Our Services
OUR PHILOSOPHY
WHO WE ARE
OUR DIFFERENCE
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First Financial Trust adheres to the fundamental principles of value investing and added value through active management and thorough oversight. Our emphasis on quality originates from the decision to structure investment portfolios to withstand market declines, in some cases significant declines, but also to participate when markets rally. This strategy serves to produce superior long-term results that meet your investment objectives.
We actively manage equity and fixed-income portfolios that are tailored to accommodate your investment return goals, risk tolerance, tax situation, liquidity needs, and time horizon.
Equity Portfolios
Our equity portfolios span value, growth, and market-oriented styles. They manage the risks of the equity market through the quality of securities selected, the weight each security is permitted to hold in the portfolio and sector weightings. The investment selection process is based on top-down analyses, in which our portfolio managers take a macro view of the equity universe and combine that view with proprietary screens to identify the best stocks suited to outperform the market. Most of our holdings are purchased for the long term, as evidenced by our low portfolio turnover. Some holdings are sold sooner than planned due to earlier-than-anticipated upside performance.
Fixed-Income Portfolios
Our fixed-income portfolios span taxable and tax-exempt styles. They manage the risks of the bond market through the quality of securities selected, the weight each security is permitted to hold in the portfolio and the length to maturity. The investment selection process focuses on a clear understanding of the Treasury yield curve, the various factors that contribute to its slope, and the relationships between yields across different maturity periods. We only invest in the highest credit-quality bonds to eliminate credit risk, whether those bonds are corporates or municipalities. The purpose of the bond portfolio is to generate current income and protect principal. We generally purchase bonds with investment-grade credit ratings, excluding the lowest tier of the investment-grade spectrum.
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With experienced professionals in trust management, estate planning, real estate management, investment management, oil and gas management and company retirement plans, First Financial Trust has resources across all aspects of asset management to establish and administer individual plans that will help you achieve all of your financial goals.
Contact us today, and let us show you our personal approach to service.
We will work diligently to manage your assets and understand your objectives. We will guide you through a clearly defined investment philosophy that delivers superior, consistent results through changing market environments. We will demonstrate our knowledge, education and experience to manage both the surface and mineral estate and your land and property as if it were our own.
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At First Financial Trust, we are not here to offer a one-size-fits-all product for the largest possible customer base. We are not here to simply manage assets.
Instead, we are here to provide the highest level of client service and client focus:
- Delivering a personal approach to provide targeted solutions for your individual financial goals
- Measuring our success by your success
- Developing and sustaining long-term relationships
- Offering highly competitive fees in the marketplace
- Tailoring your portfolio to meet your individual needs
- Leading within our industry by knowing what we do best and consistently doing it
We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your financial management needs. Whether that is for investment management, trust and estate planning, oil & gas management, real estate management or company retirement plans, First Financial Trust is dedicated to providing one of the best client experiences that is available to you today.
When you're ready to find a trust and wealth management partner, we'll be ready too. We work diligently to provide clear communications, attention to detail, and the highest regard for your future. It would be our privilege to serve you.
Ready to get started? Let's find a Relationship Manager near you.
Looking for more information first? Review our Frequently Asked Questions.
Our History
Our banking history dates back to 1890, when Farmers and Merchants National Bank opened for business in Abilene, Texas.
- As Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Abilene, we began offering trust services in 1927.
- In 1957, responding to a more diversified economy, our name changed to First National Bank of Abilene. And then, in 1973, the shareholders formed First Abilene Bankshares, Inc. as a multi-bank holding company.
- In October 1993, to better reflect the scope of operations, our name changed to First Financial Bankshares, which coincided with our listing on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the trading symbol FFIN.
- A decade later, in October 2003, our trust departments from First Financial banks in Abilene, Sweetwater, San Angelo and Stephenville were consolidated to form a new trust company – First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company.
- We began serving customers with a fifth office in April of 2005 inside the First Financial Bank, Southlake branch, which moved to a new space in Fort Worth in April 2007.
- In June of 2009, we welcomed the opening of a sixth trust office in Odessa.
- In June of 2013, the trust operations of the southeast markets for Beaumont, Orange and the surrounding areas began. First Financial Trust & Asset Management seventh state office opened in late 2014 and is located and staffed from Beaumont.
- In November of 2018, we opened our eighth trust office in Houston, providing our unmatched service to an additional metropolitan area and its surrounding communities.
- In August of 2020, we opened our ninth location in Bryan/College Station, solidifying our commitment to the entire state.
- Today, we are able to provide trust and asset management services to our growing family of First Financial customers throughout Texas.