Focus on what’s important.
We help you develop and maintain perspectives and sightlines to your plan.
Perspectives help cultivate ways of thinking about and understanding things and sightlines help develop clarity about what lies ahead.
These helpful primers, books and blogs can help you think about situations and problems in more wise and reasonable ways. They can help you develop longer-term perspectives and sightlines to withstand the shifting winds of short-term thinking. They can help you bypass camouflaging distractions and help you stay focused on the key issues that matter most to the long-term success of your plan.
We help you develop and maintain perspectives and sightlines to your plan.
Perspectives help cultivate ways of thinking about and understanding things and sightlines help develop clarity about what lies ahead.
These helpful primers, books and blogs can help you think about situations and problems in more wise and reasonable ways. They can help you develop longer-term perspectives and sightlines to withstand the shifting winds of short-term thinking. They can help you bypass camouflaging distractions and help you stay focused on the key issues that matter most to the long-term success of your plan.
Have you been measuring what matters most to your future financial success, or have you been focusing on the market’s day-to-day gyrations …
Much has been written about investment behavioral mistakes and whether financial advisors can help clients generate market-beating investment outperformance. Amid all of …
When building wealth for the long term, your goal should be long term investing ‒ time in the market versus timing the …
Quantifying a financial advisor’s value has become easier in recent years as financial services firms have undertaken and completed studies on the …
Investors who examine the mathematical benefits of a dividend-growth strategy may not look at investing in the same light again.
CONSIDER EVERYTHING
5 Insights on the Fed, Election, and Volatility in Q4, September 30, 2024
How Geopolitical Conflicts Impact Markets and the Economy, September 27, 2024
How Tax Proposals and the Election Impact Investors, September 17, 2024
How Middle East Conflicts Have Historically Impacted Markets, September 9, 2024
3 Investor Lessons from the Summer’s Market Volatility, September 3, 2024
How Presidential Elections and Economic Policies Affect Investors, August 19, 2024
How Corporate Earnings Support the Market Rebound, August 26, 2024
How Carry Trades and Market Fragility Impact Investors, August 12, 2024
Perspective on the Magnificent 7 and Valuations, June 27, 2024
How to Invest for Retirement Amid Market Uncertainty, June 22, 2024
Warren Buffett once said, “The only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good.” At this time of year – when media outlets are brimming with forecasts and market predictions for the 12 months ahead – it’s wise to heed Buffett’s advice. Just look at Wall Street’s dismal record in divining the
If you follow the financial news, you know that China’s stock market is in the midst of a sharp slide. The benchmark Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index has fallen more than 23% in the nine weeks since June 12th of this year, closing down more than 30% some five weeks ago on July 8th. What’s
The “Greek drama” is over – or at least at an intermission. But for investors, the dire headlines generated by the country’s financial crisis provided a stiff test of self-discipline. First, a recap: Earlier this week, Greece and its Eurozone creditors tentatively agreed on a last-minute bailout package that could stave off economic collapse in
Warren Buffett has attributed much of his well-known investment success to two rules. Rule #1: Never lose money. Rule #2: Never forget Rule #1. What the Oracle of Omaha is reminding us, in a humorous way, is to keep our eye on the return of our capital, even more so than the return on our
To live life more fully, we all must accept, and even embrace risk. The most fulfilling parts of our lives are full of risk, but generally worth pursuing. Our adventures, and even our responsibilities are risky, but both can be very rewarding as long as we aren’t reckless. Even flying our family to a vacation
For most of us, our working years are built around earning paychecks to pay for the necessities and luxuries of our life. Those checks create confidence that we’ll be able to pay the mortgage, buy groceries, go on vacations, and generally live a comfortable life. And when it comes to retirement investing, dependable income becomes
Imagine paying a visit to your tailor and ordering a suit. Your only instructions: It has to be bigger than your co-worker’s suit. That’s a ludicrous scenario, of course. Everyone understands that the right-sized suit for you is the right-sized suit for you. But this short-sighted approach ‒ fixating on one-upping someone else ‒ is
Last week’s market decline continued today, as the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index fell .6%, to 1,989.63. Today’s losses, in which all 10 sectors in the index lost ground, followed a 3.5% decline in the index last week. That was the index’s largest decline since May 2012. Sharp little shocks like this are the
If you lived through the 1970s, you probably know the visceral fear that accompanies the word “inflation.” During that “Great Inflation” period, the rate of price increases surged to double-digit levels—reaching 14% by 1980. Businesses were destroyed; household budgets were shredded. Only by raising interest rates to a painful 20% did the Federal Reserve manage
The stock market’s recent shakeout may have rattled investors – but the only permanent damage was to those who lost their nerve and pulled their money out. Like all bouts of market volatility, this one underlined the importance of having a plan and sticking to it. On September 19, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed
Quantifying a financial advisor’s value has become easier in recent years as financial services firms have undertaken and completed studies on the matter. Firms such as Vanguard, Morningstar, Dalbar and most recently Russell Investments, have added to the body of knowledge on this topic. The significant global changes of the past 24 months have prompted more than a few investors to consider seeking out a financial advisor to help them navigate the marked changes in the investing landscape. In doing so, investors are trying to determine the value they hope to receive in exchange for the advisor’s costs. That can certainly be a challenge. Now, thanks to the work of leading global investment manager Russell Investments, part of the answer is clearer to see for 2022. Studies Can Help Quantifying a Financial Advisor’s Value Russell has developed a formula to help determine the tangible benefits of working with a financial advisor. The Russell formula identifies four separate financial advisory services and measures the value of each, noting that in 2022, investors might add an extra 4.91% of investment return. The study quantifies how making better financial planning and investment decisions can lead to better investment results. Many investors believe that
Shortfall Risk is the Greatest Risk to Retirement Success The greatest risk to retirement success? For most of us, it’s shortfall risk ‒ the chance that our savings will expire before we do. Shortfall risk typically arises from one or both of these shortcomings: (1) not taking the time and doing the work to study how much we might need, or (2) the lack of a plan to accumulate enough, and the discipline or guidance to stick with it. So how do you measure how much money you may need to eliminate shortfall risk for you? By working through an asset/liability study. In simple terms, this means taking stock of what you have, and measuring it against what you may need. The difference between your assets and future liabilities will either be a surplus or a deficit. If you have a surplus, you will sleep well. On the other hand, if your projected assets fall short of your future liabilities, you’ve got work to do or look forward to restless nights. Either way, an asset/liability study will help inform you how to improve your opportunity for retirement success. Reducing the Greatest Risk to Retirement Success There is no shortage of
Retirement Distribution Planning May Help Minimize Your Overall Tax Expenses If you’ve diligently saved and invested throughout your working years, congratulations! You’re on your way to funding a more comfortable retirement. But when you finally do stop working, you’ll face a new challenge: Making sure that your assets last as long as possible. One way to accomplish this is to withdraw money from your various investment and retirement accounts in a tax-efficient manner. Creating tax efficiency involves effectively structuring your withdrawals from your taxable accounts and distributions from your tax-deferred and tax-free accounts to help minimize your overall tax expenses. These calculations and the scenario analyses involved are commonly referred to as ‘retirement distribution planning.’ Retirement Distribution Planning Requires Coordination with Your Taxable Accounts Retirement distribution planning can require a fair bit of analysis of the tax treatment of withdrawals from your taxable investment accounts and distributions from your various types of retirement account in order to minimize and optimize your tax exposures. Taxable accounts − Dividends, interest and other investment income are generally taxable in the year earned, and capital gains are taxable when realized. The tax rates specific to you on your dividends, interest and capital gains may
Financial markets have felt more fragile recently with investors concerned about the economy, the possibility that the Fed may be behind on cutting rates, and some disappointing tech earnings. Ironically, despite the market volatility last week, major indices were mostly unchanged from Monday to Friday. While they are down from their recent all-time highs,
Located in the heart of North Scottsdale
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Wealth Management
Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa
Speak with a Chandler
Financial Advisor
(480) 542-2900
Wealth Management Phoenix, Peoria, Tempe
Speak with a Phoenix
Financial Advisor
(602) 245-2900
Wealth Management Scottsdale, Paradise Valley
Speak with a Scottsdale
Financial Advisor
(480) 951-2900
Wealth Management Tucson, Oro Valley
Speak with a Tucson
Financial Advisor
(520) 636-2900
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Northern Arizona
Financial Advisor
(928) 272-2900
Copyright © 2005-2025 ICW Investment Advisors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2005-2025 ICW Investment Advisors LLC.
A Delaware limited liability company.
All rights reserved.
Nationwide
Virtual
Chandler
Gilbert
Mesa
Phoenix
Peoria
Glendale
Scottsdale HQ
Paradise Valley
Carefree
(866) 617-2900
(480) 542-2900
(602) 245-2900
(480) 951-2900
Located in the heart of North Scottsdale
Scottsdale Rd & Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd
16427 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 350
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Nationwide
Virtual
(866) 617-2900
Chandler
Gilbert
Mesa
(480) 542-2900
Phoenix
Peoria
Glendale
(602) 245-2900
Scottsdale HQ
Paradise Valley
Carefree
(480) 951-2900
Tucson
Oro Valley
Green Valley
(520) 636-2900
Prescott
Cottonwood
(928) 222-2900
Flagstaff
Sedona
(928) 272-2900
Located in the heart of North Scottsdale
Promenade Corporate Center
Scottsdale Road at Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Easy access from the Loop 101 or SR-51.
Nationwide
Virtual
(866) 617-2900
Chandler
Gilbert
Mesa
(480) 542-2900
Phoenix
Peoria
Glendale
(602) 245-2900
Scottsdale HQ
Paradise Valley
Carefree
(480) 951-2900
Located in the heart of North Scottsdale
Promenade Corporate Center
Scottsdale Road at Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Easy access from the Loop 101 or SR-51.
Tucson
Oro Valley
Green Valley
(520) 636-2900
Prescott
Cottonwood
(928) 222-2900
Flagstaff
Sedona
(928) 272-2900
We combine intellectual capital with critical thinking and detailed analyses across the 10 allied disciplines of wealth management to create whole-system thinking and integrated strategies that address your needs.
This is complex work with a multitude of variables that can produce opposite results. It’s a workspace in multiple dimensions. We are educated, trained and experienced for this work.
We manage the support systems and processes across
100 tailored personal wealth management workflows.
In each role, we contribute differently as you look to us with different needs at different times. Most often, we contribute simultaneously across all capacities in differing degrees.
As leaders, we provide motivation and direction. As counselors, we help remove barriers. As advisors, we provide technical advice. And as managers, we carry out process.
Taken together, we are always working to position you in your place of greatest potential.
What makes plans work is saving and capital growth. The playing field is arrayed with no shortage of obstacles that conspire to impair both saving and capital growth.
Whatever or whoever the conspirators are, capital growth is paramount. Forces outside and within your control must be well-managed.
We tailor and manage your investment operations to help reduce unforced errors and mistakes and compound your long-term, after-tax returns.
Tax-planning and strategy may offer opportunities to minimize and optimize your tax expenses. The time for tax planning and strategy development occurs at the beginning, not at the completion of an investment or tax year.
We provide guidance focused to your unique situation and help you exercise care to engage in tax planning that is flexible enough to help you respond to changing market conditions, tax law changes and unexpected outcomes.
We prepare informative studies that help you see if your assets and investment strategies are on track to successfully support your dreams and desires and sustain you without an earned income for as many as 30 to 40 years in retirement.
As you approach retirement, we help you see beyond this hard-earned moment in time, spot hidden risks, map a path and contribute our experience and resources to help you reach your goals.
We help you understand your current level of risk exposures and help identify personalized solutions that seek to help protect the risk-exposed areas of your financial life.
We review how your assets are titled to maximize your protection in the event of a lawsuit or other claims.
We help coordinate your business and personal insurance with your employer-provided benefits to help avoid any gaps or overlaps in coverage and help integrate your insurance policies with your estate plan.
We help you budget and manage expenses to reduce debt, increase savings, improve your long-term investment compounding rate, and fund your important life goals.
We offer a responsive and operational framework to help you meet less predictable, hard-to-monitor short-term expenses while meeting ongoing financial commitments and tracking to your short-term, intermediate and long-term objectives.
Cash management is a key component of liquidity management. It includes the efficient management of your cash flow, investments and cash reserves in order to achieve your overall financial objectives.
As inflation remains high with high interest rates, we help you deploy your cash flow and cash positions to earn higher interest rates.
Liquidity and cash management also involve managing the risk of short-term financing and making sure cash is available when needed.
We help you recognize that planning for the retention and transfer of your wealth is far more than numbers on a balance sheet and minimizing estate transfer taxes.
Your wealth also comprises your family and its health, education, life’s experiences, knowledge, relationships, mental and physical fitness, values and spirituality.
We help you express the conscience and wishes for what you have and leave behind and the constitution of privileges and responsibilities to guide all concerned.
We help you explore the motivations and develop and articulate the benefits, framework, discipline and communication of contributions you wish to make to communities that extend beyond your family.
We help you discover, establish and affirm the values, beliefs, attitudes, preferences and priorities for your contributions to your chosen communities. Then we help you with the ongoing management and administration of your philanthropic assets and endeavors.
