Aerodigm Wealth Launches with $1.5B, Vowing Tax-First UHNW Strategy

PORTLAND, Ore. – February 11, 2026 – A seasoned team of wealth advisors has completed a management buyout of the business formerly known as Delap Wealth Advisory, relaunching as Aerodigm Wealth LLC. The newly independent, partner-owned firm begins its journey with approximately $1.5 billion in assets under management and a sharp focus on serving ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and families by prioritizing tax efficiency as the cornerstone of wealth accumulation.

The move establishes Aerodigm as a significant new player in the independent advisory space. Headquartered in the Portland area, the firm will continue to be led by the same management team, ensuring continuity for its 261 existing clients. This transition to independence allows the firm to double down on its specialized approach, which challenges the traditional industry focus on pre-tax returns.

“Our history is rooted in tax planning and Aerodigm’s strategy is built to meet the new paradigm in how taxable wealth compounds,” said Jared C. Siegel, Managing Partner of Aerodigm Wealth, who led the buyout. “Much of the investment industry is built around frameworks designed for tax-exempt institutions. But for taxable investors, the efficient frontier is much different.”

A New Paradigm in After-Tax Returns

Aerodigm is positioning itself as a direct answer to a problem that plagues many wealthy investors: the erosion of gains by inefficient tax strategies. The firm’s core philosophy is that for UHNW clients, long-term wealth compounding is less about gross market returns and more about net after-tax results.

“The biggest threat to long-term wealth isn’t market volatility, it’s disconnected decision-making and an inefficient tax approach,” Mr. Siegel stated. “For our UHNW clients, it’s not what they make, it’s what they keep. Our focus is working within the tax code to implement coordinated strategies designed to compound efficiently over time and after tax.”

This “tax-aware” methodology is woven into every aspect of the firm’s process, from portfolio construction to multigenerational estate planning. Rather than treating tax planning as a year-end activity, Aerodigm integrates it as a primary consideration in all financial decisions. This holistic approach involves sophisticated strategies that are becoming increasingly crucial for clients in high-tax jurisdictions. These can include advanced tax-loss harvesting, strategic asset location to optimize tax-advantaged accounts, and the use of municipal bonds. Furthermore, the firm evaluates complex estate and charitable planning structures—such as Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)—not as separate legal tools, but as integral components of a unified financial ecosystem designed to preserve and grow wealth across generations.

The Strategic Path to Independence

The formation of Aerodigm Wealth was part of a larger strategic realignment. The firm’s predecessor, Delap Wealth Advisory, was the wealth management arm of Delap LLP, a prominent regional accounting firm. The management buyout occurred as Delap LLP’s core accounting and consulting divisions were acquired by the national firm Aprio in January 2026. This broader restructuring created a logical opportunity for the wealth advisory team to spin off and establish an independent identity fully dedicated to its specialized client base.

This independence is a key part of the new firm's value proposition. As a partner-owned entity, Aerodigm’s leadership team has direct equity in the business, a structure they believe fosters a long-term ownership mindset that aligns their interests directly with those of their clients. This move away from a larger corporate umbrella is part of a significant trend in the financial industry, where advisors are increasingly seeking autonomy to build client-centric service models free from corporate mandates.

Continuity remains a central theme. Mr. Siegel, who spent 15 years in public accounting before building the advisory practice, continues as Managing Partner. He is joined by key leaders like Dave DeLap, a third-generation principal with over four decades of experience from the legacy firm, ensuring that deep institutional knowledge and long-standing client relationships are preserved. The team’s prior success, including being named one of the fastest-growing fee-only RIAs by Investment News in 2023, provides a strong foundation for its new chapter.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

Aerodigm enters the market as a formidable independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). With an initial AUM of nearly $1.5 billion, the firm is already in the upper echelon of RIAs, a segment where firms managing over $1 billion hold the vast majority of assets. The firm’s reported 261 clients translate to an average client size of over $5.6 million, underscoring its focus on the complex needs of the ultra-wealthy.

The independent RIA channel is the fastest-growing segment of the wealth management industry. According to data from Cerulli Associates, the sector is projected to see a 4% compound annual growth rate through 2028, far outpacing traditional wirehouse channels. Advisors are drawn to the independence, flexibility, and ability to create niche specializations. Aerodigm's launch exemplifies this trend, carving out a distinct identity centered on a highly sought-after expertise.

While the industry is growing, it is also consolidating, with larger firms frequently acquiring smaller ones. Aerodigm's strategy appears to be a direct counter-narrative: building a substantial, specialized firm from the ground up through a strategic spin-off rather than through acquisition. By focusing intensely on the intersection of investment management and sophisticated tax planning, Aerodigm aims to prove that deep expertise in a critical niche is the most effective way to compete for and serve the nation's wealthiest families, regardless of their geographic location.