation of estate and financial plans in areas including tax planning, estate planning, financial planning and investments, small businesses, property management (personal and commercial), risk compliance, family diplomacy, and philanthropy via legal positions of trust including trustee, executor, administrator, attorney–in-fact under a power of attorney, conservator, and health care agent. Development, communicating, and implementing the business’s vision, mission, and overall direction.
- Obtained and maintained license from the State of California as a private, professional fiduciary; earned certificates in “Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees” and “Professional Fiduciary Management for Conservators,” and National Guardianship Certification.
- Forged relationships with attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors and community, resulting in over 140 client accounts.
- Interpreted, administered, and implemented terms of legal instruments, court orders and other related agreements; evaluating discretionary requests in accordance with terms of governing documents when applicable; consolidation, administration, transfer, and distribution of wealth.
- Managed all aspects of client on-boarding and client services, including investigating and uncovering clients’ wealth planning needs, goals and issues through systematic and detailed discovery; helping clients to prioritize objectives, and developing, implementing and monitoring custom strategies to create meaningful planning solutions for clients.
- Implementation of solutions to complex planning issues, including cash flow planning, budgeting, full managed accounting services, retirement planning, investment allocation, financial reporting to client/beneficiaries/court in compliance with legal requirements and establish internal procedures for sophisticated and affluent clients.
- Developed and implemented financial systems and controls, both internally and pertaining to client services, for driving continuous improvements in operating efficiency and overall financial performance.
- Spearheaded business development and marketing, including technology selection, systems management and content development (social media, newsletters, press releases, community engagement), maintained awareness of both the external and internal competitive landscape, opportunities for expansion, customers, markets, new industry developments and standards. Hired, trained and supervised staff and human resources development/compliance/management.
Qualifications
- University of California Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and immunology, 2005
- Licensed California Professional Fiduciary, 2010
- Certification in Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees, 2010
- Certification in Professional Fiduciary Management for Conservators, 2010
- National Certified Guardian, 2010
- Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), 2017
- Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council member since 2015
- Over twelve years of experience as a trustee in California
Before founding Santa Barbara Fiduciary, I worked as a research intern at an early stage biotechnology company focused on next generation antibody therapeutics and at a publicly held biotech company in Foster City focused on the research and development of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.
When I moved back to Santa Barbara to take care of my grandmother, I held junior financial analyst positions at two well known asset management firms in the Santa Barbara area, where I performed intensive investment research and analysis of companies, products and industries under consideration.
Both personally and professionally, I’ve spent much of my life believing in others and supporting them along their paths. Through a variety of supportive positions, both professional and personal, I have developed great attention to detail, strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task with speed, ease and efficiency while remaining calm and enthusiastic.
Outside of the office, I enjoy cross country running, particularly in the mountains and on the beaches of Santa Barbara with my doberman, Lexa. I have a Firearms Safety Certificate and maintain survival, defense, and firearms training. I am passionate about international travel and have a long bucket list of foreign languages to learn.
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