Delivering Direction and Control

Episode 47 – Turning Estate Plans into Legacy Plans with Tom Rogerson

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with Tom Rogerson – President & CEO of GenLegCo. Inc. – a recognized leader in family governance. Tom shares how his approach to wealth planning emphasizes preparing families for wealth, rather than just preparing wealth for families, offering guidance on navigating financial responsibilities and ultimately protecting families of wealth from themselves. As you listen, you’ll hear Tom discuss his “7 Steps to Healthy Family Governance”, a process designed to educate families, foster communication and leadership, and create a long-term vision for their legacy. He also emphasizes the importance of independent trust companies with strong jurisdictional advantages, like South Dakota, to ensure legacy plans remain intact for generations. This long-term approach is why Bridgeford remains fiercely independent, helping families turn estate plans into lasting legacy plans that reflect their shared values and vision. The conversation explores Tom’s personal journey into this work, and he explains why parents may have the right message but aren’t always the right messenger—and how bringing in a third-party expert who provides objectivity, experience, and knowledge can make all the difference.

Episode 46 – Integrity in Wealth Management: A Conversation with Ralph Adamo

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – talks with Ralph Adamo – President & CEO of Integrity Wealth Management – about his role and impressive work as the founder of Orange County’s Chapter of Advisors in Philanthropy and board member of The International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy, where he helped create a platform to help financial professionals engage in meaningful conversations with clients about philanthropy, addressing the often-underserved needs of those looking to leverage philanthropic tax codes in Southern California and across the nation. Continuing to explore Ralph’s passion for developing meaningful and impactful dialogue around overall financial planning for families, the conversation then turns to Ralph’s proprietary WealthTrac™ FORMula, designed to provide clients with a collective experience and creative strategies to achieve lifelong financial goals. He emphasizes the importance of expanding knowledge beyond traditional strengths to become a trusted, first-call advisor. Building on this philosophy, Ralph authored Integrity @ Work, a roadmap for selecting the right financial advisor and the right advisory firm—using the integrity process to pinpoint true north. Ralph also highlights how the principles of integrity shape leadership, client trust, and long-term success—a theme reflected in his podcast, The Power of Integrity. His philosophy compliments and aligns closely with Bridgeford's commitment to providing independent, conflict-free solutions that that resonate deeply with families seeking clarity and confidence in their financial planning.

Episode 45 – Business Lifecycle Strategies and Tax Insights with Lisa Clifford and Jeff Getty

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – reconnects with Callan Family Office, speaking with Lisa Clifford and Jeff Getty, Co-Managing Directors of the company’s Business & Transaction Advisory Practice. Following Callan Family Office’s first podcast appearance, which introduced the company’s unique approach to investment management and philanthropy, this episode explores the intricacies of Lisa and Jeff’s specialized practice and the strategies they use to guide business owners through pivotal transitions. Listen in as Lisa and Jeff share their journey to Callan Family Office, explaining why they transitioned their practice and how it has flourished since. They discuss their focus on guiding business owners through various stages of the company lifecycle with tailored planning to achieve optimal tax outcomes during pre-sale, sale, and post-sale phases. Their "Tax Trilogy" framework addresses income, state, and transfer tax considerations while leveraging strategies like NIMCRUTs, CLATs, and INGs. Beyond technical strategies, Lisa and Jeff highlight the "soft side" of their practice, emphasizing the value of building strong client relationships and meeting them where they are in their journey. As the episode concludes, they offer practical advice on when business owners should engage advisors like themselves to ensure a successful exit strategy.

Episode 44 – Conflict-Free Wealth Management and Economic Insights with Jonathan Williams

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with Jonathan Williams – Partner at Summit Trail Advisors. Jon’s team specializes in working with business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and private foundations to create tailored financial strategies, acting as an outsourced family office. Their personalized approach, combined with a sophisticated investment process, brings portfolios to life through a unique interaction that is the foundation of their boutique investment process. Their discussion explores the shift toward independent, conflict-free solutions in wealth management nationally, comparing models like Summit Trail and Bridgeford. As privately held firms, both are free from the constraints of institutionalized domestic and international conglomerates, fulfilling their fiduciary duty and creating the opportunity to offer clients a broader range of options, including alternative situses for trust planning, investment opportunities beyond public markets, and access to asset managers outside of captive structures. As they conclude, Jon shares insights into the current economic climate, discussing the political and geopolitical pressures facing families and the heightened anxiety around wealth protection. He also offers his refreshingly positive perspective on volatility as an asset class, the spread between implied and actual market fears, and why – despite the uncertainty – existing systems provide reasons for optimism.

Episode 43 – Data Leaks to Cybersecurity: Protecting Privacy with David Hammarberg

In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with David Hammarberg, Partner at McKonly & Asbury. David Hammarberg has been an integral part of Bridgeford’s family of companies from the start, serving as our outsourced IT Director. With his extensive expertise in information technology, cybersecurity, and overall company security, he has played a crucial role in shaping our approach to protecting sensitive data. Listen in as they explore how data leaks, such as the Pandora Papers, and the rise of cyber threats have transformed the IT industry. Drawing on David Hammarberg’s insights, they discuss how Bridgeford has navigated these challenges, focusing on key issues like social engineering, employee training (or the lack thereof), and vendor management. Bridgeford's commitment to protecting client privacy is reinforced by our decision to establish our trust charter in South Dakota, a state known for its strong trust privacy laws. This episode concludes with a discussion on how Bridgeford leverages both South Dakota fiduciary law and cutting-edge cybersecurity measures. David Hammarberg shares industry best practices, the ongoing evolution of cybersecurity, and strategies for maintaining a balance between efficient business operations and robust security protocols.