Forrest L. West II
Phone: (949) 215-9036
Fax: (949) 608-3593
Email: forrest.west@cox.net
Forrest L. West II is an experienced and seasoned fiduciary, having served as a bank Trust Officer for over 35 years. His relationship with the trust business began when he joined San Diego Trust and Savings Bank as a Trust Officer trainee immediately following his graduation from San Diego State College in 1965. During that time, Forrest was trained in all aspects of the trust business including estate planning, trust administration, investment management, estate and trust taxation and real estate management. With this experience, Forrest’s career path quickly led to assignments where his knowledge facilitated trust account and branch office management. Forrest joined Southern California Bank in the fall of 1977 accepting a position in Orange County, CA as an Estate Planning and Business Development Officer. In 1985 he also assumed responsibility for management of the Bank’s Orange County Trust Office in Laguna Hills, CA. The year 1989 brought another advancement for Forrest when he was selected as the Manager of the Orange County Office of Sanwa Bank’s Trust Department. This new assignment provided his greatest career challenge to date.
Forrest continued his career as a Trust Officer in various management assignments until early 2002 when his position was eliminated due to the closing of his employer’s Newport Beach Trust Office, which he had managed since mid-1998. Shortly thereafter, Forrest became a private fiduciary. Forrest subsequently established Forrest L. West & Associates delivering a broad line of fiduciary services.
Forrest holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University, San Diego, CA and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School – Trust Division at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Additional schooling includes degree equivalent course work for a degree in Finance. He has also completed professional training programs in Estate and Trust Income Taxation, Real Estate Law & Practice, Investment Management and Charitable Giving. He has qualified for and held a California Real Estate Brokers license and worked in the field of income tax return preparation.Forrest has been active in his community throughout his career. He is a 30-year member of Rotary International and has served in all offices of that organization, including President. He has served on various Boards and Committees of the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Orange County Planned Giving Round Table, Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Council, to name a few. Forrest is a 25-year member of the Orange Coast Estate Planning Council and belongs to the South Orange County Estate Planning Council. He is an applicant for membership in the Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC).