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.