“All of us would be better investors if we just made fewer decisions.”
– Daniel Kahneman, Princeton Professor of Psychology
(408) 689-8211 · (503) 290-1089
Joseph Alfonso, CFP®, ChFC®, EA, RICP®, RSSA®, TPCP®, is the founder and principal financial planner of Aegis Financial Advisory, a Fee-Only firm specializing in retirement income and tax-aware planning for pre-retiree couples.
Joe helps couples approaching retirement build a clear, confident transition into that next chapter — with the certainty that they can afford the lifestyle they’ve worked for. He does this through deep expertise in Social Security claiming strategy and retirement income planning, paired with tax-aware planning designed to minimize the taxation of retirement account distributions and Social Security benefits. The goal in every case is the same: maximize spendable income in retirement while keeping the plan tax-efficient year over year
Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and an IRS Enrolled Agent, admitted to represent taxpayers before the IRS at all administrative levels — audits, collections, and appeals. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the country’s leading organization of Fee-Only financial planners, and was elected to NAPFA’s Board of Directors for the Western Region.
Joe’s approach is built on the belief that real planning is an ongoing process — one that requires continued engagement between advisor and client, not a one-time plan on a shelf.
Joe’s insight on retirement and tax planning has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Smart Money, and U.S. News & World Report, including a feature on his investment approach in The Wall Street Journal Online.
He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Cornell University, and is fluent in both Japanese and Spanish. Joe lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon with his wife, two sons, and black lab. When not working with clients and spending time with family, Joe can be found pursuing his inner athlete at the gym.
Client-Centered Life Planning
Our mission is to help you identify your key life goals and the obstacles standing in the way of your achieving them. We then apply our knowledge and experience to help you knock these obstacles down, one by one. Unlike many advisors, we do not lead with solutions. We focus first and foremost on helping you determine what you want to achieve. The better job we do together uncovering your goals, the more naturally the solutions for realizing them will flow and the more closely these goals will fit your values and core beliefs.
All of our work with you will be centered on your priorities, not ours, and our success will be measured by how well you achieve and maintain the life you deserve.
When you work with us, you can expect:
- Loyalty.We don’t sell any financial products or receive any commissions. As a fee-only financial advisor, our only compensation is what you pay for our professional advice. Our complete focus is on what is best for you.
- All-inclusive approach.Together we evaluate all aspects of your finances and design a long-term strategy whose components complement each other and reflect your values and life goals. We focus attention on areas of your financial life that are often overlooked or ignored by other advisors.
- Access. Life is constantly changing. Our annual fee includes all of our services and also allows you to consult with us as often as necessary to address any issue impacting your financial life.
- Value for your money.We are committed to providing value that exceeds our fee and work to save you more than we charge.
- The highest professional standards.We are committed to the NAPFA Code of Ethics and The Committee for the Fiduciary Standard Oath — your assurance of receiving the ethical and professional treatment you deserve.
About Our Logo
The logo for the firm is based on the image of the Aegis from Greek mythology. The Aegis was the shield of Zeus, fashioned for him by Hephaestus. The word aegis has entered modern English to mean protection or security.
Our goal is to be a trusted advisor, guide and educator for our clients as they endeavor to realize their most cherished life goals and objectives. We always place client’s interests first and work hard to ensure that the recommendations we make truly reflect their core goals and personal values. We also endeavor to be a strong advocate for our clients and guide them successfully through the many life transitions we all experience.
Given our client-centric focus and commitment to placing client’s interests first, we believe the Aegis is a fitting symbol and this is the reason it comprises the central element of the logo for the firm.