An advantage of selecting family members or friends as Successor Trustees is that they have personal knowledge of the family. Their knowledge of the true needs of the beneficiaries can prove valuable. They can also generally be trusted to act in the beneficiary’s best interest and usually will serve for little or no fee. The disadvantages of family members or friends serving as Successor Trustees is that they may make decisions on an emotional, rather than objective basis, and they often lack the financial skills necessary to invest and manage large sums of money.