If you are within a few years of retiring, or you have just inherited money and are not sure what to do with it, you are probably weighing decisions that are hard to reverse. When to claim Social Security. Whether to convert to a Roth before required distributions start. Which account to spend down first. What the rules are on an inherited IRA and how much time you actually have. Those questions are all tax questions before they are investment questions. That is the part most people are not getting help with. I am Aaron Randak, a CFP® professional and an Enrolled Agent. The EA credential means I am licensed to represent clients before the IRS and that I prepare tax returns. So when we decide on a Roth conversion or a withdrawal sequence in October, I am the one filing it in April. Nothing gets lost between the advice and the paperwork, because there is no handoff. Most of my clients come to me at one of two points. They are five to fifteen years from retirement and want a straight answer on whether the plan works, what it costs in taxes, and what has to change. Or a parent has died, and there is now an inherited retirement account with distribution rules attached, a house to deal with, and a stack of paperwork that arrived at a difficult time. Some of it can wait. Some of it has deadlines with real money attached. We figure out which is which first. Golden Acre Wealth Management is fee-only and independent. My compensation comes from my clients and nowhere else. I do not sell insurance, I do not earn commissions, and I serve as a fiduciary at all times. I work alongside your estate attorney rather than in place of one, since I am not an attorney and do not draft documents. There are no account minimums. I built the firm that way deliberately, because the people with the most complicated tax situations are not always the ones with the largest portfolios. Here is what happens if you reach out. We spend about thirty minutes on a call. You tell me what is going on and what is worrying you. I tell you what I see, what I would look at first, and whether I am the right person for it. There is no cost and no obligation, and if your situation calls for someone else, I will say so and point you in that direction. I grew up on a farm in rural Iowa and studied Finance and Financial Counseling and Planning at Iowa State. I now live and work in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Annette Bau is a CFP® professional with over 23 years of industry experience. She is the principal of Estate & Retirement Strategies LLC, an independent advisory firm she has led since 1996. She also operates MillionaireSeries.com, an education and certification platform offering workshops and publications related to financial freedom and self-improvement. Estate & Retirement Strategies LLC serves individual clients, including business owners, professionals, and those who are divorced, widowed, or retired. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management, emphasizing detailed data gathering, estate-planning coordination, and a combination of direct and third-party investment solutions.

Kevin Goodwin is a financial advisor at Overwatch Management with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Citadel Financial Services and AE Wealth Management, LLC prior to his current role. Goodwin is a licensed insurance agent and principal at Overwatch Financial. Overwatch Management Group is an independent advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services, employing modern portfolio theory and a long-term trading approach to manage a diversified range of investments.

Ryan Haas is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor based in Scottsdale, AZ, with two years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Your Investment Advisor, an independent firm he has been with since 2024. Prior to his advisory role, Haas held positions at Northrop Grumman, Boeing, Ekso Bionics, and Textron Systems. He maintains full-time employment in the aerospace and defense industry alongside his advisory work. Your Investment Advisor provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals and trusts, focusing on asset-allocation-based portfolios using equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, government and municipal securities, and cash equivalents. The firm combines a strategic passive investment framework with fundamental security analysis and macroeconomic assessment.

Frank Arias is the principal of F. L. Arias & Associates, LLC in Chandler, AZ, with 14 years of experience in the financial industry. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked as an independent insurance agent since 2007 and as a wellness coach for United Healthcare since 2011. F. L. Arias & Associates provides non-discretionary investment advice, 401(k) plan consulting, financial planning, and public educational seminars to plan sponsors and individual clients. The firm emphasizes consultative, documentation-driven advice and commonly arranges for third-party money managers to implement client portfolios.

Daniel Anderson is a financial advisor at Rise Financial Group in Gilbert, AZ, holding a Series 65 designation with 10 years of industry experience. He has served as an insurance agent offering life, fixed, and health insurance products through Medicare Rescue since 2013 alongside his advisory work. Rise Financial Group provides financial consulting and retirement-plan advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on hourly advice and facilitating relationships with third-party investment managers rather than acting as a primary asset manager. The firm supports clients with plan setup, document preparation, and ongoing performance monitoring.

Nigel Upton is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Pinnacle Financial Freedom LLC with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Pinnacle Financial Freedom since 2022 and concurrently operates Sellxion LLC. Prior to his current roles, he was employed at Hewlett Packard from 2015 to 2018. Pinnacle Financial Freedom LLC is a single-advisor independent registered investment adviser that provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis with modern portfolio theory and a long-term trading orientation, tailoring investment strategies to client preferences and operating on a non-discretionary basis.

Bryan Cast is a financial advisor with Nuakh Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has over eight years of experience in financial advisory roles, including positions at Blue Trust, Cast Financial LLC, and Northwestern Mutual. Outside of his advisory work, he has been involved with Blue River Acres LLC since 2013. Nuakh Financial is a fee-only investment adviser that provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm uses an investment approach based on asset allocation and Modern Portfolio Theory, incorporating both passive and active investments along with client-imposed screens, including Biblically Responsible options.

Throughout my career, I quickly became the "go-to" resource for colleagues, family, and friends needing financial advice and guidance. Through my desire to educate, bring transparency to financial services, and help others succeed, I founded Objective Wealth. I differentiate by servicing those seeking a fiduciary planner who provides a tax-focused comprehensive approach, objective insight, and level of service that will guide you to identify and help achieve your goals. I completed my Masters of Business Administrator at Thunderbird School of Global Management and attended Michigan State where I received my bachelor's degree. Prior to financial planning, I spent many years in the education services business. I was involved with designing learning tools, education technology, and delivering services to classrooms throughout the country. I grew up in a family of educators and providing education is an essential part of my values. In my free time, you can find me hiking, camping, cooking, and scuba diving. Gina and I enjoy traveling and spending time with our dog, Murphy.

Michael Calisi is a CFP® with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the principal of Calisi Wealth Management in Tempe, AZ, and previously worked at Next Financial Group Inc for 16 years. In addition to his advisory role, he maintains a CPA designation and provides tax preparation and accounting services. Calisi Wealth Management offers fee-based investment advisory services and qualified retirement plan consulting, utilizing a tactical allocation approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis. The firm serves pooled and institutional accounts with discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, and it is noted for its integration of accounting and tax services alongside investment management.

Undrea Smith is a financial advisor at East Valley Wealth LLC in Gilbert, AZ, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. She is also the owner of East Valley Retirement, where she provides retirement and insurance solutions. East Valley Wealth LLC offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan services to individuals and families. The firm manages a small client base using a combination of equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party model portfolios, supplemented by risk-tolerance assessments and educational seminars.

Nathan Bowles is a financial advisor at Blueprint Wealth Group with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Raymond James & Associates and Tarian Wealth Management. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Marley Exchange Holdings Inc., where he oversees and monitors asset administration. Blueprint Wealth Group is an independent investment adviser serving business owners, entrepreneurs, founders, self-employed professionals, and complex family accounts. The firm employs a planning-first, goals-based approach using financial planning software and a combination of fundamental, technical, and portfolio-construction methods, offering flexible engagement models including discretionary portfolio management and subscription-based planning services.

John Borton is a financial advisor with Investment Trends Capital Group LLC in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 31 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at B. Riley Wealth Advisors, Inc., B. Riley Wealth Management, and National Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Investment Trends LLC, a non-investment-related holding entity. Investment Trends Capital Group LLC, established in 2023, provides discretionary asset management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, foundations, and private entities. The firm uses a combination of macroeconomic, fundamental, technical, charting, and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios based on client objectives and risk tolerance, with regular account reviews and rebalancing.

James Harper is a CFP® and ChFC® with 14 years of industry experience. He is the principal of Harper Wealth Management LLC, a firm he founded after working at several financial services and wealth management companies. Outside of his advisory work, he is a partner in A-10 Transport, a FedEx contractor business. Harper Wealth Management LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a combination of cyclical analysis and modern portfolio theory, incorporating both long- and short-term trading strategies, and uniquely offers oversight of third-party managers alongside direct asset management.

Jeffrey Berk is a financial advisor at Purple Mountain Investment Advisors LLC in Scottsdale, AZ, with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has worked with Purple Mountain since 2016. Prior to this, he has been CEO and major stockholder of BOLT International Inc. since 1996 and of MedPredict Market Research LLC from 2005 to 2017, both providing consulting and research services to pharmaceutical and biotech firms. Purple Mountain Investment Advisors offers portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a multi-method investment approach that includes fundamental, technical, cyclical, and quantitative analysis. The firm specializes in pharmaceutical and biotech sectors and operates a subscription newsletter with specific buy and sell recommendations alongside its discretionary portfolio management.

Gregory Yocum II is a CFP® certificant with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Yocum Wealth in Phoenix, AZ. He has been affiliated with ARQ Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2008. Yocum Wealth serves individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, high-net-worth clients, and charities through integrated wealth management, combining discretionary investment management with ongoing financial planning. The firm uses a tailored investment approach that incorporates fundamental and technical analysis, modern portfolio theory, and a variety of investment vehicles, managing over $63 million in discretionary assets.

Hi! My name is Ben Taylor Poulos. I am a CFP® practitioner. I was born and raised in California and for college I went to the University of Arizona where I completed my B.S in Biology with a focus in Biomedical Sciences. I've been in the valley for 8 years now and this is home. So, who really am I and who are you dealing with? I am first an educator and a listener. All of my life I have naturally gravitated towards people and have wanted to lift everyone around me up. Coming out of High School I really didn't know what was right for my spirit. Was it a teacher? Was it a pastor? Was it going to be a NFL star? (Yeah right) Or at the very least play for the University of Arizona Wildcats? (My Sister's dream) This question lead me to continuing my football career at my local Junior College. While I was playing college football I went through two surgeries which led me down the path of wanting to become a physical therapist. Working through the process of learning how to walk and the excitement I saw on my therapist's face started my path down to Biology. A minor hiccup was the cost of it all and so I thought what's next? As a bartender and working with my local patrons, I found out that a lot of people in the service industry went into Real Estate or Finance. I'm very glad with the decision I made to go into Finance which led me to falling in love with Financial Planning as a career. To be able to give back to individuals, families and my community with a topic you don't get taught in school. Friends, colleagues and even people on the street have told me that I have a face people can trust. And it's true, at the end of the day I will promise that If you take the step with me you will be heard on your wants and needs. And I'll make it my mission to be right next to you helping you make smart financial decisions working towards your goals.​​ I take a lot of pride in how I serve my clients and prospects and that is going to be a cornerstone at B&E Financial Services. Retirement planning, Financial planning, Personal finances or anything relating to a dollar sign, they don't teach you how to manage that in school. You have to go out there and seek out that information, and there is a lot of incorrect information so how do you know what's right for you or wrong? Well that is where I come in with my education approach.

Rodney Mckinnis is a financial advisor with MACC IV Group in Chandler, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 21 years of industry experience. He has led MACC IV Group since 2005 and is also the managing partner of The McKinnis Consulting Group, a non-financial firm specializing in improving sales results. Additionally, he is the author of the book *Sales Is Simple: From Luck to Leverage*. MACC IV Group is an independent, owner-operated wealth management firm serving individuals and trusts with discretionary portfolio management, retirement planning, and investment planning. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation primarily through mutual funds, offers support for employer-qualified retirement plans, and facilitates estate planning via a third-party platform with attorney consultations.

Joseph Vazquez is a financial advisor at Transition Family Wealth with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at Wealth Management Solutions, LLC for nine years. Based in Phoenix, AZ, he joined Transition Family Wealth in 2024. Transition Family Wealth is a registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses with financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan advice, and pension consulting. The firm’s investment approach combines Modern Portfolio Theory and fundamental analysis, with a focus on scenario analysis and stress testing to address tail-risk and "black swan" events.

Richard Fenger is a CFP® and Series 63 licensed advisor with 28 years of industry experience. He is the owner and principal of Fenger Financial, PLLC in Mesa, AZ, where he has provided investment advisory, accounting, and tax preparation services since 2012. His prior experience includes roles at HD Vest Insurance Agency and Avantax Investment Services. In addition to his advisory work, Fenger operates as an independent insurance agent offering non-variable insurance products. Fenger Financial provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and small-business retirement plan services to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm combines active management with strategic asset allocation using mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and bonds, supported by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis. It also offers integrated accounting and tax preparation services alongside investment advice, serving a mix of individual and corporate clients.