Trust the Plan Podcast with Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP®

In the new episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management talk about their Peak Process and what new clients can expect when working with their team. They explain how the process helps determine a good fit between what Peak offers and what clients are looking for, creating clarity and confidence from the beginning. Nick and Jim also share ho...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth talk about how many people get financial advice from family, friends, or co-workers who are simply trying to share what they have learned. They point out that this advice often comes from personal experiences and may not apply to your own financial situation. As Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), Nick and Jim st...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth discuss the importance of asset allocation and asset location when building a strong retirement strategy. They emphasize that younger investors can typically afford to be more aggressive with their investment mix, leaning more heavily into equities to take advantage of long-term growth potential, while also being...

On a new episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth share insights on the RIA business model and why it continues to attract both advisors and clients. They highlight how the number of RIA firms has doubled in the last 20 years, reflecting major shifts in how people want to work with financial professionals. With a focus on trust, transparency, and...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast from Peak Wealth, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® open the episode with a conversation about Michigan football before shifting into a discussion on a recent Wall Street Journal article about changes to tax laws. They explore how certain households, such as married couples with children or retirees, can end up in a zero percent federal tax situation through care...

On this feel-good edition of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® , and Jim Pilat, CFP® , of Peak Wealth started with some positive market news. The S&P 500 is up double digits year to date, which has happened about 30 times since 1950 and is usually a good sign for the rest of the year. They encouraged listeners to focus on data like this rather than emotions, especially with distra...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® explore the concept of "What's your number?" This refers to the specific amount of money you need to feel comfortable retiring. They explain how identifying this number brings clarity to your financial planning and helps you focus on what truly matters to achieve your goals. It's about understanding what you need to live the lif...

On today’s episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth discuss recent market data with a focus on international stocks. After years of underperformance, many investors began to ignore this area completely, often with no exposure at all. So far in 2025, international equities have emerged as a leader, and Nick and Jim explain why they are feeling bul...

In this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth shared exciting updates about their continued commitment to community impact through the Invest in Others Scholarship, now available at findingtruewealth.podbean.com YouTube: /  @peakwealthmgmt Apple:  rb.gy/1jqp6  (Trust the Plan Podcast) Facebook:  Facebook.com/PeakWealthManagement Twitter:  Twit...

Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® kick things off with some excitement as Michigan Football is back and the season is finally underway. There's plenty to be hopeful for on the field, and even more to look forward to in today's feel-good edition of the Trust the Plan Podcast. We're turning our attention to an important topic: scam calls and suspicious emails. Nick shares a personal story about...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® , and Preston Gee, CFP® of Peak Wealth dive into insights from the J.P. Morgan Guide to Retirement, offering practical ideas and concepts around getting started with saving, preparing for, and living in retirement. They emphasize the importance of evaluating Roth contributions at various life stages, noting that younger investors often benefit most...

On this episode of Trust the Plan Podcast with  Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Preston Gee, CFP® of Peak Wealth, the focus was on the rising availability of private investments within 401(k) plans. They discussed how options like private equity and private credit, while traditionally reserved for institutional investors, are slowly being introduced into retirement accounts through specialized structures....

In this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Preston Gee, CFP® of Peak Wealth explore the topic of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) and why they matter in long-term planning. They explain how CCRCs offer a range of living options within one community, allowing individuals to transition smoothly as their care needs change. Nick and Preston highlight key consid...

On this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, financial experts Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Preston Gee, CFP® discuss the uncertain future of Social Security, referencing both U.S. developments and international changes. They noted that the U.S. Social Security program is projected to be unable to pay full benefits by 2033—just eight years away—unless reforms are made. Nick emphasized that while nothi...

On this feel-good edition of the Trust the Plan podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® dive into the lighthearted financial plot flaws in the classic comedy Happy Gilmore, just in time to celebrate the release of Happy Gilmore 2, 30 years after the original hit theaters. From Happy’s plan to win prize money to save his grandmother’s house, to the questionable handling of her overdue tax p...

Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth, hosting the Trust  the Plan Podcast draw a thoughtful comparison between the major blue‑chip companies of the early 1990s and today’s corporate giants. They reflect on how, back then, names like GE, Exxon, IBM and Coca‑Cola dominated with longstanding industrial and consumer staples. In contrast, their 2025 lineup features tech‑driven titans a...

In this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management discusses potential changes to 529 plans if the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill” passes. They outline how the bill aims to expand the flexibility and allowable uses of 529 funds, making these education savings accounts more adaptable to a broader range of educational and financial goals. Th...

Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management announce that the firm now oversees $400 million in assets under management, marking a significant milestone in their continued growth. In their July halftime report episode, they reflect on overall market performance through the first half of 2025 and share insights on what investors might expect in the months ahead. They discuss br...

Check out a special episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast with Nick Hopwood, CFP® featuring our standout Peak summer intern, Jacob Strom. In this episode, we dive into Jacob's unique journey—what brought him to Peak, his passion for finance, and the path that led him here. It's an inspiring conversation that highlights the next generation of talent in the industry. Don’t miss it—tune in to learn m...

Nick Hopwood, CFP® of Peak Wealth and host of the Trust the Plan Podcast, is joined once again by Evan Chopp—points enthusiast and all-around knowledgeable guy—for a deep dive into the Chase Sapphire 100k offer and why it’s one of the best in the game. In this episode, they break down how to follow Evan’s proven strategy to maximize credit card points, redeem them for top-tier travel experiences,...

Nick Hopwood and Jim Pilat of Peak Wealth, on their Trust the Plan podcast, recently discussed a Chase Bank data report examining spending patterns in partially and fully retired households with $250,000 to $750,000 in investable wealth. They observed that spending often increases shortly after retirement, driven by lifestyle changes and long-postponed purchases. Over time, however, that spending...

In a recent episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® , and Jim Pilat, CFP® , of Peak Wealth Management, delve into the strategic decision of Roth conversions in retirement planning. They present a case study comparing the financial outcomes of converting traditional IRA funds to Roth IRAs versus maintaining the traditional structure. Through detailed charts, they illustrate how Ro...

On the Trust the Plan Podcast, Nick Hopwood, CFP® and Jim Pilat, CFP® of Peak Wealth Management dive into the importance of starting early when investing for college. They emphasize that the earlier you begin, the more you can take advantage of compound growth, making it much easier to fully fund a college education. Using tools like 529 plans, families can invest in a tax-advantaged way toward fu...

On this episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, CFPs Nick Hopwood and Jim Pilat of Peak Wealth talk about why rising advisor attrition rates across the industry don’t reflect what they see in their firm. By focusing on strong client relationships, a team-based approach, and consistent communication, they’ve built a model that keeps clients engaged and supported for the long haul. It’s all about tru...

On a recent episode of the Trust the Plan Podcast, Jim Pilat, CFP® and Preston Gee, CFP® of Peak Wealth delved into a compelling case study featuring a couple in their mid-40s with three kids and a strong household income, now getting serious about their financial future. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) flagged several red flags in their current approach — Jim and Preston unpack these concerns...