Find a Financial Advisor in Maricopa County

Maricopa County at a glance

Maricopa County holds most of Arizona’s people. The county seat is Phoenix, and the Valley of the Sun around it takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Buckeye and more. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, the county has a median household income of $89,300, a median home value of $452,800 and a median age of 37.6. About 65.2 percent of homes are owner occupied, with a median monthly mortgage cost of $1,931 and median gross rent of $1,708. Residents age 65 and older make up 16.3 percent of the population.

The county stretches across a wide desert basin, so a family in north Scottsdale, a retiree in Sun City and a young engineer in Chandler can live very different financial lives within the same county line. This page covers financial advisors, wealth management, planning, retirement, life insurance and investing for the whole of it. Advisors who serve the Maricopa County area meet by phone or video, and the first conversation is free.

Financial advisors in Maricopa County

The word advisor covers a lot of ground. Some advisors charge a flat fee for a plan. Some manage investments for a percentage of assets. Others are insurance agents or brokers paid through commissions. In a county of this size you will find every kind, and the quality gap between them is wide.

Decide first what you need done. A couple who just moved from California with a large home sale to invest has a different need than a Gilbert family trying to fit childcare and a mortgage into one paycheck. A physician with a group practice stake has another. Putting the job in a sentence makes it much easier to see which advisor fits and which is selling something else. The guide to financial advisors explains the types in more detail.

How Maricopa County makes its living

For decades the Valley ran on construction, real estate and retirement migration, and those still matter. The economy has widened. Semiconductor manufacturing is a major employer in Chandler and nearby areas, and large new chip plants in the north Valley have drawn suppliers and engineers. Aerospace and defense firms operate across the east Valley and near Luke Air Force Base on the west side. Arizona State University in Tempe, with campuses in downtown Phoenix, Mesa and the west Valley, is a large source of jobs and research.

Health care is another pillar, led by systems such as Banner Health and the Mayo Clinic campus in north Phoenix and Scottsdale. Tourism, golf, resorts and the Cactus League spring training schedule bring money in every winter, and many back-office and financial services operations have located in the Valley because of its cost and workforce.

For household planning, this mix produces equity compensation at tech and manufacturing firms, commission and bonus pay in real estate and sales, and seasonal swings in hospitality. Income that varies needs a bigger cash cushion and a deliberate savings habit.

Wealth management in Maricopa County

Wealth management brings investments, taxes, insurance, retirement income and estate planning under one lead advisor. Maricopa County has the kind of households that use it: business owners who sold a company, executives with stock awards, medical specialists, and retirees with seven-figure portfolios who chose Scottsdale, Paradise Valley or Fountain Hills for the climate.

A typical case is a couple in their late fifties who sold a business in another state and bought a home in north Scottsdale. Their questions run together: how to invest the proceeds, how to handle gains, how to set up their trust under Arizona rules, and how to draw income for thirty years. A wealth manager coordinates the answers with their accountant and attorney.

Fees are usually a percentage of assets, with lower rates at higher balances, and minimums are common. Compare the all-in annual cost in dollars across firms.

Financial planners in Maricopa County

A financial planner turns goals into a written plan with numbers and dates. For a young couple in Queen Creek or Buckeye, where newer subdivisions mean larger mortgages, a plan might set a monthly savings amount, an order for paying debts, and a time frame for the next home. For a mid-career family it often adds college savings and a check on insurance.

Planners charge in different ways: a one-time fee for a plan, an hourly rate, an ongoing monthly retainer, or a percentage of assets. Pick the structure that fits how much help you want afterward. A planner should explain assumptions, such as how long you will live and what returns are expected, in plain terms. You can read more background in the budgeting guide.

Retirement planning in Maricopa County

Arizona has long been a retirement destination. Sun City and Sun City West were among the country’s first large age-restricted communities, and Sun Lakes, Surprise and parts of the east Valley continue the pattern. Arizona does not tax Social Security benefits at the state level, which helps, though the state does levy income tax on other income, so withdrawals from retirement accounts and pensions still need to be sequenced with care. The retirement planning guide covers the basics of withdrawal order.

Questions we hear often include when to claim Social Security, how to pay for health care between retirement and Medicare, and whether to keep a large home or move to a smaller one. Heat changes the housing math too: cooling costs, pool upkeep and a roof or air conditioner replacement are real budget lines in the Valley.

Snowbirds add another layer. Households that split the year between Arizona and a northern state should document where they are domiciled, since two states may claim them as residents. Check the rules with the Arizona Department of Revenue or a tax professional.

Life insurance in Maricopa County

Life insurance protects the people who rely on your income. With a median home value of $452,800, many Maricopa County households carry mortgages that dwarf the group coverage from work, which is often one or two times salary. A term policy sized to the mortgage, childcare years and a spouse’s retirement is a common answer.

Business owners may use policies to fund a buy-sell agreement between partners. Older buyers sometimes look at permanent coverage to help pay estate costs or leave a legacy, but those policies are expensive and deserve a careful comparison of illustrations. Arizona is a community property state, so each spouse generally has a claim on income earned during the marriage, and that shapes coverage for a spouse who stays home.

Agents are licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions, which also accepts complaints.

Investment advisors in Maricopa County

An investment advisor builds and watches a portfolio. Ask whether the advisor is a registered investment adviser with a fiduciary duty or a broker paid on transactions, and get the compensation in writing. Registered advisors file a Form ADV that lists fees, conflicts and disciplinary history.

Local situations include concentrated stock at a chip or tech employer, rental homes bought during the boom, and retirement accounts that must now produce income. An advisor can help diversify without a large tax bill by selling in stages, using gifts, or directing new money elsewhere. Look up any firm on the SEC adviser database and FINRA BrokerCheck, and use the Arizona Corporation Commission Securities Division if you want to check state registration or file a complaint. For background on portfolio basics, see the investing guide.

Housing, growth and cost of living

Maricopa County added a great many people in the past two decades, and housing costs rose with them. At $452,800, the median home value is higher than in many Sun Belt metros, and rent of $1,708 can squeeze young households. Prices differ widely: Paradise Valley and north Scottsdale sit at the top, while parts of west Phoenix, Glendale and El Mirage cost much less.

Many newer neighborhoods sit in homeowners associations with monthly dues and rules. Add those to your budget, along with utilities that spike in summer. Arizona real estate is also a common way for out-of-state buyers to invest, so a second home or rental raises questions about taxes, insurance and how to hold the title. A planner can help weigh buying against renting and the effect on retirement savings.

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Arizona tax rules that matter

Arizona taxes income at a flat rate, so planning relies less on bracket tricks and more on timing and account type. There is no state estate or inheritance tax. Property tax is lower than in many states. Sales tax applies, and cities add their own rates, including on rentals. Confirm current rules with the Arizona Department of Revenue or a tax professional before acting.

Arizona law covers community property, trusts and transfer on death rules. A beneficiary deed lets a home pass outside probate in Arizona, which many residents find useful. Retirees moving in should update wills, powers of attorney and health care directives so they follow Arizona law. See the estate planning guide for a primer.

Heat, monsoon and water risks

Extreme heat is the signature risk of the county. Summer highs frequently pass 110 degrees, and that affects health, power bills and the life of roofs, pools and cars. Monsoon storms in summer bring dust storms and flash flooding, and washes can run suddenly after heavy rain. Standard homeowners policies do not cover flood, so ask whether your property needs a separate policy.

Wildfire risk sits at the edges, such as near Cave Creek, Carefree and the foothills. Water is a longer-term issue. The Valley depends on the Colorado River through the Central Arizona Project and on the Salt and Verde rivers, and shortages on the Colorado have led to cutbacks for the state. Utility rates and local rules on new development may change as a result. Build a buffer for rising costs into long retirement plans.

Colleges, hospitals and big employers

Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Maricopa Community Colleges, and several health systems anchor the county. Families often compare a community college start with a transfer to ASU, which can cut four-year costs considerably. A 529 plan allows tax advantaged saving, and Arizona residents may get a state tax deduction for contributions. Confirm the current rules and limits.

Employees at universities, hospitals and school districts should review their retirement choices carefully. Some have a pension through the Arizona State Retirement System, others use a 403(b), and the combination affects how much to save on your own.

How to choose a financial advisor in Maricopa County

Use a short checklist and do it with two or three candidates side by side.

1. State your goal in plain words before you call anyone.
2. Ask for a written description of fees, including fund costs, in dollars for an account your size.
3. Confirm in writing whether the advisor acts as a fiduciary on all advice.
4. Pull the firm’s Form ADV and run a check on BrokerCheck.
5. Ask for an example of a client with a situation like yours, with no names.
6. Find out how often you will meet and who handles day-to-day questions.

Pressure to decide quickly is a warning sign. A competent advisor is comfortable with you taking a week to think. Phone and video meetings make it easy to compare several people in different parts of the Valley.

Areas we serve in Maricopa County

Advisors who serve the Maricopa County area work with households in Avondale, Buckeye, Chandler, El Mirage, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Surprise and Tempe, and in smaller communities such as Fountain Hills, Paradise Valley, Sun City and Cave Creek. Service is by phone or video, so your city matters less than the match.

Commuting, light rail and the Loop freeways

Most of the county lives with long drives. The Loop 101, Loop 202 and Interstate 10 connect the Valley, and traffic can be heavy at rush hour. Light rail runs through central Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, but most households own at least one car per adult. When you price a house in Buckeye or Queen Creek against one in Tempe, include the cost of the second vehicle and the time spent driving.

Moving here from somewhere else

A large share of newcomers come from California, the Midwest and the Northeast. Selling a high-priced home elsewhere and buying here can free up cash, which then needs a plan. Retirees often arrive with accounts scattered across several firms, and consolidating them under a sensible strategy can simplify life. Remember to update your state of residence on tax filings, driver license and voter registration, and review beneficiaries and legal documents.

Frequently asked questions