Lake Trust Credit Union

Lake Trust Credit Union is a member-owned institution serving communities across 30 branches in Michigan. Jim Sarver, Senior Vice President of Financial Life Planning, has been at the center of Lake Trust's expansion into estate planning — viewing it as a natural extension of the credit union's financial wellbeing mission.

By The Numbers

• 30 — Branches across Michigan
• Day One — Non-interest income from launch
• Employees — Piloted the program first

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The Opportunity — A Recognized Need, and a Real Concern

Lake Trust had been watching the estate planning space for some time. The need was clear — members needed Wills and Trusts, and the credit union wanted to be the one to help. But there was a real compliance concern: would offering estate planning be perceived as offering legal advice?

"The one thing we had a lot of concern on is — were we going to be perceived as offering legal advice? Venturing into it had some compliance issues with us. Should we be in this space or not?"
— Jim Sarver, SVP of Financial Life Planning, Lake Trust CU

Once Lake Trust decided the answer was yes, the search began for a partner that fit — not just functionally, but culturally.

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Why Legal Karma — Credit Union Born

What set Legal Karma apart wasn't just the product. It was the origin story. Legal Karma was born out of a credit union pilot program — it felt like a partner that understood why credit unions exist, not a vendor selling software. That cultural alignment was decisive for Lake Trust's leadership.

"The thing we liked about Legal Karma is they were kind of credit union born — out of a credit union, out of a pilot program. They were, in our minds, financial wellbeing driven."
— Jim Sarver, SVP of Financial Life Planning, Lake Trust CU

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The Launch — Employees First, Members Second

Lake Trust approached onboarding with the same rigor it applies to every member-facing initiative. Before launching to the general membership, Lake Trust's own employees used Legal Karma to complete their personal estate plans — creating firsthand understanding and genuine confidence in recommending the service.

"We were able to plug our employees in first to test it, and it became a remarkable experience."
— Jim Sarver, SVP of Financial Life Planning, Lake Trust CU

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The Results — A Product That Earns Its Place

Lake Trust doesn't view estate planning as a standalone offering. It's integrated into the full continuum of member financial services — savings, checking, mortgages, loans, insurance, investments, and now Wills and Trusts.

"I think our members look at it as — Lake Trust cares about my financial wellbeing. We're able to take each member and look at their needs and plug this piece into their financial wellbeing."
— Jim Sarver, SVP of Financial Life Planning, Lake Trust CU

A Meaningful Non-Interest Income Stream

In an environment where traditional non-interest income sources have been disappearing, estate planning provides a new, sustainable revenue line — one that serves members and strengthens the institution's financial position simultaneously.

A Partnership That Keeps Building

The collaborative dynamic between the two teams has become a source of ongoing innovation. The teams are actively working together on what comes next — identifying compatible services and new ways to serve members from a financial wellbeing standpoint.

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What We Learned

1. Compliance concerns are real — and solvable. Lake Trust's initial hesitation around "offering legal advice" is common across credit unions. Legal Karma's compliance infrastructure addressed this directly.
2. Non-interest income and member service aren't competing priorities. Estate planning generates revenue while delivering a service members genuinely value — a combination that's increasingly rare.
3. Cultural fit drives partnership quality. A vendor that understands the member-first ethos doesn't need to be taught it.