Upcoming Events:
Alaska ACTEC meeting, Anchorage AK
Tax & Estate Planning Conference, San Diego CA
Commonwealth 2018, Austin TX
Heckerling 2019
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Amber Gunn is a Trust Officer with Peak Trust Company’s team. She has been working in trust administration since 2013. Amber has focused on Administrative matters including communications with trust and IRA clients, and offering support to senior team members. Amber is accountable, dependable, and consistent which makes her a valuable member of the Peak Trust Company team.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Amber earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Education from University of Alaska Anchorage. Amber earned a CTFA (Certified Trust and Financial Advisor) professional accreditation in 2017.
rhoover@peaktrust.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Regina joined Peak Trust Company in 2016 after being in the trust industry for over 4 years in the state of Nevada, much of which was spent as an Officer Manager. Regina is a recent addition to the company with its expansion into Nevada.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Regina studied at Kansas State University and moved to Nevada in the 1979. She has worked in office management for multiple industries and has over 7 years experience in the Trust, Wealth Management, and Estate Planning purview of office management. Regina enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law-, and 3 grandchildren along with her husband. She also loves to read and cook with her daughter.
“The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today.” – Elbert Hubbard
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Rita joined Peak Trust Company as a result of the recent merger with Alaska USA Trust Company, where she worked as a Trust Assistant for two years after coming out of retirement. Prior to her retirement she was a Trust Officer for another Alaskan trust company. She has an extensive 25 – year background in banking which started in Central and Western Washington, and included banks in Fairbanks and Anchorage, in various segments of the industry. That experience in account services, commercial lending, real estate lending, commercial construction lending, tax analysis and various administrative positions, prepared her well for trust services. In trust services, she specialized in agency accounts, profit sharing accounts and IRAs, as well as estate settlements. At PTC, Rita specializes in coordinating the preparation of client tax returns and special projects.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Rita graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alaska with a BA in Business, Accounting major, Law minor and an AA in Banking. She was formerly a “qualified” CPA. She at one time in her career owned her own small business in accounting services and was a licensed realtor.
“I so enjoy working in the trust business, especially Peak Trust Company, where attention to detail is a highly important key for success and everyone in the company is keenly aware of that.”
VICE PRESIDENT, TRUST OFFICERPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Deb has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry specializing in qualified plans, self-directed IRA’s and pension administration. Her expertise is in the qualified and non-qualified plan space. Deb is a member of the Southern Nevada Estate Planning Council, the Las Vegas PBS Women’s Engagement Council, ASPPA (American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries) since 1999 and the Gift Planning Advisors Board.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Deb earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Her professional accreditations include QKA (Qualified Pension Administrator), and CISP (Certified IRA Services Professional). She also holds her series 7, 63, 65 securities licenses.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Elizabeth joined Peak Trust Company as a result of the recent merger with Alaska USA Trust Company. One of Elizabeth’s area of focus at Peak Trust Company is in the administration of Special Needs Trusts. Prior to her entry into the trust business Elizabeth served as the Associate Dean of Legal Studies and Criminal Justice at Charter College.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Elizabeth has a B.A., Legal Studies from the University of California, Berkley, and later returned to academics to study mathematics and psychology. In addition to being an Associate Dean at Charter College she was also a faculty instructor – teaching algebra I, algebra II, business statistics and law. She is an Associate member of both the Elder Needs section of the Alaska Bar Association and the Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law section of the American Bar Association. She attended the Cannon Financial Institute in February of 2015 focusing on Special Needs Trust.
Elizabeth enjoys Italian motorcycles, baseball, dip net fishing, and gardening.
“Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.” – Marcus Aurelius
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
David Halling is the Senior Wealth Management Specialist for Peak Trust Company. He is responsible for business development and spreading the Peak Trust story to the financial community. David has 25+ years of experience in the financial services sector. Prior to joining Peak Trust Company he held a variety of positions at firms such as Key Bank, Oppenheimer, Charles Schwab and D.A. Davidson.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
David has a Bachelor of Arts, Economics and a Minor in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. He holds several FINRA licenses including the Series 7, 8, 63 and 65.
“My experience in the financial services sector has taught me the importance of dealing with highly ethical and client focused firms-the traits of Peak Trust Company. Our cutting edge trust services and sophisticated investment management platform help our clients grow and protect their family’s wealth.”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Janet Tempel joined Peak Trust Company in 2014, as a Senior Trust Officer following the acquisition of Alaska USA Trust Company. In addition to her extensive trust administration experience, Janet also practiced law with a concentration in estate planning and business law. Her vast knowledge and background allow her to work seamlessly with attorneys, financial planners and other professionals to facilitate the implementation of a wide range of estate plans.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Janet received Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Iowa, is a member of the Alaska Bar Association, and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Trust School and Graduate Trust School. She is actively involved with Alaska’s estate planning community, has taught community education classes on wills, trusts, probate and LLCs, has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and continues to keep abreast of estate planning and tax developments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Donn Lassila continues full time employment as the Chief Compliance Officer for Peak Trust. He is completing nearly five years of service. Donn brings deep experience with IT back office systems integration, transaction monitoring, and business process engineering. He has been in the financial services industry in several capacities since 1981. His primary responsibility is focused on the continuous development and oversight of the Company’s regulatory and fiduciary best practices compliance program. Each 3rd party examination or audit includes comments praising a consistent development in the Company’s regulatory and best practices compliance procedures.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Prior to joining Peak Trust Company, Donn served as CIO for a Pacific Northwest brokerage firm. He was an entrepreneur as President & CEO of his own systems integration firm providing document imaging, CRM, and business intelligence programs to financial services, medical and government business. Donn holds the Certified Fiduciary Risk Investment Specialist (CFIRS) designation from Cannon Financial School. He maintains that certification via continuing education programs and continues to apply that knowledge to mature the enterprise wide compliance program.
“I thoroughly enjoy working for a Company and team of fellow employees who are endeared to the essence of doing what is right for the client, now and always.”
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICERPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lisa Russell is the Chief Investment Officer for Peak Trust Company. She specializes in designing unique investment programs for high-net-worth clientele and trust accounts. She is especially sensitive to the tax consequences of investment actions. Lisa has 21 years of investment experience. Prior to joining Peak Trust Company, Lisa held investment positions at other firms, most recently at US Bank, where she worked with high-net-worth individuals as a Senior Portfolio Manager.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from Emory University. Lisa holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Seattle.
“Peak Trust Company allows me to focus on my clients and only my clients – since we aren’t a big institution and don’t have any proprietary products, I can dedicate myself to my number one priority…you!”
– Lisa Russell, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Alaska Trust Company
jblattmachr@peaktrust.com
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Jonathan has been involved with many of the most important developments in recent times in estate planning and administration. He was the developer and drafter of legislation, adopted by all states, that allowed fiduciaries, such as executors (personal representatives) and trustees, to be able to distribute property otherwise to be received by a minor to a custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (now the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act). He also drafted the legislation that expanded the type of property a custodian may lawfully hold in such an account.
He pioneered, in the early 1970s, granting trustees the power to invade a trust by paying its assets to another trust, known as “decanting.” He wrote the first two decanting statutes in the country (for New York and Alaska).
He developed the concept of and wrote the first article explaining an installment sale to a grantor trust. See Blattmachr, “Adventures in Partial Interest Transfers: Avoiding the Zero Valuation Legacy of Section 2702,” USC Law Center Institute, para. 1305.5(G) (1992).
He developed the concept of “rolling” GRATs and “asset splitting” GRATs.
He helped draft a number of provisions in the Internal Revenue Code including Section 2055(e)(3) which permits the reformation of charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trust to be in qualifying form.
Jonathan developed and wrote the first legislation in the United States allowing asset protection (self-settled) trusts.
He developed wrote the first legislation in many areas of trust and estate administration in many states including New York, Delaware and Alaska.
He developed and wrote the Alaska Community Property act, which is the only form of “opt in” community property in the company, including the concept of a Community Property Trust, which allows non-Alaskan married couples to create community property.
He developed and obtained the first private letter ruling for private (family) split dollar insurance arrangements (PLR 96-36-003).
He developed a obtained the first private letter ruling under which a charitable remainder trust could mimic a retirement plan–both the Chase Manhattan Bank and JP Morgan offered commercial products using the concept (respectfully called the Private Retirement Trust and the Charitable Deferred Income Trust)
He is the Co-Developer of Wealth Transfer Planning, a computerized software system using document assembly for lawyers and providing specific client advice using artificial intelligence
He author or co-author of six books and over 500 articles on tax and estate planning topics
Mr. Blattmachr served in the US Army during 1970-1972 rising to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal
PRESIDENT & CEOPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Matthew Blattmachr is the President and CEO at Peak Trust Company. He is an active member of the Trust Committee and is responsible for managing account opening, administration and review, in addition to client and vendor relationship management, reviewing and approving trust documents, performing trust and estate administration, discretionary distributions, and performing private foundation creation and administration. Matthew is also on the Board of the Anchorage Senior Center Endowment Fund.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Matthew holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Alaska Pacific University, a Bachelor degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage, a CFP designation from the College of Financial Planning, and has earned a Certified Fiduciary & Investment Risk Management Specialist designation from the Cannon Financial Institute.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Brandon Cintula is COO for Peak Trust Company. Brandon has been with Peak Trust Company since 1998 and has worked in trust, estate planning, investment management, and consulting services for 20 years. Brandon is highly regarded by estate planning attorneys familiar with his work, as well as high-net worth clients and their advisors because of his in-depth knowledge, expert advice, and creativity at problem-solving.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Brandon has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Finance from Northern Arizona University. He has played a significant role in the continuous revisions of the unique Alaska statues and has often presented on complex estate planning issues.
“Family is our most prized possession – protect them now and for generations to come.”
– Brandon Cintula
Chief Operations Officer
Peak Trust Company
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Douglas Blattmachr founded Peak Trust Company (formerly Alaska Trust Company) in 1997. He brings with him over 30 years of trust and investment management experience. Prior to starting Peak Trust Company, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for a $5 billion trust division at WestOne, President & CEO of Neuberger & Berman Trust Company, and headed up the D.A. Davidson Trust Company.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Douglas has a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University, a Master of Business Administration in Banking & Finance from Adelphi University, and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School. He has taught investment management at the university level and has been a speaker at many seminars on investments, retirement plans, and estate planning. He has also authored or co-authored 10 articles on estate planning and investment topics.
“Our goal is to make Peak Trust company a recognized superior provider of financial and estate planning services. Our board and key officers share this as our principal mission.”
– Douglas Blattmachr
Chairman of the Board
Peak Trust Company