Aspen Standard Wealth Acquires $2.8 Billion AUM Summitry

Newly established registered investment adviser-acquirer Aspen Standard Wealth has made its first purchase since its April 2024 launch and acquired Summitry, an RIA with $2.8 billion in assets under management.

Aspen is majority-owned by Alpine Investors, a private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Summitry, based in the Bay Area, provides personalized financial planning and investment strategies rooted in local insights. Founded in 2003, the firm offers access to a wide range of institutional-grade investing and advisory services, including in-depth financial planning, retirement planning, estate and trust services, and equity compensation advice.

“When I met the team at Aspen, it was clear that they were different. They take a long-term view of everything they do. They care about growing our people, continuing to build on top of the foundation that our team has built, and helping us deliver more for our clients,” said Colin Higgins, chief executive officer of Summitry.

According to Aspen, its approach to partnering with RIAs is to build for the long term, not to resell. It said this philosophy keeps everyone aligned and invested in further maturing and growing the business, with less friction than conventional transactions.

Aspen has a 15-person team. Advisers include Dan Lidawer, formerly with Hightower Advisors; Jeff Davis, formerly with Edelman Financial Engines; and Kevin Johnston, formerly with Creative Planning.

“Summitry embodies everything we seek in a partner: growth oriented, client obsessed, and people focused,” said Aly Kassim-Lakha, CEO of Aspen. “Aspen offers what successful, leading RIAs like Summitry have long been looking for – a deeply knowledgeable, permanent partner who is there to support them indefinitely. We are the sorely needed alternative to traditional investment firms in that we enable our partners to thrive long term.”

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