Hilltop Wealth Advisors

10/19/2026

Owning the S&P 500 through a fund means you own 500 companies, but you can't sell just one... Direct indexing takes a different approach: you own the individual stocks yourself. For investors with significant assets in taxable accounts, that may mean:

→ Harvesting losses on individual positions to potentially offset gains elsewhere
→ Reducing overlap with a stock you already hold heavily, like company shares
→ Tailoring holdings to your values

The tradeoffs: typically higher costs and minimums, results that can differ from the index (for better or worse), and tax benefits that may shrink over time.

If you hold substantial assets in taxable accounts, it may be worth a conversation.

https://www.hilltopwealthadvisors.com/blog/what-is-direct-indexing

For educational purposes only. Not a recommendation or tax advice. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.

What is direct indexing? Learn how it works, its potential tax advantages and tradeoffs, and who may want to consider it versus a traditional index fund.

10/06/2026

Happy 75th Birthday, Alice! We are so glad you came through our doors all those years ago and went from a client to a member of our team. We hope you have the sweetest day and cheers to many more!

09/24/2026

You've probably seen the : Treasury bond yields have climbed to levels not seen in nearly two decades, with the 10-year yield brushing up against 5% this fall.

Here's why that matters. Treasury yields quietly set the tone for interest rates across the entire economy—mortgages, auto loans, business financing, even student loans. When they rise this fast, it's worth understanding what's behind it.

Right now, three forces are pushing yields higher: renewed inflation pressure tied to rising oil and diesel prices, a strong stock market that's giving investors less reason to settle for bond returns, and a national debt that recently crossed $40 trillion, raising questions about how sustainable current borrowing levels are.

It's a lot to take in, and it's fair to ask what it means for your own plans and portfolio.

📈 We put together a fuller breakdown of what bond yields are, why they're rising, and what history tells us about where things might go from here
--> https://www.hilltopwealthadvisors.com/blog/treasury-bond-yields-september-2026

Treasury bond yields are surging. Explore what's driving higher yields, how they affect interest rates and markets, and what investors should know.

09/14/2026

An estimated 69,000+ employees in the Greater Triangle region work for Cisco, DukeEnergy, DukeHealth, DukeUniversity, Google, GSK, IBM, IQVIA, and SAS.* For employees at these nine companies, open enrollment is just around the corner, and it’s a good time to consider how your employee benefits fit into your broader financial plan.

So, we set out to curate a list of planning opportunities to help you make the most of the company benefits that may be available to you—from employee stock and tax planning to 401(k) plan optimization and the mega backdoor Roth strategy.

Check them out at https://lnkd.in/ekfa7z4Q.

*Source: Raleigh Chamber, Major Employers, https://lnkd.in/ek5SwGq8

09/14/2026

An estimated 69,000+ employees in the Greater Triangle region work for Cisco, Duke Energy Corporation, Duke Health, Duke University, Google, GSK, IBM, IQVIA, and SAS.* For employees at these nine companies, open enrollment is just around the corner, and it’s a good time to consider how your employee benefits fit into your broader financial plan.

So, we set out to curate a list of planning opportunities to help you make the most of the company benefits that may be available to you—from employee stock and tax planning to 401(k) plan optimization and the mega backdoor Roth strategy.

Check them out at www.hilltopwealthadvisors.com/executive-advantage

*Source: Raleigh Chamber, Major Employers, https://lnkd.in/ek5SwGq8

09/09/2026

Today we're celebrating 15 years with David Wise, CFP®! We're so grateful for all the incredible work he has done over the years, and in particular his contributions to shaping the incredible culture that keeps the talented people we are honored to work with engaged, inspired, and always striving to make a difference.

"15 years. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since I started this journey with Hilltop. When I think back over those years, what stands out most isn’t the markets, the plans, or even how much our firm has grown. It’s the people.

I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside clients through some of life’s biggest moments—retirements, career changes, marriages, births, losses, inheritances, business transitions, and countless decisions in between.

A few things I’ve learned along the way:

• Relationships matter more than transactions.
• Money is a tool, but the real goal is helping people build a life that reflects what matters most to them.
• Trust is earned slowly, through consistency and showing up when it matters.
• The best work is rarely done alone. I’m incredibly grateful for the teammates, mentors, clients, and families who have shaped me along the way.
• Growth often comes from being willing to stay humble, keep learning, and embrace challenges that once seemed impossible.
I’m especially thankful that after 15 years, I still love what I get to do.

There have been plenty of changes along the way, but the heart of the work remains the same: care deeply for people, give good counsel, and try to leave people better than you found them.

Grateful for the last 15 years—and excited for what’s ahead." - David

09/04/2026

Look how much has changed in TWENTY FIVE YEARS, Ben Yeager! From interning with our founder, Don Rutledge, to becoming our CEO—what an incredible journey. Happy 25th Anniversary.

Your roots run deep here, and your leadership has touched the lives of so many on our team and our clients. Thank you for challenging the status quo, encouraging us to take our work to its fullest expression, and inspiring us to stretch into the extraordinary.

“The last 25 years feel like both a blink and a lifetime. I'm grateful for every one of those years at Hilltop and even more excited about the next.” - Ben

09/02/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday, David Wise! 🎉

At Hilltop, we believe wealth goes beyond money. We think about wealth across five areas of life: Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial. Each member of our team has their own perspective on these pillars and what they look like in their life.

For his birthday, Dave is sharing what 🕰️ Time Wealth looks like in his own life:

“The Greeks had two different words for time. Chronos is measured time—the minutes, days, years, and seasons that keep moving forward. Kairos is different. It’s the meaningful moment—the right season, the opportunity in front of you that won’t always be there.

As a dad, I feel both of those right now.

In The 5 Types of Wealth, Sahil Bloom talks about the “magic years”—roughly the first decade of our kids’ lives when we occupy such a unique place in their world. I’m right in the middle of those years, and if I’m honest, I’m trying to hold on to them.

That’s what this picture snowboarding with my daughter, Shiloh, represents to me.

I know the chronos won’t stop. She’ll keep getting older. Her world will keep getting bigger. There will come a day when Dad isn’t the person she’s most excited to spend a day on the mountain with.

So I’m trying to pay more attention to the kairos—the moments I actually have right now.

For me, Time Wealth isn’t about cramming more productivity into the calendar. It’s about having enough control over my time to be present for the people and moments I know I’ll someday wish I could have back.

I’m still ambitious. I still love building, growing, and working toward big things.

I’m just increasingly aware that some opportunities won't come around again.

These years with my kids don’t.

So, for now, I’m trying to hold on.”

Happy Birthday, Dave! Thank you for inspiring us to continue to pursue wealth beyond money.

09/02/2026

How can 16 years blow by that fast?! Happy 16th Anniversary, Chris Hostetler. You have officially been our colleague and friend for as long as a 16-year-old Gen Z teen has been alive. 😂 For more than a decade and a half, you've brought a passion to support our whole team, your incredible imagination, and your wisdom to the Hilltop office every day. Thank you for everything you do and cheers to many more years of having you on our team!