We provide simple, effective services that leave our clients with more time to do what they do best.
Let us be your go-to for all things business, investments and property. Take a look at our helpful podcasts, webinars, articles, guides and more.
A serious upgrade to our in-house trust services — trust setups, reviews, estate planning and asset protection, all under one roof with a dedicated Trust Manager.
Your trust specialists
Set up a family, trading or property trust in 2–4 weeks. Fixed-fee, deed drafted in-house, IRD number application included — no back-and-forth between your accountant and a separate law firm.
Full annual returns, trustee minutes, beneficiary distributions and tax planning — handled by the same team that drafted your structure. One file, one point of contact, one fixed fee.
A free 20-minute review of your existing deed against the Trusts Act 2019. If it needs a refresh we'll tell you; if it doesn't, we'll tell you that too. Just provide us with a copy of your Deed and we will go from there.
Trust Services
We help clients structure their affairs properly, minimise unnecessary tax burden, optimise the efficiency of their trust, and ensure their assets and families are protected for generations.
Trusts feel complex because they sit between law and accounting — and most firms only handle one side. Here's why working with both, in the same building, makes the whole thing simpler.
Most trust setups bounce between a law firm (who drafts the deed) and an accountant (who files the returns). We do both. That means the structure is designed with the tax outcome already in mind — and there's no game of telephone when something changes.
The trustee tax rate jumped from 33% to 39% in April 2024. Every trust with material income now warrants a structuring review — distributions, beneficiary planning and beneficial owner disclosures all need a fresh look. We'll tell you whether yours needs work, and if so, what.
The Trusts Act 2019 introduced mandatory trustee duties, beneficiary disclosure obligations and record-keeping standards that older deeds often don't meet. If your trust was set up before July 2019, there's a good chance it needs a review.
You'll work directly with Vaishnu — not a junior, not a call centre. Every trust client gets a dedicated specialist, fixed fees, and ongoing support between annual returns.
15 Minutes
1
You get in touch
Fill out the form below or email Vaishnu directly. Tell us what you're trying to do — set up a new trust, review an existing one, plan an estate, or update your will. We'll come back to you within one business day.
When Scheduled
3
Discovery and review
If you have an existing trust deed, we read it against the Trusts Act 2019. If you're starting fresh, we map out the structure, beneficiaries and likely tax position. You leave knowing exactly what you'll get.
2–4 Weeks
5
We do the work
Deed drafting, trustee minutes, IRD number applications, beneficiary planning — handled in-house. You sign once at the end. Anything urgent gets flagged early.
30 Minutes
2
Initial conversation
Vaishnu calls to understand your situation — what assets, what beneficiaries, what you're protecting against, and whether a trust is actually the right tool. Sometimes it isn't, and we'll say so.
Within 3 Business Days
4
Fixed-fee proposal
A written proposal with a fixed fee, a timeline, and a single point of contact. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no scope creep.
Annually
6
Ongoing reviews
Trusts aren't set-and-forget. Each year we check the deed still fits your circumstances, file the IR6 and IR3s, and flag anything worth restructuring. Same team, same fixed fee.
Trust Setup
Trust Management
Wills and Enduring Power of Attorney
Have a question? You'll find answers to some of the most common things our clients ask us. If you need more detail, we're always happy to chat.
Honestly — not everyone does. Trusts make sense when you have assets worth protecting from relationship claims, business risk, or future estate complexity. They cost real money to run, so if your situation is simple, we'll tell you. The free 20-minute review is the right place to start.
Two to four weeks for a standard family or trading trust, start to finish. That includes the deed, the trustee minute, the IRD number application, and signing. If we're also setting up a corporate trustee, add another week.
The Act introduced mandatory trustee duties, a presumption of beneficiary disclosure, and stricter record-keeping. Older deeds often don't have the right wording for the disclosure regime or for modern beneficiary classes. If your trust was set up before July 2019, there's a good chance it needs a review.
Most trust work crosses the line between legal and tax. When the Trust Manager who runs the setup sits next to the accountant who files the returns, decisions get made once — not three times by people who haven't spoken to each other. It's faster, cheaper, and fewer things fall through the cracks.
Yes. We do migrating-trustee work and ongoing management for trusts originally set up by other firms. We'll read your existing deed, tell you what's working and what needs an update, and either keep the deed as-is or recommend a variation. The handover usually takes 2–3 weeks.
Across our accounting, mortgages, property and wealth services — trust services are new to Lighthouse, but the same team you already trust is behind them.
"We recently needed to remortgage our rental portfolio and chose to work with the team at Lighthouse Financial Services. It turned out to be a fantastic decision! From the very start, they were professional, supportive, and made the entire process so much easier for us."
"We recently needed to remortgage our rental portfolio and chose to work with the team at Lighthouse Financial Services. It turned out to be a fantastic decision! From the very start, they were professional, supportive, and made the entire process so much easier for us."
"We could not recommend the team more highly. Navigating the process of purchasing a first home is filled with questions and unknowns so having support from these two was fantastic. They were responsive, clear, approachable, worked to understand what we needed and had it all covered."
"We could not recommend the team more highly. Navigating the process of purchasing a first home is filled with questions and unknowns so having support from these two was fantastic. They were responsive, clear, approachable, worked to understand what we needed and had it all covered."
"Lighthouse were very quick and easy to work with. The staff had great communication and processed my tax return within a few days. I recommend their service."
"Lighthouse were very quick and easy to work with. The staff had great communication and processed my tax return within a few days. I recommend their service."
"I've been working with James from Lighthouse for the last 2 years. James has been working with me to help me define and maintain my financial goals and manage my investments. James is extremely easy to deal with and explains things in a very simple and easy to understand way. "
"I've been working with James from Lighthouse for the last 2 years. James has been working with me to help me define and maintain my financial goals and manage my investments. James is extremely easy to deal with and explains things in a very simple and easy to understand way. "
"Great experience working with Jess and the Lighthouse team. Jess was extremely diligent and had continued great communication throughout. We feel extremely confident moving forward with Jess guiding us through our financial goals."
"Great experience working with Jess and the Lighthouse team. Jess was extremely diligent and had continued great communication throughout. We feel extremely confident moving forward with Jess guiding us through our financial goals."
"We have just brought our 2nd investment property with the help of Vinny & Laura. Their communication is clear, concise and timely and they’re so easy to work with. I look forward to building our property portfolio with them alongside us."
"We have just brought our 2nd investment property with the help of Vinny & Laura. Their communication is clear, concise and timely and they’re so easy to work with. I look forward to building our property portfolio with them alongside us."
"Lighthouse financial were super awesome in helping our family buy our first home. Laura and Vinny were always prompt and professional with their support. Highly recommend lighthouse and more specifically Laura and Vinny for all your mortgage related needs."
"Lighthouse financial were super awesome in helping our family buy our first home. Laura and Vinny were always prompt and professional with their support. Highly recommend lighthouse and more specifically Laura and Vinny for all your mortgage related needs."
"I’ve had an excellent experience with James and the team at Lighthouse. Their financial advisory services have improved my financial literacy through one-on-one meetings, webinars, and podcasts."
"I’ve had an excellent experience with James and the team at Lighthouse. Their financial advisory services have improved my financial literacy through one-on-one meetings, webinars, and podcasts."
"I would encourage anyone looking to sort your financial planning and investing to check these guys out , and also the mortgage brokers team who bent over backwards for my situation to get me across the line! They keep you in the loop of the progress and suggest options along the way to take advantage of any situation presented. "
"I would encourage anyone looking to sort your financial planning and investing to check these guys out , and also the mortgage brokers team who bent over backwards for my situation to get me across the line! They keep you in the loop of the progress and suggest options along the way to take advantage of any situation presented. "
"They guided me in securing health, life, and income insurance, and helped me get my Will sorted. I really appreciate their expertise and genuine commitment to their clients. I highly recommend their services - I even referred my dad to them."
"They guided me in securing health, life, and income insurance, and helped me get my Will sorted. I really appreciate their expertise and genuine commitment to their clients. I highly recommend their services - I even referred my dad to them."
Simply fill out your details below, and we'll be in touch within one business day.
1. Free 20-minute trust review — no obligation
2. Fixed-fee, written proposal before any work starts
3. Trust Manager and Accountant in the same conversation
