Top Financial Advisors in Scottsdale, AZ

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Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors is a fee-only financial advisor firm headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with an additional office in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. The firm generally requires a $500,000 minimum account size, though this minimum may be waived or reduced based on factors such as future earning capacity, related accounts, account composition and client negotiations. It primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and other entities. 

Advisory offerings include discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, consulting services, sub-adviser engagement for portfolio management and proxy voting services. The firm references a number of financial certifications in its website disclosures, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. 

Portfolios are generally constructed based on client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm typically uses asset allocation across multiple asset classes, including fixed income, domestic and international equities, REITs and alternative investments. Investments may include individual stocks, investment-grade corporate and municipal bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end interval funds, exchange funds and alternative investments.

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Total Investment Management is a fee-based financial advisor firm that serves a niche group: aviation professionals. The firm caters to commercial and military pilots, flight attendants and anyone else with an occupation directly related to flying. Total Investment Management does not require a set account minimum, but rather a $600 minimum annual fee. The firm's clients are mostly non-high-net-worth individuals, with high-net-worth individuals also making up a large part of its client base.

The team includes three Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), one Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), one accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and one chartered market technician (CMT). Howevever, advisors may earn commissions when selling insurance to advisory clients, creating a conflict of interest. However, Total Investment Management is a fiduciary, so it is legally bound to act in your best interest at all times.

The firm offers three main tiers of investment management: TIM Basic, TIM Portfolio and TIM Premier. Here's how they work:

To determine exactly how it will invest a client’s assets, Total Investment Management uses two types of analysis: fundamental analysis and technical analysis. Fundamental analysis refers to a strategic examination of the overall financial health of a company, as well as the market risks that could negatively or positively affect the future of that company. Technical analysis is focused on spotting trends to predict where the market could be headed.

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Balboa Wealth Partners is a fee-based firm headquartered in Scottsdale, with additional offices in California and Nevada. The firm serves primarily serves individuals, but also works with high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans and businesses. It generally requires a $250,000 minimum account size for portfolio management, and written financial plans typically have a $1,500 minimum fee. 

Founded in 2015, Balboa's services include comprehensive and traditional asset management (both discretionary and non-discretionary), financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and the use of independent managers or turnkey asset management platforms. Financial planning may address investments, retirement, savings, education funding, insurance needs and charitable giving. 

The firm's advisors hold a range of financial specialties, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), chartered life underwriter (CLU) and certified investment management analyst (CIMA) designations. 

However, certain advisors are also registered representatives or insurance agents who may earn commissions, creating potential conflicts of interest. As a fiduciary, the firm has a responsibility to disclose these conflicts and always act in clients' best interests. Portfolios are constructed based on client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. Iinvestments may include mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, bonds, options, and other public or private securities. The firm uses fundamental, technical, cyclical, charting, quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis. Balboa favors a long-term approach but allows for shorter-term adjustments when appropriate. 

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Galvin, Gaustad & Stein (GGS) is a fee-only financial advisor firm that requires at least $500,000 in assets to open an account. The firm’s typical clients include non-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans and large and small businesses.

Out of the financial advisors who work in the firm’s office, there are five Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs), three Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), one advisor with a certificate in investment performance measurement (CIPM) and one chartered life underwriter (CLU).

Established in 2010, GGS provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting and investment management services. Offerings include business and retirement planning, estate strategies, asset allocation, insurance analysis, charitable giving and risk management. The firm manages portfolios on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis, sponsors a wrap fee program and can work with independent managers or advise on assets held outside primary custodians. 

GGS goes through a three-step process to ensure that it makes the right investment decisions regarding your assets. This process begins with a proprietary research-based screening of the various stocks currently available. Next, your advisor will take a deep dive into estimates on where the stock’s price is headed and how that can affect your future returns. Lastly, the firm narrows down the remaining choices based off of which one has the fewest red flags and the strongest revenue growth.

The firm ultimately selects your investments based on your personal financial goals and risk profile. Depending on your financial situation, GGS will diversify your money throughout major asset classes like exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as well as individual stocks and bonds.

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Ironwood Investment Counsel is a fee-only firm that offers the services of investment advisory, retirement plan consulting and more. The minimum account size to work with the firm is generally $500,000 or more. Unlike fee-based firms, Ironwood's advisors do not sell insurance or securities for commissions, reducing the number of conflicts of interest the firm and its advisors have. 

Founded in 2001, the firm currently has a team of 14 financial advisors and collectively they manage more than $1.5 billion in assets under management (AUM), which is more than any firm on this list. The firm's advisors have earned a number of certifications including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), certified investment management analyst (CIMA) and certified trust and financial advisor (CTFA) designations. 

The firm works with individual clients, both above and below the high-net-worth threshold, as well as retirement plans, charities, other investment advisors, corporations and other businesses. 

Ironwood's investment strategy varies based on each individual client's needs. The risk assessment is very important during the process of finding the right long-term plan for each client. The firm uses fundamental analysis and primarily invests in individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs, employing long-term, short-term and trading strategies. Portfolios are customized to client goals, with potential use of structured notes, covered calls, independent managers and sub-advisors. 

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Founded in 2013, WT Wealth Management is a fee-based practice, as advisors may receive commissions from insurance sales. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses. There is no account minimum. Advisory offerings include discretionary portfolio management, financial planning and wealth education, covering areas such as investment strategy, asset allocation, retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning and risk management.

Portfolios are typically constructed using proprietary investment models tailored to client goals and risk tolerance. Core strategies include its Culturally Significant Equities (investing in companies with substantial societal impact), Quantitative Models (statistical analysis for globally diversified, low-cost ETF portfolios) and Target Risk Models (multi-asset allocations balancing growth and risk mitigation). Additional strategies range from ultra-conservative Enhanced Cash Management to high-risk NextGen thematic equity portfolios. Assets may include individual stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, REITs, commodities, currencies, and alternative investments.

The firm emphasizes diversification, low fees and disciplined long-term investing, using fundamental, technical and cyclical methods of investment analysis. Portfolios are rebalanced at least quarterly, and clients may impose restrictions aligned with personal values. WTWM also offers educational events and publishes regular market commentary to help clients better understand financial concepts and investment decisions.

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Mulholland Wealth Advisors is a fee-based financial advisor firm that generally requires $200,000 for direct separately managed account clients. Clients introduced through a Mulholland investment advisory representative generally have a $50,000 minimum, though minimums may be negotiable or waived at the firm’s discretion. Specific professional designations, such as Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or certified public accountant (CPA) credentials, were not identified in the provided firm materials.

Mulholland serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, corporations, retirement investors and third-party adviser clients through sub-advisory relationships. Financial planning may address retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, education planning and risk management.

The firm is classified here as fee-based due to disclosed affiliated fund compensation, soft dollar arrangements, referral fee payments and additional financial planning fees, although its brochure describes its core portfolio management services as fee-only. These arrangements can create potential conflicts of interest, but as a fiduciary, the firm must act in clients’ best interests.

Mulholland uses quantitative analysis, diversified multi-asset portfolios and a blend of tactical and strategic equity and fixed income strategies. Portfolios may include exchange-listed securities, mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, interval funds, affiliated Redwood Funds and certain derivatives. The firm may also move assets into cash, money market funds or government securities when it determines a defensive position is appropriate.

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Able Financial Group was founded in 2006 and has operated as an investment advisor since 2023. It is a fee-based firm, meaning its advisors can earn commissions for selling securities and insurance. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, retirement plans, corporations and other businesses. For the firm's Comprehensive Portfolio Management services, the usual minimum account size is $500,000, although this may be waived.

Services include ongoing portfolio management with financial planning, standalone planning and consulting, and retirement plan consulting for employers. Planning and consulting can cover retirement, estate, tax, education, insurance and business needs. The Able Financial Group team features multiple advisors who are Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), one of whom is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

The firm’s investment approach uses asset allocation and various methods of analysis, including fundamental and technical analysis. Strategies may involve long- or short-term securities purchases, fixed income, options, structured notes, private equity and alternative investments. Portfolios can hold stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, REITs, commodities and private securities. 

Asset allocation methods may be strategic, dynamic, tactical or core-satellite, meaning the firm can keep a steady long-term mix, adjust gradually to market conditions, make short-term shifts to pursue opportunities or combine a stable core with a smaller, more actively managed portion.

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ARQ Wealth Advisors completes our list of the top financial advisory firms in Scottsdale. Founded in 2008, ARQ primarily serves individuals and high-net-worth individuals but offers services to institutional clients, as well. Advisory services include discretionary investment management and financial planning in areas like retirement, estate, tax, education, insurance, lending and executive compensation. Portfolios are designed based on client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon, with ongoing monitoring and rebalancing.

Its Wealth Apex service requires a $750,000 portfolio minimum, while the Wealth Builder service requires $250,000 plus a $500 monthly contribution, or a $2,500 annual minimum fee. 

The ARQ team holds a variety of financial certifications including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), chartered financial consultant (ChFC), accredited investment fiduciary (AIF) and retirement income certified professional (RICP) designations. 

The investment strategy uses a combination of strategic, dynamic, tactical and core-satellite asset allocation. Methods include fundamental, technical, cyclical, and chart analysis. Portfolios may include individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, options, REITs and commodities. Some clients may see their assets allocated to private securities or alternative assets like private credit, cryptocurrencies and digital assets, generally through ETFs and mutual funds. 

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Pinnacle Peak Private Client Group serves individuals, high-net-worth individuals, families, businesses, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and retirement plans. There is no account minimum. 

Advisory offerings include portfolio management through wrap accounts, financial planning and consulting, retirement plan consulting and life and disability insurance services. Planning services may cover investment planning, retirement planning, estate planning, charitable planning, education planning, tax planning, real estate analysis, mortgage and debt analysis, insurance analysis, lines of credit evaluation, and business and personal financial planning.

Portfolios are constructed based on client goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. The firm generally uses long-term purchases, margin transactions, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, charting and cyclical analysis.