The Scholar Wealth Podcast

Complex Wealth Questions. Expert Answers.

About the show

The Scholar Wealth Podcast delivers clear, expert insights into the financial decisions that shape the lives of high-net-worth individuals and families. Every Monday morning, our team of PhD financial advisors tackles listener questions with the same strategic clarity and depth we bring to our client relationships.

This isn’t generic guidance or mass-market advice. It’s financial clarity for people with more at stake: physicians navigating equity compensation, entrepreneurs facing exit planning, and families stewarding multigenerational wealth. In each episode, you’ll find trusted guidance grounded in experience and fiduciary care.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice, the opinions. expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organizations. Investing in financial markets involves risk, including the potential loss of principle, past performance is not indicative of future results. Before making any investment decisions, you should consult with a qualified financial advisor, who can assess your individual financial situation, objectives and risk tolerance.

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Episodes

  • Episode 20: Learning Capital for Kids, Tax Loss Harvesting with Direct Indexing, and Hiring a Private Chef

    September 1st, 2025  |  22 mins 44 secs
    charitable giving, concentration risk, crypto investing, dafs, direct indexing, estate planning, financial independence, financial literacy, gifting strategies, inheritance planning, learning capital, market timing, portfolio rebalancing, qsbs, tax planning, trust strategies

    In this episode, we answer listener questions about setting boundaries around “learning capital” when a child wants to invest trust assets in crypto, weighing the benefits of direct indexing for tax loss harvesting in a $6 million taxable portfolio, and handling the financial logistics of hiring a private chef for a family-owned summer residence. Plus, our Term of the Day segment breaks down QSBS — Qualified Small Business Stock — and why it can be such a powerful tax planning opportunity for entrepreneurs.

  • Episode 19: Helping Family, Law Firm Partnership Buy-In, and Using NUA: High-Stakes Money Decisions

    August 25th, 2025  |  24 mins 1 sec
    advisor red flags, asset protection, career transitions, family finance, financial literacy, high-net-worth strategy, partnership buy-in, retirement decisions, retirement planning, tax efficiency, tax planning

    Big financial decisions often carry more risk than they first appear. In this episode of the Scholar Wealth Podcast, Stephan answers three listener questions on high-stakes money moves: helping family with a major purchase, evaluating a $500,000 law firm partnership buy-in, and deciding whether to use the Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) tax strategy in retirement.

    Plus, in our Advisor Red Flags segment, we spotlight why “exclusive” alternative investment opportunities aren’t always as good as they sound.

  • Episode 18: When to Sell, When to Hedge, and When to Start Your Second Act

    August 18th, 2025  |  27 mins 32 secs
    asset protection, auction commissions, currency diversification, financial independence, financial literacy, foreign currency investing, gold investing, inheritance planning, international bond funds, market timing, retirement planning, second act retirement, selling collectibles, wealth premiums

    In this episode, we answer a listener question about selling a $250,000 gold coin collection. Then, we explore whether shifting several million dollars into foreign currencies is a smart hedge against instability in the US banking system. Finally, in our Money Masters segment, Byron shares how he built confidence as a DIY investor, achieved financial independence, and reinvented himself in retirement.

  • Episode 17: The Art of Balancing: Liquidity Events, Lifestyle Choices, and Financial Freedom

    August 11th, 2025  |  24 mins 49 secs
    business legacy planning, coast fi, concentration risk, financial independence, lifestyle planning, liquidity event, part-time work transition, private club membership

    In this episode, we answer listener questions about reducing concentration risk ahead of a major liquidity event, deciding whether a private club membership fits your financial life, and evaluating the tradeoffs of shifting to part-time work after reaching Coast FI. Plus, our Money in the Headlines segment looks at a WSJ article about why financial advice often fails to reflect individual preferences.

  • Episode 16: Big Money Moves: Diversifying, Funding Kids’ Futures, and Buying Abroad 

    August 4th, 2025  |  18 mins 52 secs
    10b5-1 plan, 529 plan funding, charitable remainder trust, company stock diversification, financial literacy, international property purchase, tax planning

    In this episode, we answer listener questions about diversifying concentrated company stock with a 10b5-1 plan, avoiding overfunding 529 plans, and the key considerations before buying a second home abroad. Plus, our Term of the Day breaks down Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) in plain English.

  • Episode 15: Fractional Jets, Option Exercises, and Estate Fairness: Financial Planning at the Next Level

    July 28th, 2025  |  18 mins 44 secs
    estate planning, financial literacy, fractional jet ownership, inheritance fairness, inheritance planning, legacy letters, private jet tax rules, stock option exercise

    A private jet decision. A multimillion-dollar option grant. An uneven inheritance. In this Q&A episode, Stephan unpacks three dilemmas that high-net-worth families face—and offers clear, strategic guidance for navigating them with confidence.

  • Episode 14: Dividing, Inheriting, and Starting Fresh: Smart Moves After Life’s Turning Points

    July 21st, 2025  |  22 mins 17 secs
    debt-free milestone, divorce asset division, estate planning, financial literacy, inheritance planning, physician finance, physician financial planning, step-up in basis

    From divorce settlements to post-inheritance decisions to finally being debt-free—life’s transitions come with big financial questions. In this episode, we answer listener questions about dividing marital assets, what to do after inheriting a $1.2M brokerage account, and how two physicians can reset their financial plan after paying off student loans. Plus, in Myth or Money, we bust the idea that you're ever too young to plan for retirement.

  • Episode 13: Equity, Exit Plans, and Expensive Zip Codes: Wealth Strategy in Real Life

    July 14th, 2025  |  22 mins 28 secs
    business exit strategy, estate equalization, gifting down payments, gifting strategies, vacation rental, vacation rental investing

    Is it still worth buying a vacation rental? What’s the best way to gift down payments to kids in wildly different housing markets? And how do you start preparing—personally—for a business sale that’s still a few years out? In this episode, we tackle three listener questions around real estate, family gifting strategy, and long-term exit planning. Plus, in this week’s Money in the Headlines, we explore whether wealth really leads to longer life.

  • Episode 12: LLCs, Interest Rates, and Rebalancing: Smart Moves in a Shifting Market

    July 7th, 2025  |  20 mins 13 secs
    federal reserve policy, finance app, interest rates, llc formation, portfolio rebalancing, solo consulting, tax planning

    Starting a consulting business? Wondering if an LLC is worth it? In this episode, we tackle entity selection for solo entrepreneurs, how to think through tax treatment, and what structure gives you the best retirement plan options. We also dig into why the Fed hasn’t lowered interest rates yet—and what that means for investors navigating today’s uncertain landscape. Finally, we answer a common question: how often should you rebalance your portfolio in a market like this? Plus, in this week’s Tool Spotlight, we highlight Kubera, a powerful net worth tracking tool for clients with complex assets.

  • Episode 11: Estate Planning in Motion: Trust Strategies, IPO Tax Prep, and Smarter Umbrella Insurance

    June 30th, 2025  |  23 mins 3 secs
    estate planning, estate tax sunset, family limited partnership, ipo planning, ipo tax planning, irrevocable trust, trust strategies, umbrella insurance

    This week, we’re answering client questions about big-picture estate planning, preparing for future tax exposure, and protecting family wealth. We’ll cover trust strategies ahead of the 2026 estate tax sunset, key tax considerations for pre-IPO stockholders, and what to expect when shopping for umbrella insurance coverage.

  • Episode 10: Planning When Plans Shift: Inflation, Impact Investing, and Helping Others Catch Up

    June 23rd, 2025  |  20 mins 9 secs
    financial literacy, helping others retire, impact investing, inflation planning, personal finance conference

    What should you do if inflation stays higher than expected? How can you help a friend who hasn’t saved for retirement? And what should you consider when thinking about impact investing in today’s shifting landscape? In this episode, we tackle these questions and share insights from our annual personal finance conference.

  • Episode 9: Beyond the Paycheck: Vacation Rental ROI, State Taxes, and Deferred Comp Decisions

    June 16th, 2025  |  18 mins 43 secs
    deferred compensation, financial literacy, no-income-tax state move, residency rules, vacation rental, vacation rental roi

    This week, we’re digging into real-world financial decisions with long-term impact. What’s the right way to measure ROI on a vacation rental—and how do you account for taxes, maintenance, and future resale? Thinking of relocating to a no-income-tax state? We explain what to evaluate beyond just taxes, including legal residency rules and estate implications. If you’ve been offered deferred compensation, we’ll walk through how to weigh the benefits, risks, and coordination with other retirement strategies.

    Then in Money in the Headlines, Stephan reacts to a new survey showing 77% of Americans are changing their financial behavior due to recession fears. Is that smart strategy—or emotional overreaction?