Bridgeford to Sponsor and Speak at Upcoming Industry Events

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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Bridgeford Bay Area: Expanding the Power of Modern Trust Law

Bay Area office

Bridgeford Trust Company is proud to announce the launch of Bridgeford Bay Area, a new office established by our sister company, Bridgeford Advisors (dba Bridgeford), a trust planning advisory firm serving families across the United States and around the world. By bringing the power of South Dakota-based fiduciary planning to families and their advisors nationwide, this expansion marks another important milestone in Bridgeford’s continued growth as we expand our national footprint and deepen our presence in key markets across the country. We look forward to celebrating this expansion with a Bay Area launch event on February 12; registration details are included below.

Located at 149 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 1090, Menlo Park, California, Bridgeford’s Bay Area office strengthens our ability to work closely with families and their advisors throughout Northern California and the broader West Coast. The Bay Area has long been a center of innovation, entrepreneurship, and multigenerational wealth, making it a natural extension of Bridgeford’s long-standing work with sophisticated families navigating complex planning needs.

This expansion builds on the successful launches of Bridgeford’s offices in Miami, Newport Beach, and Philadelphia, reflecting the growing demand for independent and strategic trust planning. As families navigate increasing complexity driven by tax uncertainty, regulatory change, and global considerations, Bridgeford’s expanded footprint allows for closer collaboration with families and their advisors across key regions.

David Warren, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company and President and CEO of Bridgeford Advisors, shared the following perspective on Bridgeford’s most recent expansion: “Fiercely independent and conflict-free, Bridgeford’s expansion into Northern California is a natural evolution following the great success of our Southern California office working with families and their advisors. The power of modern trust law continues to resonate with California residents and their advisors across the state, particularly in the areas of state and federal tax planning, asset protection, and privacy.”

Bridgeford Bay Area Launch Event: February 12

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Bridgeford’s new office with an evening that will feature a timely discussion on the power of trust jurisdiction selection—particularly around asset protection, privacy, and tax planning—along with time to connect with members of the Bridgeford team and fellow professionals over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Date & Time: Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 5:00pm PST
Location: Hotel Nia – 200 Independence Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Registration: Space is limited so please register early by clicking here.

For more information about Bridgeford’s expansion into the Bay Area, or to connect with our team, please contact us via our contact page or by calling (605) 224-9189.

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Podcast Episode 53 – Planning for Artists: Trusts, Legacy, and Non-Traditional Assets with Alex Segal

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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.

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Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves: Video Presentation Available

Bridgeford recently hosted a livestream exploring the theme of Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves, a concept central to effective multigenerational planning and inspired by HBO’s series Succession.

The presentation examined the real-world parallels between the fictional Roy family and the complex dynamics many families of wealth face today, including issues surrounding control, succession, and legacy. While the series itself is fictional, the risks it highlights are very real, and without strategic trust planning, wealth can quickly become a source of conflict rather than continuity.

For those who were unable to attend live, or who would like to revisit the discussion, the full video presentation is now available on our YouTube Channel.

Key Themes from the Presentation

During the presentation, David Warren, Co-Founder & Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company, walked through how modern trust law—particularly South Dakota’s progressive statutes—can be used to address challenges that frequently arise in affluent families. The discussion focused on how intentional planning can help families preserve wealth, maintain control, and support long-term stability across generations.

Topics included:

  • 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.

Together, these tools demonstrate how thoughtful planning allow families to protect and control their legacies during a time of increasing global complexity and uncertainty.

If you have questions about the topics discussed in this presentation, or would like to learn more, reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

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Podcast Episode 52 – Plan B Citizenship: Residency by Investment, Global Mobility, and Cross-Border Planning with Moe Soleiman

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Episode 52 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 Moe Soleiman – Private Client Advisor at Henley & Partners – the global leader in residence and citizenship planning for internationally mobile entrepreneurs and families.

Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, shifting perceptions of the United States, and growing concern about asset protection, Moe explains how residency by investment (RBI) and citizenship by investment (CBI) programs work in practice and why more high-net-worth families are seeking a “Plan B.” The conversation explores options across Europe, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and other key jurisdictions, covering golden visas, contribution versus investment routes, and global talent programs for highly accomplished individuals.

David and Moe also discuss how second residency and citizenship strategies can complement U.S. trust planning, including structures administered in South Dakota, to enhance diversification, global mobility, and optionality for families of wealth. They touch on timing, trust jurisdiction selection, and coordinated cross-border planning to help families preserve flexibility across generations.

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.

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December 17 Livestream: Protecting Families of Wealth from Themselves

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.

Reserve your spot for this complimentary livestream by clicking here.

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.

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Hybrid DAPT: Enhancing the Power of Asset Protection

Hybrid DAPT

Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPTs) are a powerful planning tool for families seeking to preserve wealth from lawsuits, creditors, and other unforeseen risks. Available only in a handful of jurisdictions, including South Dakota, DAPTs allow settlors – the person establishing the trust – to retain some control over the trust assets and enjoy a discretionary benefit during their lifetime. However, for residents of states without strong DAPT statutes, a Hybrid DAPT can be a highly effective asset protection solution.

What is a Hybrid DAPT?

A Hybrid DAPT looks very similar to a traditional DAPT, but with one important distinction: the settlor is not initially a beneficiary. Instead, the trust is established for the benefit of the settlor’s spouse, descendants, or other beneficiaries.

By excluding the settlor, the Hybrid DAPT is defined as a third-party trust and is therefore better positioned to avoid the uncertainty and scrutiny sometimes seen in jurisdictions without strong DAPT statutes or in non-DAPT states. Importantly, the settlor can be added as a beneficiary later through the appointment of a Trust Protector, providing flexibility without compromising the initial strength of the trust.

This design substantially increases the probability that trust assets will remain protected, while still offering the settlor potential access should the need arise.

Why Consider a Hybrid DAPT?

Hybrid DAPTs address one of the main challenges with traditional DAPTs: uncertainty. While South Dakota’s DAPT statutes are among the strongest in the nation, courts in non-DAPT states have occasionally expressed reluctance to respect these trusts when the settlor is also a beneficiary.

By removing the settlor at the outset, the Hybrid DAPT avoids this complication, effectively eliminating the argument that the trust is “self-settled.” For families living outside of DAPT jurisdictions, this distinction can be pivotal.

Key Benefits of Hybrid DAPTs:

In addition to building on the strong foundation of a traditional DAPT, Hybrid DAPTs provide families with the following advantages:

  • Enhanced Asset Protection – Avoids classification as a self-settled trust, reducing litigation risk and strengthening defenses against future challenges.
  • Flexibility – The settlor can be added later if needed, preserving potential access without compromising protection at inception.
  • Reliability – Offers a structure that reduces uncertainty and reinforces the trust’s protective strength.
  • Compatibility – Can be combined with other South Dakota planning tools such as Dynasty Trusts and privacy provisions for multi-generational planning.

The South Dakota Advantage

South Dakota continues to be recognized as one of the best U.S. asset protection and modern trust law jurisdictions, with statutes that support both traditional and Hybrid DAPTs. Relative to privacy, South Dakota offers a clear advantage over other jurisdictions with the strongest trust privacy and quiet trust statutes in the nation, as indicated by Trusts & Estates Magazine for many years.

In unsettled times, planning strategies that combine strength with adaptability are especially critical. Hybrid DAPTs, working in conjunction with Directed Trusts, represent a strategic planning option, offering the protective power of a third-party trust and preserving options for future flexibility while delivering direction and control to families and their advisors.

If you’d like to learn more about how Hybrid DAPTs or other South Dakota planning tools may fit into your overall wealth plan, please reach out to us via our contact form or call us at (605) 224-9189.

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November 18 Webinar: Trusts and Taxes – Hidden Liabilities Every Attorney Should Anticipate

Bridgeford Trust Company is pleased to announce an upcoming complimentary webinar in partnership with myLawCLE and the Federal Bar Association, titled “Trusts and Taxes: Hidden Liabilities Every Attorney Should Anticipate.”

Join us on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, from 1:00–3:10 pm (ET) for an in-depth discussion exploring the federal, state, and international tax implications of trust structures, fiduciary duties in tax planning, and strategies to mitigate hidden risks.

The program will feature David Warren, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company, and William Lipkind, Attorney, Partner, and Chair of Wilson Elser’s Tax Planning & Controversies Practice. Together, they’ll provide valuable insights into how trusts carry complex tax consequences that can ripple across jurisdictions and generations.

This session is designed for attorneys, accountants, and fiduciary professionals seeking a structured framework for identifying, analyzing, and managing the “tax footprints” of trusts.

Key topics include:

  • Foundations of trust taxation, including federal considerations.
  • State and multistate tax issues, with emphasis on evolving case law.
  • International and cross-border implications.
  • Fiduciary duties, risk management, and emerging planning tools.
  • Domestic asset protection trusts in conjunction with advanced tax strategies.

Click here to register using Bridgeford’s complimentary access code: TrustandTaxesCLE

For questions about the webinar, please contact us at info@bridgefordtrust.com. We look forward to your participation in this informative session!

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Bridgeford to Speak, Sponsor, and Host Reception at HTI’s 62nd Annual Conference

Bridgeford Trust Company is proud to once again sponsor the Hawaii Tax Institute’s Annual Conference, taking place November 2-6, 2025, at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort in Honolulu. Presented by the Hawaii Tax Institute Foundation and Chaminade University of Honolulu, this conference is among the nation’s leading gatherings for professionals in tax, wealth transfer, and estate planning, offering insights from a distinguished faculty of experts.

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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Private Trust Company: A Powerful Family Governance Tool

For families of significant wealth, maintaining control and harmony across generations requires more than sophisticated planning—it demands structure, communication, and purpose. While HBO’s Succession dramatizes the pitfalls of family wealth, the real-world solution lies in proactive family governance and the thoughtful use of modern trust law.

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.

As part of this ongoing discussion, we invite you to watch the recording of our livestream presentation inspired by HBO’s Succession, which examines these planning concepts in greater depth and offers practical insights for families of wealth. View the presentation on our YouTube Channel.

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.

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