passing the baton

Fred Winter, innovator and founder of Heritage Trust, passes the baton to Daniel T. Montoya

Exciting news!

Fred E. Winter, founder of Heritage Trust Company of New Mexico, will pass the position of President to Daniel T. Montoya on October 1.

Daniel  — a graduate of Columbia University School of Law and an attorney licensed in both New York and New Mexico — moved home to New Mexico in 1997. He has been a part of the Heritage Trust Family since 2001 when he joined forces with Fred to improve Heritage Trust’s administrative and compliance function. 

Daniel  joined the Board of Directors in 2002.  He was hired as Executive Vice President in 2007, a position he held until the end of 2018, when he stepped back from his full-time role to help take care of family.

He’s ready to get back to work.  

Daniel returned to Heritage Trust in August, and is honored to take on the duties and responsibilities as President.

“I am so impressed and honored to come back to Heritage Trust in this new role. With Fred continuing to support Heritage Trust, and the solid team of professionals Fred has assembled, we’re poised for growth, but more importantly we can provide the impartiality and objectivity that families need in managing their family legacy as we navigate this new world,” says Daniel. 

Fred, who moved to Taos in 1980, founded a CPA practice in 1985 and the independent trust company in 1994 after realizing there was a local need for trust services. 

“It was in 1994 that I thought, ‘Why not start an independent trust company?’ There are none in Northern New Mexico. None of the local banks have trust departments. I know what it takes to establish a financial institution so I determined what was legally required and applied.”

The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division issued Certificate of Trust Authority Number 12 to Heritage Trust, “and we were off and running.”

Throughout these twenty-five plus years Fred has hustled during busy tax seasons, all the while growing Heritage Trust and raising a family. And he still found the time to train for triathlons!

Fred says he still has at least one more Ironman in him. 

“I am not ready to retire, but I am ready to redesign my life!” 

This year has been fast and furious, but throughout it Fred has counted on the whole team. “Daniel has been and will continue to be a catalyst for doing what is right for our Heritage Trust clients,” he says. 

Fred will continue as Chief Innovation Officer, responsible for identifying and implementing cutting edge technology that will continue to improve Heritage Trust’s capacity to serve clients from the headquarters in Taos. 

He will also continue to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.

Have questions about the transition? Let’s talk!