# How Advisors Can Beat the Biggest Retirement Risk with Erik Brenner

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/next-mile-6421303/how-advisors-can-beat-the-biggest-retirement-risk-with-erik-brenner
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/next-mile-6421303/how-advisors-can-beat-the-biggest-retirement-risk-with-erik-brenner.md
Podcast: [Next Mile](https://stenobird.com/podcast/next-mile-6421303)
Published: 2026-04-21T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PODRYL1066657579.mp3?updated=1776443225
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/PODRYL1066657579.mp3?updated=1776443225
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/next-mile-6421303/episodes/how-advisors-can-beat-the-biggest-retirement-risk-with-erik-brenner
Duration seconds: 1958

## Resource

Episode 141: This week, Kyle Van Pelt talks with Erik Brenner, CEO, President, and Founding Partner at Hilltop Wealth and Tax Solutions. With more than 30 years of experience, Erik has assisted thousands of individuals in integrating retirement, tax, and estate strategies. At Hilltop, he blends leadership and client advisory responsibilities, shaping the firm's future vision and strategies while providing personalized financial guidance to select clients. Erik talks with Kyle about what happens when advisory firms stop treating tax and wealth management as separate conversations and start thinking holistically. He discusses the strategic decisions that helped transform Hilltop, including integrating in-house tax services, rethinking the client experience, and doubling down on education-driven growth. Erik also shares how to run great seminars and use technology to keep up with business complexities. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:06) - Erik's money moment (03:30) - Hilltop's one-stop model: Integration of tax and wealth management (07:13) - How Hilltop manages large wealth with tax problems (09:35) - How the SECURE 2.0 Act impacts generational wealth (16:37) - Using seminars as a modern growth engine (20:28) - What makes a 5-star seminar experience (23:39) - Managing tech across multiple business lines (25:29) - Navigating the transition from being an advisor to a CEO (27:33) - Erik's outlook on the future of the financial industry (29:03) - Erik's Milemarker Minute Key Takeaways Don't outsource critical expertise that directly affects client outcomes. If a core part of your value—like tax strategy—is outside your control, alignment becomes difficult. Integrate tax and wealth management to deliver truly holistic advice. When strategy and execution live under one…

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## Transcript

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