Our CEO, Andy Morgan, recently sat down with David Borne, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of Bridgeford Trust Company, to collaborate on Bridgeford’s Delivering Direction and Control podcast.

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The episode, “From Luxury Assets to Global Services,” explored Affinity’s evolution from the company’s origins in the Isle of Man to its expansion to Miami in 2026, showcasing its ability to harness opportunities for clients to drive growth. And highlighted the shared values between Bridgeford and Affinity: a strong entrepreneurial mindset, a commitment to trusted relationships, and to delivering high-quality, specialist services with a boutique personal feel.

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Listeners were taken on a journey from Affinity’s specialist yachting and aircraft structuring services back in 2004 to becoming a global corporate service provider, supporting clients across private wealth, sport, gaming, residency, and international structuring.

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Reflecting on where the company began, Andy shared the history of the Isle of Man’s maritime sector, which dates back to the Isle of Man superyacht register in in 1985, and the Megayacht Code to facilitate commercial registration of vessels over 24m in 2003.

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Sharing some insight on his broad depth of yachting expertise, Andy outlined how yacht ownership involves far more than simply registering an asset. From the formation and administration of ownership structures, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, yachts require specialist corporate services which differ between jurisdictions. Local knowledge on the jurisdictions regulatory regime is essential as it implicates the on-going operation of the yacht.  

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Andy explained how Affinity’s expertise in luxury assets gave the business a deep understanding of the wider needs of high-net-worth individuals and families, and David highlighted that it seemed to be a natural transition into broader family office-style services, specifically for professional athletes.

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After building a strong presence in the Isle of Man, Affinity expanded into Malta in 2011, recognising the jurisdiction’s importance in European yacht transactions. From there, Affinity continued to scale, establishing offices in the Cayman Islands, Miami, and more recently Cyprus. Each step reflects the same principle highlighted throughout the episode, expanding services in line with client needs and global opportunity.

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Florida, and Miami in particular, featured prominently in the discussion. Andy shared how the firm’s move into Miami was initially linked to the growth of its Cayman business and Latin American connections but quickly became a strategic hub.

By actively embedding Affinity within the local business community, Andy and COO, Alex, have developed an international network and footprint in Miami across a range of industries.

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Another major talking point was the company’s work in the eGaming sector. Andy described how Affinity entered the space by applying the same principles that underpinned its early success: focusing on niche, high-growth industries, maintaining transparency through fixed-fee structures, and delivering strong governance. With the introduction of sister brand, Gaming Gateway, Andy expressed the new opportunity to support clients in regulated online gaming markets worldwide.

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The podcast also explored how Affinity has expanded into the sports sector. Through existing client relationships, the firm began supporting high-net-worth individuals in sport, offering services that address the complexities of international careers, cross-border wealth, and long-term planning. At present, Affinity offers financial and lifestyle services to a number of professional athletes, in addition to agency representation services.

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Residency and citizenship planning was another key area of discussion. Andy highlighted the increasing demand from clients seeking flexibility, optionality, and “plan B” solutions in an uncertain global landscape. Malta, in particular, was identified as a leading jurisdiction in this space, offering attractive residency pathways for internationally mobile individuals and families.

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In 2026, Affinity has continued to drive a geographic expansion, including its recent move into Cyprus and growing interest in Dubai. Both locations were discussed as strategic extensions of the firm’s global offering, driven by client demand, sector opportunities, and favourable regulatory environments. Cyprus particularly posed attractive for Affinity’s yachting clients as another leading maritime hub.

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One of the most compelling parts of the podcast focused on Affinity’s position as an independent, entrepreneurial business in an increasingly consolidated market. Andy emphasised the firm’s commitment to organic growth, fair pricing, and client-first service, reinforcing the idea that its evolution into a global business has not come at the expense of its core values.

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Andy and David concurred that independence and transparency are increasingly valuable differentiators in a consolidating market and highlighted the importance of working alongside trusted partners to deliver best-in-class solutions across jurisdictions.

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About Bridgeford Trust Company

Bridgeford Trust Company is a fully independent trust company chartered in South Dakota, providing conflict-free and innovative trust and fiduciary services and progressive U.S. modern trust law solutions to domestic and international families worldwide. Visit https://bridgefordtrust.com/ to learn more.

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Contact Andy

If you are interested any of Affinity services or would like to speak to Andy, feel free to contact him directly at andy@affinityco.com

Learn more about our yachting services here.