WEALTH MANAGEMENT MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN MERELY MANAGING THE MARKET THESE DAYS. FROM WELL-INFORMED—AND WELL-CONNECTED—DEALERS TO CURATORS FOR YOUR COLLECTIONS, HERE ARE THE PROS YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW.
WATCH PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLIVER SMITH JEWELER; PROPERTY PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AGENCY; FOOD AND WINE PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANHELO
THE WHO
Ryan Ansell is partner and wine director at Phoenix fine dining restaurant Anhelo (anhelorestaurant.com). One of Arizona's largest private wine collectors, Ansell has meticulously curated the restaurant's award-winning wine list, which earned Anhelo a coveted 2022 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Now, wine enthusiasts can work with Ansell directly to build their own collections.
THE WHY
"There is no one size fits all in budget or collection," says Ansell. "It’s like asking someone to buy dinner for someone they have never met." That's why he spends so much time getting to know his clients. "My formula to building the perfect collection involves in-depth knowledge of where the person is on their wine journey, budget, interests and, most importantly, their palate preferences. It’s not what I want to personally drink, rather what the person typically enjoys," he adds. "I help them find the best wines in each category. We’ll also spend time tasting wines together and/ or referencing wines and vintages they have already had, or foundational wines to get perspective."
"TRYING TO FIND THE NEXT BIG THING IS LIKE TRYING TO FIND THE NEXT BEST STOCK TO BUY. I WOULD ALWAYS STICK TO THE HISTORICAL 'PROVEN' COMMODITIES.” –RYAN ANSELL, PARTNER & WINE DIRECTOR, ANHELO
THE TAKEAWAY
"Trying to find the next big thing is like trying to fi nd the next best stock to buy," Ansell says. "I would always stick with the historical ‘proven’ commodities." For Ansell, those are first growths and/or top Right Bank wines from Bordeaux (Ausone, Petrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, etc.). He also recommends "top wines from other regions like Burgundy and the smaller-production cult wines that have not reached their pricing threshold." But his main tip is to only buy what you will drink. "Remember, value or appreciation in value does not mean the best, [it] simply means highest or perceived highest demand," he says. "If the environment changes and the wine value (due to economy or other) decreases, you will always have what you love to drink, share or gift."
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AGENCY
THE WHO
With 21 years of experience, Wendy Walker, managing director of The Agency Scottsdale (theagencyre.com), has invaluable experience and familiarity with the Valley's most sought-after neighborhoods, including Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Biltmore, Arcadia and Phoenix. While at Coldwell Banker, Walker ranked among the top 1% of agents and, as principal of Wendy Walker Fine Properties, was the brokerage’s No. 1 team in Arizona. In addition, Walker is a powerful negotiator known for empowering and mentoring women in real estate.
THE WHY
Clocking in at 31 miles long and 11 miles wide, Scottsdale offers a huge range of neighborhoods and properties, making knowing where to invest quite tricky. "Investment areas have certainly ebbed and flowed in Scottsdale over the years, especially with the additions of Vrbos and Airbnbs," she says. "The No. 1 factor [for] a successful investment is location. Highly sought-after areas like McCormick Ranch, Kierland, DC Ranch, Grayhawk, Silverleaf and the surrounding areas have all been very highly profitable areas over the years. Areas next to shopping, restaurants, activities like golf or major events are also highly sought after."
THE TAKEAWAY
"For personal-use investments, avoid Airbnb communities with lots of turnover," Walker says. "For rental investments, it is dependent upon annual or vacation rentals. HOA restrictions can highly restrict your availability to rent. Something that is too architecturally specific, too far [from] shopping and restaurants, and/ or requires a lot of maintenance should be avoided."
"THE No. 1 FACTOR [FOR] A SUCCESSFUL INVESTMENT IS LOCATION. HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER AREAS LIKE MCCORMICK RANCH, KIERLAND, DC RANCH, GRAYHAWK, SILVERLEAF AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS HAVE ALL BEEN HIGHLY PROFITABLE AREAS OVER THE YEARS.” –WENDY WALKER, MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE AGENCY SCOTTSDALE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF OLIVER SMITH JEWELER
THE WHO
Second-generation watch and jewelry dealer Elizabeth Smith Hrubala learned from her father, Oliver Smith, who started Oliver Smith Jeweler 41 years ago. "I started in Aspen running our two watch boutiques, and recently moved back to Scottsdale as the Oliver Smith Jeweler director of marketing," she says. Smith Hrubala—along with her father and fine timepiece director George Reid— runs the Horological Society of Arizona, where timepiece enthusiasts gather several times per year.
THE WHY
While there are endless dealers and sites online, Smith Hrubala believes a local shop with years of experience is the place to turn to when investing in a new timepiece. "The No. 1 rule is to buy from a trustworthy source," she says. "Do your research, and if a deal seems too good to be true, it is." A go-to like Oliver Smith Jeweler has been around long enough to know what retains and increases in value over time, and what doesn't. "There are a handful of brands where we consistently see demand outstripping supply... like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin," she adds. "But this doesn't mean every watch from these brands increases in value and becomes an investment. Similarly, there are a few standout models from brands such as Cartier and Panerai that hold value over time." A trustworthy source will know how to steer a smart purchase.
THE TAKEAWAY
"If you're hunting for a watch that is special, unique and offered at an investment-level price, I would recommend shopping the preowned watch market. Just like what we've seen in the luxury handbag world, the pre-owned watch world has exploded with inventory over the past five years," she adds. "Our reputation as an expert in the watch world has brought some incredible timepieces into our stores. Most recently, a client brought in a World War II-edition Panerai from their grandfather, that had just been sitting in a storage drawer! You never know what will walk in."
"THE No. 1 RULE IS TO BUY FROM A TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE. DO YOUR RESEARCH, AND IF A DEAL SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT IS."–ELIZABETH SMITH HRUBALA, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, OLIVER SMITH JEWELER
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