The sale price. The valuation. The story that makes the room go quiet.

But Brett Swarts wants owners looking at the number that comes after tax. Because a big exit can become a quiet surrender if the tax plan shows up after the deal is already moving.

In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig Andrews talks with Brett Swarts, founder of Capital Gains Tax Solutions, about the planning that high-net-worth entrepreneurs need before selling a business, real estate, stock, or other appreciated assets. Brett breaks down why owners need to know the rules of the game before the exit, not after the wire hits.

They discuss why a CPA who reports history may not be the same person who builds strategy, why QSBS can be worth exploring years before a sale, and how deferred sales trust planning can create flexibility for owners who want the next chapter to be active, passive, or something in between.

Brett also makes the estate-tax problem hard to ignore. For families with significant wealth inside a taxable estate, the issue is not abstract. It can determine whether the next generation keeps the asset, sells under pressure, or watches legacy get converted into a tax bill.

Craig and Brett close on a practical point: nobody will care more about your taxes than you. The right team matters. Timing matters. And the conversation should start before the exit is close enough to feel real.

Want to learn more about Brett Swarts' work? Visit Capital Gains Tax Solutions at https://capitalgainstaxsolutions.com/.

Connect with Brett Swarts on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-swarts/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/.

In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig Andrews talks with Erik Brenner, Private Wealth Advisor at Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions, about the tax problem hiding inside retirement planning. Erik explains why the old assumption that taxes automatically go down in retirement can fail, especially when income sources, withdrawals, and required minimum distributions start colliding.

They dig into why IRA and 401(k) balances can act like a joint account with the IRS until a real plan is built. Erik also breaks down how up to 85% of Social Security can become taxable, why provisional income matters, and why retirees can get caught off guard when RMDs rise later in life.

Erik draws a sharp line between tax preparation, tax planning, and tax mitigation. Filing a return tells you what already happened. Planning looks ahead. Mitigation asks what can be done now so the future does not arrive with a tax bill nobody saw coming.

Craig and Erik also talk about Roth conversions, and why they can be powerful when used correctly but dangerous when treated like a magic trick. The bigger point is simple. A fiduciary advisor who claims to do comprehensive planning should understand the client's tax return, because the return often tells the truth that the portfolio alone cannot.

They close with a practical look at AI in advisory work. AI can help with document review, notes, and planning support. It cannot replace judgment, context, or the trust built inside the advisor-client relationship.

Want to learn more about Erik Brenner's work? Visit Hilltop Wealth & Tax Solutions at https://hilltopwealthtax.com/.

Connect with Erik Brenner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikbrenner/.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/

In this conversation, Peter shares why he and his team leaned harder into tax strategy, what entrepreneurs should expect from their advisors, and why too many CPAs fail to bring forward even basic planning opportunities. He also walks through examples like the Augusta Rule and home office strategy to show how seemingly simple tax ideas can have meaningful impact when applied correctly.

Want to learn more about Peter Culver’s work? Visit Wealthrive at https://www.wealthrive.com/.

Connect with Peter Culver on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pculver/.

You can also reach Peter directly at peter@wealthrive.com.

Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews’ work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/

Mark breaks down what sets affluent investors apart, not just in what they invest in, but in how they think about risk, liquidity, and long-term financial security. He also explains why protecting the downside is often more important than chasing upside, and how thoughtful portfolio structure can help investors sleep better at night.

Listeners will also hear Mark’s perspective on bringing sophisticated wealth strategies to a broader audience, including the role of tax planning, risk mitigation, and smarter decision-making in building durable financial outcomes.

Want to learn more about Mark Miller’s work? Visit Hilton Wealth at https://www.hiltonwealth.com/.

Connect with Mark Miller on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmiller-hiltonfo/.

You can also reach Mark directly at mmiller@hiltonwealth.com.

Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews’ work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/

That is not a theoretical question for Craig Andrews. It is the question that gave birth to Fiduciary Alchemy.

In Episode 1, Craig sits down with Nils Vinje to explain why this podcast exists, who it serves, and why the subject matters more than most people want to admit. After a life-threatening hospitalization in 2021, Craig saw how quickly uncertainty can crash into a family, even when smart people believe they have planned well. Access breaks. Assumptions fail. Critical gaps show up at exactly the wrong moment.

Fiduciary Alchemy is for families, for investors, and the professionals who help them protect, grow and transfer wealth wisely. This is not a show about financial jargon or polished theory. It is a show about the people, strategies, and decisions that matter when real life applies pressure.

Craig and Nils preview the kinds of conversations ahead: family office access, tax strategy, estate planning, exit planning, and the challenge RIAs face when trying to build trust at scale. Along the way, Craig makes the deeper promise of the show clear. Every episode should leave the listener with at least one important insight they had not seen before.

That is what makes this podcast worth your time.

Because the best financial conversations do more than help you make money. They help you avoid preventable mistakes, ask better questions, and protect the people and legacy you care about most.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work at Fiduciary Alchemy? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/.