The Vision.

From its inception in 2011, the DFPG vision has remained consistent. DFPG has sought to create a family-like culture, an institutional platform, and an experience that allows wealth management firms to differentiate themselves, maintain their entrepreneurial autonomy, and most importantly, to protect and properly serve investors.

Founded by experienced advisors, DFPG’s leadership team recognized significant gaps in the wealth management and financial services industry. DFPG was carefully constructed to address these gaps. Part of this construction has taken place through proactive industry involvement and participation. Whether it be with the regulatory community, alternative investment industry, financial planning associations, or through legal and legislative influence, DFPG has remained committed to the successful advancement of the financial services industry.

DFPG firmly believes that the opportunities within the wealth management industry have never been greater, and intends to pursue those opportunities in further improving the platform and experience for advisors and their investors.

DFPG Core Values

Investors’ Needs First

We will place investor’s needs above all else. Investors place a level of trust in us that exceeds that of perhaps any other profession. That is a level of trust that will not be taken lightly and will be the driving principle behind all of our decisions.

Demonstrate Integrity

We will demonstrate and act with complete and unconditional honesty, with principles of sound ethics and with proper alignment of priorities.

Pursue Opportunity

We will strategically seek successful opportunities and we will capitalize on those opportunities through creative, efficient, and effective execution.

Adapt to Change

We believe that in order to succeed, we must be willing and able to adapt quickly and efficiently to change. We do not shun change; we welcome it with an understanding that “races are won in the turns.”

Achieve Balance

We value and expect hard work at every level. Yet we believe that work is not our purpose in life. We value family, giving back, making a positive impact in society, and making time to enjoy life.

Management Team.

Michael Bendix

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

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Ryan Smith, CRCP®

Co-Founder and President

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Dan Luke, CFP®

Co-Founder and Principal

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Dave Laga

Partner, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Due Diligence

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Brad Anderson, CRCP®, MBA

Chief Compliance Officer

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Natina Edgar

Senior Director of Operations

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Brayden Evans

Director of Operations & Practice Management

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Keith Larsen

Vice President of Business Development & Advisor Experience

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Michael Bendix

  • Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DFPG
  • Founder and President of Bridge Equities, Inc., a branch office of DFPG located in Rancho Santa Fe, California
  • 30 year plus industry veteran with expertise in lending, real estate, and alternative investments
  • 2016 President of the Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association (ADISA), a national trade association with approximately 5,000 members who represent over 220,000 professionals who offer and manage alternative investments
  • Chairman of both ADISA’s Broker-Dealer Advisory Council and its Due Diligence Forum. Also served on ADISA’s Membership, Education, Conference Planning and Legislative & Regulatory Committees.
  • 2014 recipient of A Champion of Excellence (ACE) award, which recognizes ADISA members who have reached the pinnacle of their career through their accomplishments in their professional life, the community, and the advancement of the industry
  • Frequent presenter to securities and real estate professionals around the country, and a continuing education instructor for the California Department of Real Estate on the topics of IRS Section 1031 and Delaware Statutory Trusts.
  • Leading member of DFPG’s alternative investment committee and participated in the review and capital raise of alternative investment offerings in private equity, private credit, real estate and venture capital.
  • BS in Information and Computer Science from the University of California at Irvine and a licensed California real estate broker

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 General Securities Representative
  • Series 63 Uniform Securities License
  • Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor Law License
  • Series 99 Operations Professional
  • Series 24 General Securities Principal

Ryan Smith, CRCP®

  • Co-Founder and President of DFPG
  • Co-Founder and President of Diversify, Inc., an award-winning wealth management firm, and branch office of DFPG
  • 20 year plus financial services industry veteran as an advisor, and executive
  • Created and developed the DFPG Registered Investment Advisor (“RIA”) and wealth management platforms
  • Helped create and develop the DFPG regulatory and compliance division
  • In 2014, one of only three recipients in the country to receive a scholarship into the FINRA Institute at Wharton’s prestigious Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP®) program.
  • Member of DFPG’s alternative investment committee and participated in the review and capital raise of alternative investment offerings in private equity, private credit, real estate and venture capital.
  • BS in Economics from the University of Utah as well as a Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP) ® designation from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 General Securities Representative
  • Series 63 Uniform Securities License
  • Series 66 Registered Investment Advisor
  • Series 99 Operations Professional
  • Series 24 General Securities Principal

Dan Luke, CFP®

  • Co-Founder and Principal of DFPG
  • Co-Founder and Chief Executive Office of Diversify, Inc., an award-winning wealth management firm, and branch office of DFPG
  • 30 year financial services industry veteran with experience in banking, lending and wealth management
  • Created and developed the DFPG Insurance and Risk Management division, and helped develop the Registered Investment Advisor (“RIA”) and wealth management divisions
  • Known for his knowledge of financial planning and investment management and has worked with, and educated, thousands of investors and financial professionals
  • Member of DFPG’s alternative investment committee and participated in the review and capital raise of alternative investment offerings in private equity, private credit, real estate and venture capital.
  • BS in Finance from the University of Utah and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 General Securities Representative
  • Series 63 Uniform Securities License
  • Series 66 Registered Investment Advisor
  • Series 99 Operations Professional
  • Series 24 General Securities Principal
  • Life, Accident & Health, Disability, Property & Casualty, Variable Contracts

Dave Laga

  • Partner, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Due Diligence for DFPG
  • Nearly 20 years experience in the analysis of securitized real estate and alternative investment offerings
  • Former Chief Operating Officer for FR Risk Management, LLC, a division of FactRight, LLC, responsible for due diligence and risk management services for multiple broker dealers
  • Former Vice President of a national real estate sponsor tasked with analyzing acquisition opportunities and asset management of commercial real estate portfolio
  • Former Director of Due Diligence for Orchard Securities and directly involved in the coordinating, structuring and due diligence process for its managed investment offerings
  • 2016 Chairman of the Alternative and Direct Investment Association’s (ADISA) Due Diligence Forum
  • Developed the DFPG due diligence program, and oversees DFPG’s due diligence team which has reviewed hundreds of offerings in private equity, private credit, real estate and venture capital.
  • BS in Finance from the University of Utah

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 General Securities Representative
  • Series 63 Uniform Securities License
  • Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor
  • Series 27 Financial and Operations Principal
  • Series 51 Municipal Fund Securities and Limited Principal
  • Series 99 Operations Professional
  • Series 24 General Securities Principal

Brad Anderson, CRCP®, MBA

  • Chief Compliance Officer of DFPG
  • Military veteran serving a tour for the United States Marine Corps
  • Served in compliance and supervision roles at Fidelity Investments
    In 2021, one of only five recipients in the country to receive a scholarship into the FINRA Institute at Georgetown’s prestigious Certified
  • Active member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP)
  • Elected as a representative to FINRA’s West Region District 3
  • Co-Founder of the Salt Lake City Compliance Roundtable, a group of compliance professionals sharing ideas and insights to improve legal, regulatory and compliance best practices
  • Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional (CRCP®) designation from the FINRA Institute at Georgetown
  • BS in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from Westminster College.

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 – General Securities Representative
  • Series 9/10 – General Securities Sales Supervisor
  • Series 14 – Compliance Officer
  • Series 24 – General Securities Principal
  • Series 52 – Municipal Securities Representative
  • Series 53 – Municipal Securities Principal
  • Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent
  • Series 66 – Uniform Combined State
  • Series 79 – Investment Banking Registered
  • Series 99 – Operations Professional

Natina Edgar

  • Senior Director of Operations at DFPG
  • 16 years of compliance and operations experience in the securities industry
  • Been in leadership positions at DFPG since inception
  • Responsible for the development of many of DFPG’s operational systems and processes
  • Lead the development and design of DFPG’s proprietary workflow software
  • BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Utah

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Securities Industry Essentials (SIE)
  • Series 7 – General Securities Representative

Brayden Evans

  • Director of Operations & Practice Management at DFPG
  • Helped develop and implement DFPG’s Quick Launch transition and onboarding program
  • Responsible for training advisors, and their teams, in the enhancement of their operations, administrations and workflow processes
  • Part of the team responsible for design and development of DFPG’s proprietary workflow software
  • Leads the team responsible for DFPG’s conferences and events.

Keith Larsen

  • Vice President of Business Development & Advisor Experience for DFPG
  • 21 years experience in the financial services industry, specifically helping advisors grow their practices.
  • Leadership and production roles at Mutual of New York, Lincoln Financial Advisors, Northwestern Mutual and Cambridge Financial Group.
  • Brings a unique understanding and experience to DFPG’s business development efforts and in helping support advisors and their teams
  • Former President of NAIFA Valley Association.
  • BS in Economics from Brigham Young University

Licenses and Registrations:

  • Series 7 General Securities Representative
  • Series 6 Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative
  • Series 63 Uniform Securities License
  • Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law
  • Series 53 Municipal Securities Principal
  • Series 24 General Securities Principal

Learn more about a partnership.

Phone/Fax

Phone: (801) 838-9999
Fax: (801) 838-9988

Office

Utah Headquarters
9017 S. Riverside Drive, #210
Sandy, UT 84070

Hours

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm