Episode 51: Rachel Cruze of The Ramsey Show on Raising Money-Smart Kids, DAFs vs. Private Foundations, and Getting Into Alternatives

April 6th, 2026  |  36 mins 25 secs

alternative investments, charitable giving, donor-advised funds, estate planning, family business, family philanthropy, financial literacy, generational wealth transfer, gifting strategies, inheritance planning, parenting and money, private equity investment, private foundations, real estate investing, rental property, tax planning, third-generation wealth, trust strategies

Rachel Cruze, author and co-host of The Ramsey Show, joins us to talk about how financial values are formed, passed down, and sometimes lost across generations. We also look at when a private foundation makes more sense than a donor-advised fund for a family giving $200,000 a year, and whether rental real estate is a smart entry point into alternatives — or just trading one set of risks for another.

Episode 48: Stock Compensation, Inherited IRA Taxes, and Documenting Family Legacy

March 16th, 2026  |  36 mins 47 secs

employee stock compensation, equity compensation, executive compensation, family legacy planning, financial literacy, inheritance planning, inherited ira, legacy storytelling, tax planning

In this episode, we examine why publicly traded companies often compensate employees with stock instead of cash and how equity-based pay structures align incentives while creating new risks for employees. We then discuss the tax challenges of inheriting a large traditional IRA under the 10-year distribution rule and explore strategies for managing the resulting tax burden. Finally, in our From the Field segment, we speak with Susan Brody, founder of Family Legacy Videos, about preserving family stories, values, and history across generations.

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 39: 529 Planning in an AI World, Raising Grounded Kids, and Understanding REITs

January 12th, 2026  |  28 mins 51 secs

529 plans, financial literacy, higher education, inheritance planning, lifestyle inflation, raising grounded kids, real estate investing, reits, tax planning

In this episode of the Scholar Wealth Podcast, we start with two listener questions facing many high-income families today. First, we discuss how to think about funding a 529 plan when AI is rapidly changing education, careers, and credentialing, and how to plan for college without overcommitting to a single path. We then turn to a lifestyle question about enjoying financial success while raising kids who stay grounded and understand the value of money. In the second half of the episode, we’re joined by Dr. Stace Sirmans, Professor of Finance at Auburn University, for a clear, academic explanation of how REITs work and how they’re structured.

Episode 38: Social Security Timing, Home Sale Capital Gains, and Educational Travel with Road Scholar

January 5th, 2026  |  31 mins 12 secs

capital gains tax, estate planning, financial independence, inflation planning, inheritance planning, longevity planning, multigenerational travel planning, primary residence sale, real estate investing, retirement planning, social security timing, tax planning

In this episode, we answer two listener questions that highlight common retirement planning tradeoffs. We discuss Social Security timing for high earners, capital gains considerations when selling a long-held primary residence, and how families think about prioritizing meaningful experiences through educational travel with Road Scholar.

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.

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 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 22: Trusts vs Wills, Senior Living REITs, and a Physician Bonus Playbook

September 15th, 2025  |  22 mins 38 secs

backdoor roth, donor-advised fund considerations, emergency fund strategy, estate complexity, estate planning, fee transparency, financial literacy, inheritance planning, liquidity constraints, manager quality assessment, physician finance, physician taxable account, private reit due diligence, probate avoidance, real estate investing, senior living investment, signing bonus allocation, tax planning, taxable investing, trust strategies, will vs trust

A $5 million estate. A private senior living REIT. A physician’s $75,000 signing bonus. In this Q&A episode, Stephan unpacks three listener questions with clear, practical guidance for high-net-worth families.

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 loss harvesting, 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.