9 min

Top 5 States Looking for Professional Executors Anthony S. Park

    • Investing

As we’ve spoken about before, Anthony can be your professional executor, even if you don’t live in New York. We have been seeing many inquires from out of state lately, and these are the top 5 looking for Anthony to be their professional executor. We are located in New York, so we are not including New York inquiries on this list. While this isn’t a scientific study, this is what we are seeing based on our daily calls.
Georgia
First on the list, much to our surprise, is Georgia. Maybe because it is retirement friendly, which we have learned that it is. There is low sales tax, no inheritance tax, low income tax, real estate is “more bang for your buck” compared to other states, and it’s warm and super friendly. Although it is retirement friendly, we aren’t seeing that there is a large network of professional executors there. It works out for Anthony, since he spends most summers in Atlanta and is very familiar with Georgia.
New Jersey
This is less of a surprise, as it’s right across the river. We’ve found that a lot of New Jersey folks seek out New York professionals, thinking they will get a “city caliber” professional. It doesn’t matter where your executor lives, the fee is set by New Jersey state law. So, whether it’s a professional executor or a non-professional such as your nephew, they will get paid exactly the same. So, you may as well get the most for your money. And for Anthony, he’s in New Jersey often, so this is fairly easy for him.
Texas
Third on our list is Texas, and we don’t really have an explanation for this one. Perhaps, like Georgia, maybe it’s a good place for retirement. Again, while searching online, we are not many professional executors. But why Anthony? The only thing Anthony can think of is that in real life, he tends to get along well with Texans. Maybe the viewers and listeners sense that and want to work with him? After all, a professional executor is someone you will work together with, at least annually, so you should definitely have a good rapport. This state also works for Anthony, because he does travel to Texas often.
California
Fourth, and possibly the most surprising is California. It’s far from New York and on paper, it doesn’t seem like a good fit. California even as a fairly robust local professional fiduciary industry. They even have a certification and a trade association for professional executors. But for whatever reason (maybe the requirement of upfront fees by CA executors), clients want Anthony all the way in New York. Believe us, he is happy to serve in California – he loves it there!
Florida
Last, but not least is Florida, and this makes the most sense. It’s a huge retirement state. However, for legal reasons, serving as a professional executor is problematic. Anthony can’t actually not serve as a professional executor in Florida, because he doesn’t live there. Only blood relatives may be out of state executors. But there are ways to deal with this. Anthony can be a nonresident Trustee for a Revocable Living Trust. Trusts are becoming very common in Florida to avoid probate. Clients who want to work with Anthony find this trustee workaround a great option. And again, he has no problem traveling to sunny, warm Florida, which he does often.
If you want to find out what is required of an executor, I suggest reading Anthony’s book, “How to Hire an Executor.”
Request your free consultation  

As we’ve spoken about before, Anthony can be your professional executor, even if you don’t live in New York. We have been seeing many inquires from out of state lately, and these are the top 5 looking for Anthony to be their professional executor. We are located in New York, so we are not including New York inquiries on this list. While this isn’t a scientific study, this is what we are seeing based on our daily calls.
Georgia
First on the list, much to our surprise, is Georgia. Maybe because it is retirement friendly, which we have learned that it is. There is low sales tax, no inheritance tax, low income tax, real estate is “more bang for your buck” compared to other states, and it’s warm and super friendly. Although it is retirement friendly, we aren’t seeing that there is a large network of professional executors there. It works out for Anthony, since he spends most summers in Atlanta and is very familiar with Georgia.
New Jersey
This is less of a surprise, as it’s right across the river. We’ve found that a lot of New Jersey folks seek out New York professionals, thinking they will get a “city caliber” professional. It doesn’t matter where your executor lives, the fee is set by New Jersey state law. So, whether it’s a professional executor or a non-professional such as your nephew, they will get paid exactly the same. So, you may as well get the most for your money. And for Anthony, he’s in New Jersey often, so this is fairly easy for him.
Texas
Third on our list is Texas, and we don’t really have an explanation for this one. Perhaps, like Georgia, maybe it’s a good place for retirement. Again, while searching online, we are not many professional executors. But why Anthony? The only thing Anthony can think of is that in real life, he tends to get along well with Texans. Maybe the viewers and listeners sense that and want to work with him? After all, a professional executor is someone you will work together with, at least annually, so you should definitely have a good rapport. This state also works for Anthony, because he does travel to Texas often.
California
Fourth, and possibly the most surprising is California. It’s far from New York and on paper, it doesn’t seem like a good fit. California even as a fairly robust local professional fiduciary industry. They even have a certification and a trade association for professional executors. But for whatever reason (maybe the requirement of upfront fees by CA executors), clients want Anthony all the way in New York. Believe us, he is happy to serve in California – he loves it there!
Florida
Last, but not least is Florida, and this makes the most sense. It’s a huge retirement state. However, for legal reasons, serving as a professional executor is problematic. Anthony can’t actually not serve as a professional executor in Florida, because he doesn’t live there. Only blood relatives may be out of state executors. But there are ways to deal with this. Anthony can be a nonresident Trustee for a Revocable Living Trust. Trusts are becoming very common in Florida to avoid probate. Clients who want to work with Anthony find this trustee workaround a great option. And again, he has no problem traveling to sunny, warm Florida, which he does often.
If you want to find out what is required of an executor, I suggest reading Anthony’s book, “How to Hire an Executor.”
Request your free consultation  

9 min