Trusts Unpacked

A free podcast series designed to strip away myths and marketing — and to explain, in plain terms, how trusts actually work in practice.

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For families, trustees, advisers and family office professionals who want a practical understanding of trusts grounded in real experience.

Meet the speaker

Alexander von der Vellen

Alexander has spent a lifetime at the intersection of duty, wealth and trust. Born into an Anglo-Austrian family, he was educated in the UK and joined the British Army after university.

He subsequently enjoyed a second career as a senior international banker with Barings, JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Since 2005 he has guided families as a trustee and fiduciary architect in their work of preserving both fortune and purpose.

More information about speaker

About this podcast series

Introduction

Trusts are widely used, yet often misunderstood. This podcast series looks beyond tax and technical structures to explain what trusts really are and how they work in practice.

Why?

After nearly three decades working with families, trustees and advisers, it is clear that trusts succeed or fail not because of clever drafting, but because of clarity of purpose, sound decision-making and an understanding of human behaviour.

The purpose is simple

to help families and advisers think more clearly, act more responsibly, and avoid the easily-made mistakes that only reveal themselves years later.

“Your wealth can only last when your decisions outlive you”.

Alexander von der Vellen

Podcast Episodes

1. What a trust actually is.
And what it is not.

This session strips away myth and marketing to explain what a trust is in legal and practical terms. It clarifies common misunderstandings, explains why trusts are often misdescribed, and sets a clean foundation for everything that follows.

2. Why families use trusts.
Control, protection and continuity.

An exploration of the real reasons families choose trusts. Not tax first, but control, protection from risk, and continuity across generations. The session focuses on intent, not technique.

3. The three certainties.
Why they still matter in modern wealth planning.

A clear explanation of intention, subject matter and objects, and why these principles still determine whether a trust works or fails. This session shows how technical flaws often reflect unclear thinking.

4. Common trust structures used in private wealth. A practical overview.

An introduction to the main trust structures used today, how they differ, and when each is typically used. The emphasis is on understanding structure as a tool, not a template.

5. Discretionary trusts versus fixed interest trusts. Practical differences.

This session focuses on practical differences between discretionary and fixed interest trusts - not from a drafting perspective, but through how they behave over time. The discussion examines how each structure shapes control, flexibility, risk, governance and family dynamics, and why the most common regret is not choosing the wrong structure, but postponing the choice. This episode focuses on consequences in practice: certainty versus discretion, and which trade-offs families are prepared to live with.

6. Trusts and businesses. Holding, control and exit planning.

In this episode we examine how trusts are used to hold business interests and what that means for governance, succession and exit planning. The discussion explores the critical distinction between ownership and control, the tensions that arise between trustees and directors, and the recurring conflicts around reinvestment, family employment and authority. It also considers why exit planning is often the most testing moment for a trust-held business - and how trustee judgment, governance clarity and long-term discipline determine whether continuity or fragility follows.

7. The role of the settlor after settlement. Influence without control.

An explanation of what happens once assets are settled. How settlors can remain influential without undermining the trust, and where involvement becomes dangerous.

8. Beneficiaries. Rights, expectations and common misunderstandings.

This session clarifies what beneficiaries are entitled to, what they are not, and how expectations can quietly destabilise a trust if not managed properly.

9. The trustee decision-making process. How good decisions are actually made.

A practical look at how trustees should approach decisions. Process, evidence, discretion and judgement are explored through real-world examples.

10. Letters of wishes. Soft power done properly.

This session explains how letters of wishes work, why they matter, and how poorly drafted letters can create confusion rather than guidance.

11. Trust administration in practice. Reporting, accounts and governance.

An overview of what day-to-day trust administration really involves. Reporting, records, meetings and governance, and why administration is central to trustee protection.

12. Trusts and family governance. Preventing conflict before it starts.

This session examines how trusts interact with family dynamics, and how good governance structures can reduce misunderstanding, resentment and dispute.

13. Discretionary trusts versus fixed interest trusts. Practical differences.

A clear comparison of two core trust types. The session focuses on control, flexibility, risk and suitability rather than technical definitions.

14. Trusts and businesses. Holding, control and exit planning.

An exploration of how trusts are used to hold business interests. Governance, succession and exit planning are considered from both a legal and human perspective.

15. Trusts and asset protection. What they can and cannot do.

A realistic discussion of asset protection. The session explains legitimate protection versus false promises, and where trust planning crosses into danger.

16. Trusts and succession planning for international families.

This session looks at the additional complexity of cross-border families. Jurisdictions, culture, mobility and long-term planning are brought together in a practical framework.

17. The psychology of wealth transfer. Trusts as behavioural frameworks.

An exploration of how trusts influence behaviour. Incentives, dependency, responsibility, and maturity are examined - and why psychology matters as much as law.

18. When trusts fail. Real-world mistakes and lessons learned.

A candid session on failure. Poor drafting, weak trusteeship, family conflict and regulatory blind spots, and what can be learned from them.

19. Trusts in a changing regulatory world. What advisers need to watch.

An overview of regulatory pressure points. Transparency, reporting, scrutiny and how trustees and advisers can remain resilient.

20. The trust as a long-term institution. Stewardship, legacy and time.

The concluding session reframes the trust as a long-term institution rather than a planning tool. Stewardship, responsibility and the passage of time take centre stage.

New thematic groups of episodes released regularly, available on major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Podcasts.

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube Podcasts

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice.
Listening does not create a client or advisory relationship with Clavis Partners AG.

Trusts Unpacked

Meet the speaker

Alexander von der Vellen

About this podcast series

Introduction

Why?

The purpose is simple

“Your wealth can only last when your decisions outlive you”.

Podcast Episodes

1. What a trust actually is. And what it is not.

2. Why families use trusts. Control, protection and continuity.

3. The three certainties. Why they still matter in modern wealth planning.

4. Common trust structures used in private wealth. A practical overview.

5. Discretionary trusts versus fixed interest trusts. Practical differences.

6. Trusts and businesses. Holding, control and exit planning.

7. The role of the settlor after settlement. Influence without control.

8. Beneficiaries. Rights, expectations and common misunderstandings.

9. The trustee decision-making process. How good decisions are actually made.

10. Letters of wishes. Soft power done properly.

11. Trust administration in practice. Reporting, accounts and governance.

12. Trusts and family governance. Preventing conflict before it starts.

13. Discretionary trusts versus fixed interest trusts. Practical differences.

14. Trusts and businesses. Holding, control and exit planning.

15. Trusts and asset protection. What they can and cannot do.

16. Trusts and succession planning for international families.

17. The psychology of wealth transfer. Trusts as behavioural frameworks.

18. When trusts fail. Real-world mistakes and lessons learned.

19. Trusts in a changing regulatory world. What advisers need to watch.

20. The trust as a long-term institution. Stewardship, legacy and time.

New thematic groups of episodes released regularly, available on major platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Podcasts.

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

YouTube Podcasts

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Listening does not create a client or advisory relationship with Clavis Partners AG.

1. What a trust actually is.
And what it is not.

2. Why families use trusts.
Control, protection and continuity.

3. The three certainties.
Why they still matter in modern wealth planning.

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice.
Listening does not create a client or advisory relationship with Clavis Partners AG.