Today we’d like to introduce you to Nigel Paxton.
Nigel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been in the telecommunications industry since 2006, but my path to founding Aries Advisors wasn’t linear.
Early in my career, I represented large wireless carriers, analyzing long-term cell tower leases and negotiating from their side of the table. Later, I moved into private equity, helping acquire wireless lease revenue streams. Those years gave me an inside understanding of how carriers and investors think, value risk, and structure deals.
But over time, I felt a growing conviction. I realized I was consistently on the side with more information and leverage, negotiating against property owners who often didn’t fully understand the long-term impact of what they were signing.
Through prayer and reflection, it became clear that the experience I had gained wasn’t just for career advancement -it was preparation for a different purpose.
In 2013, I made the decision to represent property owners exclusively. In 2016, I founded Aries Advisors with a simple mission: to educate, guide, and protect property owners so they can make informed, confident decisions.
Looking back, every step – even the years on the other side of the table – was preparation. What once built corporate leverage now builds protection for the people I serve.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. In the beginning, I was building Aries from scratch – no brand recognition, no built-in referral engine, and operating in a very niche industry that most people don’t fully understand.
One of the hardest parts early on was explaining what we don’t do. Property owners with cell towers are constantly being contacted by carriers, tower companies, investors, and site acquisition agents. Everyone has a different role and different financial incentives. When I would tell owners that Aries represents only them – and never the tenant side – it sometimes took time to earn that trust. They weren’t used to having someone in their corner without a hidden agenda.
There were also moments of doubt that every entrepreneur experiences. Leaving a stable corporate career to build something mission-driven carries real pressure. You question whether the market will respond, whether you’re early, whether people will see the value before they’ve made a costly mistake.
But what kept me going was seeing how uneven the playing field can be. I’ve been inside the industry. I understand how sophisticated these companies are and how much information they bring to the table. Many property owners are making decisions that will affect their property for 30+ years, often without fully understanding the long-term implications.
The turning point wasn’t some dramatic breakthrough – it was consistency. One client at a time. One successful negotiation at a time. As property owners saw tangible results and felt protected rather than pressured, word started to spread.
Looking back, the challenges were necessary. They forced me to sharpen the message, refine the mission, and build Aries on trust instead of volume. And that foundation has shaped everything we’ve become.
We’ve been impressed with Aries Advisors, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aries Advisors was built around a simple idea: property owners deserve someone fully in their corner.
The wireless telecom industry is complex and highly specialized. Most of the companies involved — carriers, tower companies, private equity groups — negotiate these agreements every single day. Property owners may only encounter one of these transactions once in their lifetime. That imbalance creates risk, but it also creates opportunity if handled correctly.
We specialize in representing property owners in all types of cell tower transactions — new leases, amendments and extensions, lease prepayments, and ongoing strategy around tower assets. These agreements can last decades and, if structured properly, generate substantial long-term income. But small details in a lease can have long-term consequences.
What sets us apart is simple: we represent only property owners. We don’t work for tenants. We don’t buy rent streams. We don’t sit on both sides of the table. That independence allows us to give clear, objective advice without competing interests.
I’m especially proud of the trust we’ve built. Over time, Aries has become known not just for strong financial outcomes, but for steady guidance. Many of our clients are churches, parks, schools, or family-held properties — organizations that value stewardship and long-term thinking. Helping them feel informed, protected, and confident in their decisions is deeply meaningful.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to understand it’s that a cell tower lease may seem like a small part of a property, but it can have a lasting impact on its value and flexibility. With the right guidance, it can be a tremendous asset. Aries exists to make sure we provide expert guidance for our clients.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe risk looks different when it’s rooted in conviction and faith rather than ambition alone.
Leaving a stable corporate career to build Aries Advisors full-time was certainly the biggest professional risk I’ve taken. From the outside, it looked risky — walking away from predictable income and a defined career path to pursue something entrepreneurial. There were real uncertainties involved.
But for me, it wasn’t impulsive. It came after a great deal of prayer, reflection, and clarity around purpose.
Over time, I had come to see how uneven the playing field can be in the wireless telecom space. Property owners were often making decisions that could affect their families, churches, or communities for decades, sometimes without truly understanding the long-term implications. I felt a growing conviction that I was uniquely positioned — because of my experience — to serve and protect in that space.
Faith doesn’t eliminate risk. It reframes it.
My perspective is that true risk isn’t simply financial — it’s the risk of ignoring a calling. At some point, staying comfortable can become riskier than stepping forward. When you feel entrusted with insight or expertise that can help others, there’s a responsibility that comes with that.
That doesn’t mean being reckless. I believe in being disciplined, prepared, and thoughtful. But I also believe that when your mission is clear and your motives are aligned with service, you can move forward with peace even when the path isn’t fully visible.
Building Aries has required perseverance and trust. But it has also affirmed something important to me: when your work is aligned with your values, risk becomes less about fear and more about stewardship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ariesadvisors.net/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-paxton-telecom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ariesadvisors
