Our Team
THE PEAK WEALTH TEAM
PRESIDENT & FOUNDER
Peter Newman
PhD, CFA®
Peter Newman founded Peak Wealth Planning in 2014 to help high-net-worth individuals navigate the transition from building wealth to turning it into a reliable retirement income.
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He specializes in working with individuals approaching retirement—particularly those with concentrated wealth, such as ESOP participants—who are facing important decisions around diversification, taxes, and long-term income planning.
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Peter’s approach focuses on helping clients make coordinated decisions, rather than addressing investments, taxes, or retirement in isolation. His goal is to provide clarity and structure so clients can move forward with confidence.
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Prior to founding Peak Wealth Planning, Peter spent two decades managing treasury and investments for the University of Illinois System, where he oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in institutional assets and helped guide long-term investment strategy.
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He also spent 15 years as a real estate investor and developer, gaining practical experience in tax strategy, risk management, and the use of leverage.
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Today, Peter works with a select group of clients to simplify complex financial situations, avoid costly mistakes, and make informed decisions about their future.
CLIENT CARE COORDINATOR
Afton Swenor
Afton Swenor brings nearly a decade of experience in customer service and operations within fast-paced telehealth startups to her role as Client Care Coordinator at Peak Wealth Planning. She is dedicated to creating a seamless and thoughtful experience for every client, leveraging her systems-minded approach to solve problems and streamline processes.
Afton holds a degree in Health Education from Northern Michigan University and began her career developing wellness programs for General Motors employees. Her passion for helping others thrive continues to guide her work today.
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Based in northern Michigan, Afton enjoys running, hiking, traveling out west, and spending time by the water with her pets. She also has a keen interest in tarot, blending wellness, purpose, and connection in all that she does.
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Melissa Tyler
Melissa Tyler was previously an Executive Assistant at Fortune 500 companies, where she worked with teams in Finance, Corporate Properties, and Healthcare. She earned an A.A. in English Literature from Casper College in 1999 and a B.A. in Communications with a Minor in English Literature from the University of Denver in 2001.
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As the Operations Coordinator for Peak Wealth Planning, Melissa is committed to providing high-level operational support for our team.
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Melissa lives in Raleigh, NC. In her free time, she enjoys reading on her back porch, gardening, embarking on fantastic road trip adventures with her daughter, and spending weekends with her family.
FINANCIAL PLANNER
Nathan Gale
CFP®
Nathan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University.
Prior to joining the team at Peak Wealth Planning, Nathan served as a musician in the U.S. Army and Navy. During his sixteen years in the military, he had the privilege to serve as the Command Financial Specialist and discovered his love for helping people overcome their financial scripts and fears, identify and prioritize their financial goals, and efficiently maximize their resources to live their best lives.
Nathan lives in Chicago with his furry family of EIGHT!! He loves traveling, good food and wine and is a die-hard Chiefs and Royals fan.
MARKETING DIRECTOR
Carmen Egolf
Carmen Egolf brings a unique blend of design, education, and strategy to her role as Marketing Director at Peak Wealth Planning. Prior to joining Peak, she spent 15 years working with clients and more than 1,000 students—developing a deep ability to understand individual motivations and guide people toward meaningful outcomes. She now applies that same human-centered approach to building marketing systems that foster trust and long-term relationships.
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At Peak, Carmen leads marketing efforts for a high-trust, relationship-driven firm, where she focuses on building long-term authority and connection with prospective clients. Her work centers on developing strategy, testing channels, and translating complex financial concepts into accessible, engaging content—particularly for individuals navigating major financial decisions later in life.
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Carmen holds both an M.A. and B.F.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Outside of work, she creates content on YouTube and enjoys hiking with her family, reading with her two kids, gardening, and practicing sun salutations.