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.

Charles Herman Jr. is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with five years of industry experience, currently practicing at Authentic Financial Planning in Peoria, AZ. His background includes roles in financial planning, tax preparation, mortgage brokerage, insurance, and real estate sales. Outside of advisory services, he is involved in tax preparation and accounting through his business, The Money Agency, and operates a mortgage lending firm. Authentic Financial Planning serves individuals, families, business owners, and corporations with ongoing financial planning and investment management through tiered packages and project-based services. The firm offers a multi-meeting initial planning process, regular reviews, and a mix of billing options, supported by affiliated businesses in insurance, tax, real estate, and mortgage services disclosed as separate lines of business.

Saul Medina is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the principal of True Fiduciary Financial Advisors, LLC and previously worked at Vanguard for seven years. Outside of his advisory role, he is also involved in real estate sales as a licensed Realtor. True Fiduciary Financial Advisors, LLC provides portfolio management and standalone financial planning primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses modern portfolio theory with a long-term trading approach, employing mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and ETFs, and accepts both discretionary and non-discretionary mandates.

Jonmark Richardson is a financial advisor with Valhalla Advisors LLC in Glendale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having five years of industry experience. He is also the owner of Financial Partners of America LLC, a licensed insurance agency. Richardson has been with Valhalla Advisors since 2020 and has maintained his role at Financial Partners of America since 2011. Valhalla Advisors serves individual and business clients with portfolio management, financial planning, and estate-planning services, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management across a range of asset classes. The firm uses a combination of cyclical, fundamental, and technical analysis and employs strategies including derivatives and structured products to manage risk and income.

David Fernandez is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with 26 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been the principal advisor at Wealth Engineering, LLC since 2003. The firm is a fee-only investment management and financial planning practice serving individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, and estates. Wealth Engineering emphasizes macroeconomic fundamental analysis and strategic asset allocation, utilizing broad-based index and passively managed funds with tax-aware management techniques.

Shawna Moore is the owner and principal advisor of Moore Wealth Partners, LLC in Glendale, AZ, with 10 years of experience in the financial industry. She holds the Series 63, 65, and 66 registrations and has worked at several firms including Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC and McKinney Financial Group. Outside of advisory services, she operates an insurance business offering life, annuities, and long-term care products. Moore Wealth Partners provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach through sub-advisors and third-party managers, retaining discretion over model selection and performance monitoring.

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.

Frederick Schubert is the president of Stonewall Equities, Ltd. and Schubert and Associates P.C., with 15 years of experience as a financial advisor and over 40 years managing his accounting practice. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been active in the industry since 1983. Schubert oversees client relationships and accounting operations in his accounting firm alongside his advisory role. Stonewall Equities, Ltd. provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, corporate clients, and business entities. The firm employs a computer-driven asset allocation model incorporating fundamental, technical, and tax considerations, and it serves employer plans and pension consulting alongside managing wrap fee programs and institutional retirement accounts.

Richard Oldenburg is a financial advisor with Camden Financial Management, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ, holding a Series 65 designation and 29 years of industry experience. He operates as a sole advisor at an independent firm focused on discretionary investment management and comprehensive financial planning. Camden Financial Management serves individuals, families, retirement plans, trusts, and estates, providing fee-only portfolio management alongside non-investment planning services such as tax reporting and required minimum distribution calculations. The firm emphasizes a strategic asset allocation approach based on macroeconomic analysis, incorporates tax-aware practices, and maintains a high-touch service model with relatively high account thresholds.

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.

Joel Bonnema is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 29 years of industry experience. He has been the sole advisor at Bonnema Wealth Management LLC since 2015, operating as an independent firm in Scottsdale, AZ. Bonnema Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, written financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm specializes in broadly diversified, asset-class portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory and factor research, with a focus on passive investment vehicles and the use of Dimensional Fund Advisors funds.

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.

John Welch is the principal advisor at Welch Private Wealth in Litchfield Park, AZ. He holds a Series 65 designation and has 0 years of industry experience. Prior to founding the firm, he served 16 years in the United States Air Force and currently serves in the Air Force Reserves as an F-35 instructor pilot. Welch Private Wealth provides comprehensive financial planning, project-based planning, and discretionary investment management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm combines fundamental analysis with Modern Portfolio Theory to develop customized investment strategies and offers educational seminars and workshops to groups and the public.

Brent Matthew is a financial advisor with Scottsdale Wealth Advisory LLC in Paradise Valley, AZ, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and over 21 years of industry experience. He has held roles at multiple firms, including M.S. Howells & Co. and Safe Insurance Management LLC. Brent is also a licensed insurance agent involved in an annuity and insurance-related business. Scottsdale Wealth Advisory LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach utilizing the AssetMark platform and third-party sub-advisors, typically following a passive, long-term buy-and-hold strategy with tailored active overlays.

Seth Mcbee is a financial advisor with McBee Advisors, Inc. in Glendale, AZ, holding a Series 66 designation and 26 years of industry experience. Prior to founding McBee Advisors in 2017, he worked at HBW Phoenix, Inc., HBW Advisory Services LLC, and HBW Securities LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is the managing partner of Stat Caddy, a fantasy golf simulator business. McBee Advisors, Inc. provides fee-for-service investment advice and discretionary portfolio management to individuals, businesses, and trusts, including retirement planning, college funding, and qualified plan subaccount analysis. The firm manages approximately $58 million across about 219 client relationships through strategic asset allocation and active management programs, serving both retail and institutional clients with negotiable planning arrangements.

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.

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.

Dale Meyer is the sole advisor at Dynamic Financial Solutions, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Glendale, AZ. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has 19 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he is the founder and volunteer manager of AZ Naturals, a nonprofit youth baseball and football organization. Dynamic Financial Solutions serves a very small client base, providing discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm uses individualized investment policies with periodic rebalancing and quarterly reviews, and it also assists clients with third-party money manager selection and monitoring, including corporate and employee-benefit plan accounts.