Boutique RIA Aspire Wealth Advisory Group Launches with Over $100M AUM

Edward Karan, formerly managing director and global head of institutional sales at Citi Global Wealth at Work, has launched Aspire Wealth Advisory Group, a boutique registered investment adviser that opened with more than $100 million in assets under management. Karan brings more than 30 years of experience advising institutions, executive teams, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.

Aspire is designed to serve as a family’s personal CFO — coordinating investments, tax planning, estate considerations, cash flow, and broader financial decision-making in a single advisory relationship. The firm works with Obsidian CIO to supplement its boutique model with outsourced institutional investment management, manager due diligence, and operational infrastructure for multigenerational family capital.

“Families are looking for a strategic partner who can help coordinate the different parts of their financial lives, and we are excited to continue expanding our impact as we help clients build, preserve, and transfer wealth with confidence,” said Karan, founder and CEO, Aspire Wealth Advisory Group.

Aspire is carving out a niche between the mass affluent and the ultra-high-net-worth markets — targeting clients who fall below the thresholds typically required by the largest private banks and family offices but still require a level of planning complexity and personalization that standard wealth management firms rarely provide. The firm plans to deepen its advisory capabilities and expand its work with clients managing domestic and cross-border financial complexity.

Pictured: Edward Karan