# Solutions First Financial Group

> Independent investment advisory and retirement planning firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, led by CEO and founder Joe Donti (Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative, life & health insurance licensed). We help individuals and families invest with clarity and plan for income, taxes, protection, and legacy through a process called "Prep Better All-Weather Planning."

## Firm facts

- **Firm:** Solutions First Financial Group
- **Advisor:** Joe Donti, CEO & Founder — Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative, 20+ years experience
- **Also at the firm:** Patty Donti, Amanda Johnson
- **Location:** 14614 N Kierland Blvd, Suite N330, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
- **Phone:** (602) 753-4244
- **Text:** (602) 753-4244
- **Fax:** (602) 492-9945
- **Email:** info@solutionsfirstgroup.com
- **Hours:** By appointment only · Monday–Thursday 9:00a–5:00p, Friday 9:00a–2:00p MST (Arizona does not observe daylight saving time)
- **Parking:** Free parking on site
- **Service area:** Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Peoria, Cape Creek, Carefree, Anthem, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Fountain Hills, and other Phoenix-surrounding areas, Arizona, USA — plus clients in other states where we are licensed
- **Form CRS (CreativeOne Wealth):** https://43700266.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/43700266/Wealth%20Forms/Form_CRS.pdf
- **Form ADV Part 2A (CreativeOne Wealth):** https://43700266.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/43700266/Wealth%20Forms/Form_ADV_Part_2A.pdf
- **Privacy Notice (CreativeOne Wealth):** https://info.creativeone.com/hubfs/Wealth%20Forms/CreativeOne_Wealth_Privacy_Notice.pdf

## What we do

- Investment advisory and portfolio management
- Retirement income planning — turning savings into potentially reliable, predictable income
- Tax-aware planning and withdrawal sequencing
- Principal-protection and downside-risk planning
- Social Security and Medicare guidance
- Legacy and estate coordination with your attorney and CPA
- Insurance product review (annuities and life insurance)

## How we work

1. **Understand your picture** — review goals, income needs, risk comfort, accounts, policies, and future income sources.
2. **Design your strategy** — build a coordinated plan for growth potential, income, and protection, explained in plain English.
3. **Put it to work** — implement step by step and review regularly as life, markets, and tax law change.

The initial strategy session is at no cost, roughly 45 minutes, with no obligation and full transparency on fees and recommendations. Meetings happen in our Scottsdale office, by phone, or virtually.

## Key pages

- [Solutions First Financial Group — Investment Advisory & Retirement Planning, Scottsdale AZ](/): Firm overview, the Prep Better All-Weather Planning process, services, client reviews, and frequently asked questions.
- [About Joe Donti and Solutions First Financial Group](/about): Joe Donti's background and credentials, the wider team, firm philosophy, office details, and how we work with clients.
- [Investment, Income, Tax, Protection & Legacy Planning Services](/services): The six planning disciplines we coordinate: investment management, retirement income, tax-aware planning, protection, healthcare, and legacy.
- [Insights — Investing, Income, Taxes, Social Security & Medicare](/blog): Plain-English educational articles for Arizona investors, pre-retirees, and retirees.
- [Client Reviews of Solutions First Financial Group](/reviews): Google Business Profile rating, client feedback, and how to leave a review.
- [Areas We Serve — Scottsdale, Phoenix & Surrounding Valley Cities](/locations): Where we work with clients: Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Glendale, Peoria, Cape Creek, Carefree, Anthem, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Fountain Hills, and other Phoenix-surrounding areas, Arizona, USA — plus clients in other states where we are licensed.
- [Contact & Schedule a Strategy Session](/contact): Appointment request form, phone, email, office address with free parking, and answers to scheduling questions.
- [Disclosures — Form CRS, Form ADV Part 2A & Privacy Notice](/disclosures): Regulatory disclosure documents and required firm disclaimers.

## Services

- [Investment Advisory & Portfolio Management in Scottsdale, AZ](/services/investment-management): Independent investment advisory and portfolio management in Scottsdale, AZ. Risk-aligned allocation, tax-aware investing, and ongoing reviews with a Series 65 advisor.
- [Retirement Income Planning in Scottsdale, AZ](/services/retirement-income): Build a written retirement income plan that coordinates Social Security, withdrawals, taxes, and inflation. Scottsdale & Phoenix. Series 65 advisor.
- [Social Security Optimization for Arizona Retirees](/services/social-security): Compare Social Security claiming ages, spousal & survivor strategies, and the tax torpedo. No-cost analysis in Scottsdale, AZ.
- [Tax-Efficient Retirement Planning in Scottsdale](/services/tax-planning): Roth conversion modeling, RMD strategy, QCDs (up to $111,000 in 2026), and tax bracket management in coordination with your CPA.
- [Estate & Legacy Planning Coordination in Scottsdale](/services/estate-planning): Coordinate beneficiary reviews, trust funding, and wealth transfer with your estate attorney. Scottsdale, Phoenix & Paradise Valley.
- [401(k) & IRA Rollover Guidance in Scottsdale](/services/rollovers): Objective side-by-side comparison of leaving your 401(k), rolling to IRA, rolling to a new plan, or cashing out. Series 65 advisor in Scottsdale.
- [Annuities & Guaranteed Income Explained](/services/annuities): Straightforward explanation of fixed, fixed-indexed, and income annuities — including fees, surrender periods, and carrier guarantees. Scottsdale, AZ.
- [Medicare & Healthcare Planning in Scottsdale](/services/medicare): Coordinate Medicare enrollment, IRMAA surcharges, HSAs, and long-term care planning as part of your retirement income strategy. Scottsdale, AZ.
- [Financial Planning for Women in Retirement](/services/women-retirement): Retirement planning for women, widows, and caregivers in Scottsdale, AZ — longevity, survivor benefits, and confident income planning.

## Locations

- [Financial Advisor in Scottsdale, AZ](/locations/scottsdale): Fee-transparent retirement, income, and tax-aware planning in Scottsdale, AZ. Series 65 advisor Joe Donti. By appointment at Kierland Commons.
- [Retirement Advisor Serving Phoenix, AZ](/locations/phoenix): Retirement income, Social Security, and tax-aware planning for Phoenix-area families. Meet Joe Donti at our Scottsdale office or by secure video.
- [Financial Advisor for Paradise Valley Residents](/locations/paradise-valley): Private retirement, tax-aware, and legacy planning for Paradise Valley families. Coordinated with your CPA and estate attorney. By appointment.

## Insights articles

- [How Much Do You Need to Retire in Scottsdale, Arizona?](/blog/how-much-do-you-need-to-retire-in-scottsdale-arizona): A practical look at retirement savings targets for Scottsdale and Phoenix, including cost of living, healthcare, taxes, and a planning framework you can use this week.
- [Arizona Retirement Taxes Explained: What Phoenix Retirees Need to Know](/blog/arizona-retirement-taxes-explained): How Arizona taxes Social Security, pensions, IRAs, capital gains, and property — plus three planning moves that could potentially save Phoenix-area retirees thousands.
- [When to Claim Social Security: A Guide for Arizona Retirees](/blog/when-to-claim-social-security-arizona-retirees): Claim at 62, full retirement age, or 70? A clear framework for Scottsdale and Phoenix retirees on the math, the break-even, and the protection angle.
- [Medicare in Maricopa County: A Practical Guide for New Retirees](/blog/medicare-in-maricopa-county-guide): Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage in Scottsdale and Phoenix, key enrollment deadlines, and how to avoid potential surcharges.
- [Protecting Your Retirement Savings From a Market Downturn](/blog/protecting-retirement-savings-market-downturn): Sequence-of-returns risk explained, and the principal-protection strategies Scottsdale retirees use to stay invested without losing sleep.
- [Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in 2026: What Scottsdale Retirees Should Know](/blog/required-minimum-distributions-2026-arizona): The current RMD age, how to calculate, the 25% penalty for missing one, and the planning windows that matter most for Arizona retirees.
- [Bond Ladders and Annuities: Building Retirement Income in 2026](/blog/bond-ladders-vs-annuities-retirement-income-2026): With interest rates near multi-decade highs, both bond ladders and annuities are back in the conversation. Here is a plain-English comparison for Scottsdale retirees.
- [IRMAA Medicare Surcharges in 2026: What Changed and How to Avoid Them](/blog/irmaa-medicare-surcharges-2026-what-changed): Higher-income retirees pay more for Medicare Part B and Part D. Here are the 2026 brackets, the two-year lookback trap, and planning moves that help.
- [Long-Term Care Costs in Arizona: What to Plan For in 2026](/blog/long-term-care-costs-arizona-2026): In-home care, assisted living, and memory care costs in the Phoenix area — plus the three most common ways Scottsdale families fund them.
- [Is the 4% Rule Still Safe? A 2026 Reality Check](/blog/is-the-4-percent-rule-still-safe): The 4% rule was built on 1990s assumptions. Here is how inflation, sequence risk, and today's yields change the conversation for retirees.
- [Snowbird Tax Residency: When Arizona Actually Becomes Home](/blog/snowbird-tax-residency-arizona): Splitting time between Scottsdale and a higher-tax state? Here is how residency really works, what triggers audits, and what to change first.
- [The Widow's Tax Trap: What Every Married Retiree Should Plan For](/blog/widows-tax-trap-what-to-plan-for): When one spouse dies, the survivor moves from married-filing-jointly to single — often with the same income and much higher taxes. Here is how to prepare.
- [SECURE Act 2.0: Six Changes Retirees Should Actually Care About](/blog/secure-act-2-0-changes-retirees-should-know): From the new RMD age to Roth catch-ups and 529-to-Roth rollovers — a plain-English summary of what matters for retirees and pre-retirees.
- [The HSA as a Stealth Retirement Account](/blog/hsa-as-a-stealth-retirement-account): Triple tax advantage, no RMDs, and flexibility after age 65 — why the HSA quietly wins for many high-income savers.
- [Election-Year Volatility: What Retirees Should (and Shouldn't) Do](/blog/election-year-market-volatility-retirees): Markets have opinions about elections. Your plan shouldn't. A framework for staying invested without ignoring real risk.
- [Downsizing vs. Staying Put in Scottsdale: The Real Math](/blog/downsizing-vs-staying-put-scottsdale): Selling the family home for something smaller is not always the financial win it looks like. Here is how we walk through it with Scottsdale clients.
- [How AI Is Changing Financial Planning (And What It Still Can't Do)](/blog/how-ai-is-changing-financial-planning): AI tools can crunch scenarios in seconds. They still can't replace judgment, tax coordination, or a plan built around your life. Here is where the line sits today.
- [How to Choose a Financial Advisor in Arizona: 7 Questions Every Retiree Should Ask](/blog/how-to-choose-a-financial-advisor-in-arizona): A plain-English guide to vetting financial advisors in Scottsdale, Phoenix, and across Arizona — the credentials, fee structures, and disclosures that actually matter before you sign.
- [Fee-Only vs Commission-Based Financial Advisors in Scottsdale: What the Difference Actually Costs You](/blog/fee-only-vs-commission-financial-advisors-scottsdale): A clear breakdown of how Scottsdale and Phoenix financial advisors get paid — fee-only, fee-based, and commission — with real-dollar examples and the disclosures to ask for before you sign.
- [Fiduciary Financial Advisors in Phoenix: What the Standard Means and Why It Matters](/blog/fiduciary-financial-advisors-phoenix-what-it-means): The fiduciary standard, the Regulation Best Interest rule, and how to tell which one applies to your Phoenix or Scottsdale advisor — plus the exact documents to request before your first meeting.
- [Best Places to Retire in Arizona in 2026: A Financial Advisor's Comparison of Scottsdale, Gilbert, Sun City, and Prescott](/blog/best-places-to-retire-in-arizona-2026): A retirement-focused comparison of four popular Arizona destinations — cost of living, taxes, healthcare access, and the financial trade-offs that matter most after age 60.
- [Inherited IRA Rules in Arizona: What the 10-Year Rule Means for Phoenix-Area Beneficiaries](/blog/inherited-ira-rules-arizona-10-year-rule): The SECURE Act's 10-year rule, RMD requirements for inherited IRAs, and the tax planning moves Phoenix-area beneficiaries should consider before the December 31 deadline each year.
- [Estate Planning in Arizona: Wills, Trusts, and Beneficiary Deeds for Scottsdale Homeowners](/blog/estate-planning-arizona-wills-trusts-beneficiary-deeds): How Arizona estate planning actually works — probate thresholds, revocable trusts, community property rules, and the beneficiary deed that can keep your Scottsdale home out of court.
- [Fee-Only vs. Fee-Based Advisors: A Comparison Guide for Arizona Retirees](/blog/fee-only-vs-fee-based-financial-advisors): Fee-only and fee-based sound alike but work differently. Compare how each model is paid, which standard of care applies, and the questions to ask before hiring an advisor in Scottsdale or Phoenix.

## Frequently asked questions

- **Where are you located?** 14614 N Kierland Blvd, Suite N330, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. By appointment only, By appointment only · Monday–Thursday 9:00a–5:00p, Friday 9:00a–2:00p MST (Arizona does not observe daylight saving time). Free parking on site.
- **What are Joe Donti's credentials?** Joe is a Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative with 20+ years of experience and holds life & health insurance licenses. See Form CRS and Form ADV Part 2A above.
- **Do you only do retirement planning?** No. Many clients come to us for ongoing investment advisory and portfolio management, with or without a retirement date in view.
- **How much does the first meeting cost?** It is at no cost with no obligation.
- **Is there a minimum to work with you?** No strict minimum.
- **Do you meet virtually?** Yes, in the states where we are licensed.
- **How do I schedule?** Call (602) 753-4244, email info@solutionsfirstgroup.com, or use the contact form at /contact.

## Machine-readable resources

- [Full text corpus](/llms-full.txt): every page and article in one plain-text file.
- [Site index JSON](/site-index.json): structured URL index with titles, summaries, and lastmod.
- [Sitemap](/sitemap.xml): XML sitemap of all public URLs.
- [RSS feed](/rss.xml): insights feed.
- [AI usage policy](/ai.txt): citation and usage guidance.

## Disclosures

Solutions First Financial Group provides investment advisory, retirement income, tax-aware, protection, and legacy planning. Information on this site is informational and general in nature — not personalized investment, legal, or tax advice. Investment advisory services offered through a registered investment adviser. Insurance products, including annuities and life insurance, are offered separately; product guarantees are backed by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance carrier. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and no strategy assures a profit or protects against loss.

## Contact

Phone: (602) 753-4244
Email: info@solutionsfirstgroup.com
Address: 14614 N Kierland Blvd, Suite N330, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Website: https://solutionsfirstgroup.com