Top trust structures (GRAT, IDGT, revocable) financial advisors in Scottsdale, AZ

Hi, I’m Dale L Shafer II, founder of Life Moves Wealth Management, an independent, fee-only wealth and exit planning advisor for business owners and professionals located in Scottsdale, Arizona, serving clients in multiple states. I am proud to hold professional designations, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®), Certified Business Exit Consultant (CBEC®), Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA®), and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®). Out of the office, I am most likely found exploring outdoors, hiking, road cycling, and camping. You might also see me rocking out behind a drum kit or a guitar. I enjoy reading books on finance and leadership, and collecting deadpan “dad jokes” to try out on our kids. They’re big fans.

John Heilner is a financial advisor at WT Wealth Management, LLC in Scottsdale, AZ, with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with WT Wealth Management since 2013. Heilner was also involved with WT Tax Accounting from 2014 to 2023. WT Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and wealth-education services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm uses proprietary investment models focused on diversification, low fees, and quarterly rebalancing, and it offers ESG options and values-based screening, alongside affiliated professional services such as tax accounting and estate law.

Scott Pilchard is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 33 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Manning & Napier Advisors, Midfirst Trust Company, and LPL Financial. He serves as Co-Chairman of the Arizona Agricultural Education FFA Foundation's fund development committee. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate plans. The firm utilizes a combination of firm- and third-party models for portfolio management and offers financial planning, separately managed accounts, and retirement plan services.

Abe Askil Jr. is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as a principal advisor at Titan Capital Management since 2021. He was previously with Titan Capital Management, LLC for 20 years. Abe holds a Series 63 license and is based in Scottsdale, AZ. Titan Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, and other registered investment advisors. The firm uses a Global Tactical Asset Allocation approach with proprietary quantitative models to manage assets across various strategies and serves approximately 129 clients with $84.2 million in regulatory assets under management.

John Fitzpatrick is a financial advisor at Savvy with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at J.M. Arbour, LLC, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC, Fitzco Trading, and Gelber Group White Plains. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in insurance sales and provides referrals to a tax advisory firm. Savvy offers customized discretionary and non-discretionary investment and wealth management services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm combines an index-based core with tailored strategies such as direct indexing with tax-loss harvesting, active and passive stock portfolios, and ESG-focused models, supported by a proprietary technology platform and third-party sub-advisers.

Neil Hantak Jr. is a CFA® charterholder with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at MAI Capital Management, LLC since 2019. He previously worked at John Dovich and Associates and The Randolph Co. MAI Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, integrated wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and family-office services to a diverse client base including individuals, families, sports professionals, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management across multiple strategies and incorporates financial planning and tax services into its client relationships.

Justin Kohler is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at The Fiduciary Group. His prior roles include positions at Sharp Wealth Advisory, Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Sharp Financial Services, and AXA Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he assists with the operations of a marketing and media company owned by his wife. The Fiduciary Group serves high-net-worth individuals and families, providing discretionary investment management for trusts, estates, nonprofits, and retirement plans. The firm employs a structured investment approach with multiple strategy profiles and integrates with the Focus Financial Partners platform to offer clients access to a broad range of financial solutions.

Matthew Benefiel is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he collaborates with families, individuals, and businesses to develop customized wealth management strategies. His expertise includes portfolio design, manager selection, investment due diligence, and performance evaluation. He utilizes a disciplined process to build custom portfolios aligned with clients' objectives and regularly assesses investments to adapt to changing needs and market conditions. Additionally, Matthew employs Merrill Personal Wealth Analysis® to develop personalized financial plans that establish clear goals and track progress. Matthew joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2017 as a Financial Advisor for the Benefiel Group. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Biola University and maintains the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Furthermore, he has earned the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Residing in Phoenix, Arizona, Matthew lives with his wife, Heather, and their daughter, Ruby. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys playing golf and supporting the Phoenix Suns basketball team.

Clark Gay is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Visionary Wealth Advisors, LLC and has worked there since 2020. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Financial Engines Advisor Center, LLC, continuing with Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. since 2016. Visionary Wealth Advisors provides financial planning, consulting, and investment management to a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, business entities, and retirement plans. The firm employs model-based strategies and separately managed accounts, combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis within an asset-allocation framework grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory.

Todd Batty is the Vice President Private Wealth Management Advisor. In this role, he assists multiple generations of families in developing personalized wealth strategies focused on growth, preservation, and transfer of their assets. He collaborates with a team that includes an Investment Manager, a Senior Wealth Planner, and a Trust Officer to provide comprehensive wealth planning services. Todd has been with Fidelity Investments since 2008, initially serving as Vice President, Financial Consultant until 2015, and then advancing to his current position. Prior to that, he worked as an Account Coordinator at T. Rowe Price from 2002 to 2007.