Bridgeford’s team is looking forward to the event! We encourage you to read on to learn more about our activity during the conference, and if you’re attending, we hope you’ll join us for a private reception on November 5 (details below).

Presentation: Exploring the INSECURE Act of 2019 and 2022

David Warren, Co-Founder & Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company, will be speaking during the conference on Tuesday, November 4 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM. He will join Vincent Lackner, Jr. (Leimberg LeClair& Lackner, Inc.), Judy Lee (Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP), and Amy Takahashi (Legacy Tax Group) for a panel discussion titled “The INSECURE Act of 2019 and 2022: What Every Wealth Transfer Advisor Needs to Know.”

The session will explore recent developments and trends in the rules governing retirement planning, including inherited IRAs, RMDs, stretch distributions, eligible designated beneficiaries, and key reporting considerations for advisors.

Private Evening Reception: November 5

We invite you to a private evening reception, co-hosted by Bridgeford Trust Company, Cerity Partners, MGO, and Halbach | Szwarc Law Firm. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation overlooking Waikiki as we connect with colleagues across the legal, tax, and financial planning professions.

Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Location: Lanikai Lounge (Top Floor of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Kalia Tower)

We hope you’ll join us! RSVP here.

Visit Bridgeford’s Exhibit Table

David Warren, Doug Mikkonen (Senior VP & Senior Trust Officer), and Sydney Warren (Director of Business & Market Development) will be available at our exhibit table throughout the week. Be sure to stop by to connect and learn how South Dakota’s powerful modern trust laws—including its advanced asset protection, privacy, and dynasty trust provisions—continue to lead the industry in providing sophisticated and independent trust solutions.

If you have any questions about Bridgeford’s participation in the conference or would like to schedule a time to meet during one of the sessions or receptions, please reach out to us at (605) 224-9189 or via our contact form. We look forward to seeing you in Honolulu!

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As we explored in our “Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves” series, planning tools such as Dynasty Trusts, Privacy Protections, Asset Protection Trusts, and Directed Trusts provide a strong foundation. Yet, for many families, the structure that brings these tools together under a cohesive framework of oversight, education, and participation is the Private Trust Company.

A Private Trust Company (PTC) is a privately held entity that manages the assets and wealth of a single family. Unlike public trust companies that serve multiple clients, a PTC is designed exclusively for one family, often those with complex assets such as real estate, businesses, artwork, luxury yachts, and aircraft.

Why Families Choose a Private Trust Company

A PTC can be an ideal option for families of significant wealth for several reasons:

• Preserve Wealth: A PTC helps families preserve and protect their wealth by leveraging modern trust law planning tools available in top-tier jurisdictions such as South Dakota.
• Plan for Succession: PTCs can help families plan for the next generation by transferring assets in a structured and transparent way, executed by family-appointed fiduciaries under the oversight of a Board of Managers. This framework creates an opportunity for families to shape the long-term stewardship of their wealth and cultural goals.
• Provide Control: By establishing clear governance policies and procedures as well as a defined “statement of purpose,” PTCs allow families to maintain meaningful control over their wealth, even amid potential family conflict, divorce, or death.
• Involve Family Members: A PTC creates opportunities for family engagement by allowing members to serve on the Board of Managers, advisory committees, or in fiduciary roles. This involvement encourages education, transparency, and collaboration around trust management, offering a level of participation not available through institutional trustee relationships.
• Achieve Cost Efficiency: PTCs can be more cost-effective than institutional trustees because they typically operate at a de minimis profit or breakeven, often making them a less expensive solution for families with approximately $500 million or more in assets.

Throughout our “Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves” series, we’ve explored how modern trust law empowers families to preserve, protect, and guide wealth across generations. A Private Trust Company brings these concepts together—combining structure, education, and independence within a single governance model that promotes lasting family harmony and control.

Join Bridgeford in December for a live event revisiting the key insights of “Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves” and exploring how families can protect and control their legacies during a time of increasing global complexity and uncertainty. Stay tuned for more details and registration information soon!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Private Trust Companies, please reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

The post Private Trust Company: A Powerful Family Governance Tool appeared first on Bridgeford Trust Company.

  

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder & Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with Heath Goldman – President & CEO of ICON Wealth and Legacy Partners – for a conversation on how insurance planning is evolving in today’s chaotic world.

From Heath’s pivot from law school to wealth planning, to decades spent helping ultra-successful families rethink liquidity, legacy, and risk, he shares why traditional portfolio management simply isn’t enough anymore.

As they continue their discussion, Heath and David explore the resurgence of life insurance as a planning strategy rather than a product, with a deep dive into how Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) is reshaping tax deferral and wealth transfer. The conversation also hits on one of the most groundbreaking shifts in the planning world, particularly in South Dakota, where forward-thinking rules allow PPLI policies to hold crypto and other non-traditional assets, offering both tax efficiency and powerful asset protection. It’s a strategy more families are exploring as conversations move beyond traditional planning.

You can listen to our latest episode on Bridgeford’s podcast page, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and SoundCloud—or watch it on our YouTube channel.

Bridgeford Trust Company’s Delivering Direction and Control podcast was developed to educate, challenge, and inspire listeners. As we interview experts in the trust planning arena, we keep listeners updated on developments regarding modern trust law and provide practical discussion on the powerful trust planning opportunities available to advisors around the country and the world—all in an effort to deliver far more direction and control to clients and their advisors than ever before. Check out all of our episodes here: bridgefordtrust.com/podcasts.

If you have questions on any of the topics discussed in this latest episode, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

The post Podcast Episode 51 – Beyond Portfolio Management: PPLI, Crypto, and the Next Era of Wealth Planning with Heath Goldman appeared first on Bridgeford Trust Company.

  

We hope to see you at these upcoming events, and please contact us if you’d like to connect!

October 1: US-Mexico Strategic Real Estate Investments Summit (Miami, FL)

Bridgeford will sponsor the US-Mexico Strategic Real Estate Investments Summit, a premier event fostering cross-border collaboration in real estate between the United States and Mexico. The program, held at Akerman LLP’s office in Brickell City Center, features keynotes, expert panels, and networking sessions.

Mariano Marco, Global Managing Director of Bridgeford Global, will be attending and is a featured panelist during the 11:00 a.m. session entitled “Smart Structures, Legal, Trust and Tax Strategies to Maximize Cross-Border Real Estate Investments”.

We have a limited number of complimentary attendee tickets available, so if you are interested in joining us at this event, please contact us.

October 10: Newport Beach Chamber’s 2026 Economic Forecast (Newport Beach, CA)

Bridgeford is a returning sponsor for the Newport Beach Chamber’s Economic Forecast, a highly anticipated event providing valuable insights for budgeting, finance, real estate, and investment planning with a focus on the 2026 economy.

David Warren (Co-Founder & Chairman), Doug Mikkonen (Senior VP & Senior Trust Officer), and Sydney Warren (Director of Business & Market Development) will be attending and look forward to hosting a table. We have a limited number of seats available, so if you are interested in joining us, please contact us.

October 19-21: NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference (Washington, DC)

Bridgeford is proud to sponsor the 62nd Annual NAEPC Conference, a gathering designed to foster multi-disciplinary collaboration among estate planning professionals with nationally recognized speakers in estate planning, tax law, and wealth management.

Our team will be at our exhibit table throughout the event, so be sure to stop by if you’re attending!

October 21-22: Trusted Advisor’s Sports X Miami Summit (Miami, FL)

Bridgeford is excited to speak at and sponsor the Sports X Miami Summit, returning for its third year as a a one-day event dedicated to bringing together top minds from the sports and entertainment industries.

The event begins with a welcome party on October 21, followed by a full-day summit on October 22. David Warren will be speaking, sharing insights on modern trust law and planning strategies relevant to the global sports and entertainment community.

If you’re interested in attending, please reach out to us for more information on this exclusive event!

October 22-23: STEP Miami Summit (Coral Gables, FL)

Bridgeford is once again sponsoring the STEP Miami Summit, a leading event connecting and empowering professionals in the wealth management and private client industry while exploring cross-border planning, evolving regulations, and best practices for global clients.

This year’s summit will be held at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. David Warren, Mariano Marco, and Sydney Warren will be attending, and we invite you to stop by our exhibit table throughout the event to talk with us about how we may be able to collaborate to best serve your domestic and international clients.

October 29-31: Procopio International Tax Institute (San Diego, CA)

Bridgeford is honored to sponsor the 20th Anniversary Procopio International Tax Institute (PITI), presented in collaboration with the Graduate Tax Program of Georgetown University and International Fiscal Association (IFA USA). This milestone event is recognized as the leading forum for the latest developments in U.S. and Mexican international tax law.

Mariano Marco will be speaking on a panel, addressing wealth structuring across generations and how trust planning comes into play within a U.S.-Mexico context. He’ll also be available throughout the event to connect!

As we move through this upcoming month, our team is looking forward to engaging in meaningful conversations and exploring opportunities for collaboration. If you’ll be attending any of these events, we welcome the chance to connect.

Stay tuned for event updates on our LinkedIn page, and feel free to contact us at (605) 224-9189 or via our contact form with any questions or to schedule a time to meet.

The post Bridgeford to Sponsor and Speak at Upcoming October Events appeared first on Bridgeford Trust Company.

  

This is arguably one of the more dramatized elements of the series. In reality, while first-generation wealth creators often struggle with giving up control, most typically want the smooth transition of wealth and power to next and subsequent generations. Most are committed to fostering harmony within the family and protecting their families over multiple generations from themselves and from the pitfalls of inheriting extreme wealth and power, so starkly portrayed in the series.

As we noted in the kickoff to our Succession series, Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves, there is a critical need for strategic trust planning, modern trust laws, and effective family governance among ultra-high-net-worth families. Tools like Dynasty Trusts, Privacy Protections, Asset Protection Trusts, and Directed Trusts help safeguard wealth and maintain control, but without effective family governance to guide communication, decision-making, and education, these tools cannot fully work together to protect families across generations.

Tools for Effective Family Governance

Consultants who specialize in family governance focus on educating and preparing next and future generations for the responsibilities of extreme wealth. The most effective strategies to foster communication and the smooth transition of wealth and control often include:

• Financial literacy programs – focused on understanding and handling the responsibilities of generational wealth.
• Clear communication of family values and legacy goals – facilitated through well-organized family meetings, often led by objective third parties.
• Gradual introduction to wealth management responsibility – appointing next-generation family members to fiduciary roles within a directed trust structure to build experience over time.
• Philanthropic engagement – entrusting next generations to manage family foundations or charitable initiatives to understand the importance of wealth and its potential to serve others less fortunate and bring about great change in the world.
• Private Trust Companies (PTCs) – established to engage next and subsequent generations in managing and overseeing wealth management and business operations within a structured environment.

Unlike the Roy family, most wealth creators are committed to fostering harmony, continuity, and shared purpose across generations. Effective family governance—grounded in education, transparency, and structured participation—ensures that wealth remains a unifying force rather than a divisive one.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about effective family governance and how it integrates with the trust planning tools highlighted in this series, please reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

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