MagnifyMoney 
It’s hard to have a rough day in Tucson. Between the sweeping views of the Catalinas to the majestic saguaro cactus all across the landscape. But finding a financial advisor in Arizona’s second most populous city could feel like a rough task.
Here’s the best news: The MagnifyMoney team has done all the legwork for you. We’ve gone through the data and curated a list go the 10 best financial advisors in Tucson. We only looked at firms that manage individual accounts and offer financial planning services. Then, we ranked these firms based on assets under management (AUM). All data used in our methodology comes from each firm’s most recent Form ADV filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
So, if you’re ready to start your search for the best financial advisors in Tucson, we’re here to help. And we know that only you can decide who will be the best advisor for you. We’re just glad you’re here and hope our list gives you a great start to your search.
| Firm name | Minimum assets required | Fee structure |
|---|---|---|
| TCI Wealth Advisors, Inc. | No set minimum |
|
| GR Financial Group, LLC | None specified |
|
| Wellspring Financial Partners | No set minimum |
|
| Ironwood Financial, LLC | $250,000 |
|
| Cambridge Financial Group, LLC | No set minimum |
|
| Sterling Investment Management, Inc. | $500,000 |
|
| Nova Financial Services | No set minimum |
|
| Greenberg Financial Group | Varies by account type |
|
| Capital West Partners, LLC | $100,000 |
|
| Treiberg Wealth Management | No set minimum |
|
At the top of our list for the best financial advisors in Tucson is TCI Wealth Advisors, Inc. Founded in 1990, TCI Wealth Advisors, Inc. provides investment management and, when specifically requested, financial planning and consulting services, such as estate planning and insurance planning. The firm’s list of clients consists largely of individuals, including those who both do and do not meet the SEC’s definition of high net worth (a threshold of at least $750,000 in assets under management or a net worth of at least $1.5 million). It also serves institutional investors including trusts and estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses.
While the firm does not have an account minimum requirement, it does impose a $1,000 minimum annual fee for investment advisory services to non-employer sponsored retirement plans and $2,500 for clients in the ASPIRE program, which is designed for young professionals. As such, clients with less than $80,000 invested pay a higher percentage rate in annual fees than typical.
While TCI Wealth Advisors is headquartered in Tucson, it has additional offices in Arizona in Flagstaff and Scottsdale, as well as locations in Denver and Reno, Nev. The firm is owned by several trusts and individuals, many of whom are employees.
The team at TCI Wealth Advisors believes the best results come from a low-cost, index-based asset allocation coupled with disciplined rebalancing. Generally, clients can expect to hold securities for at least one year, as the firm believes in building wealth over the long term. Advisors use both fundamental and cyclical analysis to select investments, meaning they analyze historical and present data while also looking for patterns between price and market trends.
As for specific investments, client money may be spread across mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), individual equities and bonds and bond funds; occasionally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) may round out the list of recommendations. The firm also offers asset allocation models that it designs.
TCI Wealth Advisors has a clean disciplinary record. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires registered investment advisors to disclose all legal or disciplinary events against the company or its employees in the last 10 years that would be material to the evaluation of the firm or the integrity of the management team.
For more information, view the firm’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) page.
Now, our list for the best financial advisors in Tucson moves on to GR Financial Group, LLC. In business since 2014, GR Financial Group, LLC has a single office in Tucson. The firm is primarily owned by its president, Scott Genzman, and its vice president, Lynsey Richter.
GR Financial Group’s main offerings include portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning and consulting services on a particular topic, such as estate planning or retirement planning. It also offers complimentary educational seminars. Individual investors who are not considered high net worth make up the majority of the firm’s clients list, though it also serves high net worth individuals and families. The group can also serve institutional investors, such as businesses and charitable organizations.
In general, clients of GR Financial Group can expect a portfolio largely built around an assortment of mutual fund products. The firm develops model portfolio recommendations using third-party services, such as Morningstar Direct. And while its investment strategy mainly focuses on long-term mutual fund and/or ETF purchases, some of the firm’s more sophisticated investment strategies may include short-term purchases, margin transactions (buying stocks with money borrowed from the client’s brokerage account, so clients are not limited to the cash on hand), as well as trading.
That said, advisors may recommend, or can weigh in on, a wide variety of products, including individual equity and debt securities, warrants, certificates of deposit (CDs), variable life insurance, variable annuities, options contracts on securities, real estate investments and oil and gas interests.
GR Financial Group discloses no legal or disciplinary actions in the last 10 years that would be material when evaluating the firm or integrity of the management team, thus giving the firm and its employees a clean record.
To learn more, view the firm’s disclosures on its IAPD page.
Wellspring Financial Partners serves mostly individual investors, including those who both are and are not high net worth. This Tucson-based firm also works with institutions, including pension and profit-sharing plans. Clients can expect to find investment advisory services, comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, financial consulting and retirement plan investment advisory services. Separately, advisors also sell insurance.
Founder and CEO Patrick Zumbusch registered the firm as an investment advisor in 2011 and is the sole shareholder. Legally, the firm is known as Investment Metrics, LLC.
Wellspring Financial Partners typically invests client funds using model portfolios that align with the client’s needs and objectives, although the team will design customized portfolios when necessary. These models typically use passive investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes. Generally, accounts are invested primarily in mutual funds, ETFs and equity securities, although portfolios may also include index funds and fixed income securities.
The firm generally manages portfolios on a discretionary basis only, meaning advisors make the daily trading decisions without first requesting client approval.
Wellspring Financial Partners and its employees have had no disciplinary or legal disclosures over the last 10 years that would be material to a client’s evaluation of the firm or the integrity of the management team. The SEC requires all registered investment advisors to report such events in their Form ADV paperwork.
View the firm’s paperwork and get more information by visiting its IAPD page.
Founded in 2009, this firm was branded Ironwood Wealth Management, LLC until 2015. Today, Ironwood Financial, LLC has a single office in Tucson. It is owned and operated by its three partners: Alexander Parrs, Daniel Nentl and Robin Dolezal.
Ironwood Financial primarily serves individuals and families (both high net worth and not), particularly those who are nearing retirement or have already retired. The firm, which generally requires a minimum account size of $250,000, also serves some institutions including pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations and businesses. Individual clients turn to Ironwood for investment management and financial planning services, especially around retirement planning.
Advisors at Ironwood Financial primarily allocate client funds among mutual funds and ETFs, as well as some individual stocks and bonds. The firm makes its allocation decisions according to one of the investment strategies designed by the team, while also taking into account the client’s needs, goals and risk tolerance.
Ironwood Financial prefers clients to give their advisors control of trading decisions, known as discretionary management. In certain circumstances, however, clients can require approval of buying and selling decisions, called non-discretionary management.
Ironwood Financial discloses no legal or disciplinary actions over the last 10 years against the firm, its employees or its affiliates that would materially affect the evaluation of the firm or the integrity of the management personnel. This includes any civil, criminal or regulatory events.
As with all the firms on our list for the best financial advisors in Tucson, you can learn more about Ironwood Financial, LLC on its IAPD page with the SEC.
Cambridge Financial Group, LLC operates from its Tucson office, but uses virtual appointments to serve clients nationwide. The firm’s client list includes individuals who both are and aren’t high net worth. Its primary services include managing investments, as well as financial planning, addressing topics including estate planning and retirement planning. The firm also offers tax preparation services. Additionally, a specific offering branded as Edge Ahead targets young professionals who are still accumulating assets.
Cambridge Financial Group was founded in 2001 by Penny Marchand. Today, it is owned by Marchand, senior advisors Alicia Klein and Cole McClarren and operations manager Bonnie Courtney.
Clients of Cambridge Financial Group should be prepared for discretionary management, where they give their advisors control of daily trading decisions and account sub-advisors. The firm’s advisors rely on fundamental research techniques, such as analyzing the industry outlook and company management, as opposed to more technical or quantitative analysis or charting, which is focused largely on data and patterns. Model portfolios, as well as third-party sub-advisor Asset Dedication, LLC, may also be used.
In general, the advisors at Cambridge Financial Group recommend no-load mutual funds (meaning the fund has no sales charge), as well as ETFs, U.S. government securities, money market accounts, CDs and individual bonds. Advisors also can weigh in on other types of investments that clients may already own.
Cambridge Financial Group has a clean record, meaning it discloses no legal or disciplinary events in the last decade involving the firm, its employees or its affiliates that would materially impact a client’s evaluation of the firm or its management team. All registered investment advisors must report such events in their Form ADV paperwork filed with the SEC.
To learn more, visit the firm’s IAPD page.
Sterling Investment Management, Inc. has offices in Arizona in Tucson and Scottsdale. The firm, which generally requires a minimum investment of $500,000, serves primarily individual investors (both high net worth and otherwise), as well certain institutions, such as foundations, endowments, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans and government entities. Its main services include portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning and consulting on particular financial topics, including retirement or college planning.
Founded in 1995, Sterling Investment Management is owned by its employees, with president and chief investment officer John Payne serving as the principal owner.
Sterling Investment Management’s approach is rooted in value investing. In particular, the team looks for businesses that have competitive advantages, produce high levels of cash flow and are led by strong management teams, among other factors.
Typically, portfolios are predominantly made up of individual equities, fixed income and alternative investments, such as real estate investment trusts or master limited partnerships. The firm’s primary investment strategies — capital appreciation, balanced, current income and fixed income — each has a distinct aim and approach. Advisors may also utilize options and short selling strategies to add diversification to client portfolios.
Sterling Investment Management has a clean disciplinary record, meaning the firm discloses no civil, criminal or regulatory events involving the company or its employees over the last 10 years that would materially impact a client’s evaluation of the firm or integrity of the personnel.
To learn more about the firm, visit Sterling Investment Management’s IAPD page.
Founded in 2009, Nova Financial Services offers portfolio management and financial planning services, including written financial plans and consulting on specific topics, such as education planning and retirement planning. The firm primarily serves individuals and families both with and without a high net worth, as well as business institutions.
Headquartered in Tucson, the firm has an additional office in Colorado Springs, Colo. Today, Nova Financial Services is owned by Nova Financial Holding LLC and BFD, LLC; the firm’s managing partner, Jake Kagele, has a financial stake in the latter.
Nova Financial Services recommends investment portfolios of ETFs, mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds and other products. More sophisticated investments, such as structured products, option contracts and collateralized obligations, may also be recommended. In certain cases, advisors refer clients to certain third-party money managers who may manage some or all of a client’s money.
The team uses a variety of strategies and research methods to form its investing recommendations, including fundamental analysis (which focuses on evaluating a specific security’s intrinsic value), as well as technical analysis (which uses statistics, charts and other tools to identify patterns and relationships that can suggest future activity).
Nova Financial Services discloses no material legal or disciplinary events against the firm or its employees over the last 10 years. The SEC requires that all registered investment advisors report such information in their Form ADV paperwork they must file.
To learn more, view the firm’s IAPD page.
Founded in 1998, Greenberg Financial Group offers investment management services primarily to individuals who both are and are not considered high net worth, though it can also serve pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations and small businesses. It also helps clients to determine their financial objectives, determine financial problems and address areas such as cash flow management, retirement planning and education planning. Additionally, Greenberg Financial Group sells financial products like annuities, stocks and bonds, and it works with other professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, as needed by its clients.
The firm is solely owned by its president and founder, Dean Greenberg. It is based out of its sole office in Tucson.
Client portfolios created by Greenberg Financial Group may use mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks or bonds, or a combination of these investments. Options and bonds are used sparingly, when the firm determines they’re suitable for the client. Additionally, Greenberg may use fixed index annuities to capture potential gains and limit downside risk. Variable annuity contracts are employed to defer the taxation of capital gains and to add further diversification. (Note the firm is a registered insurance agent and can offer insurance products including annuities.)
The firm may use a few different investment strategies to manage client accounts. This includes diversification through proper asset allocation, market timing and dollar cost averaging, wherein the firm will purchase either mutual fund shares or individual securities over an extended period of time.
Greenberg Financial Group does not disclose any disciplinary events that occurred within the last 10 years. This includes any civil, criminal or regulatory events involving either the firm or its employees or advisory affiliates.
For further information, visit Greenberg Financial Group’s IAPD page.
We’re close to the end of our list for the best financial advisors in Tucson, but not before we cover Capital West Partners, LLC. Jason Crane and Jason Ruther founded Capital West Partners in 2004 and are currently the firm’s co-owners. Working out of a single office in Tucson, the advisors at Capital West Partners, LLC serve individual investors and families both with and without high net worths. The firm, which generally requires a $100,000 account minimum, can also serve institutions such as charitable organizations, corporate accounts and pension and profit-sharing plans.
Clients primarily turn to the firm for portfolio management and financial consulting services.
Capital West Partners employs a variety of investment research methods, including fundamental, technical and charting analysis. This combination means the firm’s advisors study many factors driving the value of a specific security, employ statistics and charts to identify patterns and forecast price trends and analyze business cycles.
Clients can expect advisors at Capital West Partners to recommend stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, money market funds and options contracts on securities; they may also suggest warrants, closed-end funds or exchange-traded notes, though these are used less often. In addition, advisors may recommend third-party money managers for some or all of a client’s portfolio.
Capital West Partners discloses no legal or disciplinary events in the last 10 years involving either the firm or its employees. This includes any civil, criminal or regulatory actions that would be material to the evaluation of the firm or its management personnel.
Visit the firm’s IAPD page to learn more.
Closing out our list for the best financial advisors in Tucson is Treiberg Wealth Management. Initially created in 2002 to provide investment management services through LPL Financial, a broker-dealer that also supports financial professionals, Treiberg Wealth Management became an independent firm in 2016. Today, the firm is owned by Michael Treiberg, its chief compliance officer.
Treiberg Wealth Management primarily provides asset management, though it can also offer financial planning either as part of its asset management services or on a standalone basis. The firm primarily serves individual investors who both are and are not high net worth, though it also works with a pension and profit-sharing plan. Treiberg Wealth Management has one office location, which is in Tucson.
Treiberg Wealth Management initially creates client portfolios to meet a specific investment goal. From there, the firm will review the account and rebalance it as needed based on changes to a client’s goals, and needs.
Portfolios generally include assets of publicly held companies in the U.S. and foreign markets, including stocks and bonds. Treiberg may also use government and corporate bonds, real estate investment trusts and mutual funds or private placements that invest in natural resources or managed futures.
Treiberg Wealth Management reports no disclosures, meaning it has a clean disciplinary record free of any civil, criminal or regulatory infractions over the past decade.
For further information, visit the firm’s IAPD page.
Arizona does not charge residents a state estate tax or inheritance tax, though residents may be subject to federal estate taxes depending on the size of the estate. The income tax rate in Arizona falls in the mid- to low-end of the spectrum, with a top marginal rate of 4.50%.
To find a local planner, check out this search tool our team created. You can narrow down potential advisors based on whether they offer the services you’re looking for, if you can meet their account minimum requirement and if you feel that their fees are fair. Once you’ve done your initial research, you’ll want to interview each advisor candidate to learn more and determine if they’re someone you’d be comfortable working with.
No, not all financial advisors are bound by fiduciary duty, which would require them to always act in their clients’ best interests. Instead, some financial professionals may only be held to the suitability standard, which simply requires them to make a suitable recommendation for their client rather than the absolute best; this means they could opt for the recommendation that earns them a higher commission.
While many financial advisors manage portfolios that one day will be used to fund a client retirement, not all advisors specialize in retirement planning. Some advisors may focus more on asset management, while others provide wealth management as opposed to asset management, which may include retirement planning. Be sure to ask each potential advisor what specific services or tools they offer clients to plan for retirement if that is a specific concern you know you want your advisor to address.
In our search for the best financial advisors in Tucson, we reviewed firms across the city. All of the firms considered are bound by fiduciary duty, registered with the SEC and offer individual account management and financial planning services. Information used for our methodology criteria is taken directly from each firm’s most recent Form ADV filing and brochure, found on the IAPD database.
To localize our results for this list of the best financial advisors in Tucson, we exclusively looked at firms that met the above criteria and had their headquarters in Tucson, as per the address provided in the Form ADV. Of those firms, we only considered those that offer financial planning services and portfolio management to individual investors. To be further considered for our list of the best financial advisors in Tucson, firms also could have no more than one disciplinary disclosure in the past 10 years. From there, the remaining firms that met all of the above stipulations were ranked in order of highest to lowest AUM, as this is an indication of a firm’s size and how many assets it has been entrusted to manage.
In our reviews, we have also listed several other key features that will help you determine which financial advisor may be most fitting for your investing style and financial needs. While our ranking system and methodology is designed to help you compare firms, it does not indicate which firm may be best for you. All information here is accurate as of May 13, 2022, but we urge you to also evaluate these firms on adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Amanda GenglerAmanda Gengler has been researching and writing about finance for more than 15 years. She honed her personal finance writing as a journalist at Money magazine for a decade.
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