Our Team of Fiduciaries
Cheryl J. Carter CLPF, NCG
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
National Certified Guardian
Cheryl J. Carter
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Cheryl graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University with a degree in Family Life and has been with ConservaTrust since 2013. After caring for her own parents during their declining years and helping them with their healthcare and estate planning decisions, Cheryl feels compelled to use what she has learned for the benefit of other seniors and people of all ages.
As a Case Manager, Cheryl worked side by side with ConservaTrust CEO, Jim Sullivan, for four years expanding her knowledge and expertise. She worked on a number of sophisticated cases before going on to become a licensed professional fiduciary and national certified guardian. She also specializes in working on cases involving real estate, tenant issues, and managing and/or selling real property. Cheryl especially enjoys the challenge of working with beneficiaries who are at odds with one another – helping them find common ground and a way to work together to move things toward a mutually beneficial resolution.
When she’s not working, Cheryl enjoys traveling with her husband or visiting their three daughters and 12 grandchildren across the United States.
CA Licensed Professional Fiduciary #1023
National Certified Guardian
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Professional Fiduciary Association of California
Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association
William O. Gamble III, CLPF
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
William O. Gamble, III
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Contact William
Phone: (310) 792-8838
Bill Gamble has practiced as a fiduciary since 1965. He has administered trusts, conservatorships, and probates during this period of time. In addition, Bill has qualified as an expert witness in over 15 fiduciary litigation cases.
Gamble began his career with Bank of America and spent 22 years with that institution. He worked in various offices for Bank of America including Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and San Bernardino. He was the statewide manager of the Personal Trust Department of Bank of America when it was sold in 1987 to Wells Fargo Bank. Gamble went on to organize the west coast services for Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company beginning in May of 1988. He was president of their west coast operations until separated in August of 1997 from the successor to Boston Safe, Mellon Bank.
In 1998 Gamble established his personal fiduciary services out of Redondo Beach and has been at that same location since then. Shortly thereafter, he became a licensed professional fiduciary and has maintained his license since then.
Gamble joined the Professional Fiduciary Association in September of 1998 and has taught classes for other fiduciaries at the annual PFAC educational conferences. When the California State Fullerton certification courses for fiduciaries began in early 2000, Gamble was invited to become one of the founding members of their advisory council that designed the course work for the various classes. Bill taught the introductory Standards and Practices in Fiduciary Management as well as the Investment Management class. Bill served as president of the Southern Region of PFAC for one year while serving as chair for the statewide Ethics Committee of PFAC and was a member of the Board of Directors for PFAC at the same time. He is very proud of the individuals that had internships under him that are now licensed fiduciaries.
Suzanne F. Grudnitski CLPF, NCG
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
National Certified Guardian
Suzanne F. Grudnitski
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Suzanne gets great satisfaction from being part of the “safety net” which clients rely on when they are no longer able to make decisions regarding their own care or their assets. She is zealous about ensuring that her clients are safe, healthy, and happy, and that their estates are administered in the manner the client wished. Suzanne is known for analyzing complex personal and/or business issues and developing workable solutions.
Suzanne graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a BA in Business and later was a stay-at-home mom for 20 years until her sons went off to college. Instead of becoming a retired stay-at-home mom, she sought a career which allowed her to help people. Becoming a professional fiduciary was the perfect choice.
Suzanne was born and raised in Rhode Island, so part of her heart will always be on the east coast. This is especially true now that her oldest son lives in Boston. She has been living in Southern California since 1982, so she happily roots for the Dodgers, except when they play the Red Sox.
CA Licensed Professional Fiduciary # 710
National Certified Guardian
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Professional Fiduciary Association of California
Member, South Bay Estate Planning Council
Member, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, Professional Advisory Council
Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association
Awards:
President’s Volunteer Service Award issued by the White House in 2012 for volunteer work tutoring homeless children with School on Wheels
Stuart C. Sherman CLPF
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Stuart C. Sherman
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Right out of high school, Stuart Sherman joined the United States Marine Corps. After an honorable discharge from the military, he attended and graduated from the University of Utah with an emphasis in clinical psychology. While attending university, he worked in adolescent inpatient care specializing in substance abuse and mood disorders.
Between undergrad and graduate school, Stuart volunteered at Rising Star Outreach, an orphanage in India. He instructed the direct care staff at the orphanage the importance of hygiene, proper diet for children, worked with local attorneys to increase the amount of funding for the program, and scouted and located housing for more children. He also taught the microloan system to leprosy colonies and delivered food and supplies to those colonies.
During graduate school, Stuart worked in acute psychiatric care. He started working as a fiduciary 11 years ago. He specializes in trust administration for dual diagnosis beneficiaries, probate cases, and conservatorships.
James W. Sullivan CLPF, NCG
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
National Certified Guardian
James W. Sullivan
Licensed Professional Fiduciary
Before becoming a leader among professional fiduciaries in Southern California Jim expanded on his business degree from California State Polytechnic University by developing an extensive background in managing businesses and commercial, residential and apartment properties.
Jim has since gone on to focus on the needs of people who need assistance with their personal and financial affairs by becoming licensed to serve as Trustee, Executor or Administrator of Probate Estates, Conservatorship of Person and/or Estate, and as Receiver.
Jim’s reputation for excellence has led to him being asked to serve on many complex cases. He also specializes in cases involving sophisticated real estate property issues, operation of businesses, and managing intellectual property, dealmaking and conflict resolution. Jim is fully insured and bondable and his assets under management for clients exceeds $100,000,000.
CA Licensed Professional Fiduciary # 416
National Certified Guardian, NCG. Center for Guardianship Certification
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, PFAC
-Past President, Southern Region
Member, Estate Planning and Trust Council of Long Beach
-Past President, Board of Directors
Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Section
Member of the Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council
National Eagle Scout Association, NESA