Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions serves as your personal CFO, providing fiduciary wealth and tax strategies to help you build, protect, and optimize your future.

Hilltop’s obligation is to serve your best interests. We do not accept commissions. Hilltop’s fees are based on a percentage of assets under management, so our success depends on your success.

09/14/2026

Your LTC plan could be missing the most important part. 👀

Most pre-retirees assume long-term care planning means shopping for a policy and moving on. But treating it as a standalone insurance decision leaves some of the biggest risks in your retirement completely unaddressed.

A single extended care need can cost $90,000 to $120,000 or more per year. Without a plan that accounts for this, that expense comes directly out of your portfolio, compresses your spouse's income, and slowly dismantles the estate you spent decades building.

The options today go well beyond traditional LTC insurance. For high-net-worth households, hybrid life insurance structures and asset-based approaches can address care risk while keeping your money productive, even if care is never needed.

Long-term care risk belongs inside a coordinated retirement income plan. If yours doesn't include it, this video is worth a few minutes of your time.

If you want to see how this fits into your plan, schedule your complimentary introductory call through the link in bio.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor serving individuals approaching or recently in retirement.

09/11/2026

Most people pick the wrong IRA for retirement 👀

The Roth vs. Traditional debate sounds simple, but most people frame it the wrong way.

It's not really about which account is better. It's about which tax rate you'll be dealing with when the money actually comes out.

With a Traditional IRA, you get a deduction upfront, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. Worse, Required Minimum Distributions at age 73 force you to pull money out whether you need it or not, which can quietly push you into a higher bracket than you ever expected.

With a Roth, you pay taxes on the front end. But qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free, and they don't affect your Medicare premiums or how your Social Security gets taxed.

So which one comes out ahead? It hinges on one specific factor that's different for every household.

Watch the full video to see how to think through it for your own situation.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor serving business owners, executives, medical professionals, and highly compensated individuals approaching or in retirement.

🍽️ Financial education, conversation, and connection in our community.On September 3rd & 8th, Hilltop hosted two educati...
09/11/2026

🍽️ Financial education, conversation, and connection in our community.

On September 3rd & 8th, Hilltop hosted two educational dinner seminars at Corndance Tavern in Mishawaka, led by Erik Brenner and Cliff Hawkins.

These events are one way we aim to bring financial education into the communities we serve—giving attendees an opportunity to learn about important retirement planning considerations, ask questions, and get to know the Hilltop team in a relaxed setting.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for two great evenings, and to Erik and Cliff for sharing their knowledge and insights!

Interested in learning more about Hilltop or attending a future educational event? Visit our website to explore upcoming opportunities and connect with our team.

Educational content is for general informational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.

⚾ A great night at the ballpark!We enjoyed welcoming clients to our annual South Bend Cubs Client Appreciation Event at ...
09/10/2026

⚾ A great night at the ballpark!

We enjoyed welcoming clients to our annual South Bend Cubs Client Appreciation Event at Four Winds Field. From the newly renovated terrace space to the ballpark favorites and great company, it was a memorable evening.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Hilltop Kids 50/50 raffle. Our raffle winner generously donated nearly all of his winnings back to Hilltop Kids to support children in our local communities. 💙

09/09/2026

Your IRA beneficiary choice could cost heirs thousands 👀

Most people assume naming a trust is the smarter, safer option. It adds structure, control, and asset protection. But there's a tax consequence that often gets missed entirely.

Many trust arrangements remove the ability to stretch IRA withdrawals over a lifetime. Under the 10-year rule, the full balance may need to come out within a decade, which can push your heirs into the highest tax brackets year after year, unnecessarily.

Naming an individual directly tends to be more tax-efficient and flexible. But it comes with no guardrails. If your heir is a minor, has creditor issues, or struggles with financial discipline, that money can disappear fast.

The right answer isn't obvious. It depends on your heir's situation, your estate goals, and how the IRA fits into your overall legacy picture.

This is exactly why estate planning and tax planning need to be part of the same conversation, not two separate ones.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor.

09/04/2026

Your income just changed. Your plan didn't. 👀

Whether it went up or down, the financial framework you were operating on is already out of date, and most people don't realize how much that matters until months later.

Here's what tends to happen when people skip the recalibration:

A raise or windfall without a plan quietly disappears into lifestyle. Taxes creep up. Savings rates stay flat. You feel like you're doing well, but the numbers tell a different story.

A drop in income triggers the instinct to wait and see. But every month of inaction has a real cost, especially when compounding is involved.

There are three specific areas that need attention right after a major income shift: your tax withholding, your contribution strategy across retirement and savings accounts, and your cash flow plan.

Skip any one of them, and you're flying the same flight plan to a destination you're no longer heading toward.

The window to get this right is narrower than most people think. Watch the full video to see exactly where to start.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor.

09/03/2026

Inherited an IRA? The clock is already ticking. ⏳

Most people don't find out about the 10-year rule until it's too late to plan around it.

For non-spouse beneficiaries, inherited IRAs must be fully emptied within a decade of the original owner's passing. And if that owner had already begun required minimum distributions, annual withdrawals are required each year throughout that 10-year window — with a 25% penalty for any year you miss.

The bigger issue for high earners: these distributions pile on top of your existing income. For business owners, executives, and medical professionals already in the top brackets, that stacking effect can create a tax surprise that's entirely avoidable with the right plan in place.

The advisors who handle inherited IRAs well don't move fast. They map the full picture first, then build a distribution schedule designed to minimize the tax hit across all 10 years.

If you've recently inherited an IRA or expect to, this is worth watching.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor.

09/02/2026

One word on this form redirects who inherits. 👀

Most people fill out a beneficiary form once and never look at it again. But buried inside is a designation that almost nobody notices, and depending on which option is checked, the outcome for your family can be completely different.

Per stirpes and per capita sound similar. They are not.

One ensures a deceased beneficiary's share passes to their children. The other redistributes that share among your surviving named beneficiaries, leaving the grandchildren with nothing.

Same form. Same account. Opposite results.

What makes this especially critical: your will has no say over this. Retirement accounts and life insurance policies pass by beneficiary designation, entirely outside your estate plan. Even the most carefully drafted will can be overridden by a single outdated form.

For anyone approaching retirement with multiple accounts, business interests, or a large IRA, this is worth a 10-minute review.

To learn more about beneficiary coordination and estate planning strategy, hit follow.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor.

09/01/2026

Your advisor isn't building your tax bill. You might be. 👀

Most high earners heading into retirement assume strong investment performance is the key to keeping more of their money. But the real driver of your lifetime tax liability is something most advisors never address: your distribution strategy.

Which accounts do you pull from first? In what order? At what tax rate? These decisions, made before retirement income starts, can have an enormous compounding effect over a 20- or 30-year retirement.

The challenge is that most people have an investment advisor working on one side and a CPA working on the other, with no one coordinating between them. That gap between silos is where unnecessary taxes quietly take hold.

The fix isn't finding a better advisor or a better accountant in isolation. It's having someone whose job it is to connect the two sides into one cohesive plan.

If you want to see what that kind of coordinated strategy actually looks like, grab a copy of Erik's book, The Personal CFO Revolution, through the link in his bio.

Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Strategies discussed are general in nature and may not be suitable for your situation. Consult your tax and/or legal professional regarding your circumstances.

Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions is a financial advisor.

🎓 Meet the 2026 Hilltop Kids Scholarship recipients!This year, we’re proud to recognize Zach Woods, Aaliyah Lyons, and K...
09/01/2026

🎓 Meet the 2026 Hilltop Kids Scholarship recipients!

This year, we’re proud to recognize Zach Woods, Aaliyah Lyons, and Kenedi Bradley, three members of the Class of 2027 who are preparing to continue their education and pursue paths focused on supporting, educating, and empowering the next generation.

Congratulations to all three students on this exciting next chapter! 💙

Learn more about each recipient and their goals: https://hilltopwealthtax.com/2026-hilltop-kids-scholarship-recipients/

*Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions ("Hilltop") and HILLTOP Kids are under common control. HILLTOP Kids is a 501(c)(3) status entity with the IRS. HILLTOP Kids serves to collect donations to be used for at-risk youth programs. Hilltop may have an economic incentive to favor clients who donate to HILLTOP Kids. However, Hilltop maintains policies, procedures, and controls to routinely monitor these conflicts to help ensure that clients are treated fairly and equitably.*

Address

4100 Edison Lakes Parkway Suite #225
Mishawaka, IN
46545

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

(833) 889-7526

Website

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