Acting in Your Best Interest
Fiduciaries must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries, parties or conservatees, while respecting the wishes of the grantor of the trust or the court that ordered the conservatorship or estate administration. Whether the fiduciary is a trustee, conservator or administrator he or she must capably provide a wide range of services: asset management, book- and record-keeping, trust accounting and reporting, trust tax return preparation, and investment management. As a result, the fiduciary frequently retains and actively manages a team of professionals to render the required services to the trust, conservatorship or probate estate. This team typically includes attorneys, tax preparers and investment advisors.
As an independent fiduciary, we pride ourselves on providing personal and responsive service that large institutions cannot provide. Because we are independent, we can retain the best team of professionals and invest in the most appropriate investments. To create efficiencies for our clients, we pride ourselves on effective collaboration and challenging norms whenever we can to provide you value.
We live with integrity both personally and professionally (please see Code of Ethics below). We value knowledge, devoting significant time to continuing education for your benefit. We also acknowledge our social responsibilities by embracing diversity and sustainability.
Through what we do and how we do it, we deliver value. We strive daily for your recognition that we are both efficient and effective in delivering results.
About Robert A. Earnest
Robert is graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School. He also earned his Certificate of Fiduciary Management from the California State University in Fullerton.
Before establishing Earnest Fiduciary, Robert practiced law for 30 years for both international law firms, including Paul Hastings in Los Angeles, and multinational companies, such as ARCO and Nissan. Although our clients benefit from Robert's legal education and experience, no attorney-client relationship exists when Robert is retained as a trustee, conservator or administrator.
Robert is a resident of Arcadia and has resided in the San Gabriel Valley since 1990. With his family, he was actively involved in youth organizations and the Arcadia schools. He was recognized with the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth by his local Scouting council. Robert is presently active in his community through the Pasadena Rotary Club and The University Club of Pasadena.
Professionally, Robert is active with ProVisors, the Estate Planning Council of San Gabriel Valley, the Professional Fiduciary Association of California and the Fiduciary Round Table of San Gabriel Valley.
About Kamilla M. Tien
Kamilla received her Master of Social Welfare with a concentration in Aging as well as her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. She also earned her Certificate of Fiduciary Management from the California State University in Fullerton.
Kamilla has over 10 years of experience working in the aging field within various medical models with clients experiencing complex medical, mental and social issues. Her work as a Certified Care Manager has provided her with vast knowledge of community resources, social benefit programs, and strong relationships with industry leaders in our community. In this work, she always strives to provide her clients with compassionate and creative person-centered solutions to give them the best possible quality of life while honoring their independence, dignity and values. She joined Earnest Fiduciary in 2020 acquiring comprehensive experience managing Trusts, Special Needs Trusts and serving as Conservator of the Person and Estate.
Kamilla was born and raised in Brasil, lives in Arcadia and has two small children. She has been a volunteer with the Laurel Foundation, serving children and families affected by HIV/ Aids for the last 15 years.
She is a Certified Care Manager (CMC) through the NAACM and a member of the Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC).
Code of Conduct
A fiduciary must always put the interests of the beneficiaries of a trust (or the conservatee of a conservatorship) over the interests of any other party, including his or her own. California law addresses the ethical duties owed by the fiduciary to his or her client in Sections 4470 through 4484 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, which can be read at Westlaw’s website. Similarly, members of the Professional Fiduciary Association of California ("PFAC") also agree to abide by its Code of Conduct, below.
Together these codes recognize that the trustee (or conservator) is in a special position of trust and therefore, the highest standards of integrity must be set and followed. Our clients are entitled to competent professional services rendered in a fair and respectful manner. Further, we act zealously to protect the estate and preserve confidentiality. We also avoid all conflicts of interest, as well as the appearance of a conflict of interest.
PFAC Code of Conduct*
Recognizing that the care of the Client is a prime responsibility; the Professional Fiduciary shall provide services with respect for the dignity and uniqueness of each Client. The Fiduciary shall not engage in any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, or any other condition or status. Acting as an advocate in safeguarding the Client's civil and legal rights, the Professional Fiduciary shall make decisions that maximize and protect the rights of the Client, and allow for maximum independence and self-reliance.
Members of the Professional Fiduciary Association of California should:
Abide by the Professional Fiduciaries Act (California Business and Professions Code Sections 6500-6592) and the Act's implementing regulations (California Code of Regulations Sections 4400-4622), including the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau Code of Ethics.
Recognize that the client is the prime responsibility and strive to provide services which reflect respect for each client.
Not engage in any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin or any other condition or status.
Manifest personal integrity, assume responsibility and accountability for individual judgments and maintain an attitude of fairness, honesty, respect, courtesy and good faith in all professional relationships.
Cooperate with colleagues to promote common professional interests and concerns and facilitate ethical and competent professional performance.
Seek and maintain competence in professional skills and seek to contribute to the ongoing development of the profession’s body of knowledge.
* ©2014 Professional Fiduciary Association of California. All Rights Reserved.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”