Loading organizations...
Loading organizations...
Fiduciary Trust Company is a New York-based wealth management firm providing investment management, trust administration, and estate settlement services for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional endowments. Operating as the wealth management arm of Franklin Templeton Investments, which maintains more than 9,000 employees across 47 global offices, the firm directly manages approximately $19 billion in assets under management. To expand its outsourced chief investment officer capabilities for ultra-high-net-worth clients, the organization acquired Athena Capital, a registered investment advisor with $6 billion in assets, in 2023. Furthermore, the company signed a strategic acquisition agreement with the private equity firm GTCR in 2025 to further develop its financial services platform. Currently led by executives Austin V. Shapard and John M. Dowd, Fiduciary Trust Company was originally founded as a family office in 1885 before incorporating as a trust bank in 1928.
Key people at Fiduciary Trust.
Key people at Fiduciary Trust.
Fiduciary Trust Company is a privately owned wealth management firm specializing in comprehensive financial services for high-net-worth families, individuals, nonprofits, and professional advisors. Its mission centers on providing objective, personalized advice to help clients achieve their financial and philanthropic goals through customized wealth planning, investment management, trust and estate services, and family office support. The firm’s investment philosophy emphasizes long-term, disciplined portfolio management tailored to each client’s risk tolerance, income needs, and values, including sustainable and ESG investing. Fiduciary Trust primarily serves affluent clients and nonprofits, focusing on preserving and growing capital while minimizing tax impacts. Its impact on the startup ecosystem is indirect, primarily through managing wealth and philanthropic funds that may support innovation and charitable causes[1][2][3][4][5].
Fiduciary Trust Company was founded in 1885 as a family office and incorporated as a trust bank in 1928, marking over 140 years of continuous service. The firm evolved from a single-family office to a full-service wealth management firm with a strong client focus. Key leadership includes Austin V. Shapard as President & CEO, with a history of maintaining a client-first approach that has resulted in a 98% average annual client retention rate over more than a decade. Fiduciary Trust International, a related entity founded in 1993 by Dr. Lisette Cooper, focuses on portfolio management for high-net-worth clients, with Cooper serving as CIO and managing partner[1][2][3].
Fiduciary Trust operates primarily in wealth management rather than direct technology investment or startup incubation. However, it rides the broader trend of personalized, values-driven investing, including ESG and sustainable investing, which is increasingly relevant in tech sectors focused on innovation and social impact. The firm’s timing is advantageous as wealth transfer and philanthropy grow in importance, with clients seeking sophisticated strategies to manage complex portfolios that may include tech-related assets. By managing significant capital and philanthropic funds, Fiduciary Trust indirectly influences the broader ecosystem by enabling investments and donations that support innovation and social causes[1][2][4][5].
Fiduciary Trust is poised to continue leveraging its long-standing reputation and client-centric approach to expand its wealth management and philanthropic advisory services. Trends shaping its journey include increased demand for sustainable investing, intergenerational wealth transfer, and integrated financial planning that aligns with clients’ values. As technology and ESG considerations become more central to investment decisions, Fiduciary Trust’s influence may grow in guiding capital toward innovative and socially responsible ventures. The firm’s future likely involves deepening its personalized service model while adapting to evolving client needs in a complex global financial landscape[3][4][5].
