COMPANIES

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth

Office address: 8605 E. Raintree Drive, Suite 280, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Website: ashtonthomaspw.com
Year established: 2010
Company type: financial services
Employees: 114+
Expertise: asset management, wealth planning, securities brokerage, financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, estate planning, insurance brokerage, tax advisory, foundations and endowments
Parent company: Arax Investment Partners
Key people: Aaron Brodt (CEO), Joseph Lanzisera (president), Erica Bloudek (COO), Drinan Gorney (general counsel), Kevin Kading (head of finance), Lance Knight (head of business development), Cary Carbonaro (managing wealth advisor)
Financing status: private equity-backed

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth (ATPW) is an SEC-registered RIA headquartered in Scottsdale. The company offers wealth planning, portfolio management, and retirement consulting to affluent individuals, families, and institutions. It operates multiple offices across 12 states and managed about $10 billion in client assets as of 2025.

History of Ashton Thomas Private Wealth

ATPW got its start in 2010 when Aaron Brodt launched the firm in Scottsdale. Brodt had spent years as a portfolio manager at a multifamily office before creating the company. The firm then grew across the Southwest first, then pushed into California and the Rocky Mountain states.

The Arax acquisition

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth hit a turning point on August 31, 2023, when wealth platform Arax Investment Partners acquired it. Arax, backed by private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners, brought fresh capital and M&A resources to the business.

The deal also brought in Excel Securities, a broker-dealer the Lanzisera family had started in upstate New York in 1978. Excel was renamed Ashton Thomas Securities (ATS), which gave ATPW a combined RIA and broker-dealer under one roof.

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth's growth

ATPW moved fast after the acquisition and started adding established advisor teams across the country. The firm entered Hawaii in 2025 by welcoming Kobo Wealth Conservancy to its network. By October 2025, it managed about $10 billion in client assets across 12 states.

ATPW's tech and recognition

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth also has a foothold in wealthtech through Amplify Technology, a fintech platform Brodt co-founded. Amplify's platform served over 550 advisors with a combined $18 billion in assets as of early 2025.

Later that year, ATPW-linked Amplify debuted QuantumRisk, a portfolio risk tool built to account for extreme market events. Ashton Thomas and its advisors earned multiple awards in 2025 as well:

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth products and services

ATPW uses a fee-based model to provide advisory services for both private and institutional clients:

Private wealth solutions

  • wealth planning: financial guidance tailored to individual goals
  • asset management: portfolio management for affluent clients
  • retirement plan consulting: pension and plan strategy services
  • business exit planning: exit and transition planning for owners
  • philanthropy advisory: giving strategies for individuals and families

Institutional solutions

  • institutional asset management: portfolio management for foundations and businesses
  • foundations and endowments: advisory for nonprofit organizations
  • retirement plans: consulting for business retirement plan clients

Advisor platform

  • Amplify Platform: back-office support and third-party manager access

Affiliated services

  • securities brokerage: trading and brokerage services via ATS
  • insurance brokerage: life and health coverage via Ashton Thomas Insurance Agency
  • income tax services: tax preparation via Ashton Thomas Tax Advisory

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth also runs a Women and Wealth program aimed at supporting female clients and financial professionals.

Culture and corporate values

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth describes its culture as "client-centric" and "values-based." The firm says it operates under five guiding principles it calls the CREDO:

  1. community
  2. respect
  3. excellence
  4. discipline
  5. opportunity

ATPW says it supports its teams with dedicated resources and infrastructure. Employees receive a base salary based on experience and performance-based incentives. Advisors get technology access across all major custodians, white glove transition support, and done-for-you back-office infrastructure.

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth also launched a Women and Wealth program. Managing wealth advisor Cary Carbonaro leads it to serve women clients and financial professionals.

About CEO Aaron Brodt and key people

Aaron Brodt is founder and CEO of both Ashton Thomas Private Wealth and Amplify Technology. Brodt worked as a financial advisor and portfolio manager at a multi-family office before founding ATPW. He started his career as an oil trader at Tosco, now part of ConocoPhillips, and holds the CIMA designation.

Brodt is supported by key people at Ashton Thomas Private Wealth, who include:

  • Joseph Lanzisera as the president of Ashton Thomas Securities
  • Erica Bloudek as the COO
  • Drinan Gorney as the chief administrative officer and general counsel
  • Lance Knight, CRPC as partner and senior director of business development
  • Cary Carbonaro as the managing wealth advisor and Women and Wealth ambassador
  • Kevin Kading as the senior director and head of finance

Each leader oversees a distinct function, from legal and finance to operations and business development. Together, the team manages ATPW's multi-entity structure across its offices in the US.

The future at ATPW

In late 2025, the firm acquired Day Hagan, a Sarasota-based wealth manager known for model-driven investment strategies. The deal brought co-founder Don Hagan on board as ATPW's new chief investment officer. For Ashton Thomas Private Wealth, the move added investment leadership and a Florida foothold as it continues to grow.

ATPW also pushed further west in early 2026 by adding Collin Rigler, a 30-year industry veteran from Raymond James. Rigler joined alongside colleague Eric Montijo and Kayleigh Nakamura and brought about $200 million in client assets. The additions deepened the firm's Southwest and West Coast presence as it looked to extend its national network.

The latest Ashton Thomas Private Wealth news

Displaying 23 results
Best Wealth Managers & Advisors Under 40 in the USA | Rising Stars
BEST IN WEALTH NOV 20, 2024
Best Wealth Managers & Advisors Under 40 in the USA | Rising Stars

Recognizing the top financial advisors and wealth management professionals under 40 standing out due to their achievements, goals, and industry contributions

SEC orders firms to pay $3.4M in penalties over reporting failures
SEC orders firms to pay $3.4M in penalties over reporting failures

Nine out of the 11 firms charged by the federal regulator have agreed to pay civil penalties related to Form 13F and Form 13H violations.

iCapital deepens Arax partnership with Ashton Thomas deal
ALTERNATIVES JUL 18, 2024
iCapital deepens Arax partnership with Ashton Thomas deal

The global fintech firm is helping more advisors and high-net-worth clients access opportunities in the alternative investment space.

goRIA's  list of turnkey asset management providers 
TAMPS MAY 22, 2024
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Check out this list of some turnkey asset management providers (TAMPs) that financial advisors look to when outsourcing asset management

Arax adds $9B with Texas acquisition
RIA NEWS APR 11, 2024
Arax adds $9B with Texas acquisition

The wealth platform dramatically expands its capabilities with deal for a Houston-based firm catering to HNW and UHNW clients.

Ashton Thomas picks up $300M team from WealthSource
RIA NEWS APR 02, 2024
Ashton Thomas picks up $300M team from WealthSource

It's the second new team to join the firm in the past month.

Arax firm Ashton Thomas adds $500M team, opens New York office
Arax firm Ashton Thomas adds $500M team, opens New York office

Team of three was previously with Raymond James division Alex. Brown.

Arax acquires independent broker-dealer, adds $2B wealth team
RIA NEWS JAN 12, 2024
Arax acquires independent broker-dealer, adds $2B wealth team

The firm has also hired a new CIO as it scales up its operations.