Looking for investment help? Retirement savings, income, investment advice, financial planning, insurance, estate planning, or business benefit plans.

Find Arizona financial planners, investment advisors, and insurance reps in the following cities:

Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler, Sun City, Tempe, Scottsdale, Tuscon, Flagstaff. If you are looking for a different location, search here.

Recent Posts: 

November 6, 2008: Has the stock market and your retirement account scared you? More investors turning to professional financial advisors and financial planners.

Although most people use a professional mechanic for their car and would use a doctor if they needed surgery, many people have left their financial future up to chance. With the dramatic downturn in the stock market and the current credit crisis, those people are realizing that they need a professional financial advisor or planner to help them reach their financial goals.

A professional financial advisor is worth more to the average person today than ever before. How will the current market crisis affect you? What will the new massive government programs mean for you? What will Obama's upcoming tax increases mean for you? How will the changing estate tax affect you? A financial planner or advisor can help answer those questions.

July 30, 2008: What's the difference between financial planners, registered investment advisors, stock brokers and other financial professionals?

When searching for financial advice, many people don't know where to turn. Some people will tell you there is only one "right" way to go- whether it is to search for a "fee only" financial advisor, someone with a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) designation, or someone you meet through a referral. In reality, there is no right way to find the best financial planner.

You can find good (and bad) financial advice whether you pay for it by commissions or by fees. Similarly, financial designations are something to take into consideration, but don't always mean a financial planner will be a good or bad fit for you. Likewise, a referral from a friend might mean that advisor was a great fit for your friend, but not a good match for your financial needs.

A great way to find financial advice is simply to look for advisors that have experience serving other people with financial needs similar to yours. For instance, there are financial advisors who focus on retirement needs, minorities, small business owners, and every affinity group possible.

You can read Financial Advice Here to find financial articles on how to search and find particular financial advisors and then use the website's search tool to look for advisors that have experience with your specific financial needs.

May 10, 2008: Market volatility and low interest rates affects Arizona retirement income.

After watching the stock market increase for the past five years in a row, investors are suddenly rediscovering risk in their investment portfolios. At the same time, interest rates are low, making it hard to find investment income. Studies show that market volatility often drives do-it-yourself investors to find a professional to work with. An Arizona financial planner or investment advisor can review your current financial situation and suggest ways to help your investment portfolio.

Some common mistakes that investors make are 1. not having a financial plan at all, 2. not being diversified, and 3. having poor investment choices. First, you have to have a financial plan to tell you how much you need to be savings to reach your goals. Diversification is one of the fundamental investment principles, but most individuals don't have the tools to properly analyze their investment diversification. Last, many individuals have investment portfolios filled with random stocks or funds that don't fit into the overall plan. An Arizona investment advisor or financial planner can correct these mistakes and make sure your financial plan and retirement income are on track.

February 13, 2008: Men and Women invest differently and each needs to work with a financial planner to counter their investment biases.

How do men and women invest differently? It's an important question for investors to consider when implementing their financial plan.

In fact, many people do follow the stereotype, whether in Arizona or across the country: men invest aggressively, while women invest more conservatively. This results in very different investing behavior and very different needs between you and your financial planner or investment advisor.

For men, this means they usually prefer a larger portion of their asset allocation weighted toward aggressive investments such as growth stocks, small-cap stocks, and international. This is neither good nor bad, it depends on your risk tolerance and financial goals. However, men do have one investing trait that is a definite negative! They trade too frequently! Trading has been shown to be harmful to investment performance, due both to the trading commissions and the underperformance of the investments bought. This fact has been shown in every study, both from individuals and from professional money managers. The more often you trade, the lower average return you will have. What to do? Men in Arizona should work with their financial planner or investment advisor to make sure their financial plan has some conservative investments in it, in order to cut down on volatility and their impulse to trade. Secondly, don't change your investment plan unless there is a change in your financial situation.

For women in Arizona, their conservative tendency means their investment advisor or financial planner should show them the benefit of including some more aggressive investments in their portfolio. This means accepting a little more short-term volatility, but you get a higher long-term return which is especially important for women, who have a longer life expectancy and need their money to last longer.

The bottom line for your financial plan is that everyone should have a portfolio with a mix of investments that will meet their financial goals.

January 23, 2008: Retirement Savings in Arizona

We are seeing the beginning of a major shift in financial planning in Arizona. The past 10 years have been a major build-up of investment assets designed for capital gains in Arizona, while the next 20-30 years will see a shift of investment assets toward income. In other words, Arizona retirees have been saving up for retirement. Once in retirement, they will need to start generating income from their nest eggs.

How do you make that change in your financial plan? Well, some people retiring today have pensions which will support them. However, most people who are soon to be entering retirement in Arizona will have to work with a financial planner to create their own "retirement paycheck". This often means a combination of Social Security, having a plan to shift more of their asset allocation to income investments, and the purchase of annuities which can provide a guaranteed lifetime income.

Your current age, your spending, and your planned retirement age have major impacts on how much you will need to support your retirement. An Arizona financial planner or investment advisor can work with you to analyze your financial plan. After meeting with their advisor, many people realize they should modify part of their plan, like working a little longer or spending less. Others will be happy to hear their advisor tell them their income should last through many more Arizona summers. Younger savers can also benefit, by looking at the various savings "buckets" (401k, IRA, Roth IRA, taxable accounts, etc) you are using for retirement income.

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