Magnolia Trust Company

What Magnolia Trust Company does

Magnolia Trust Company is an independent trust company chartered in Tennessee in 2019 that provides trust administration, asset protection, and strategic planning services to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families across the Southeast United States. The firm administers both traditional marketable securities and complex assets including private businesses, illiquid holdings, and non-traditional investments, and can serve flexibly as sole trustee, directed trustee, co-trustee, trust protector, successor trustee, or executor. Magnolia operates from its Chattanooga, Tennessee headquarters and a second office opened in Atlanta, Georgia in December 2022, holding trust powers in Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Texas through reciprocity agreements.

The company operates a service-driven model with no proprietary technology platform of its own, relying on third-party trust accounting software, CRM systems, and electronic connectivity to custodial platforms for shadow posting, transaction reconciliation, and trust accountings. Revenue is generated through asset-based trust administration fees charged as a percentage of trust assets under administration, with rates varying by trust value and by the nature of trustee duties (directed versus discretionary); all fees are documented through an engagement letter at the inception of each relationship.

Magnolia was founded by Moore Colson, an Atlanta-based CPA and Advisory firm established in 1981, which remains a strategic affiliate ("sister company") providing tax expertise. The business is go-to-market through direct enterprise field sales targeting HNW/UHNW families and through an advisor referral network (wealth advisors, attorneys, CPAs, insurance professionals) that drives more than half of new client acquisition. Magnolia has been recognized by The Wealth Advisor as one of the most advisor-friendly trust companies, reports over $2 billion in assets under administration, 403 new clients onboarded in the most recent year, and an 88% client retention rate.

Name

Magnolia Trust Company

Legal name

Magnolia Trust Company

Website

https://magnoliatrust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Magnolia Trust Company is an independent Tennessee-chartered trust company providing trust administration and fiduciary services to high-net-worth families across the Southeast, administering over $2 billion in assets from offices in Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trust Administration

NAICS

Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Trust & Fiduciary Administration (FSAEAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal & Family Trust Services (FSAAANAA), Trust & Fiduciary Advisory for HNW/UHNW (Trust Structuring & Trustee Oversight) (FSAAABAF), Directed Trust & Trust Advisory Services (FSAAANAK), Estate Planning, Trust Structuring & Governance (FSAAADAF)

Keywords

• Trust administration
• Fiduciary services
• Estate planning
• Wealth management
• Private trust services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trust Administration Fees: Magnolia Trust Company generates revenue through trust administration fees charged as a percentage of trust assets under administration. Fees are calculated in accordance with a published fee schedule and vary based on the overall value of trusts being administered and the nature of trustee duties (directed or discretionary). The average basis point charge depends on the complexity and scope of services. All fees are documented through an engagement letter at the inception of the relationship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Magnolia Trust Company provides independent corporate fiduciary and trust administration services for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families. The company administers revocable, irrevocable, dynasty, charitable, special needs, and asset protection trusts in roles including sole trustee, co-trustee, directed trustee, successor trustee, trust protector, and executor, alongside trust accounting, beneficiary distributions, and tax compliance coordination.

Product overview

Magnolia Trust Company operates as an independent trust company offering a unified trust administration platform with flexible fiduciary roles and comprehensive trust structure expertise. The core offering centers on Trust Administration services, supported by specialized modules for Special Needs Trusts and Private Trust & Foundation Support. The company provides various fiduciary role options (sole trustee, directed trustee, co-trustee, successor trustee, trust protector, executor) and administers a broad range of trust structures including revocable/irrevocable trusts, GRATs, SLATs, TISTs, dynasty trusts, and charitable trusts. Additional services include Executor Services and Business Exit Strategies & Planning. The firm does not manage investments, positioning itself as an advisor-friendly partner that integrates with clients' existing advisory teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trust Administration Full-spectrum trust administration services including governance and oversight of trust terms and fiduciary laws, accounting and recordkeeping with custodian reconciliation, distributions and beneficiary support, customizable reporting (quarterly, semi-annual, or annual), and tax and compliance coordination including fiduciary tax returns and K-1 distribution. Serves high-net-worth families needing continuity across generations.
• Special Needs Trusts Specialized trust administration services providing thoughtful administration with sensitivity to beneficiary needs and regulatory requirements for individuals with special needs.
• Private Trust and Foundation Support Coordination of governance, administration and reporting for complex family structures including private trusts and foundations.
• Executor Services Serving as executor for estate administration, handling estate settlement alongside trust administration services for decedent estates.
• Business Exit Strategies and Planning Planning services supporting business owners through succession and exit planning initiatives, often implemented through related trust structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% client retention rate demonstrating strong client satisfaction and long-term relationship stability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Moore ColsoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Moore Colson, a CPA and Advisory firm founded in Atlanta in 1981, founded Magnolia Trust Company to provide trust services for their high-net-worth clients. Moore Colson serves as Magnolia's sister company and provides access to tax expertise for Magnolia's trust administration clients. Magnolia was created to carry forward Moore Colson's trusted relationships with clients to future generations by serving in the role of trustee. Todd McMullen serves as both President & CEO of Magnolia and Partner and Executive Committee Member of Moore Colson.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Northern Trust: Global wealth management and trust company with substantial personal trust and fiduciary services for HNW/UHNW families. Represents the institutional incumbent Magnolia competes against for sophisticated trust mandates.
• Bessemer Trust: Large, established multi-family office and independent trust company serving ultra-HNW families with trust administration, investment management, and family office services. Represents the scaled version of Magnolia's target segment.
• GenSpring Family Offices: SunTrust/Truist-affiliated multi-family office providing wealth management and trust services to HNW families in the Southeast. Magnolia's Rhett Zeigler previously served here; operates in overlapping geography.
• Wilmington Trust: Major M&T Bank-affiliated wealth management and trust company offering personal trust, corporate trustee, and wealth planning services. Magnolia draws senior hires from here; broad incumbent competitor for HNW trustee mandates.

Direct peers

• Directed Trust Company: Arizona-chartered independent trust company focused on directed trustee and trust administration services for HNW families. Closely mirrors Magnolia's independent, advisor-friendly, open-architecture model and similar AUM scale.
• Argent Financial Group: Southeast-based independent trust and wealth management firm offering trust administration, estate, and family office services. Comparable in regional Southeast focus and independent corporate fiduciary positioning.
• National Advisors Trust Company: Independent trust company serving as a directed trustee partner to RIAs and wealth advisors nationally. Closely aligned with Magnolia's advisor-friendly, custodially agnostic value proposition.
• Country Trust Bank: Independent, state-chartered trust company offering personal trust, estate, and custody services. Comparable in independent corporate fiduciary positioning with similar fee model.
• Arden Trust Company: Independent trust company affiliated with Wilmington Trust providing personal trust and directed trustee services to HNW families. Comparable scale and operating model; Magnolia's Kerry Larkins previously served here.

Emerging players

• CTC | myCFO: Independent multi-family office providing integrated wealth management, trust, and family office services for ultra-HNW families. Comparable target segment with broader service breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MagnoliaTrustCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/MagnoliaTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/magnoliatrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Magnolia Trust Company