Christie Rousso, SVP Trust Officer, BOK Financial
Introduce yourself and describe your professional journey!
My name is Christie Rousso; I am 36 years old and a mom of two beautiful kids, ages 3 and 6. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an attorney, and I really kept on that path. Graduating from the University of Washington at age 20 and going right into law school. I passed the bar exam at 23 years old and started my professional career at Bank of America, formerly Merrill Lynch Trust Company, doing Trust Administration. I started as a Trust Administrator and worked my way up to an SVP, Senior Trust Officer. Shortly after relocating to Arizona, I joined BOK Financial doing the same type of work and have enjoyed every minute of it.
What is estate planning, and why is it essential for women of all ages to understand?
At its core, estate planning is the process of designating who will receive your assets in the vent when you pass away or are incapacitated. Women of all ages need to understand that you can be at any stage of life, both personally and financially, to have an estate plan. Estate plans are not just for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
What are the key goals for estate planning?
Completing an estate plan allows a person to designate who can make decisions for them when they are unable, it allows for direction of assets after they pass, allows for a person to satisfy any charitable inclination they may have while also minimizing tax implications.
What are trusts?
Most simply, a Trust is an estate planning vehicle that allows assets to transfer to your heirs/beneficiaries at your death or incapacity. Trusts can offer estate tax savings and asset protection depending on the type of trust.
What are the consequences you see for people without estate plans?
Sometimes, the biggest consequence is the stress caused to your family and loved ones when you pass away without an estate plan.
What aspect of your work is most rewarding?
Helping generations of families realize the goals that the set in place.
What is the best piece of professional advice you have received?
“Almost everything will work if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you.” – Author, Anne Lamott
Kimberly Bridges, Senior Vice President, Director of Financial Planning
Introduce yourself and describe your professional journey!
I found my passion when I took a personal finance class to meet an undergrad general education requirement. From that point, I dedicated myself to learning as much as possible so I could help others make smart financial decisions. My quest for knowledge led to masters and doctorate degrees in financial planning, attainment of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and Retirement Management Advisor™ designations and a focus on women’s financial issues.
In my role as Director of Financial Planning at BOK Financial I am responsible for developing and deploying a coordinated and comprehensive financial planning strategy throughout the Wealth Management lines of business.
I am actively involved in the financial planning community and recently served on the national Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association. Previously, I served as president and chair of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix and on the board of directors of the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the FPA. I have a special interest in educating and working with women and have delivered educational presentations throughout the country to audiences of women and the advisors who serve them. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family, and hiking.
What is estate planning, and why is it essential for women of all ages to understand?
Estate planning involves creating a plan for how your assets will be managed and distributed after your death, as well as making arrangements for your care and the management of your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. For parents of minor children, one of the most important functions of estate planning is designating a guardian for your children. Estate planning is especially important for women because we are often the ones left to pick up the pieces when a loved one dies without a proper plan in place. Having an understanding of the fundamentals of estate planning will not only help us put our own plans in place, but will also help us guide our loved ones to getting their affairs in order.
What are the key goals for estate planning?
A well-done estate plan will simplify the process of managing and transferring your assets to your desired recipients. It is a gift to your loved ones. And in return, you receive peace of mind in knowing that your affairs are in order and your wishes are well laid out so your family will not be unnecessarily burdened with trying to piece together clues about your estate and your final wishes.
What are trusts?
Trusts are a legal “wrapper” that allows you to dictate how you want your assets to be handled, who will benefit from them, and under what conditions. Trusts can be created during your lifetime and can continue beyond your death, allowing you to continue to control the use of your assets even after your passing.
What are the consequences you see for people without estate plans?
There can be a range of consequences from not having a proper estate plan in place, but the most devastating are the rifts that form in families when family members can’t agree on what Mom (or Dad) would have wanted (or worse, fighting over assets). These rifts could be prevented by clearly outlining your wishes in an estate plan. Other consequences include excessive estate settlement expenses, lost property (because no one knew about it), and estate tax exposure.
What aspect of your work is most rewarding?
I love helping people make sure they are on track to live their best life and setting up themselves and their families for success.
What is the best piece of professional advice you have received?
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” Steve Jobs