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.