The Scholar Wealth Podcast

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?

Episode 8: Three Physicians, Three Big Questions: Planning for Flexibility, Savings, and Sanity

June 9th, 2025  |  19 mins 24 secs

financial independence, financial literacy, locum tenens retirement accounts, physician burnout, physician finance, retirement planning, variable income planning

Feeling burned out but unsure if you can afford to cut back? We answer physician finance questions about retirement accounts, variable income planning, and what financial independence looks like when you’re ready for a slower pace.

Episode 7: Wealth Concentration to Weekend Plans: Retirement Prep and Financial Literacy for Heirs

June 2nd, 2025  |  28 mins 15 secs

concentration risk, family business, financial literacy, gifting strategies, incentive trusts, over-contribution correction, retirement transition

Holding most of your wealth in a family business? We cover how to reduce concentration risk when wealth is tied to a family business, how to prepare for the emotional and financial transition into retirement, and how to structure gifts to children with financial literacy in mind. Plus, a bonus question on managing over-contributions after a large bonus payout.

Episode 6: Corporate Cash, Market Timing, and Private Equity: Diversification Strategies for High Earners

May 26th, 2025  |  24 mins 39 secs

corporate cash strategy, market timing, private equity investment, qualified charitable distributions

Wondering what to do with excess cash in your business or portfolio? We cover diversification benefits, dollar cost averaging, and private equity basics, including how to protect yourself with an LLC vs. LP. Plus, a simple breakdown of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and when they make sense.

Episode 5: From Startup Exits to Luxury Properties: High-Income Tax Planning and Wealth Strategies for Founders and Medical Pros

May 19th, 2025  |  22 mins 18 secs

charitable fund, charitable giving, luxury property decision, mortgage payoff decision, tax planning

Sold your startup or earning big as a physician? In this episode, we answer questions about high-income tax strategies, smart property investing, and how to prioritize competing financial goals—from retirement to philanthropy.

Episode 4: Clarity and Confidence: From Family Finances to Finding the Right Advisor

May 12th, 2025  |  13 mins 8 secs

advisor selection, aum structure, family communication, family financial planning, fee-only model, fiduciary standard, financial preparedness, flat-fee planning, ria regulation, spousal involvement, transparency in advising, wealth management basics

What happens if the person who manages your family’s finances can’t anymore—and how do you know who to trust for professional advice?

This week on the Scholar Wealth Podcast, Stephan Shipe shares practical guidance for bringing both spouses into the financial conversation and demystifies the terminology around financial advisors. He explains why family awareness is one of the most overlooked parts of wealth planning, and how to navigate the differences between fee-only, fiduciary, flat-fee, and AUM models when searching for guidance.

Whether you’re the “family CFO” or trying to make sense of the advisory landscape, this episode helps you build clarity, confidence, and continuity in your financial life.

Episode 3: Tax Planning, CPAs, and the Final Stretch to Retirement

May 5th, 2025  |  9 mins 53 secs

cpa coordination, financial readiness, holistic planning, income modeling, liquidity management, portfolio allocation, pre-retirement strategy, retirement planning, roth conversions, sequence of returns risk, tax efficiency, tax planning

What’s the difference between tax planning and tax advice—and when should you involve your CPA?
In this week’s Scholar Wealth Podcast, Stephan Shipe breaks down how financial advisors and accountants work together to optimize tax outcomes, then walks through what it really means to prepare for retirement when you’re just a few years away.

From Roth conversion timing and income modeling to portfolio structure and cash flow strategy, this episode explores how proactive planning today can make your next major financial transition far smoother.

Episode 2: Can You DIY Your Financial Plan with Software? Plus, How Often to Check Your Portfolio

April 28th, 2025  |  9 mins 50 secs

financial literacy, market timing, portfolio rebalancing, tax planning

This week, Stephan answers two common questions from DIY investors. First: can you really just buy the same financial planning software advisors use and run your own plan? Then: how often should you actually be checking your portfolio? Stephan breaks down what separates professional-grade planning tools from consumer versions, when retail software might be enough, and why too much portfolio monitoring can do more harm than good.

Episode 1: Launching the Scholar Wealth Podcast

April 21st, 2025  |  5 mins 45 secs

asset protection, business exit strategy, charitable giving, concentration risk, corporate cash strategy, deferred compensation, estate planning, executive compensation, family business, family wealth, financial education, financial independence, financial planning, gifting strategies, high net worth, inflation planning, inheritance planning, investment strategy, ipo planning, legacy planning, liquidity event, market timing, philanthropy, physician finance, portfolio rebalancing, private equity investment, real estate investing, retirement planning, stock option exercise, tax planning, trust strategies, vacation rental, wealth management

In our debut episode, host Stephan Shipe shares the story behind the Scholar Wealth Podcast and what listeners can expect each week. Designed for families with complex wealth, the show goes beyond the basics to deliver expert insights, real stories, and practical answers to your most sophisticated financial questions.