Delivering Direction and Control

Bridgeford Trust Company
Delivering Direction and Control

Podcast by Bridgeford Trust Company

  1. Episode 49 - Leading with Yes: Inside the Modern Family Office with Justyn Volesko

    JUL 8

    Episode 49 - Leading with Yes: Inside the Modern Family Office with Justyn Volesko

    In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – sits down with Justyn Volesko – Partner and Co-Head of Family Office at Cerity Partners – for an insightful discussion on redefining the modern family office. Justyn shares his career journey, from his time at Goldman Sachs to the big ideas that drove him to launch AJ Wealth, and ultimately his decision to join Cerity Partners to build a premier family office offering. He explains what truly differentiates a family office from firms merely offering “family office services,” emphasizing the critical need to understand and integrate tax, estate, asset protection, and financial planning disciplines to develop an optimal plan and deliver a holistic perspective. Throughout the conversation, Justyn shares why leading with “yes” is essential in complex planning, describes the infrastructure behind scaling a high-touch family office model, and explains how proactive tax planning and technical expertise protect and enhance wealth while staying firmly within legal boundaries. David and Justyn also discuss planning amid geopolitical uncertainty, noting that truly knowing their clients allows them to anticipate risks and adjust planning strategies proactively. They highlight how flexible trust jurisdictions like South Dakota, and tools like decanting, make it possible to revise structures swiftly as circumstances evolve, ensuring clients’ plans remain aligned with their goals in a shifting landscape.

    46 min
  2. Episode 48 – Building a Better Exit: Strategic Planning for Business Owners with Ed Barone

    APR 21

    Episode 48 – Building a Better Exit: Strategic Planning for Business Owners with Ed Barone

    In this episode, David Warren – Co-Founder and Chairman of Bridgeford Trust Company – is joined by Ed Barone, Business Wealth Advisor at Evergreen Exits (EGexits.com), a specialized division of Evergreen Wealth Solutions. With deep expertise in business transitions and a strong fiduciary focus, Ed’s team is dedicated to helping business owners plan successful exits aligned with their financial and legacy goals. Together, David and Ed dive into the fundamentals of exit planning – what it is, why it matters, and how it can proactively solve challenges before going to market. From unexpected exits to failed transactions, Ed outlines why early planning is critical, especially since, for many business owners, their business is their wealth. They also explore Ed’s perspective on current market volatility and proposed tariff policies, how those factors are influencing the M&A landscape, and the guidance he’s offering clients as they navigate exit strategies. In uncertain times, Ed stresses the importance of distinguishing between noise and true impact, staying diversified, and staying the course with long-term investment and trust planning goals. As they conclude, Ed walks listeners through five core exit strategies and the process of choosing the right path forward. It begins with understanding the business owner’s personal, legacy, and employee goals, and then evaluating financial readiness and tax implications to guide decision-making. He also emphasizes the importance of assembling a collaborative team of both planning and transaction advisors to ensure a holistic approach and a smooth, successful transition.

    48 min
  3. Episode 46 – Integrity in Wealth Management: A Conversation with Ralph Adamo

    JAN 28

    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.

    28 min
  4. Episode 45 – Business Lifecycle Strategies and Tax Insights with Lisa Clifford and Jeff Getty

    11/25/2024

    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.

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

    10/03/2024

    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.

    35 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

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Podcast by Bridgeford Trust Company

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