Episode 53: Structured Family Support, Cash Balance Plans, and Hiring a Private Chef

April 20th, 2026  |  31 mins 52 secs

adult child financial support, asset protection, business exit strategy, cash balance plan, charitable giving, defined benefit plan, domestic staff hiring, estate planning, family business, family gifting strategy, financial independence, gifting strategies, inheritance planning, private chef placement, retirement contribution stacking, retirement planning, solo 401k, tax planning

A listener asks how to structure financial support for an adult child in a way that builds accountability rather than dependence. Then, a consultant explores whether layering a cash balance plan on top of a solo 401(k) makes sense, and what the long-term funding commitment actually looks like. Chris Demaillet, founder of Montclair Chef, joins From the Field to discuss what families need to know before hiring a private chef.

Episode 52: Self-Directed IRAs, EU Citizenship, and the K-Shaped Economy - Scholar Big Picture with Dr. Deon Strickland

April 13th, 2026  |  36 mins 10 secs

asset protection, fbar reporting, foreign bank accounts, international planning, k-shaped economy, market timing, portfolio rebalancing, prohibited transactions, real estate investing, self-directed ira, tax planning

Stephan breaks down why splitting a private real estate loan between a Roth IRA and non-qualified funds at different interest rates is a prohibited transaction risk — and what to do instead. Then, a listener with newly obtained EU citizenship wants to know what U.S. tax and reporting obligations come with foreign bank accounts. To close, Dr. Deon Strickland joins for the quarterly Scholar Big Picture conversation on the K-shaped economy, what AI means for labor versus equity returns, and why industrial metals may be worth watching.

Episode 50: PE Exit Prep, Offshore Account Reporting, and Protecting Collector Vehicles with Hagerty's Trent Abbott

March 30th, 2026  |  34 mins 50 secs

asset protection, business exit strategy, car insurance, expat tax planning, family business, financial literacy, foreign account compliance, international planning, liquidity event, pe sale preparation, physician finance, private equity investment, specialty asset coverage, tax planning

This week on the Scholar Wealth Podcast, Stephan walks through what a business owner should be doing in the years before entering a formal sale process, using the example of a regional physical therapy group fielding private equity interest. He then addresses the foreign account reporting obligations that can put returning expats out of compliance without realizing it. Finally, Trent Abbott, Vice President of Global Development at Hagerty, joins to discuss how families with significant vehicle collections should think about specialty insurance, agreed value coverage, and the unique risks that standard auto policies miss.

Episode 45: Family Travel Fairness, STR Bonus Depreciation, and Digital Risk Management

February 23rd, 2026  |  37 mins 26 secs

asset protection, bonus depreciation, charitable giving, cybersecurity, family dynamics, financial literacy, gifting strategies, intergenerational wealth, real estate investing, short-term rentals, tax planning, vacation rental

In this episode, we explore how complexity shows up in family dynamics, tax strategy, and digital risk. We discuss how parents can navigate lifestyle differences among adult children without falling into the reallocation trap, unpack how bonus depreciation for short-term rentals actually works under the One Big Beautiful Bill, and close with a From the Field conversation on modern cybersecurity risks facing high-profile families and family offices.

Episode 42: Managing Inherited Property, Protecting Physician Wealth, and Inside the Bourbon Market

February 2nd, 2026  |  42 mins 57 secs

asset protection, bourbon collecting, concentration risk, estate planning, financial literacy, inheritance planning, inherited property, legal exposure, ownership tradeoffs, passion investing, physician finance, real estate investing, tax planning, trust strategies, vacation rental

In this episode, we answer two listener questions that highlight common tradeoffs as wealth and complexity grow. We discuss how to approach inherited real estate when illiquidity and emotional attachment are involved, how high-net-worth physicians can think about asset protection as income and exposure rise together, and close with a From the Field conversation on what actually drives quality and value in the bourbon market.

Episode 29: CRUT Strategies, Contingency Fee Windfalls, and Protecting Valuable Collections

November 3rd, 2025  |  29 mins 31 secs

art insurance, asset protection, charitable giving, charitable remainder trusts, contingency attorneys, cruts, donor-advised funds, financial literacy, fine art protection, legal windfalls, liquidity event, liquidity management, real estate investing, real estate sales, risk management, tax planning, trust strategies, uneven income planning, valuable collections

This episode examines three sides of wealth protection: how to use a charitable remainder unitrust (CRUT) when selling appreciated real estate, how contingency attorneys should plan after a major payout, and how to safeguard valuable art and collectibles with Anne Rappa of Marsh McLennan Agency.

Episode 23: SLAT Adjustments, Family Philanthropy, and Spotting Ponzi Schemes

September 22nd, 2025  |  33 mins 57 secs

alternative investment risks, asset protection, balancing family giving priorities, charitable giving, cost-of-living trust adjustments, donor-advised fund strategy, due diligence for private investments, estate planning, family foundation governance, financial literacy, gifting strategies, heirs financial literacy, hems trust provisions, inflation planning, irrevocable trust modification, legacy planning strategies, next-gen philanthropy, ponzi scheme red flags, ponzi schemes, real estate syndication fraud, slat distribution flexibility, spotting investment fraud, trust strategies

Two complex questions for high-net-worth families: 1) How much flexibility should couples build into SLAT distributions as living costs rise? 2) How can families balance decades-long charitable commitments with next-generation priorities? Plus, a From the Field interview with attorney Daniel Gielchinsky, who shares the red flags he’s seen in Ponzi schemes and fraudulent investment pitches.

Episode 21: All in One Bank, Deferred Comp Timing, and a $20-to-Success Journey

September 8th, 2025  |  36 mins 43 secs

asset protection, company solvency risk, compounding interest, concentration risk, deferred compensation, executive compensation, fdic insurance, financial independence, financial literacy, lump sum vs installment payments, sipc insurance, tax bracket management, tax planning

Two practical questions for high-net-worth families: 1) Is keeping all your cash and investments at one institution a smart simplifier or a hidden risk? We unpack FDIC vs. SIPC, custodial risk, and why splitting liquidity across banks and custodians can protect access. 2) How to choose a deferred compensation distribution schedule when the future is uncertain. We walk through the tradeoffs among company solvency, tax brackets, and your real cash needs. Plus, a Money Masters story who arrived in the US with $20 and built wealth through discipline, compounding, and clear values he now passes to his kids.

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.