Our Mission

The ACE Fiduciary Group, A Non-Profit Corporation. We complete the circle of care for solo agers, "orphan" elders and dependent special needs adults.  We are poised to handle SNT and Dynasty Trusts.

As a group of experienced professionals we are dedicated to offering hope to those who's family members cannot serve as a private trustee, agent, conservator or estate administrator. We are building an organization to offer a continnuum of care with accountability, compassion and excellence.

About Us

  • Our Founder, Loren Emmanuel has logged over 10,000 hours to become an expert in this field.
  • Fiduciary Officers and staff take ongoing education courses relevant to the responsibilities of estate management, brain functioning, conservatorship, trusts, and related topics.
  • We are trained to understand undue influence and protect against elder financial abuse.
  • We fully comply with fiduciary licensing requirements and state laws.
  • We offer expertise in situations with blended families, small business management, property management, and legacy trusts.
  • We offer a fair, unbiased alternative to laying an unequal burden on family or friends
  • A Trustee is legally required to follow your decisions as written in your trust documents as well as the laws of the State of California and the Uniform Prudent Investor Act.
  • Our team excels in court requirements, court accountings, business receiverships and conservator appointments.

The ACE Board of Directors

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John
Duarte
Chair
Vice President, First Citizens Bank
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Loren A. Emmanuel
Secretary
Executive Director, Licensed Fiduciary, MBA
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Ashley
Block
Member
LCSW
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Ira
Hillyer
Member
JD, Fiduciary Consultant
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Juan
Kelly
Treasurer
Retired Actuary

ACE Fiduciary Officers

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Loren “Elle” A. Emmanuel (formerly Loren R. Acuña)
Founder, MBA, Certified Professional Licensed Fiduciary
Since 2001, Loren has applied her financial management skills to handling estates. This includes handling estate transfers, probates, trust distributions, charitable trusts, bankruptcies, and conservatorships with a total valuation of well over $100 million. She has earned her 10,000 hours and become one of the most experienced private fiduciaries in California.

Loren began her career in financial services after graduating from UC Berkeley, California. Working within the negotiated mortgage transactions industry, she learned risk assessment and best financial management practices while at various financial institutions, including Citicorp Investment Bank.

In 1992, she earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Southern California. Soon thereafter, she gained the practical skills of small business management as a consultant to start-up business and as the Treasurer for the law firm Acuña & Casas, P.C.

Loren enjoys collaborating with and getting know other professionals in the area through her involvement in such groups as the John Muir Philanthropic Advisory Group, The Conversation Project Steering Committee, PROVISORS, Trusted Advisors & Professional Services (TAPs) and other networking opportunities.

Meet the ACE Staff

Loren “Elle” A. Emmanuel (formerly Loren R. Acuña)

ACE Executive Director
Loren is thrilled to blend her professional experience in a boutique estate planning firm together with her financial management background in her work as a fiduciary. Her goal is to grow  ACE into a firm that is known throughout California as the "go to" resource for highly qualified professionals working within the estate, probate, and fiduciary field.As a member of The Professional Fiduciary Association of California, an affiliate member of the Contra Costa County Bar, and National Guardian Association, Loren regularly teaches and presents to fiduciaries, attorneys, tax professionals, investment advisors and family member trustees on a variety of topics. Take a look here for a list of recent topics.
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Kristine Gaerlan

ACE Accounting Admin
Kristine is a recent college graduate from Far Eastern University, with a BS in Accountancy, where she made the Dean's List multiple years. She is a delightful addition to our firm. With a bright smile and "can do" attitude, she is eager to put her education to practical use and we are glad to have her excitement to learn and attention to detail. We are enjoying getting to know this hard working young lady who is fluent in Tagalog as well. She is ready to help us properly account for our work to beneficiaries and courts. And, we have noticed she likes to sing while she works:) A beautiful addition to our growing team.
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ACE Staff 2025

Christina Paulson

Christina Paulson

ACE Office Manager
Christina is a compassionate, organized and effective professional. She has previously worked for the Contra Costa County as an Accounting Clerk while working towards her B.A. in Accounting.  She began working with us in 2023 as our Concierge. She continues to prove her planning and organizational skills through her enthusiasm for our mission and work on our outreach events. She has earned a promotion to Office Manager and will continue to assist in helping you connect with the right team member.  Her passion to provide support and training to our gowing staff is invaluable. Plus, she likes coffee too 🙂

Heather Latiolais

Independent Contractor - Accounting Specialist

Jessica Garcia

Independent Contractor - Social Media Specialist
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Briggite Duarte
Concierge
Briggite was raised in Southern California and moved to Northern California for love. She brings heart for our mission and a generous spirit to our organization. She is an experienced professional with a well-rounded and thoughtful perspective to her work. If you are lucky to catch her in our Concierge role, you will hear her calm and kind approach to help potential clients make some hard choices. She demonstrates an ability to stick with the job and dig into detailed tasks. Before joining ACE, she spent time at the U.S. Air Force as a Data Analyst, and an investigator for the DCSA, roles that taught her the value of quiet diligence and integrity. When she isn’t working, Briggite loves to walk her dog anywhere, play competitve women's soccer, and finds joy in the arts.

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