National Advisors Trust, an independent advisor-owned trust company, has launched a program that places dedicated trust officers in RIA offices.

The new Trust Marketing Office (TMO) program is designed to help RIAs secure high-net-worth clients with long-term trust account needs. The program is an extension of the company's Trust Representative Office (TRO) program, which provides a referral marketing program to RIA firms.

The new program will place a trust officer in RIA offices to manage the TRO program as well as market trust services to high-net-worth clients, according to National Advisors Trust.

"RIAs realize that in order to grow a sustainable business, trusts need to be in their future," said Ronald G. Ferguson, CEO of National Advisors Trust. "Even with the recent tax law changes, over 70% of families with net worth exceeding $1 million use trusts in their estate plans. The TMO program puts the sponsoring RIA in the driver's seat and helps the RIA build a stronger, more sustainable market position and business model for the future."

The company's first TMO will be placed with the Moneta Group in St. Louis. Janet Bandera, senior vice president for National Advisors Trust, will serve as trust officer for Moneta Trust, a private-label company created for the Moneta Group that is a division of National Advisors Trust. Bandera, an estate planning attorney with more than 15 years experience, will be responsible for implementing Moneta's TRO program, as well as working with the firm's investment advisors to consult on trust and estate planning services with clients.

"Janet Bandera's experience and expertise in estates and trusts make her an ideal candidate to implement the TRO program for Moneta Trust and establish a repeatable model," Ferguson said. "With the growing opportunities available to RIAs for trust related services, we expect Janet to be the first of many to come as we continue to expand our TRO and TMO programs."

Founded in 2001, Overland Park, Kan.-based National Advisors Trust is the largest independent, RIA-owned trust company in the nation. The company provides a range of trust and custody services specifically designed for clients of RIAs.