DePaolo & May Strategic Wealth

Thomas DePaolo, the firm's President, and Frank May, its Vice President, jointly evaluate and structure all private placement offerings. The firm operates with a two-principal governance model and does not delegate origination or underwriting authority to an investment committee below the founding partners.

The firm sources real estate and private credit opportunities through direct relationships with sponsors and developers, predominantly in Florida and the Southeast. Unlike aggregator platforms that syndicate deals broadly, DePaolo & May maintains a curated pipeline — the principals select each offering before presenting it to their established client base.

No. The firm is a placement agent and advisory practice, not a fund manager. It structures individual private placements — such as tenant-in-common real estate interests and Delaware statutory trusts — rather than pooling client capital into a commingled vehicle. This means clients hold direct or trust-based interests in the underlying assets.

The firm operates as a limited liability company registered in Florida. Its securities offerings are conducted under Regulation D exemptions, limiting participation to accredited investors. The principals hold the necessary securities licenses for private placement activity, though the firm does not publicly disclose its specific SEC or FINRA registration status.

DePaolo & May does not fit neatly into any single category. It is not a single-family office, as it serves multiple unrelated client families. It is not a typical RIA charging AUM-based fees, because its revenue is transaction-driven. The firm functions more like an independent private placement boutique structured as a strategic wealth advisory — one that uses tax-advantaged vehicles to deliver alternative-asset exposure.