Bridgeford Trust Company recently had the opportunity to join the Newton Knowledge Podcast, hosted by Newton One Advisors, a national life insurance planning firm and member of the M Financial Group. Their podcast is designed to provide practitioner-focused insight for advisors and professionals navigating sophisticated insurance, estate planning, wealth transfer, and executive benefit strategies.

In the episode, David Warren, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford, joins hosts Mark Singer and Steve Target of Newton One Advisors for a wide-ranging conversation on modern trust planning, jurisdictional strategy, and why independence has become one of the most critical issues facing families, founders, and advisors today.

David shares the personal and professional journey that led him from practicing law and leadership roles at large financial institutions to building Bridgeford as a purpose-built, independent trust company. Along the way, he explains what initially troubled him about the traditional “bundled” financial services model, where banks act simultaneously as trustee, asset manager, lender, and insurance provider, and how those conflicts ultimately inspired a fundamentally different approach.

The discussion explores why trust situs matters, how modern trust statutes—particularly in leading jurisdictions like South Dakota—have reshaped asset protection, privacy, and fiduciary administration, and why directed trust structures have become essential tools for families operating in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment. David also addresses broader industry trends, including consolidation, private equity ownership of trust companies, and why he believes true fiduciary alignment requires long-term independence and clarity around succession and control.

Throughout the episode, David weaves in the mindset that shaped Bridgeford’s culture, from entrepreneurial influences like The 4-Hour Workweek and Think and Grow Rich to his belief that modern trust planning is not just about documents, but about building durable structures that can withstand disruption, regulatory change, and generational transition.

You can listen to this episode of the Newton Knowledge Podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

If you have questions about any of the topics discussed in this episode, including trust situs, directed trusts, asset protection, or independent fiduciary solutions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

Over the coming weeks, Bridgeford Trust Company will be participating in several key industry conferences and professional gatherings across the country. These events bring together leading experts in estate planning, international tax, wealth management, and related advisory disciplines to address the evolving challenges facing families and their advisors.

We look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations around trust planning, highlighting the power of South Dakota’s modern trust laws and Bridgeford’s independent and conflict-free approach. We hope to see you at one, or more, of the events below and welcome the opportunity to connect!

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January 22: 5th Annual Trusted Advisor Summit (Santa Monica, CA)

Bridgeford Trust Company is excited to sponsor the 5th Annual Trusted Advisor Summit, celebrating five years of connection and collaboration within the Trusted Advisor community across music, entertainment, and sports.

David Warren, Co-Founder & Chairman, will be speaking on From Superstar to Structure: Running the Financial Life of Talent Like a Family Office, a panel discussion examining how advisors are increasingly operating as full-scale family offices for talent—overseeing complex entities, investments, governance structures, and long-term strategy. The session will also feature insights from Justin Bass (MAI Capital Management), Alexandre Lin (SumIt Software), and Lisa Barringer and Reggie Gooden (360 Business Management), offering a practical look at how multidisciplinary teams support talent at the highest level.

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

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January 22-23: 44th Annual International Tax Conference (Miami, FL)

Bridgeford Trust Company is pleased to sponsor the 44th Annual International Tax Conference, a leading forum for international tax and estate planning professionals, hosted by the Florida Institute of CPAs in collaboration with the Tax Section of The Florida Bar. The conference brings together practitioners from across disciplines to examine current developments, cross-border planning considerations, and the evolving international tax landscape affecting families, businesses, and advisors.

Sydney Warren, Managing Director, will be attending and looks forward to connecting. Stop by our exhibit table to learn how South Dakota’s modern trust laws support sophisticated domestic and international planning.

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February 9: 14th Annual Estate Planning Symposium (Key Biscayne, FL)

The Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami will host its 14th Annual Estate Planning Symposium, bringing together leading professionals from across the estate planning, tax, and wealth advisory community for a day of timely discussion and collaboration. Danielle Keeton, Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Officer, will be attending the symposium and looks forward to connecting with attendees.

If you’re attending the symposium or would like to schedule time to meet with Danielle while she is in the area, we would welcome the opportunity to connect.

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February 10-11: STEP Orange County’s 14th Annual Institute (Newport Beach, CA)

Bridgeford Trust Company is proud to once again serve as title sponsor of the STEP Orange County Institute on Tax, Estate Planning, and the World Economy, one of the region’s premier gatherings for trust and estate planning professionals. The Institute brings together leading practitioners to explore timely developments, practical planning strategies, and emerging global considerations shaping the future of estate and wealth planning.

David Warren will be speaking on Tax, Asset Protection, and Privacy Planning in Chaotic Times, sharing insights on how modern trust law can help families navigate increasing complexity and uncertainty. Throughout the conference, Doug Mikkonen, Senior Vice President & Senior Trust Officer, and Sydney Warren, Managing Director, will be at Bridgeford’s exhibit table and look forward to connecting with attendees. If you haven’t registered yet, we encourage you to do so and join us for this important event!

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February 12: Bridgeford Bay Area Launch Event (Menlo Park, CA)

As we recently announced, Bridgeford Trust Company is pleased to introduce Bridgeford Bay Area, a new office established by its sister company, Bridgeford Advisors (dba Bridgeford), located in Menlo Park. To celebrate this expansion, we invite you to join us for our Bridgeford Bay Area Launch Event! The evening will feature a timely discussion on the power of trust jurisdiction selection—particularly around asset protection, privacy, and tax planning—followed by a networking reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Event details and registration information can be found here: https://bridgeford-bay-area.eventbrite.com

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We value the opportunity these events provide to engage with advisors navigating increasingly complex planning considerations for their clients. If you’re attending any of the conferences listed above and would like to connect with a member of the Bridgeford team, we would be happy to arrange a time to meet.

Stay connected with Bridgeford Trust Company on LinkedIn for event updates, or reach out directly at (605) 224-9189 or via our contact form.

Episode 53 is now available on Bridgeford Trust Company’s Delivering Direction and Control podcast!

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder & Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with Alex Segal – Partner at Silberman Zaretsky PC – to explore the highly nuanced world of trust and estate planning for visual artists.

Alex shares how his practice focuses on representing painters, sculptors, and conceptual artists, and why traditional estate planning approaches often fall short for this unique client base. The conversation examines the deeply personal nature of artwork, the challenges of illiquid yet high-value assets, and the planning strategies required to balance legacy preservation, tax efficiency, asset protection, and privacy.

Throughout the discussion, David and Alex cover several key planning tools for visual artists, including asset protection strategies, valuation considerations such as blockage discounts, and the role of dynasty trusts and foundations in preserving artistic legacies. They also explore why directed trusts are particularly well suited for holding artwork, allowing families to separate fiduciary administration from artistic oversight while maintaining flexibility as circumstances and planning objectives evolve.

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.

Bridgeford Trust Company is looking forward to sponsoring the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, taking place January 12-16, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. Each year, Heckerling brings together leaders from across the estate planning community to connect, exchange ideas, and navigate an increasingly complex and unpredictable planning environment.

If you’re attending, we invite you to join Bridgeford for our hosted events outlined below and visit our exhibit booth to explore why South Dakota remains a top-tier U.S. trust jurisdiction and how Bridgeford’s independent, conflict-free approach continues to set us apart in a consolidating industry.

Pre-Institute Golf & Reception – January 11, 2026

Kick off Heckerling 2026 with an afternoon on the course followed by an evening of networking at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, located at 14224 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane in Orlando. Sponsored by Bridgeford Trust Company, Nelson Mullins, and Madison Insurance Group, this pre-Institute gathering offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues ahead of a busy week at Heckerling.

• Golf at the Rees Jones course: Tee-off begins at 12:30 PM.
• Cocktail Reception: Join us following the round at 5:00 PM for food, drinks, and conversation.

Not a golfer? No problem! You’re welcome to attend the reception only. Click here to RSVP.

Bridgeford’s Fireside Chat & Reception – January 13, 2026

Join Bridgeford for our annual Fireside Chat & Reception, bringing together advisors, planners, and industry colleagues for candid conversation and connection.

Against the backdrop of continued consolidation and increasing institutional influence in the trust industry, this gathering will center on an essential theme: independence. As the trust landscape shifts, truly independent, conflict-free trust companies are becoming increasingly rare, prompting important conversation around what independence means for long-term client planning and why it matters now more than ever.

• When: Tuesday, January 13 from 6:00-7:30 PM
• Where: Magnolia Room 7-9, Orlando World Center Marriott Convention Center
• Register at: bridgefordtrust.com/heckerling-2026

Visit Bridgeford at Booth 400 – January 12-16, 2026

Stop by Exhibit Booth 400 to connect with Bridgeford’s leadership team and learn how we work alongside attorneys, accountants, and advisors to support complex trust planning needs for clients and their advisors worldwide. While visiting, you can:

• Discuss why South Dakota continues to stand out as one of the best trust jurisdictions in the United States.
• Explore powerful modern trust law solutions around asset protection, privacy, and tax planning.
• Learn more about Bridgeford’s independent, personalized, and conflict-free approach to trust planning, grounded in our philosophy of Big Enough to Matter…Small Enough to Care.

Questions?

For more information about Bridgeford’s activity at Heckerling, or to arrange a meeting with our team during the conference, please contact Melissa Roberson at mroberson@bridgefordtrust.com.

We look forward to connecting in Orlando and continuing the conversation throughout Heckerling 2026!

Bridgeford has been exploring the theme of protecting families of wealth from themselves, a concept central to effective multigenerational planning. Inspired by HBO’s series Succession, this ongoing discussion looks at the real-world parallels between the fictional Roy family’s struggles and the complex dynamics that arise within affluent families navigating succession, control, and legacy.

We invite you to join us on Wednesday, December 17 from 1:00–2:30 PM (ET) for a live presentation revisiting the key insights behind “Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves” and discussing how families can protect and control their legacies during a time of increasing global complexity and uncertainty.

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Reserve your spot for this complimentary livestream by clicking here.

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By examining these dynamics through the lens of modern trust law, particularly South Dakota’s progressive statutes, we’ve highlighted how thoughtful and intentional planning can transform wealth from a potential source of conflict into a foundation for stability and empowerment. From preserving family harmony to safeguarding assets and maintaining privacy, the lessons learned underscore the importance of strategic trust planning.

During this presentation, David Warren (Co-Founder & Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company) will provide an in-depth look at the sophistication of South Dakota’s modern trust laws, which offer innovative and effective solutions for families and their advisors through:

• Dynasty Trusts: The cornerstone of multigenerational wealth preservation, empowering families to avoid estate taxation and establish enduring legacies.
• Privacy and Confidentiality: How privacy laws like South Dakota’s can shield family wealth from unnecessary disclosure, enabling discretion and reducing conflict.
• Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: Safeguarding family wealth from external threats, lawsuits, and intra-family disputes.
• Directed Trusts: A revolutionary model that unbundles asset management and trust administration functions, ensuring settlors and advisors maintain control over aspects of trust administration and wealth transfer.
• Family Governance: Critical to ensuring that wealth serves as a tool for empowerment rather than a source of division.
• Private Trust Company: A tailored approach for families managing complex assets to preserve wealth, plan for succession, and maintain control over their wealth.

Each of these topics plays a vital role in addressing the challenges portrayed in Succession and the very real issues that many families of wealth face today—from maintaining privacy and protecting assets to ensuring values and governance endure across generations.

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging live presentation as we bring together practical strategies and impactful insights on protecting families of wealth from themselves. We’ll also have a live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to submit questions for David to address during the presentation.

If you have any questions about this livestream event, please reach out to Melissa Roberson at mroberson@bridgefordtrust.com.