Balentine hires trusts and estates specialist Taylor Custis

Balentine has added Taylor Custis as senior relationship manager in Atlanta to deepen its family office and multigenerational wealth capabilities. The move brings trusts, estates and tax planning experience to clients with complex family and legacy needs.

Why it matters: - Balentine is expanding the advisory bench behind its family office offering for entrepreneurs, business owners and ultra-high-net-worth families. - The hire adds trusts and estates depth to client relationships that often involve investment management, estate and tax planning, family governance, philanthropy and legacy decisions. - The role is aimed at families facing both financial and personal questions around multigenerational wealth.

What happened: - Balentine announced that Taylor Custis, J.D., LL.M., has joined the firm as senior relationship manager in Atlanta. - Custis came from Fiduciary Trust International, where she spent five years as trust counsel and senior relationship manager. - Before that, Custis worked as a wealth strategist at Abbot Downing, the family office division of Wells Fargo. - Custis also practiced trusts and estates law in New York City for eight years.

The details: - Balentine said Custis specializes in navigating the financial, legal and personal issues facing families with significant multigenerational wealth. - In her new job, Custis will serve as a strategic partner to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. - Custis will work with Balentine’s multidisciplinary teams and with clients’ outside advisors. - Balentine said the family office platform combines investment management, estate and tax planning, family governance, philanthropy and legacy planning. - Adrian Cronje, Balentine’s CEO, said Custis brings a rare combination of legal expertise, wealth management experience and relationship-building focus. - Custis earned her law degree from Tulane University School of Law and an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Between the lines: - The hire suggests Balentine is leaning further into high-touch planning for complex families, not just portfolio management. - Custis’ background in trusts, estates and tax work fits a model where advisory teams coordinate across legal, financial and family dynamics. - Custis said she was drawn to Balentine’s culture and its view that wealth management is about more than investments. - Her interest in serving families traces back to watching her father, a trusts and estates attorney, advise generations of clients in a small town.

What’s next: - Custis will help Balentine clients structure wealth transfers and philanthropic legacies. - Balentine is likely to continue building out services that support long-term family continuity and decision-making. - The firm already advises on more than $9.5 billion in client assets across Atlanta and Raleigh.

The bottom line: - Balentine is using a senior hire to strengthen the legal and relational side of its multigenerational wealth business.