Find a Financial Advisor in Phoenix, AZ

Financial planning in Phoenix at a glance

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the fifth largest city in the United States, with about 1.6 million residents. It sits at the center of Maricopa County, home to more than four and a half million people, and of a metro area that has been one of the fastest growing in the country. The Valley’s economy once leaned heavily on construction and real estate. Today it is far broader: semiconductor manufacturing, including TSMC’s chip plant in north Phoenix and Intel’s campus in nearby Chandler; healthcare systems such as Banner Health and Mayo Clinic; aerospace through Honeywell; financial services and customer operations for national banks and card companies; Sky Harbor International Airport; and Arizona State University’s downtown campus.

The Valley is also one of the country’s favorite places to retire. Sun City and Sun City West sit just northwest of the city, and every winter seasonal residents arrive from colder states and Canada. Census estimates put the median value of an owner-occupied home in Phoenix near 382,000 dollars, far below coastal California but well above what many longtime residents paid, with a little over half of households owning their home.

Financial advisors in Phoenix: roles and fees

A financial advisor helps you decide what to do with the money you earn and the money you have saved. Depending on the advisor, that can mean a budget and savings plan, investment management, retirement income, insurance reviews and coordination with your tax preparer and estate attorney.

Phoenix offers national wirehouses near Camelback Corridor and Biltmore, independent fiduciaries in Arcadia and North Central, retirement specialists who focus on the Valley’s large retiree population, and online firms. Before you compare personalities, compare pay structures. Typical options:

Wealth management in Phoenix

Wealth management is a comprehensive service that coordinates investments, tax strategy, estate planning, charitable giving and business planning under one relationship. Firms often set minimums in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Several kinds of Phoenix households tend to need it:

• Real estate and construction families. Decades of Valley growth built significant wealth in land, rentals and building companies. Planning for a sale, a 1031 exchange or a transfer to the next generation is often the central question.
• Executives at relocated and expanding companies. New arrivals in semiconductors, finance and healthcare may bring restricted stock, deferred compensation and homes in two states.
• Business owners. Owners of HVAC, lawn care, medical and other service companies that grew with the Valley often need retirement plans for staff, a review of their entity structure and a realistic exit strategy.
• Snowbirds with a foot in two places. Part-year residents need to be clear about which state they call home for tax purposes, and their estate documents should work in both.

Before you sign, ask about total cost, who manages your accounts, how often you will meet and whether the firm is a fiduciary in every relationship.

Financial planners in Phoenix

A financial planner reviews your whole picture and gives you a written, step-by-step plan. It is a natural starting point for people who want direction before committing to ongoing investment management. A Certified Financial Planner has met education, examination and experience standards and must act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice.

Common Phoenix planning situations include:

• First-time buyers. Even with prices below California’s, many young workers in the West Valley and South Mountain areas need a plan to save a down payment while still investing for retirement.
• College savers. The Arizona Family College Savings Program offers tax-free growth for qualified education, and Arizona allows a state income tax deduction for contributions to any state’s 529 plan, within annual limits set by law.
• Givers. Arizona offers dollar-for-dollar state tax credits for donations to qualifying charities, foster care organizations and public schools, among others. A planner can fold these credits into your giving each year.

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Retirement planning in Phoenix

Arizona’s tax rules are friendly to many retirees. Social Security benefits are exempt from state income tax, and other income, including pensions, annuities and withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k) plans, is taxed at a single flat rate that is low compared with many states. Military retired pay has been fully exempt since 2021, and retirees with a federal, Arizona state or local government pension can subtract a small portion of it each year. There is no estate tax and no inheritance tax.

That combination makes Phoenix a popular landing spot for people leaving higher-tax states. Some new arrivals wait to convert traditional IRA money to a Roth until after they have established Arizona residency, so the conversion is taxed at Arizona’s flat rate rather than their former state’s rate. Federal law generally keeps a former home state from taxing pension and retirement plan income once you have moved away.

Property taxes in Arizona are moderate by national standards. The taxable value of a home, known as its limited property value, generally cannot rise more than 5 percent a year. Homeowners 65 and older who meet income limits can apply for the Senior Valuation Protection Option, which freezes the home’s valuation for property tax purposes as long as they continue to qualify. The Maricopa County Assessor’s Office handles applications and can confirm current rules.

Many Phoenix retirees and pre-retirees have public pensions. Teachers and most state and local employees belong to the Arizona State Retirement System, police officers and firefighters typically belong to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, and city workers are covered by the City of Phoenix Employees’ Retirement System. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which matters for anyone whose pension came from work not covered by Social Security.

Healthcare is a major piece of the budget. Medicare begins at 65, and Arizona’s Medicaid program, AHCCCS, includes the Arizona Long Term Care System for people who meet medical and financial rules. Planning for care costs early leaves more choices later.

Steps in a typical Phoenix retirement plan:

1. Estimate spending, including utilities that peak in summer, HOA dues and healthcare before Medicare.
2. Add up steady income from Social Security, pensions and annuities, and choose when to claim.
3. Set a withdrawal order and use the flat tax to plan Roth conversions efficiently.
4. Decide whether to stay full time, split the year or move, and keep beneficiary designations current.

Life insurance in Phoenix

Life insurance helps the people who depend on you pay the bills, the mortgage and future costs like college if you die unexpectedly. Term coverage runs for a set number of years and is usually the least expensive option. Permanent coverage, including whole life and universal life, lasts for life and builds cash value but costs more.

Arizona factors to keep in mind:

• Community property. A policy purchased with marital earnings may belong in part to both spouses even if only one is listed as owner, which can affect control and beneficiary changes.
• Young, growing families. Many households in suburbs like Laveen and Ahwatukee are buying homes and raising children on two incomes, a stage when term coverage often matters most.
• Business partners. Owners of closely held companies often use life insurance to fund buy-sell agreements, so a partner’s family is paid fairly and the business can carry on.
• Coverage tied to a job. Group life insurance from a large Valley employer usually ends when you leave, so it should not be your only protection.

The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions licenses insurers and agents and accepts consumer complaints. A fee-only advisor can estimate how much coverage you need and review any policy you already own.

Investment advisors in Phoenix

An investment advisor manages your portfolio, either by recommending moves or by making them for you with your approval. Registered investment advisers have a fiduciary duty to put clients first. Smaller firms register with the Securities Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission, and larger firms register with the SEC.

FINRA regulates brokers. Look up anyone you are considering on FINRA BrokerCheck and the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site, where you can see registrations, employment history and disciplinary actions, and ask for the firm’s Form ADV Part 2 to review its services, fees and conflicts.

Topics to raise with a Phoenix investment advisor:

• Employer stock. Workers at chipmakers and large corporations may hold more company stock than they realize through grants and purchase plans.
• Income for retirement. Retirees often want a portfolio built to produce dependable cash flow while still growing enough to keep up with inflation.
• Tax efficiency. Arizona’s flat tax keeps state planning simple, but placing investments wisely across taxable, tax-deferred and Roth accounts can still trim federal taxes on dividends and gains.

How to choose a financial advisor in Phoenix

Choose an advisor who is qualified, trustworthy and open about costs. A simple checklist helps:

1. Clarify whether you want a one-time plan, ongoing management, retirement income help, insurance advice or full wealth management.
2. Ask whether the advisor is a fiduciary in every situation, and get it in writing.
3. Request total annual costs, including fund expenses, on paper.
4. Check records on the SEC and FINRA lookup sites.
5. Ask who they usually work with. Advisors who serve many retirees, public employees or business owners may understand you quickly.
6. Interview two or three advisors before making a decision.

Phone and video meetings are popular in Phoenix, especially in July and August, when few people want to cross the Valley in triple-digit heat.

Areas we serve around Phoenix

We connect people throughout Phoenix with financial advisors by phone or video, including Downtown, Roosevelt Row, Arcadia, the Biltmore area, Camelback East, North Central, Encanto, Ahwatukee, Desert Ridge, Deer Valley, Paradise Valley Village, Laveen, Maryvale and South Mountain, as well as communities across Maricopa County.

Nearby communities include Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Paradise Valley and Queen Creek.

Nearby areas we also serve: See all of Arizona

Phoenix financial planning guides

Frequently asked questions