Experience

Santa Barbara Fiduciary, Inc.

president, founder

2009 – present

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  • Creation and launching of strategic fiduciary services firm providing comprehensive implementation of estate and financial plans in areas including tax planning, estate planning, financial planning and investments, small businesses, property management (personal and commercial), risk compliance, family diplomacy, and philanthropy via legal positions of trust including trustee, executor, administrator, attorney–in-fact under a power of attorney, conservator, and health care agent.
  • Forging relationships with attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors and community, resulting in over 140 client accounts and generation of substantial revenue.
  • Interpret, administer, and implement terms of legal instruments, court orders and other related agreements; evaluating discretionary requests in accordance with terms of governing documents; consolidation, administration, transfer, and distribution of wealth.

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  • Managing all aspects of client on-boarding and client services, including administer terms of legal instruments; transfer, consolidation and distribution of wealth, and full managed accounting services, including, but not limited to, cash flow planning, budgeting, and financial reporting to client/beneficiaries/court.
  • Develop and implementation of financial systems and controls, both internally and pertaining to client services, for driving continuous improvements in operating efficiency and overall financial performance.
  • Spearheading business development and marketing, including technology selection and systems management and content development (social media, newsletters, press releases, community engagement), maintaining awareness of both the external and internal competitive landscape, opportunities for expansion, customers, markets, new industry developments and standards. Hire, train and supervise staff and human resources development/compliance/management.

Dunvegan Associates

equities analyst

2009 – 2010

  • Founded in 1974, Dunvegan Associates provides its clients with personalized portfolio and investment advice using a process that capitalizes on knowledge of the intrinsic value of markets and companies.

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  • Performed complex security and fixed income investment analysis using the Bloomberg Platform to run equity and bond screens, monitor world economic indicators, equity market indicators, technical indicators, economic calendars, Fed news [continued]
  • and analytics and distressed debt markets, analysis of comparable bond analytics based on rating and industry, monitor government swap and agency data, perform yield analysis, spread analysis and total portfolio analysis, and regularly constructed discounted cash flow models.
  • Industry analysis included: Oil and Gas, Alternative Energy, Shipping, Health Care, Housing, Technology, REITs, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), Banking and Emerging Markets.
  • Regularly used as resources: Jefferies, Value Line, IBD, Barron’s and the Economist.
  • Administrative assistance including use of Ayxs and broker statement reconciliation.

West Coast Asset Management

junior research analyst

2007 – 2008

  • Founded in 2000, by Lance Helfert and Kinko’s founder Paul Orfalea, WCAM used a unique entrepreneurial approach to investing to provide exclusive equity and alternate asset management to high net worth individuals, institutions and charitable foundations. WCAM’s assets under management exceeded $500 million as of year end 2007.

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  • Performed intensive investment research and analysis of companies, products and industries under consideration with direct supervision of the Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager.
  • Analyzed financial performance of selected companies and industries based on company annual reports, 10-Q filings, 8-K releases, company conference calls and presentations on the internet; monitored 13-D and 13-F filings; evaluated business plans’ viability and capital structure; constructed complex financial, operational and quantitative valuation models including discounted cash flow, forward earnings, and sum of the parts; produced research reports and investment conclusions.
  • Internet resources included Capital IQ, EdgarPro, themarkets.com and ValueInvestor Insight.

Genitope Corporation

research assistant

2005 – 2006

  • Genitope Corporation was a biotechnology company focused on the research and development of novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.

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  • Generated and characterized monoclonal antibodies employing antibody screening strategies and purification of antibodies using chromatography.
  • Performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay optimization and development using Luminex xMAP technology.

IntegriGen

research intern

2003 – 2004 (summers)

  • Performed molecular biology experiments under the direct supervision of the Chief Scientific Officer and Director of Molecular Biology in developing an in vitro library of the human pre-immune antibody repertoire. This library of antibody genes is expressed on phages which are screened against desired antigens, yielding potential therapeutic drugs to treat human diseases.

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  • Designed and carried out VDJ recombination experiments in vitro: PCR reactions of human VH, VL, D, & J antibody genes are multiplexed in various combinations, including overlap extension PCR, to yield assembled antibody genes.
  • My work referenced above provided the fundamental data used in our patent submission of 2003: Methods and Compositions for Generation of Germline Human Antibody Genes, Smider VS, Sharma V and Leonard L.  (60/501,073; PCT)

Education

University of California Santa Barbara

bachelor of science

biological sciences

2002 – 2005

  • Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Coursework: Molecular Genetics, Developmental Neurobiology, Molecular and Cellular Immunobiology, Molecular and Cellular Immunobiology Lab, Animal Virology, Medical Microbiology, Cell Cycle Regulation, Research Colloquia in Biological Sciences and Pharmacology
  • Mathematics & Statistics Related Coursework: Differential and Integral Calculus including analytic geometry, functions and limits, derivatives, techniques and applications of differentiation, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, definite and indefinite integrals, techniques of integration, with applications in mathematics and physics, and Statistics and Applied Probability

Cal State Fullerton

2010
  • Certificate in Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees
  • Certificate in Professional Fiduciary Management for Conservators

University of California Santa Barbara, Extension

2014
  • Principles in Financial Practice
  • Principles in Financial Analysis
  • Retirement Planning
  • Estate Planning

Licenses & Professional Associations

California Licensed Professional Fiduciary

president, founder

2009 – present

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Fully Registered Trust & Estate Practioner (TEP)

president, founder

2009 – present

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National Certified Guardian

president, founder

2009 – present

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California Licensed Professional Fiduciary

president, founder

2009 – present

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My Specialization

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Finance

Benefits of Working With Us

Expertise

With almost a decade of experience, Santa Barbara Fiduciary manages the property and power entrusted to us according to your specific terms and in your best interests. We pride ourselves on our ability to take responsibility for the financial well-being of current and future beneficiaries. We understand legal terms, feel comfortable managing complex assets, and have the fortitude to honor your wishes.

Personalized Services

At Santa Barbara Fiduciary, we understand the unique challenges that come with your succession planning and implementation. For nearly a decade, we have served as a trusted partner of individuals and families, providing fiduciary guidance, services, and solutions based on a thorough understanding of each client’s unique situation and goals.

Objectivity

Even in the most loving families, relations can sometimes become difficult and emotionally charged. And while a carefully drafted trust document explains your intent and provides directions, it can be difficult for a trustee who is a parent, sibling, relative, or friend to act objectively. A professional trustee, on the other hand, benefits from being an outsider who can make decisions free from bias and considerations of family dynamics.

Diligence

We are persistent, patient, and preserving. We apply the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person. We are steadfast in our commitment to accomplish what is undertaken.

Accountability

Accountabilty is the obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property. At Santa Barbara Fiduciary, we embrace rising above one’s circumstances and demonstrating the ownership necessary for achieving desired results.

Transparency

Transparency is the ability of the receiver to have full access to the information they want, not just the information the sender is willing to provide. Transparency embodies honesty and open communication. As a professional organization committed to their responsibilities and compliance, Santa Barbara Fiduciary is naturally upfront & visible about the actions we take. We believe that transparency is a key component to success.

Team Approach

Unlike corporate trustee and many other providers, we specialize in working with external professional advisors. Choosing us does not mean losing the team you have spent a lifetime building. We can work closely with your existing team of advisors to tailor our services to your individual needs. We are as equally comfortable taking the lead in your team as we are in taking a back seat role. It’s your choice.  Enjoy both continuity of service and peace of mind, knowing that every aspect of your trust or estate will be managed optimally.

Flexibility

As a smaller firm, we have the ability to respond quickly and readily to changing circumstances and expectations. Our organizational agility means that we can modify our approach to tasks based on the unique preferences and needs of the client.

Accessibility

We understand that people are complex and there is a dynamic nature to life. Being readily available and accessible builds relationships. We are able to act quickly and efficiently on your behalf when needed.

Continuity

It’s important to remember that over the years, age or illness could prevent an individual from performing the duties of being your agent. In naming an agent, you want to be sure that as your family’s situation changes and time takes its toll, your agent will continue to be responsive. By choosing Santa Barbara Fiduciary, you help ensure continuity for the full term of your succession plan.

No Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest common in estate planning can include family members who are beneficiaries acting as trustee, corporate trustees appointing themselves as the investment advisor (thereby profiting from fees), and even drafting attorneys appointing themselves in client documents (thereby also profiting from fees). As objective, third party professionals, we avoid conflicts of interest and effectively represent the best interests of the individual and or trust.

Confidentiality

Some corporate trustees are in the business of money and investment management. Some charge trust clients retail prices for ancillary financial services, in effect making profits on both sides of every transaction.Our compensation comes solely from serving as trustee. No commissions, no kick backs, no incentives to make or not make distributions. We focus on what the trust document says and what your family needs. Period.

Education

Santa Barbara Fiduciary is committed to the continuing education, development, and improvement of their team. All team members are required to engage in furthering their education outside of their office roles. Lindsay attends major trust and estate planning conferences each year, attends continuing educational seminars on pertinent and current issues, and participates in the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council meetings.

Empathy & Advocacy

Our role is not merely that of a business manager, decision-maker, or guardian. It is also a nurturing bond of trust, concern, and attentive care. We seek to support mental and emotional well-being; reduce the stress of challenging circumstances or unexpected events; and, most importantly, help each client, and their families, enjoy a fulfilling life.

Testimonials

— Robert M. Sawyer, Sacramento, California

…In 2012, as our parents entered their late 80s, my two brothers and I and our wives became very concerned about Mom and Dad’s ability to manage their financial and personal affairs. We had witnessed potential problems, including missed bill payments, lost checks, missed appointments, susceptibility to scams, and a general decline in our parents’ financial… read more

–Virginia Anders, Client

…My lawyer recommended Lindsay and is probably one of the best recommendations I’ve ever had in my life. She helped me navigate through all of the probate court proceedings, through all of the changing of names and title… She helped me through the process of retiring in this situation and I’m so incredibly grateful to her and I just don’t know where I’d be without her help… read more

—A.C. Moore, Dunvegan Associates

Lindsay Leonard was an important part of the research team at Dunvegan Associates, Inc. She assisted in various aspects of the research process that we employ on a daily basis. Some of the more important functions she performed… read more

—Atticus Lowe, Chief Investment Officer, West Coast Asset Management

Lindsay Leonard joined the West Coast Asset Management team as a Junior Research Analyst intern in November 2007 and worked with us through the end of May, 2008. WCAM was founded in 2000 by Lance Helfert and Kinko’s founder… read more

—Joan Moran

… I observed Lindsay’s diligence in taking care of her grandmother for many years and appreciate the time and compassion Lindsay dedicated to making sure Norma’s wishes were honored even after her passing. Lindsay is an excellent communicator and I have always known her to be a generous and hard working individual with a passion to help others. read more

—Catherine Carpizo, Client

Lindsay is a great support and very knowledgeable about many aspects of financial and estate planning. She is thorough and timely with our projects and helped me tremendously. I highly recommend her services. read more

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