Episode 66: The $800K CPA Gap, Negotiating Away From Unvested RSUs, and Money Masters with Mike

July 20th, 2026  |  34 mins 40 secs

charitable giving, deferred compensation, endowment portfolio, estate planning, executive compensation, financial independence, financial literacy, generational wealth transfer, gifting strategies, high income tax strategy, inheritance planning, retirement planning, retirement transition planning, stock option exercise, tax planning

A high earner realizing his CPA is filing history rather than shaping strategy, a professional weighing a competitor offer with $2.8M in unvested RSUs and deferred comp on the line, and Money Masters with Mike on retiring at 56, building an endowment-style portfolio, and passing it on with intention.

Episode 64: Gifting at 88, Deferred Comp Defaults, and 100-Year Families

July 6th, 2026  |  40 mins 31 secs

100-year family enterprises, deferred comp elections, deferred compensation, estate planning, executive compensation, family business, financial literacy, gifting strategies, inheritance planning, lifetime gifting to grandchildren, retirement planning, step-up in basis, tax planning, three-generation myth

An 88-year-old mother with $6 million in a brokerage account of embedded gains wants to gift to her grandchildren now, and Stephan works through the tradeoff between lifetime gifting and the step-up at death, the tools that solve the problem without sacrificing basis, and why the honest answer at 88 is rarely more complicated than annual exclusions and direct payments. Then a 51-year-old executive defaulting to lump-sum-at-separation on his deferred comp elections gets a full walkthrough of what's actually at stake — Section 409A irrevocability, credit risk, the tax cliff at separation, and how installment options and in-service distributions coordinate with the years ahead. In From the Field, organizational psychologist Dennis Jaffe joins the show to share what he learned from interviewing 100 families across 22 countries that have thrived past their third generation, why the "three-generation curse" is largely a myth, and how successful families evolve from a single entrepreneur into a cooperative community across generations.

Episode 34: Buying a €450K Home Abroad, Planning Around Carried Interest, and Building a Wine Collection That Lasts

December 8th, 2025  |  34 mins 34 secs

carried interest, concentration risk, cross-border real estate, deferred compensation, estate planning, inheritance planning, international planning, legacy assets, private equity compensation, private equity investment, real estate investing, tax planning, vacation rental, wine collecting

Buying a €450K family home in Portugal often involves emotion, complex tax rules, and long-term management considerations.

Carried interest can be valuable, but payouts are uncertain. Planning should assume a base case of no carry and treat future distributions as upside.

Wine expert Walker Strangis explains how families can build and maintain collections with both personal meaning and financial value.

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 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 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.