What STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Stands For and Their Contribution to the Trust and Estate Management World

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) serves as a vital global network for professionals specializing in family inheritance, succession, wealth planning and estate management. By setting rigorous standards, providing specialized education, and fostering industry collaboration, STEP has established itself as a trusted authority. It not only upholds high-quality service through its members but also drives innovation within the trust and estate space. For professionals navigating complex regulatory environments, STEP offers essential resources and ongoing support, contributing to both practical solutions and thought leadership. Their commitment to ensuring quality and compliance shapes a stronger and more resilient trust and estate sector worldwide.

Overview of the STEP Mauritius Event

The STEP Mauritius conference spanned two days packed with insightful presentations covering a variety of topics fundamental to today’s trust and estate practitioners. It was incredible to see professionals from all over the world—Hong Kong, Jersey, the UAE, and beyond—gathered in one location and representing firms of all sizes. Discussions included Trust Law Evolution: Lessons from Recent Cases and Regulatory Developments, which dove into current trends in trust law, and Leveraging Insurance Wrappers for Effective Estate Planning. Additional sessions, such as Navigating Estate Planning in Mauritius: The Hybrid Legal System’s Impact and Global Tax Transparency: Navigating Information Exchange and Compliance, explored essential issues for practitioners working in an increasingly transparent global tax landscape. This is a non-exhaustive list of the topics covered, which addressed both local and global perspectives on pressing industry challenges and advancements.

Key Session: Transforming Trust and Estate Practices with AI and Its Relevance to Custos

One of the standout sessions, The Digital Frontier: Transforming Trust and Estate Practices with AI, was both informative and inspiring. Notably, the entire presentation—including the AI-generated avatar delivering it—was created using artificial intelligence! This topic introduced advanced possibilities, like automatically reviewing and generating trust deeds and using AI-driven solutions for compliance. The session’s forward-thinking approach echoed many of Custos’s ambitions, aligning closely with ideas we’ve previously discussed in our blog on AI reshaping the trust and corporate services landscape. The conversation left me excited, as it underscored both emerging applications and ideas already in Custos’s development pipeline.

A Memorable Experience Filled with Learning and Community

Overall, the STEP Mauritius conference was a fantastic experience, blending in-depth knowledge-sharing with opportunities to connect with other professionals passionate about trust and estate management. This sector, steeped in tradition, is experiencing waves of meaningful innovation, demonstrating its resilience and relevance for the long term. At Custos, we came away energized, grateful for the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, and deeply appreciative of the event organizers' hard work in bringing such an impactful event to life.