Our Private Client team focuses on what really matters to clients. By offering continuity, consistency, and excellence, we have worked with individuals, entrepreneurs, and their families around the world for over forty years, some into their third generation, deliver tailored trust and fiduciary services, catering for all asset classes. Whether your objective is to preserve, grow or pass on your wealth to future generations, we can help.

Our private client team’s wealth of international trust management experience is bolstered by a vast range of trust, administration, legal, accounting and tax qualifications; the team’s depth of technical strength, experience and commitment to client relationships is echoed by recent industry accolades.

What are you looking for?

→ To partner with a trusted, hands-on trustee and fiduciary who can guide you through the complexities of protecting your assets?

→ To protect your hard-earned international business interests, investments, property portfolios and other high value assets?

→ To meet your asset protection needs with the ability to retain a formal role within the structuring of your wealth?

→ To ensure that you are prepared, and your wealth is adequately structured, to transition smoothly across generations?

→ To minimise the impact of issues such as foreign inheritance taxes, probate formalities and confidentiality concerns?

Our private wealth solutions

Wealth structuring

From entrepreneurs to royal families, we have been appointed to structure and administer complex, cross-border private wealth solutions for our clients. These may hold international business interests, investments, property portfolios and other high value assets in structures using trusts, companies, foundations and partnerships.

Fiduciary services

As the global regulatory and environment continues to evolve, independent trustees and directors are required to provide increased oversight. We are an experienced and trusted independent provider of trustee, director, and other fiduciary solutions.

Private Trust Companies (PTCs) and Private Trust Foundations (PTFs)

Our clients are increasingly looking to retain an element of control in their international fiduciary structures. PTCs and PTFs can serve as a corporate trustee of all your family trusts and provide optimum control, governance and confidentiality. 

Article Jersey Foundations: innovating in dynastic structures by Sheena Hugget, Director of Private Wealth, VG

Protector and enforcer services

We can work with your existing team of trust professionals to embed appropriate and independent counterbalance and oversight within your structure to ensure fulfillment of its purpose.

Read more about how protector and enforcer services can serve as a tool for defusing and avoiding conflicts and enforcing a structure's purpose >>.

Luxury assets

Ownership of luxury assets such as yachts, private aircraft, classic cars and art can fulfil lifestyle ambitions or investment goals; but require careful consideration when structuring their ownership.

Family governance

No matter the sophistication or complexity of your structures and family dynamics, we will work with you to create and maintain a robust corporate governance framework to preserve and create orderly transfer of your wealth

Real estate investment services

Our clients have substantial interests in commercial and residential real estate; this asset class poses different challenges to others. We work closely with your advisers from asset purchase through to sale, including all aspects of financing, maintenance, and tenant management. Our expert team has a wealth of experience managing structures holding residential assets through to large-scale commercial real estate including office blocks, industrial, student accommodation, retail, hospitality and logistics.

Registered office

There are some instances where clients are appointed as sole director but require support with ancillary services. We can provide the right level of assistance and corporate governance needed by our clients through the provision of standalone or integrated services including a registered office, Jersey nominated person, company secretary, administration, bookkeeping and preparation of financial statements.

Family investment companies (FICs)

Use of FICs has grown significantly in recent years by individuals with a desire to pass on their wealth without giving ownership in name to the beneficiaries. A FIC is a bespoke corporate vehicle which uses different share classes to help distinguish between economic and voting interests, thus allowing some control or influence over the family’s wealth protection.

Philanthropy and charity

Ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and their families are increasingly applying environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks to their philanthropic and charitable donations whilst also moving away from simple charitable donations, where the recipient would spend the money as they see fit, and towards a much more dynamic, innovative and hands-on approach. Trusts, companies and foundations are effective means of bringing philanthropic and charitable objectives to fruition.

Family succession

As successful families’ wealth passes through generations, we add value by becoming a trusted partner and integral part of your support network. Working in partnership with families, we learn the intricacies of families’ dynamics, the purpose of their wealth and gain insight into their vision, values and beliefs. This ensures effective management of often complex and cross-border asset portfolios, whilst working through tax and regulatory matters, to ensure efficient succession by future generations

What can you expect from us?

A personal and bespoke service
We spend time getting to know what matters to you, to create plans that help you to preserve, grow and pass on your wealth. We will partner with you and your advisers to understand your objectives, find the right solution and support you as your needs change; if we think there is a better solution, we will let you know.

Flexibility and reliability
Solid relationships are based on open communication, shared vision, and trust. Each client relationship is director-led, meaning that you will always have direct access to key decision makers who can respond quickly.

Your Private Client Director will be supported by a handpicked and dedicated team with the experience and qualifications to meet your needs. We maintain regular contact, are proactive in our approach and our team responds promptly to enquiries to give you, your family, and advisers information in a timely manner.

Long-lasting partnerships
Understanding you, your family and your aspirations is key to helping you to achieve your short and long-term financial and personal goals. We work alongside you as an extension of your legal and advisory team, building an open relationship with you and your family to protect your legacy for years to come.

Value for money
Our team will work with you to recommend cost effective solutions. Our ‘no surprises’ approach to fees assures transparent and competitive pricing.

Cultural understanding
We are recognized for our market-leading knowledge and award-winning expertise administering Shariah-compliant solutions; we understand the intricacies and nuances of meeting different cultural requirements across the globe and the importance of getting it right.

by Sheena Huggett, Director Private Wealth

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Vote for VG's Debbie Lumsden and Sheena Huggett

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Testimonials

"I would like to count my Trustee at VG, with whom we have developed a decade long relationship, as a friend. But, I have refrained from doing so as we require their objectivity as a trustee on our offshore trust and the lead of the team that we rely on for all of our offshore matters."

News

4 March 2022

Debbie Lumsden wins bronze at Citywealth Powerwomen Awards 2022

We're proud to share that Private Client Director, Debbie Lumsden, has been recognised at the 2022 Citywealth Powerwomen Awards and awarded Bronze for Woman of the Year - Leadership - Financial Organisation (Director).

Testimonials

“VG has been the Trustee of our Jersey family trust since its establishment in 2010; they have consistently excelled in their level ;of service, knowledge and diligence across all the activities of the trust. I would recommend them wholeheartedly."

News

13 January 2022

Paul Roper wins Silver at Citywealth IFC Awards 2022

We're proud to share that Private Client Director, Paul Roper, has been recognised at the 2022 Citywealth IFC Awards and awarded Silver for Trustee of the Year (Channel Islands & Isle of Man).

Insight

20 December 2021

Make a trust your financial new year’s resolution in 2022

For those looking to get 2022 started with some extra financial peace of mind, there is one action that should be considered a priority as the new year begins – exploring the potential benefits of trust planning for individuals and families alike.

Testimonials

“It makes us sleep well at night knowing that the assets we as a family have worked hard to accumulate are within VG’s stewardship."

News

28 May 2021

VG named Tier 1 provider in 2021 eprivateclient Top Trust companies

VG has once again been recognised for the third consecutive year, notably as a Tier 1 Provider, in the annual eprivateclient Top Trust Companies rankings one of the industry’s most prestigious directories of private-client solutions providers...

Insight

1 September 2021

Trust structures offer flexible vehicles to support and protect wealth transfer for Shari’ah-compliant investors

Within the next 10 years, 25,000 high-net-worth individuals are expected to transfer $15 trillion to a younger generation. Trevor Norman looks at how trusts, foundations and similar legal structures can help to ensure an orderly transition of wealth between...

Testimonials

“My Trustee at VG has looked after the offshore interests of myself and my family for nigh on two decades and they continue to do so, as Trustee and Director across a large group structure, with interests across the globe. They have taken the trouble to get to know us, our business, and various objectives closely. It is all about trust, and we trust them to do the correct thing for the beneficiaries, at all times. It is a great source of comfort to us."

Insight

12 April 2021

SARS Tax Unit: Cause for a great emigration?

The South African Revenue Service has bolstered its tax collection capabilities and created a dedicated SARS unit responsible for improving the tax compliance of wealthy individuals and organisations employing complex, and often offshore, financial arrangements....

News

31 March 2021

VG promotes James Amos and Chris Hamon

James Amos and Chris Hamon have been promoted to Assistant Managers as we continue to recognise key talent and strengthen our management team.

Testimonials

“It is not only my Trustee at VG’s accessibility as a person, but that they have a grasp of the softer issues that arise in families, particularly as these become more complex – and the associated issues more vexed.” 

Insight

5 March 2021

UK Budget: The only way is up

The pandemic has prompted unprecedented UK government policy responses and has involved enormous and sustained public spending that has left the UK with public debt levels unseen for decades.  Against the backdrop of a fragile economic the Chancellor...

News

12 February 2021

VG strikes with a senior management hire

VG has appointed Sheena Huggett as Senior Manager to further support the expansion of VG’s private client team.

Testimonials

"I started working with my Trustee and VG in 2015. In the years that I’ve known them, communication has been straightforward; they have consistently explained both their and VG’s position and applied what seems to be the very best efforts in resolving any issues or following through on my requests. My Trustee is always a phone call away, they understand that business issues sometimes need to be addressed promptly and urgently. I feel that I am in good hands"

Insight

12 February 2021

All is (not necessarily!) fair in love and war

Financial matters will be far from a couple’s minds when they get married but very likely to be at the forefront when they get divorced, especially when dealing with high-net-worth individuals. Mark Healey explores how a trust can help avoid...

News

24 February 2021

VG named Independent Trust Company of the Year

We are delighted to announce that VG has been recognised at the 2021 Citywealth IFC Awards where we won Gold in the Independent Trust Company of the Year category.