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Arboretum Wealth & Trust Management
Arboretum Wealth & Trust Management is an independent fiduciary managing trust and portfolio assets for families from its base in Lisle, Illinois.
Arboretum Wealth & Trust Management
Arboretum Wealth & Trust Management was established as a boutique, independent trust company and registered investment advisor in Chicago's western suburbs. The firm does not operate as a broker-dealer, which structurally commits it to a fiduciary standard of care — a legal obligation to place client interests ahead of the firm's own. Its location in Lisle positions it to serve the concentrated private wealth in DuPage County and the broader Chicago metropolitan region. The firm's strategy centers on discretionary, separately managed portfolios for individuals, families, trusts, and estates. Asset-class coverage spans public equities, fixed income, and cash management, with portfolio construction emphasizing tax efficiency and long-term capital preservation. Unlike wirehouse wealth managers, Arboretum avoids proprietary product mandates and commission-based revenue. The firm also provides full-service trust administration, serving as corporate trustee for personal trusts, charitable trusts, and special-needs trusts. Its geographic focus is the Midwest, with clients concentrated in Illinois and neighboring states. As a privately held boutique, Arboretum does not disclose total assets under management publicly. The firm operates a lean, single-location office model, which keeps decision-making local and client-facing. No separate private-equity or venture-capital vehicles are publicly tied to the firm. Recent publicly available sourcing does not identify new fund launches, acquisitions, or C-suite changes at the firm. Arboretum's structural differentiator is its dual charter as both a registered investment advisor and a non-depository trust company. Most Chicago-area wealth managers do not hold direct trust powers, forcing them to refer trust administration to third-party banks. Arboretum's model allows a single firm to manage investments and serve as trustee, which consolidates fiduciary responsibility and can simplify multi-generational estate settlement.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Lisle
Corporate office
Lisle, IL, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is Arboretum a fiduciary for client accounts?
Yes. As a registered investment advisor and non-depository trust company, Arboretum operates under a fiduciary standard, legally requiring it to act in the best interest of clients. The firm does not hold a broker-dealer license, so it does not execute commission-based trades or sell proprietary investment products.
What types of trusts does Arboretum administer?
Arboretum serves as corporate trustee for a range of personal and family trusts, including revocable living trusts, irrevocable life insurance trusts, testamentary trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and special-needs trusts. The firm combines trust administration with its in-house portfolio management.
How is Arboretum compensated for trust and investment services?
The firm typically charges a fee based on a percentage of assets under management or administration. As a fiduciary that is not a broker-dealer, compensation is fee-only, aligning the firm's revenue with portfolio performance and client retention rather than product sales commissions (public record).
Does Arboretum act as a corporate executor?
Arboretum can serve as executor of an estate, working with family members and legal counsel to administer probate assets, settle creditor claims, and distribute property according to the will. The firm's trust charter grants it the corporate powers necessary to fulfill estate settlement duties in Illinois.
Who custodies client assets managed by Arboretum?
As a non-depository trust company and RIA, Arboretum does not hold client securities in-house. It typically uses a third-party qualified custodian — a large clearing bank or trust bank — to safeguard client assets, while the firm retains discretionary management authority.
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