Financial Strategies, Inc. practices in multiple professional financial services for Arizona residents. FSI also provides consulting services to clients all over the United States on Inherited IRA decisions that must be made at the death of the plan participant.
Arizona residents for decades have trusted FSI for it's professional Arizona Trust Portfolios. And Estate Settlement Services when a Trust owner or Estate owner dies.
The Better Business Bureau has rated FSI "A+" consistantly since membership inception. Further, President Michael Anderson is a member of the National Ethics Asssocation, the Arizona Association of Independent Paralegals and the National Associaton of Realtors.*
* Separate real estate services are provided by Realty One Group-Gilbert. Realty One Group is not directly or indirectly associated with FSI.
Losing a Loved One
Don't let the estate get stuck with a big settlement legal bill. Whether a surviving spouse or loved one, or acting estate manager; you can feel like your falling into an abyss of complicated procedures and forms to fill out, and big costs. Discover that we are here to catch you BEFORE you take the plunge into "unknown" territory.
Don't Jump!
After over 34 years of professional estate advisory here in Arizona, our firm has seen a lot of good money go down the drain needlessly from those who thought they needed a lawyer to settle an estate.
What you need is a professional financial advisor trained and experienced in every aspect of financial services. Few lawyers practice outside of their field of law. Having a multi-services financial expert can save a lot of money.
Our long term A+ Better Business Bureau rated firm n Arizona exists to offer ALL financial services and consulting needs you will discover in the estate settlement process.
It could be a complicated tax question you need help with. Or, an estate home you seek professional Realtor advice before listing the home for sale. Or a tricky IRA question no one else seems to have a very good answer for you.
And, most estate managers need help right up front to determine if probate is necessary. That is a very easy question we answer in our first conference with you. (even if you don't hire us)
Sadly, many feel that only paying the starter retainer fee of $25,000 to a law firm can assure them that everything can be done correctly and on time. Nothing could be further from the truth!
FSI has settled hundreds of estates in and out of trust for over 34 years. Review our Guarantee Pricing below for more details on employing our professional estate settlement services.
Want a fixed cost?
FSI has low cost plans to fit every situation. A minimum starter retainer of $1,500 is required for all estates. (Unused retainer funds are refunded 30 days after services complete) Most Arizona estates (even if subject to probate) can be settled on this first retainer fee alone.
Some estates discover problems that need additional time not known at the time settlement services were started. For these situations, yes additional retainer money will be required. Expenses are paid out of retained funds reducing balance but normally are minimal in most settlements. (Filing fees/Postage/Recordation Fees)
There is a way to get a no cost estate settlement. FSI will refund all estate settlement fees paid when the estate home, investment or business real estate property is listed and successfully sold by Michael Anderson (or associates) acting as your professional Realtor/s.*
* Separate real estate services are provided by Realty One Group-Gilbert. Realty One Group is not directly or indirectly associated with FSI.
Who We Are
Financial Strategies, Inc. is a long term Arizona Financial Services Corporation.
Trust is Everything When Hiring an Estate Coach
Without trust, all you have is chaos.
Many times an estate settlement can turn into a nightmare scenario with delays from needing opinions from multiple financial advisors. In addition to employing these advisor at full hourly billing rates often billing on one matter after another in unison; final decisions take a lot of time and cost a ton of money.
Mr. Anderson has been one of those advisors many times over his long career who observed the client being billed by the accountant, the lawyer and the investment advisor or financial consultant. With his FSI 2024 billing rate of $240/hr, he has seen clients get billed for each hour as much as $1,000 or more (for many hours) in conference rooms filled with multiple professionals all billing at their firm's rates in unison.
This is ridiculous. If more than one advisor is needed in your estate settlement work, he will be the first to tell you and help you obtain qualified and affordable outside help. But for almost all estates he has consulted or coached on - he has successfully settled hundreds of estates without the need for outside help. The savings means more money for the heirs of the estate. And that is a good thing!
Read Some Testimonials
Satisfied Clients are the Key to Happyiness.
Our Settlement Services
FSI has worked with many estates over the years. One in particular was the estate of Frances Horwich, one of the most popular women in the world in the 1950's. Many young children grew up watching her television show "Ding Dong" School, the first children's show in America.
Preparing Inventory for Auction is Our Specialty
FSI is well versed in helping arrange for auction higher valued estate artifacts.
FSI photographed and inventoried all estate assets including many antiques and TV memborabalia before arranging for public auction. A website was build so bidders around the world could (and did) bid on certain items. The most successful items in our Scottsdale Auction House inventory were original storyboards with Miss. Frances and Cartoonists Charles M. Schultz and Hank Ketcham.
Miss Frances was the appointed supervisor of all network children's programs for NBC Television.
Doctor Frances Horwich Creator and Star of the "Ding Dong School"
A beautiful lady who unfortuntely had her estate cash drained by a local Phoenix law firm in the early 2000's. Only when the all the cash was gone, did the firm release the estate and house keys to the sole heir, our client. The client even had to pay $10,000 in final fees to take delivery of her assets. You most likely don't need more than a coach to help you settle your estate matter now at hand. Don't let what happened to Miss Frances happen in your estate.
Inherited IRA's
Michael Anderson has been interviewed and quoted in various publications and online financial websites over the years. His expertise in handling Inherited IRA's at death is well established. FSI consults on 5 to 25 million dollars of Inherited IRA's every year for clients all around the United States.
Nothing Gets Messed Up Worse Than IRA Money
Bad Advisors Often Burn Up IRA Money
Yes, it's true. Bad advisors help burn up inherited IRA money needlessly. Money your loved one's retirement money accounts gets needlessly taxed by making mistakes that can not be reversed. We call it "IRA Hell". And it happens often. When it comes to large IRA accounts - DON'T MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTATION!
Financial Strategies , Inc. Professional Membership
Financial Strategies, Inc. is a long term supporter and member of the the AAIP
Arizona Association of Independent Paralegals (AAIP) is the largest voluntary professional association of Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparers. The AAIP provides: continuing education, information about Certified Legal Document Preparers in Arizona (CLDPs), programs to assist CLDPs, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Financial Strategies, Inc. is an Arizona licensed certified legal document preparer firm (AZCLDP) under license # 80738, and Mr. Anderson practices indivisually under license #80737. FSI is also an insurance brokerage firm under Arizona License #3777. Additional services are provided by FSI owner M.D. Anderson as an IRS Tax Preparer under PTIN ID # P00281346 and FSI is an approved IRS E-file originator firm. Mr. Anderson is also an Arizona Realtor® under Arizona Real Estate License #SA534235000 and represents Realty One Group as a professional Realtor in the Gilbert Arizona branch office. Mr. Anderson is also a Licensed and Insured Arizona Notary. Mr. Anderson is a former Securities Representative and Registered Investment Advisor Representative practicing for many years in those field. FSI also provides estate, tax, business, computer consulting, and assists clients wanting to purchase precious metals (consulting only), and other hard assets. Crypto coin investing and tax reporting is also a new service of FSI. Also Mr. Anderson is a nationally known Inherited IRA consultant and has been published in many national print and/or online publications.
CONSUMER NOTE REGARDING LEGAL DOCUMENT SERVICES: Financial Strategies, Inc. is an Arizona Certified Legal Document (AZCLDP) Preparation firm, certified and supervised by a committee of the Arizona Supreme Court. The main reason some desire to use an AZCLDP instead of an attorney is when no actual legal advice is needed. The difference in billing rate for most AZCLDP's would be 50% or less than most legal firm rates. FSI can assist in research, procedural assistance and give general legal information so that you can decide which legal documents you would like prepared for you. An AZCLDP firm and certified associates cannot represent you in court. AZCLDP firm and certified associates are not lawyers, are not employed or supervised by a lawyer, and cannot give legal advice. Communications with an AZCLDP firm and certified associates are private and confidential but not privileged as they are with an attorney.
