# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0002084761
**File Stem:** 0001104659-25-088282
**Filing Date:** 2025-9
**Character Count:** 7930
**Document Hash:** 06c9cbeadb1cb46e2d967af82433e7b2
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-25-088282.hdr.sgml**: 20250908

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-25-088282

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 3

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 2

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250811

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250908

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250908

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Bernstein Stuart Daniel
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0002084761

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 3
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-36461
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251300406

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 7210 AVIARA DR
- **CITY:** CARLSBAD
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92011
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** First Foundation Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001413837
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** CA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 5221 N. O'CONNOR BLVD.
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 1378
- **CITY:** IRVING
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 75039
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 949-222-2030

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 5221 N. O'CONNOR BLVD.
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 1378
- **CITY:** IRVING
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 75039

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** KELLER FINANCIAL GROUP
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20071001

## Ex-24

**Exhibit 24**

**POWER OF ATTORNEY**

**(Sections 16 and 13(d))**

Known all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Erica Dorsett, Amy Djou and Jamie Britton, signing singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) execute
 for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or
 director of First Foundation Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4 and 5 in accordance
 with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) execute
 for and on behalf of the undersigned Form ID of the Securities and Exchange Commission to
 obtain personal code numbers for the electronic filing of reports;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) execute
 for and on behalf of the undersigned Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G, or any amendment thereto,
 in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) do
 and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned that may be necessary or
 desirable to prepare, complete and execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5, Form ID, or Schedule
 13D or 13G, prepare, complete and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and file any
 such forms with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange
 or similar authority; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) take
 any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion
 of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the interest of, or legally required by,
 the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact
 on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and
 shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
 discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the foregoing rights and powers, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 or Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 or Schedule 13D or 13G with respect to the undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 5<sup>th</sup> day of September, 2025.

---

| |
|:---|
| /s/ Stuart Daniel Bernstein |
| Stuart Daniel Bernstein |

---

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 3

### INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>Bernstein Stuart Daniel<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>5221 NORTH O'CONNOR BOULEVARD<br>STE 1375<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>IRVING, TX 75039<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>First Foundation Inc. [ FFWM ] | **5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  |
| **2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2025-08-11 | **4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[ ] Director   [ ] 10% Owner<br>[X] Officer (give title below)   [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_Chief Banking Officer_ | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

---

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 3. Ownership Form | 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) | 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) | 3. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 3. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 4. Conversion or Exercise Price | 5. Ownership Form | 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 4. Conversion or Exercise Price | 5. Ownership Form | 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

---

**Remarks:**
Exhibit List - Exhibit 24: Power of Attorney

**Signature:** /s/ Erica Dorsett, attorney in fact for Stuart Daniel Bernstein  
**Date:** 2025-09-08

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**