Commitment and community

As part of STEP’s 30th birthday celebrations, we are highlighting some of STEP’s initiatives and programmes. One of these is the Employer Partnership Programme (EPP). We had a chat with Heather Tibbo TEP and Paul Hunter TEP, Group Heads of Family Office Services at Crestbridge, about the firm’s involvement with STEP, the EPP and the future of trusts and estates.

How, and why, have you been involved with STEP?

We are involved with STEP because we share its purpose, mission and values. We share its commitment to the community it serves, as well as the clients that benefit from our work. We have submitted articles, sponsored events and participated in panel discussions, and our employees regularly attend STEP events. We have encouraged our colleagues to become members and over a quarter of our team members have earned STEP qualifications.

What, in your opinion, is the most important thing that STEP does?

We believe that the most important element of STEP’s role is creating a community of setting and upholding professional standards that allows its community members to share knowledge and best practices. This enables its members to share and enrich their knowledge for the benefit of their clients.

In your opinion, what has been STEP’s greatest contribution?

We believe that STEP’s greatest contribution is its commitment to education and sharing best practices among its members. Its ground‑breaking efforts in creating the community and sustaining it through promoting knowledge and cooperation allow its members to serve their clients with confidence in their ability to access expertise and be supported by a group that shares their commitment to excellence and knowledge.

How does STEP help your business?

STEP has helped Crestbridge Family Office Services find and nurture a community of like‑minded professionals. Through the STEP designation, it has helped us identify qualified candidates for roles within our organisation. Furthermore, it has allowed us a platform to share our knowledge and best practices with our fellow STEP members through the submission of articles and participating in panel discussions. STEP participation is an integral part of the execution of our business plan and professional engagement every year.

What part do you think STEP will play in shaping the future of the industry?

We are confident that STEP and its members will continue to lead the industry through its commitment to informing public policy and promoting education. Its professionals and staff lead the conversation and set the example for professionals within the community. Through STEP’s efforts to set and uphold professional standards, clients and professionals alike recognise the value of a community focused on bettering itself for the benefit of the clients they serve. This is and will remain of significant value as families navigate the complex world of planning for the successful transition of assets across generations. We share STEP’s commitment to knowledge and excellence in this ever‑evolving and complex environment where reputation is as much at stake as anything else.