Episode 37: Qualified Opportunity Zones, IDGTs, and Modern Estate Management

December 29th, 2025  |  38 mins 25 secs

business exit strategy, business sale planning, estate management, estate planning, family business, high-net-worth home management, inheritance planning, intentionally defective grantor trust, liquidity event, qualified opportunity zones, real estate investing, tax planning, trust strategies

Evaluating Qualified Opportunity Zone investments after a large business sale requires balancing tax incentives with risk and liquidity.

IDGTs can help transfer future business growth, but they introduce meaningful cash flow and complexity considerations.

In our From the Field conversation, Peter Hansen explains what modern estate management looks like and how staffing and systems help homes run smoothly.

Holiday Special: Working Asset Tax Rules, Equipment Depreciation, and Employee Benefits Planning

December 22nd, 2025  |  7 mins 56 secs

bonus depreciation rules, business owner tax planning, corporate cash strategy, employee benefits design, family business, financial literacy, retirement planning, section 179 depreciation, tax planning, working asset depreciation

In this episode, three year-end planning questions from a business owner covering the tax treatment of working assets, depreciation of specialized equipment, and long-term employee benefits planning. The conversation explores how business owners should think about asset classification, Section 179 and bonus depreciation, and designing sustainable benefits for a long-tenured workforce.

Episode 32: Irish-Domiciled ETFs, 2026 IPS Refresh, and Luxury Holiday Design

November 24th, 2025  |  25 mins 34 secs

charitable giving, donor-advised funds, estate planning, expat investing, family business, family governance, financial independence, financial literacy, international planning, ips updates, irish etfs, luxury holiday décor, seasonal planning, tax planning

This episode explores three sides of global wealth management and seasonal lifestyle planning. Stephan Shipe, Ph.D., CFA, CFP®, explains how non-U.S. residents can access index-fund diversification through Irish-domiciled ETFs, then breaks down what modern family offices should include in a 2026 Investment Policy Statement refresh. In our From the Field segment, holiday designer Christine Mango shares how luxury families create festive, elegant spaces for the season.

Episode 25: When Spouses Disagree on Legacy Goals, Family Business Concentration Risk, and IRS Audit Insights

October 6th, 2025  |  37 mins 1 sec

concentration risk, estate planning, family business, family company, family dynamics, gifting strategies, inheritance planning, irs audits, legacy disagreements, private business risk, tax planning

This episode tackles family and financial crossroads: how couples can resolve different visions for their legacy, the risks of tying too much wealth to a relative’s business, and expert strategies for handling IRS audits with David De Jong.

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 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.