Fee-Only Wealth Manager in Arizona

Wealth manager vs. financial planner vs. financial advisor

These titles aren't legally standardized, so definitions vary by firm, but there's a common pattern. A wealth manager typically centers the relationship on ongoing investment management — usually priced as a percentage of assets — layered with comprehensive planning: tax strategy, estate coordination, and sometimes philanthropy. A financial planner more often centers on the plan itself, priced flat-fee or hourly, with investment implementation optional. "Financial advisor" is the broadest, least-specific of the three. See our complete guide to fee-only financial advisors in Arizona for the broader category.

What fee-only wealth management typically includes

Portfolio construction and ongoing management. Asset allocation, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting handled directly by the advisor rather than left to you.
Concentrated-position strategy. Diversifying out of employer stock, an inherited position, or a business-sale windfall in a tax-aware way over time.
Coordinated tax and estate planning. Working alongside your CPA and estate attorney rather than replacing them.
Alternative and illiquid asset guidance. More common at this tier — private equity, real estate syndications, and other non-public holdings.

Cost and asset minimums

Fee-only wealth managers typically charge 0.5%-1.25% of assets under management annually, often on a sliding scale that decreases at higher asset tiers. Many firms set a minimum portfolio size — commonly $500,000 to $2,000,000 in Arizona — to make the ongoing management relationship economically workable. If your assets fall below a firm's minimum, a flat-fee or hourly planning relationship (see our cost guide) is usually the better starting point.

Where this fits in Arizona

Arizona's highest concentrations of wealth-management-level households sit in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and parts of Tucson and Sedona — business owners after a liquidity event, retirees with multi-million-dollar portfolios, and executives with significant equity compensation. Fee-only wealth managers in these areas frequently coordinate business-sale proceeds, concentrated stock diversification, and multi-generational gifting alongside day-to-day portfolio management.

How to find one

Browse the Arizona Fee Only directory and ask directly whether a candidate offers ongoing investment management or planning-only.
Ask about asset minimums up front to avoid spending time on a fit that won't work economically for either side.
Verify fiduciary and fee-only status independently — see what fiduciary actually means.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a wealth manager and a financial planner?

The terms overlap, but 'wealth manager' typically implies ongoing investment management as a core service, usually priced as a percentage of assets, often paired with more comprehensive planning (tax, estate, philanthropy). 'Financial planner' more often implies planning-first work that may or may not include investment management, and is more likely to be priced flat-fee or hourly. Many firms do both under one roof.

Do fee-only wealth managers have asset minimums?

Often, yes. Because wealth management is usually AUM-priced, most firms set a minimum portfolio size to make the relationship economically viable — commonly somewhere between $500,000 and $2,000,000 in Arizona, though this varies significantly by firm.

What does fee-only wealth management typically cost?

Most fee-only wealth managers charge 0.5%-1.25% of assets under management annually, often on a sliding scale that decreases as assets grow. A $3,000,000 portfolio might pay closer to 0.75% blended, while a $750,000 portfolio might pay closer to 1.0%-1.25%.

Is a fee-only wealth manager automatically a fiduciary?

Almost always, since fee-only wealth managers are typically registered investment advisers bound by fiduciary duty. Still verify directly — see our guide on what fiduciary actually means and how to check registration.

When does wealth management make more sense than flat-fee planning?

When you want ongoing, hands-on investment management alongside planning — active rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, concentrated-stock diversification strategy, and coordination with CPAs and estate attorneys — rather than a plan you'd implement yourself. If you mainly want an occasional planning check-in and prefer to manage your own investments, flat-fee or hourly planning is often the better structural fit.