Discretion is everything in the wealth management world. That’s why the court challenge around the Glenview Trust Co.‘s launch 15 years ago grabbed such unwelcome headlines — before it got settled, of course, for $525,000. That controversial start apparently didn’t dent eventual success at the firm, which is akin to a large family office. Its motto: “enriching life.”
Today, Glenview — named for the posh community where the company is located east of Louisville — says it’s the commonwealth’s biggest independent trust company, working exclusively for individual investors. Glenview now represents more than 500 wealthy families, with a combined $6.5 billion in assets.
Its pitch: “Glenview Trust is a local, closely-held company with employee ownership, our professionals act and think differently. We are not accountable to a headquarters in a distant city, which allows us to effectively and efficiently accommodate our clients’ unique situations.”
Glenview has 40 employees, including nine attorneys. How much does it earn servicing those 500-plus families? That’s hard to estimate without knowing the firm’s fee schedule. Industrywide, fees vary widely, often stair-stepping down as account values rise. But applying a relatively low 0.5%, that would generate $33 million a year.