Hi,
I’m Lee Naujock, a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary (CLPF #1188) and National Certified Guardian (NCG). I serve as Trustee, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Agent, and Estate Executor/Administrator for private clients across Southern California. Together with my in-house support staff, we deliver responsive communication, meticulous accounting and reporting, and the specialized skills needed for seamless trust and estate administration both during your lifetime and post-death.
A fiduciary is an individual, business, or legal entity bound by the highest legal and ethical standard of care to act entirely in a client's best interest. Unlike ordinary business relationships that have a natural bias toward the company’s or salesperson’s bottom line, a fiduciary is legally mandated to put the client/principal’s financial security, privacy, and personal choices above their own profits.
A California Licensed Professional Fiduciary (CLPF) is a person, licensed and regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, who serves in fiduciary capacities for clients.
Responsible for managing, protecting, and distributing trust assets in strict accordance with the grantor's instructions and terms.
Acts on a principal's behalf to manage financial decisions and/or medical choices. A durable POA takes effect immediately and remains active through incapacitation, while a springing POA only activates upon incapacity.
Appointed by a court to legally manage the daily life and/or financial assets of an adult (conservatorship) or a minor (guardianship) who cannot do so themselves.
Acts as the Executor (named in a will) or Administrator (appointed by the court if there is no will) to wind down an estate, pay debts, and distribute assets after someone passes away.
Most people first hear about a professional fiduciary from their attorney during the estate planning process. During that process, you discuss assets, beneficiaries, explore hypothetical scenarios, and summarize a lifetime of unique family dynamics. The attorney then asks for the names of three people to act for you upon incapacity and/or death. Family members, close friends, or corporate bank trust departments are common choices, but there is a practical and tailored alternative: the California Licensed Professional Fiduciary—offering the hands-on responsiveness of a trusted individual with the administrative efficiency and expertise of a bank trust department.
Many clients also learn about a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary through their financial advisor as part of comprehensive wealth planning. Financial advisors recognize that a great financial strategy needs to be future-proofed against life's unpredictable moments. Recommending a professional fiduciary isn't about addressing today’s needs—it’s about establishing a clear, pre-approved safety net for tomorrow. By naming a licensed fiduciary in your estate documents now, you retain total control while creating a seamless bridge between your wealth strategy and administrative support whenever you eventually choose to step back, travel, or simply hand off the operational paperwork.
For many families, naming a relative as trustee or power of attorney seems like the most natural choice—until they consider the practical realities. Managing an estate requires deep legal, tax, and administrative knowledge, and placing that burden on a family member can spark friction, burn out caregivers, or stir up long-standing sibling rivalries. Turning to a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary takes the emotional weight off family relationships. It allows your loved ones to simply be family during difficult times, leaving the complex paperwork, tough financial decisions, and unbiased administration to an experienced, independent expert.