State of the Union 2026

 

Dear client,

As we begin this new year, we are pleased to share an update on the growth and evolution of Mission Management & Trust Co. Serving as your trusted partner through milestones, transitions, and opportunities is truly one of our greatest privileges. Today, we are excited to share updates that strengthen how we support you and your long-term goals.

Expanding Services and Investment Capabilities to Better Serve You

We continue to expand our services to provide more holistic support to meet the needs of our clients and our communities. With our complex and outside-the-box problem solving, we can work with accounts and estates many other institutions and fiduciaries will not. This work includes support from our parent company, Notre Dame Federal Credit Union, and our other dependable professional partners.

  • Comprehensive Financial, Retirement, and Legacy Planning

Ben Fredlake now leads our expanded financial planning services. With expertise in retirement planning, cash flow strategies, and multi-generational legacy design, Ben focuses on aligning every financial decision you make with the bigger picture of your life goals, both now and in the future.

  • New Investment Capabilities

To complement our expanded planning services, we broadened the range of investment strategies available to our clients. Notably, we introduced Direct Indexing, which can be an effective approach for: (a) managing and diversifying large, concentrated stock positions; (b) reducing the tax impact of large, embedded capital gains; and, (c) enhancing customization within portfolios.  Our goal is to provide flexible strategies tailored to your individual situation.

  • Donor-Advised Charitable Giving Through American Gift Fund

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with American Gift Fund, a donor‑advised fund sponsor. This collaboration allows clients to streamline charitable giving, enhance tax planning strategies, and create enduring philanthropic legacies in a flexible, personalized way.

  • Additional Fiduciary Services

Our fiduciary offerings now include First-Party Special Needs Trusts and Court-Appointed Conservatorships.  These extend our ability to serve vulnerable individuals and families who are navigating complex planning needs while preserving essential government benefits.  We also expanded system capabilities to support Delegated and Directed Trusts, allowing other entities or individuals to serve in designated fiduciary capacities while Mission still serves as the administrative trustee.

Growing Beyond Our Arizona Roots

While Arizona remains our home office, this year brought us growth as we expanded our work with clients in other parts of the country. We are grateful for the referrals and confidence in Mission that made this possible. Each new relationship reinforces our purpose and emphasizes the universal need for thoughtful, values‑driven trust and wealth management services.

A New Home to Support Our Next Chapter

As we continue to grow and strengthen our partnership with Notre Dame FCU, we’ve settled into a new office space that creates a welcoming environment for our clients and provides the perfect home for our expanding team. We look forward to hosting you here soon.

Welcoming New Talent and Celebrating Extraordinary Commitment

Last year we welcomed Leslie Gagner to the team as our new Trust Operations Associate. Leslie has already demonstrated professionalism, warmth, and a dedication to client service that aligns perfectly with our mission.  With a strong finance and accounting background, Leslie Haughey, CPA, just joined to help us behind the scenes seasonally with trust tax work.

At the same time, we are thrilled to celebrate team members marking major milestones of 10, 20, and even 30 years of service in 2026. Their commitment reflects the heart of our company—integrity, continuity, stewardship, and long-term relationships built on trust.

  • Cyndi Sprague, Vice President, Trust Operations, 30 years
  • Rashad Kelly, Portfolio Manager and Internal Auditor, 20 years
  • Kerri Osborne, Trust Operations Officer, 10 years
  • Cynthia Wahlin, Vice President, Senior Trust Officer, 10 years

Looking Ahead

As we move forward in 2026, our commitment remains the same: to provide exceptional service, expertise, and personalized guidance for every client we serve. Thank you for the trust you place in us and for allowing us to walk alongside you as stewards of your financial future.  Please let us know if we can assist with any of your financial or estate planning needs.

We are excited for all that lies ahead and are grateful, as always, for your partnership.

 

With warm regards,

The Mission Management & Trust Co. Team

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