RAPID CITY, S.D. — October 16, 2025 — Wealth Advisors Trust Company (WATC), an independent, advisor-founded corporate trustee based in South Dakota, has appointed Jonathan Connolly as President and Chief Operating Officer. The move signals a new phase of national expansion for the firm, which currently oversees more than $4 billion in assets under administration.
Connolly, a 30-year veteran of fiduciary and wealth management services, joins WATC after serving as CEO and President of Wealthspire Trust LLC, a Tennessee-chartered public trust company. His career includes leadership roles at UBS AG, Comerica Bank & Trust, RBC Trust Company of Delaware, PNC Bank, and TD Bank.
“Wealth Advisors Trust Company was founded on the belief that trustees should simplify relationships, not complicate them,” Connolly said. “Together, we’re redefining what partnership means in fiduciary service—being kind, responsive, and collaborative while empowering advisors and attorneys to deliver exceptional outcomes for their clients.”
Founded in 2009, WATC was created “by advisors, for advisors,” built on South Dakota’s favorable trust laws and strong fiduciary environment. The company provides directed and delegated trust solutions that allow financial advisors and attorneys to retain control of client relationships while outsourcing trust administration.
“At Wealth Advisors Trust Company, our goal has always been to make advisors more competitive by helping them retain and grow trust assets,” said Christopher Holtby, co-founder of WATC. “Jonathan brings a deep understanding of how fiduciary partnerships drive advisor growth. His leadership will accelerate our expansion and deepen the value we provide to advisors and attorneys nationwide.”
Under Connolly’s direction, the firm plans to expand into the Mid-South, New England, and West Coast markets, continuing its mission to provide collaborative, compassionate trust services to advisors and families across the United States.
WATC operates independently—free from bank ownership and custodian affiliation—and is headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, a national hub for trust administration and fiduciary services.
Learn more at www.wealthadvisorstrust.com.
