The Family Office at Synovus

Overview

The Family Office at Synovus is a division of Synovus Trust Company, N.A. The firm reports 46 team members serving more than 98 families, with assets under administration exceeding $12.0 billion as of September 30, 2025.¹

History

The organization began more than seven decades ago as a private family office established to provide estate planning and trust services for a founding family.²

Leadership

Walter “Walt” M. Deriso III is Chief Executive Officer, Hamilton Hilsman IV is President, and Jennifer Pratt, FEA, is Director of Strategic Services.³

Michael “Mike” Sluder, CFA, serves as Chief Investment Officer. Robert “Rob” L. Persons, CFP, CTFA, is Director of Advisory Services, and Jeffrey W. Hobbs is Director of Fiduciary Services.³

Services

The Family Office at Synovus provides investment management, wealth strategies, estate planning, family dynamics support, governance, wealth education, and leadership development for multigenerational families.¹

Its integrated team model assigns each family a primary relationship manager, family office specialist, wealth strategist, and portfolio manager.⁴

What the firm offers

• Investment management
• Tax planning
• Estate planning
• Trust and fiduciary
• Family governance and education
• Administration and bill pay
• Private and alternative investments

Client Focus

The firm serves ultra-high-net-worth families through offices in Columbus and Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama.¹

Approach

The investment process uses an individualized investment policy based on each client’s goals and risk tolerance. The firm considers after-tax returns, diversification, concentrated stock, business interests, and alternative assets when developing an investment strategy.⁵

Assets and Investment Products

The firm reports assets under administration exceeding $12.0 billion as of September 30, 2025.¹

Investment products and services are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc., Synovus Trust Company, N.A., and Creative Financial Group. The SEC lists Synovus Securities, Inc. as an approved investment adviser effective September 1, 1983.⁶

FAQs

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Sources

1. The Family Office at Synovus, Who We Are
2. The Family Office at Synovus, Our History
3. The Family Office at Synovus, Senior Leadership
4. The Family Office at Synovus, What We Do
5. The Family Office at Synovus, Investment Approach
6. SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure, Synovus Securities, Inc.

Claim or correct this profile

This profile is a factual summary written in our own words from public sources. It is for information only. It is not an endorsement, rating, ranking or recommendation, and it is not investment advice. MultiFamilyOffices.com is not affiliated with the SEC or with this firm unless stated. Form ADV figures are self-reported by the firm.