Portfolio Analysis:
Get an Honest Second Opinion on Your Investment Portfolio
We Serve people in Scottsdale, AZ, Brookfield & Johnson Creek Wisconsin
Portfolio Analysis in Scottsdale AZ
When was the last time someone took an objective look at your investment portfolio?
Not your current advisor trying to justify their recommendations, but someone with no agenda other than helping you succeed.
That’s exactly what we do at Family Wealth Advisors.
We provide independent portfolio analysis for families and business owners who want to know if their investments are truly working in their best interest.
Our team—Jeffrey J. Biro, W. Ryan Zenk, and Michael Wendt—has been analyzing portfolios across Arizona and Wisconsin for years.
We’ve seen it all: hidden fees eating into returns, poorly diversified portfolios, tax-inefficient strategies, and investments that simply don’t match the client’s goals or risk tolerance.
Because we’re fee-only advisors, we have no incentive to sell you anything.
We’ll tell you what’s working, what isn’t, and what you can do about it.
What Our Portfolio Analysis Includes
Our comprehensive review goes far beyond just looking at your returns.
We dig into every aspect of your portfolio to give you a complete picture.
Independent Assessment
We’re not tied to any investment companies or products, which means our analysis is completely objective.
We’ll examine your holdings without any bias toward keeping you invested in particular funds or strategies.
Many clients are surprised to discover issues their current advisor never mentioned—like overlap between funds, inappropriate risk levels, or investments that don’t align with their stated goals.
Fee Analysis
Hidden fees can quietly drain your portfolio over time.
We’ll identify every fee you’re paying, from obvious management fees to subtle transaction costs that add up.
You’d be amazed how often we find clients paying 2-3% in total fees when they thought they were paying less than 1%.
Over decades of investing, these hidden costs can reduce your wealth by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Performance Evaluation
We’ll benchmark your portfolio against appropriate market indices to see how you’re really doing.
Are you taking unnecessary risk for the returns you’re getting?
Are you being too conservative and missing opportunities?
We also look at risk-adjusted returns, which is often more important than raw performance numbers.
Risk and Diversification Review
True diversification is more than just owning different stocks.
We’ll analyze whether your portfolio is properly diversified across asset classes, sectors, and geographies.
Risk Assessment
Is your portfolio’s risk level appropriate for your age, goals, and comfort level?
We use sophisticated tools to measure not just how volatile your portfolio is, but how it might perform during different market conditions.
Many investors unknowingly take on more risk than they’re comfortable with, especially during bull markets when everything seems to be going up.
Stress Testing
How would your portfolio perform in another 2008-style market crash?
What about rising interest rates or inflation?
We run stress tests to show you how different scenarios might affect your investments.
This isn’t meant to scare you—it’s meant to prepare you and ensure your portfolio can weather various market conditions.
Tax Efficiency Analysis
Taxes can be one of the biggest drags on investment returns, especially for high earners.
We’ll review your portfolio for tax efficiency and identify opportunities to keep more of what you earn.
Asset Location Strategy
Are you holding the right investments in the right accounts?
Tax-inefficient investments should generally be in tax-deferred accounts, while tax-efficient investments can be in taxable accounts.
Getting this wrong can cost you thousands in unnecessary taxes every year.
State-Specific Considerations
Arizona and Wisconsin have different tax structures that can impact your investment strategy.
Arizona’s favorable treatment of capital gains might suggest one approach, while Wisconsin’s higher income tax rates might suggest another.
We factor in these state-specific considerations when evaluating your portfolio’s tax efficiency.
Tax-Loss Harvesting Opportunities
Are you systematically harvesting losses to offset gains?
This strategy can reduce your tax bill and improve your after-tax returns, but it needs to be done carefully to avoid wash sale rules.
Actionable Recommendations
Analysis without action is just expensive entertainment.
We provide specific, prioritized recommendations you can implement to improve your portfolio.
Clear Next Steps
We don’t just tell you what’s wrong—we tell you exactly how to fix it.
Our recommendations come with specific action items, prioritized by impact and ease of implementation.
For example, we might recommend: “Replace Fund A with Fund B to reduce fees by 0.8% annually” or “Rebalance to reduce small-cap allocation from 25% to 15% to better match your risk tolerance.”
Implementation Support
If you want to implement our recommendations yourself, we’ll provide the guidance you need.
If you prefer professional help, we can assist with implementation or help you find qualified advisors in your area.
Who Benefits from Portfolio Analysis
Our analysis is particularly valuable for several types of investors:
Successful Business Owners
If you’ve been focused on building your business, you might not have given your investment portfolio the attention it deserves.
A comprehensive analysis can identify opportunities to optimize your investments.
Pre-Retirees
As you approach retirement, it’s crucial to ensure your portfolio is positioned to provide the income you’ll need.
Our analysis can help identify the necessary adjustments for this transition.
High Earners Concerned About Fees
If you have a substantial portfolio, even small differences in fees can add up to significant amounts over time.
Our fee analysis often pays for itself many times over.
Anyone Seeking a Second Opinion
Maybe you’re happy with your current advisor but want an independent perspective.
Or perhaps you’re considering making changes and want professional input.
Either way, an objective analysis can provide valuable insights.
Our Process
Getting a portfolio analysis from us is straightforward and confidential.
Initial Consultation
We start with a conversation about your goals, concerns, and current situation.
This helps us understand what you’re trying to accomplish and what questions you want answered.
Data Collection
We’ll need statements from all your investment accounts.
Don’t worry—we can work with whatever format you have, and everything is kept strictly confidential.
Analysis
Our team conducts a thorough analysis of your portfolio, looking at performance, fees, risk, diversification, and tax efficiency.
Report and Recommendations
We present our findings in a clear, easy-to-understand report with specific recommendations.
We’ll schedule time to walk through everything and answer your questions.
What Makes Our Analysis Different
There are plenty of places you can get a portfolio review. Here’s what makes ours different:
No Conflicts of Interest
We don’t sell investment products or earn commissions. Our only incentive is to provide you with honest, objective analysis.
Regional Expertise
We understand the unique considerations for investors in Arizona and Wisconsin, from state tax implications to local economic factors.
Experienced Team
Our advisors have analyzed thousands of portfolios over the years. We know what to look for and how to spot problems that others might miss.
Fiduciary Standard
We’re legally required to put your interests first. This isn’t just good business practice—it’s our legal and ethical obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a portfolio analysis cost?
Our fee depends on the complexity of your situation and the scope of analysis needed. We’ll discuss costs upfront during our initial consultation, and you’ll know exactly what you’re paying before we begin any work.
Do I have to become a client to get an analysis?
No. Many people just want an independent second opinion on their portfolio. We’re happy to provide that service whether or not you decide to work with us ongoing.
How long does the analysis take?
Typically 1-2 weeks from the time we receive your account statements. We’ll let you know the expected timeline when we start.
What if I’m happy with my current advisor?
That’s great! A second opinion can confirm you’re on the right track or identify small tweaks that could improve your results. Many clients use our analysis to have more informed conversations with their current advisors.
Can you analyze 401(k) and other employer plans?
Absolutely. We frequently analyze employer retirement plans and can suggest optimizations within the constraints of your available investment options.
What if my portfolio is with a major firm like Fidelity or Vanguard?
We analyze portfolios regardless of where they’re held. Sometimes the issue isn’t the investment company but the specific funds chosen or the overall allocation strategy.
Will you try to sell me something?
No. We’re fee-only advisors, which means we don’t earn commissions on investment products. If you want to implement our recommendations, we can help, but there’s no pressure to do so.
How detailed is the analysis?
Very detailed. We look at everything from expense ratios and tax efficiency to correlation between holdings and appropriateness for your risk tolerance. You’ll get a comprehensive written report with specific recommendations.
Why Choose FWA
The FWA Team
Meet the Advisors Who Put Your Interests First
Jeffrey J. Biro, CEP, RFC
President
W. Ryan Zenk, JD, CFP®
Chief Executive Officer
John Oxenhandler
VP of Investment Operations
Mike Wendt
Registered Representative
Debbie Basom
New Client Services Director
