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Second Look Financial
Second Look Financial was founded roughly two decades ago and operates from Scottsdale, Arizona. Managing Principal Michael C Dillon leads the firm after an...
Second Look Financial
Second Look Financial was founded roughly two decades ago and operates from Scottsdale, Arizona. Managing Principal Michael C Dillon leads the firm after an earlier career as a senior executive in the technology industry. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Toronto and completed executive management programs at Babson College and the University of Southern California. Dillon also volunteers with SCORE, the SBA-affiliated consultancy that advises small business owners. The firm blends two distinct, commission- and fee-adjacent disciplines under one roof. On the wealth management side, it crafts retirement strategies using traditional and Roth IRAs, rollover IRAs, 401(k) plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined-benefit pension plans. On the insurance side, it places individual and group health coverage, Medicare policies, and life insurance. Estate planning — including the creation of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care proxies — acts as the connective tissue between the two silos. The client base spans Arizona-based individuals and small-to-medium business owners. Since its founding, the firm has been run by a single named principal, Michael Dillon, who carries both a Series 65 securities license and an Arizona Life and Health insurance license. The practice discloses no additional offices, no affiliated operating companies, and no philanthropic foundation. There is no verifiable recent-activity event in the last 24 months beyond the firm's continued operation. Second Look Financial's structure departs from the typical RIA model. It is neither a pure fee-only fiduciary shop nor a pure insurance agency; Dillon operates as the sole investment-adviser representative while also placing commissioned insurance products. This dual-license architecture means a client's retirement account and their medigap policy can sit with the same advisor, a bundling model that distinguishes it from planners who outsource insurance or from agents who cannot manage securities.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Scottsdale
Corporate office
Scottsdale, AZ, United States
Principals
Michael C Dillon
Managing Principal
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Second Look Financial?
Managing Principal Michael C Dillon is the sole named advisor and decision-maker. He holds a Series 65 securities license and an Arizona Life and Health insurance license, allowing him to advise on both investment portfolios and insurance placements directly. Dillon’s background includes senior executive roles in the technology sector before he entered financial services.
Does Second Look Financial operate as a pure fee-only fiduciary?
No. The firm is a Registered Investment Advisory firm, which creates a fiduciary duty on advisory assets, but Dillon's concurrent insurance license means he can also earn commissions on life, health, and Medicare policies. A prospective client should clarify which hat he is wearing — fiduciary or commissioned broker — for each product recommended.
What type of client does Second Look Financial typically serve?
The practice targets two overlapping segments: individual households and small-to-medium business owners. For business owners, services extend beyond personal wealth management to include group health insurance plans and workplace retirement vehicles such as SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs.
What investment stages or asset classes does the firm pursue?
The firm does not operate as a venture investor, private equity allocator, or fund manager. Publicly described asset management concentrates on retirement-account construction using standard wrappers — IRAs, 401(k)s, defined-benefit plans — rather than on direct company investments or alternative assets.
Does Second Look Financial participate in fund commitments or only direct relationships?
The firm’s website does not describe any fund-of-funds activity, SPVs, or club deals. The model is a direct-client advisory and brokerage relationship; it does not appear to make institutional fund commitments.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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