For a demo of the Behavioral Governance Special Purpose Avatar - contact Eric Dyson at [email protected] 

Don Trone, GFS™, is the CEO of the Behavioral Governance Institute (BGI), where he leads the development of Special Purpose Avatars (SPAs) designed to accelerate the professional development of leaders, stewards, and fiduciaries with governance responsibility. Widely known as the “Father of Fiduciary,” he has spent decades shaping fiduciary standards and governance practices. He was the founding CEO of fi360, the Center for Board Certified Fiduciaries, and the Foundation for Fiduciary Studies, and previously directed the Institute for Leadership at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

A former U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue pilot, Don brings real-world experience from high-stakes environments to his focus on clarity, foresight, and accountability in governance. He has also testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and the Department of Labor on fiduciary best practices.

In this episode, Eric and Don Trone discuss:

• The origins of the Behavioral Governance Institute and why fiduciary standards alone are not enough
• How leadership behaviors and decision-making frameworks influence retirement outcomes
• The development of “Special Purpose Avatars” is designed to support governance professionals
• How AI-powered avatars can deliver personalized professional development and training

Key Takeaways:

• Behavioral governance expands the traditional fiduciary framework. Instead of focusing only on procedural prudence, it integrates leadership, judgment, ethics, and decision-making into governance responsibilities.
• AI-powered avatars are emerging as powerful tools for professional development. By curating expert knowledge in closed systems, these avatars help professionals strengthen their understanding of complex governance and fiduciary responsibilities.
• The future of professional education is shifting from traditional classroom-style programs to on-demand learning experiences. AI avatars enable a “Netflix-style” training model where professionals control when, how, and what they learn.
• Mastery-based learning loops represent a major advancement in professional education. Instead of allowing professionals to pass certification tests with partial understanding, avatars keep users in a training loop until they demonstrate full mastery of the subject.

“If we had a better understanding of how certain leadership behaviors impact the quality of decision-making outcomes, we could have a material positive impact on the management of investment decisions.” - Don Trone

Connect with Don Trone:

Website: https://www.3ethos.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-trone-89873013/ 

Connect with Eric Dyson: 

Website: https://90northllc.com/

Phone: 940-248-4800

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ 

The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.

It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.

The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.

The opinions expressed by guests on the Be More Than a Fiduciary podcast are not necessarily the same as the opinions held by 90 North Consulting, or of Executive Director Eric Dyson.