Story & Lesson Highlights with Katie Bargetto of Central Phoenix

Katie Bargetto shared her story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Katie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Mornings in our house start early, and for me, that quiet time before the kids wake up has become sacred. My alarm is set for 5:00am with Tibetan bells on my Hatch. I love sleep, but I’ve learned to push myself up early because it’s the only way to get that peaceful head start. I spend about ten minutes stretching to wake my body, then grab coffee and either read or dive into strategy conversations with my husband—we run our business together, and sometimes our best ideas come before sunrise.

By 6:00am I’m working out—kettlebells in the front yard, a quick Pilates video, or a power walk. I used to fight morning workouts, but I’ve realized it’s the only time I can guarantee movement. After that, it’s a shower, packing lunches, and getting the kids up at 7:00am. That’s when the calm gives way to the beautiful chaos of family life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Katie, a mom of three, former corporate strategist, lifelong dancer, and now the COO and co-founder of Axiom Wealth Solutions. My husband Mike and I built our firm to help people align their money with their values and create a life they truly want to live.

At Axiom, financial planning and wealth management are our bread and butter, but what makes us different is the way we integrate everything together—cash flow mapping, estate planning, insurance, and especially alternative investments. Mike has deep expertise in that space, which allows us to move beyond the typical 60/40 portfolio and bring clients access to the same types of opportunities you’d normally find in university endowments or family offices.

We’re also intentionally boutique. That means fewer clients, but deeper relationships—we know our families, their stories, and their dreams. It’s not just about numbers on a page; it’s about helping people feel confident and empowered with money as a tool to live intentionally and leave a legacy.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
For me, it was in college when I started helping my mom run our family dance studio. One morning I was the first one there, and I spotted a cockroach. Now, I like to think of myself as tough, but I absolutely hate cockroaches. In that moment, though, I realized—I’m the boss. I couldn’t just leave it there or wait for someone else to deal with it. I had to handle it.

It might sound like a small or even silly example, but it stuck with me. That was the first time I truly understood that leadership means doing the hard or uncomfortable things, even when no one is watching. It was a turning point in recognizing myself as someone responsible for more than just me.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When Mike and I first started the business, we were both client-facing and on the sales side. I absolutely hated it—and honestly, I wasn’t very good at it. After a few years, we decided to separate our roles based on our strengths. Mike’s gift is working with clients and helping them move into stronger financial positions. Mine is on the operational side, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Failing at the client-facing side taught me two big lessons. First, it clarified what my real strengths are. And second, it gave me a deep appreciation for Mike’s role, just as he appreciates mine. Operations is not his jam, and client work isn’t mine—but together, we balance each other and built something stronger than we could have alone.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
For us, it’s depth over breadth. That’s why we’ve made the intentional choice to build our business without a social media presence. People tell us all the time that we’re crazy—that if we were on social media, we’d attract more clients. But the truth is, we’re not building this business for hundreds of clients. We want a smaller base where we can know people deeply and build long-term relationships.

It’s also personal. Mike and I both adamantly dislike social media, and we don’t want our kids growing up thinking they need to be on it. Leading by example matters, so we’ve chosen to live the value we believe in. It might mean slower growth in some people’s eyes, but for us it means a healthier culture, stronger relationships, and a business that aligns with the way we want to live.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
In business, we’re building Axiom Wealth Solutions as a boutique firm with deep, lasting client relationships. That means deliberately avoiding shortcuts—like chasing rapid growth through social media—and instead investing in education, thought leadership, and a differentiated investment approach through the Endowment Model. Those things don’t create overnight results, but they compound over years into a reputation and a client community that’s strong, loyal, and built on trust.

At the same time, in our personal lives, Mike and I are raising our kids with the same long-term mindset. We’re teaching them about money, about not chasing approval, and about living intentionally. Just like in business, we won’t see the full payoff right away, but in 7–10 years, the impact of those seeds will be undeniable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.axiomwealthsolutions.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bargetto/