Finding a Top Financial Advisor Firm in Chandler, Arizona
When you’re looking for a financial advisor, it quickly can become overwhelming. There are so many options available and it’s hard to sort through all the information out there. That’s where SmartAsset comes in. We researched the top firms near Chandler, Arizona and found the best two.
| Rank | Financial Advisor | Assets Managed | Minimum Assets | Financial Services | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providus Advisors  | $119,766,100 | $250,000 in most cases |
| Minimum Assets$250,000 in most cases Financial Services
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| 2 | Strategic Income Group  | $103,000,000 | No minimum
|
| Minimum AssetsNo minimum
Financial Services
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How We Found the Top Financial Advisor Firms in Chandler, Arizona
We began with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If a firm wasn’t registered with the SEC, it was not eligible for this list. SEC-registered firms are under government oversight and follow rules and regulations including adhering to fiduciary policies. Any firms that had disclosures or disciplinary issues were eliminated, as were financial advisors that don’t manage individual client accounts. The final two firms are ordered from most assets under management (AUM) to least.
Providus Advisors
Providus Advisors comes in at the top of our list with over $119 million in assets under management. The firm, consisting of two advisors, has been in business since 2005 and operates with a fee-only compensation model. Fee-only financial advisors charge a percentage of assets under management and do not receive compensation from selling products, such as mutual funds or insurance.
Services offered include asset management and financial planning for clients with at least $250,000. You might still be able to work with the firm if you have less money, but it’s on a case-to-case basis, according to Providus Advisor documents.
Providus Advisors Background
Michael McGinley and James Dwyer are the founders and owners of Providus Advisors. They each have 15 years of financial industry experience and are certified financial planners (CFPs) and accredited investment fiduciaries (AIFs). McGinley owned his own firm, McGinley Financial Advisory for eight years before founding Providus. Dwyer was a vice president with Merrill Lynch prior to Providus.
Providus Advisors Investment Philosophy
This firm uses three types of analysis when evaluating securities: fundamental, technical and cyclical. Each analysis method helps the firm formulate investment advice. Overall, the firm uses both long-term purchases and short-term purchases. As a Providus client, your portfolio would likely be invested in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to the firm’s SEC brochure. This differs from firms that recommend portfolios with a mix of individual stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles.
Strategic Income Group
Founded in 2013, Strategic Income Group has $103 million in assets under management and has four advisors. The Chandler-based firm has no account minimum and offers services such as financial planning, investment management, estate planning, strategic tax and insurance. Typical clients include individuals and families, trusts, estates and corporations. According to the firm’s website, Strategic Income Group is a Christian-based financial planning and management company.
Strategic Income Group Background
Michael Gauthier is the founder and owner of the firm. He has more than 20 years of experience working for the finance industry and left Wall Street in 2013 to found Strategic Income Group. Gauthier is a certified financial planner (CFP).
Three additional advisors work for the firm: two are CFPs and one is an accredited asset management specialist (AAMs).
In addition to working with clients in person, the firm offers free downloadable financial organizer forms and a paid financial planning workbook created by Gauthier, the founder.
Strategic Income Group Investment Management Compensation
Strategic Income Group, operating under a fee-based model, requires clients to pay for investment management services via its wrap fee program. This means there’s a fee that encompasses everything that the firm provides, rather than a set percentage of your assets under management, which is how a fee-only firm structures compensation. Furthermore, the firm requires financial planning clients to enroll in the wrap portfolio management program - you can’t have standalone services.
Clients with less than $60,000 in assets under management will pay an $80 administrative fee per year. General speaking, if you have less than $100,000 in a fee-based account you can expect to pay additional charges.
