1926 E. Fort Lowell Rd Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85719
Contact Us
Mon - Thurs: 9:00 - 5:00 AZ
Fri: 9:00 - 3:00 AZ
1926 E. Fort Lowell Rd Suite 100
Tucson, AZ 85719
Contact Us
Mon - Thurs: 9:00 - 5:00 AZ
Fri: 9:00 - 3:00 AZ
Here’s a question most advisors won’t ask you: Do you actually need us?
About one in four people who walk through our door are doing fine on their own. We tell them so and send them on their way.
For the other three? We’ve usually found something significant. Not because we’re geniuses at picking stocks—we’re not trying to beat the market and neither should you. But because we focus on something most advisors completely ignore: efficiency.
Four types, specifically. Visible efficiency (the fees you can see), invisible efficiency (the costs buried in fund expenses), tax efficiency (keeping more of what you earn), and risk efficiency (making sure you’re not gambling when you should be preserving, or hiding in cash when you need growth).
Our job isn’t to make you rich. It’s to keep you rich.
Fee-Based Fiduciary
20+ Years in Tucson
Tucson-Based
Transparent Fees
Think about the last time you bought a car. The salesperson was friendly, knowledgeable, and showed you exactly what you wanted to see. They also got paid a commission based on what you bought and how much you spent.
Now imagine that same dynamic with your retirement savings.
That’s what most “financial advisor” relationships look like. They’re not advisors. They’re salespeople with nice titles, and they get paid based on what they sell you—not on how well your portfolio performs.
The pen test: If someone can choose between two products that do the same job—one that costs you 25 cents and one that costs you $2—which one will they recommend if they get paid more to sell the expensive one?
That’s the difference between a commission-based broker and a fiduciary, fee-based advisor.
We’re legally required to recommend what’s best for you. Not what’s “suitable.” Not what pays us the most. What actually serves your interests.
We get paid the same percentage whether we recommend expensive products or inexpensive ones. In fact, we make more money when costs stay low and your portfolio grows, because our fee is based on your account value.
The biggest scam we see in Tucson? Insurance salespeople calling themselves financial advisors, locking clients into products with decade-long surrender charges. By the time you realize it’s not a good deal, you’re trapped.
We’ve never used a surrender charge. You can leave anytime. The only thing keeping you here is whether we continue delivering value.
The Risk Reality Assessment
Before we touch a single investment, we figure out what level of risk your life actually requires. Not what sounds exciting. Not what maximizes our fees. What you need to accomplish your specific goals.
We evaluate your current holdings, timeline, income needs, and true risk tolerance—not a questionnaire score, but how you’ve actually reacted when markets dropped.
This becomes your foundation. Everything else serves this reality.
The Portfolio Alignment
Once we know your appropriate risk level, we build a portfolio designed to deliver it. Not maximum returns. Not minimum risk. The specific outcome your situation requires.
If your goals only require moderate growth, we don’t chase aggressive returns and expose you to unnecessary volatility. If you need higher growth to make retirement work, we don’t hide in overly conservative investments and pretend that’s “safe.”
The portfolio serves your needs, not the other way around.
The Efficiency Audit
We analyze what you’re actually getting for what you’re paying across four dimensions:
Visible efficiency – the fees you can see on statements
Invisible efficiency – the costs buried in fund expenses
Tax efficiency – whether holdings minimize your Arizona tax bill
Risk efficiency – whether you’re taking appropriate risk for your timeline
Arizona’s relatively low tax rate creates opportunities most national advisors miss. We identify tax-smart positioning, manage Medicare premium thresholds, and coordinate timing to keep more money working for you.
The Ongoing Partnership
Portfolios don’t stay balanced on their own. Life changes. Markets shift. We provide continuous oversight to keep everything aligned with your evolving needs.
You get decision protocols, not vague promises. Clear rebalancing triggers. Defined review schedules. And immediate availability when market events or life changes require attention.
Initial Meetings: The Real Conversation
Two to three meetings focused entirely on understanding your actual situation. No sales pitches. No generic questionnaires. Just conversations about what matters to you and what your portfolio needs to accomplish.
We’re also evaluating whether you actually need us. Roughly one in four people who meet with us are doing fine on their own, and we tell them so.
Analysis Phase: Finding What Others Miss
We examine your current holdings for the inefficiencies other advisors ignore: unnecessary fee layers, concentration risk, tax-inefficient positioning, and portfolios that don’t match your timeline.
You see exactly what we found and why it matters—before any money moves.
Implementation: Transparent Execution
We execute changes through Charles Schwab or Fidelity. No surrender charges. No lock-in periods. No penalties if you decide to leave.
You understand not just what we’re doing, but why, and what to expect at each step.
Regular reviews maintain alignment. Rebalancing prevents risk drift. Behavioral coaching prevents panic decisions during volatility.
Being local matters here too. When you need connections beyond investment management—estate attorneys, CPAs, even contractor referrals—we have 20+ years of Tucson relationships to draw from.
Same advisor, every time
No shuffling between team members who don’t know your story.
Fiduciary obligation
We’re legally required to put your interests first, not sell products.
Fee-based structure
We only make more money when you do.
Risk-first approach
We start with what you need, not what sounds impressive.
Tucson expertise
We understand snowbird residency, local healthcare systems, Arizona tax advantages, and regional planning considerations.
No lock-ins
No surrender charges. No penalties. You stay because we deliver value.
Behavioral partnership
Preventing emotional decisions during market chaos often matters more than picking the “right” funds.
“I have accounts scattered everywhere”
We evaluate whether consolidation serves you better than your current structure, then implement changes that actually simplify your financial life.
“My current advisor just sells me stuff”
We audit your existing setup, identify what’s working and what’s not, and show you what fiduciary management actually looks like.
“I don’t know if my risk level is appropriate”
We assess your current portfolio against your timeline and goals, then show you whether you’re taking too much risk, too little, or have it about right.
“Every market drop makes me panic”
We build portfolios you can understand and stick with, then provide perspective during volatility so you don’t make emotion-driven mistakes.
“I’m worried about taxes eating my returns”
We position assets to leverage Arizona’s tax advantages and manage Medicare thresholds that many advisors ignore.
Our annual fee is based on assets under management, typically around 1% for most relationships. This covers portfolio management, regular reviews, rebalancing, tax coordination, and ongoing access. All fees disclosed upfront in writing.
Only if it serves you better. We’ll honestly assess whether consolidation makes sense or if your current structure works fine. Accounts we manage are held at Schwab or Fidelity.
We typically charge a percentage-based fee on assets under management (AUM). We don’t usually charge separate planning fees. In rare cases, if an insurance product is recommended and implemented, we may receive a commission related to that product.
We typically invite clients annually, with additional meetings as needed when life changes or markets move significantly. Retirees often prefer more frequent check-ins.
We can provide a second opinion on your current setup. Many people discover gaps or inefficiencies they weren’t aware of, whether they ultimately work with us or not.
Robo-advisors handle basic allocation but can’t provide behavioral coaching during panic, adjust for your specific tax situation, or coordinate with your other professionals. For simple situations, they work fine. For complexity or those who value partnership, a fiduciary advisor adds real value.
Schedule your portfolio review. We’ll spend time understanding your situation and showing you what aligned advisory would look like for your specific circumstances.
No generic presentations. No product pitches. Just an honest assessment of where you stand and what improvements make sense.
Most people discover at least one significant opportunity to improve efficiency, whether we work together or not.
