In this episode of The Influential Advisor podcast, host Paul interviews Erik Brenner, founder of Hilltop Wealth and Tax Solutions with 32 years of experience in wealth management. Erik discusses his innovative "Personal CFO" model that brings comprehensive financial services under one roof, including integrated tax planning and wealth management. The conversation explores how this approach can transform retirement planning for successful individuals by breaking down traditional silos in financial services and providing family office-level services to non-ultra-wealthy clients.

Guest Bio

Erik Brenner is the founder of Hilltop Wealth and Tax Solutions, an independent registered investment advisory firm. With 32 years of experience in the financial services industry, Erik built his practice after growing up in a family business in the aftermarket automotive industry. He specializes in providing comprehensive wealth management services that integrate tax planning, investment management, and estate planning under one roof.

The Personal CFO Model

• How the model differs from traditional financial advising by combining multiple services under one roof
• The importance of integrating tax planning with wealth management
• How this approach provides family office benefits to clients who aren't ultra-wealthy
• Why coordination between financial professionals is crucial for optimal outcomes

Five Critical Retirement Decisions

1. Timing Your Retirement
   • Financial implications of retiring earlier or later
   • Balancing emotional readiness with financial preparedness
   • Benefits of working longer during highest earning years
2. Social Security Claiming Strategies
   • Why "it's not grandma's Social Security anymore"
   • How couples can maximize benefits through coordinated claiming strategies
   • Consideration of life expectancy, health history, and age differences between spouses
   • Tax implications of Social Security benefits (15% may be tax-free)
3. Distribution Strategy
   • Importance of tax-efficient withdrawals from retirement accounts
   • Why emptying accounts sequentially isn't always optimal
   • How proper distribution planning can lower lifetime tax burden
4. Healthcare Planning
   • Medicare eligibility at 65 and planning for the gap years
   • Strategies for obtaining healthcare coverage before Medicare eligibility
   • Consideration of long-term care costs in later life
5. Estate Planning
   • Common oversight of not having or updating estate plans
   • Ensuring assets pass according to your wishes
   • Going beyond document creation to implementation and funding strategies

The Window of Opportunity

• The critical period between retirement and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
• How taxable income often drops during this window, creating tax planning opportunities
• Strategic Roth conversions when in lower tax brackets
• Addressing the "balloon" of tax-deferred savings before mandatory distributions

Breaking Down Financial Silos

• How separate financial professionals (insurance, tax, investments, estate) often don't coordinate
• The value of comprehensive financial planning across all domains
• Preventing contradictory advice from different specialists

Client Stories Highlighted

1. Claire's Healthcare Savings
   • Saved over $31,000 in healthcare costs before Medicare eligibility
   • Strategic income management to qualify for healthcare subsidies
   • Example of how proper planning can enable earlier retirement
2. Henry's Pension Loss

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