Program Overview

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Peak Trust Management Certificate

The Peak Trust Management Certificate is a professional certificate program designed to prepare professionals to join the growing field of trust management. This program is made possible through the generosity of Peak Trust Company and builds on the University of Delaware's expertise in the field.

Program Overview

The program is aimed at preparing professionals to work in the field of trust management, which serves people seeking assistance with personal and family estate planning, philanthropic, and financial goals. The program will provide participants with fundamental knowledge of trust law, fiduciary income taxation, individual income taxation, trust operations systems, trust compliance, and trust investment management.

Program Schedule

The program will be offered in two sessions:

• Spring 2026: February 2 - April 10
• Summer 2026: May 4 - July 10

Program Format

The program is a combination of live-online and self-paced learning modules. Five live-online virtual class sessions are scheduled from noon-1 p.m., and additional self-paced modules contain online learning content presented in a flexible, interactive format.

Registration and Tuition

• Registration deadline: Spring 2026 registration closes January 28, 2026, 4:30 p.m., and Summer 2026 registration closes April 29, 4:30 p.m.
• Tuition: $4,500, all materials included, with an early registration discounted price of $3,825 through January 26, 2026, 4:30 p.m., for Spring 2026, and through April 10, 2026, 4:30 p.m., for Summer 2026.

Payment Plan and Financial Assistance

A payment plan is available, allowing for an estimated 40% down payment at the time of registration, and two remaining payments, approximately monthly, according to the payment plan schedule. Financial assistance and scholarship options are also available.

Program Outline

The program consists of the following modules:

Trust Law and Administration

• Introduction to trusts, parties, roles, and responsibilities
• Trust creation, administration, modification, termination, distribution
• Trust liability, ethics, and risk management
• Module assessment: Students will analyze real-life trust scenarios and analyze a comprehensive estate plan using a hypothetical scenario.

Trust Investments

• Trust investments, investment objectives, ethical considerations for trust investments
• Prudent investor rule, equity investments, portfolio management and construction, risk management of equity investments
• Private equity investments, unique asset investments, due diligence process for private equity and unique assets, tangible property, custody, and safekeeping
• Module assessment: Students will prepare a final project that focuses on an equity analysis, private equity due diligence, and unique asset evaluation implementing an investment strategy for an existing trust relationship.

Trust Taxation

• Trust and estate taxation, tax attributes, taxable trusts, classification of trusts for tax purposes
• Fiduciary tax accounting, distributable net income, undistributed net income, income distribution deduction, expense allocations, beneficiary K1, and income character
• Tax planning, compliance, and state income tax on trusts
• Module assessment: Students will be required to submit a final project analyzing a form 1041 and advising on a complex fiduciary tax scenario.

Trust Operations

• Establishing and funding trusts, account opening, and set-up
• Trustee discretion, distributions, and beneficiary rights
• Trustee tax reporting, conflicts of interest, dispute resolution, and termination
• Annual reviews and fees
• Module assessment: Individual project analyzing trust administration scenarios including exercises of discretion, beneficiary distributions, and record keeping based upon a hypothetical family.

Trust Compliance

• Regulatory agencies, reporting requirements, annual reviews, onboarding, asset booking, and valuation
• Record keeping, audits, data security, compliance, and addressing deficiencies during audits
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), Know Your Customer (KYC)
• Module assessment: Prepare an account review including tax analysis, fees, asset valuation.

Successful Program Completion

Learners should expect to spend between 3-5 hours per week to successfully complete this course. To earn the digital certificate of completion, each participant must:

• Complete all course modules
• Complete and pass all end-of-module assessments and activities
• Earn a 70% or higher as their final grade.

Faculty

Jennifer Zelvin McCloskey is the director and lead faculty for the new Peak Trust Management Certificate. She is the director of and primary instructor in the University of Delaware's Trust Management Minor offered in UD's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.