The Scholar Wealth Podcast - Episodes Tagged with “International Planning”

Episode 57: Q&A Speed Round with Noah and Evan: AI Investing, Living Off Dividends, 529-to-Roth, and More

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This week we're doing something a little different. Instead of the usual two-question format with a guest interview, we're handing the mic over to Associate Financial Advisors Noah Lewis and Evan Mills for a Q&A speed round covering eight shorter questions from listeners.

The first half focuses on investing. Noah and Evan discuss how to think about AI as a structural shift without taking on outsized concentration risk, why international allocation still has a place in a portfolio even after a decade of US outperformance, and whether a retiree should restructure to live off dividends or take a total return approach with strategic selling. They also work through why an intermediate-term bond ETF like BIV might be preferred over a money market fund, and where I-bonds and TIPS fit into the current rate environment.

The second half turns to planning. The conversation covers smarter ways for grandparents to fund private school tuition beyond just writing a check, how the new SECURE 2.0 provision for rolling overfunded 529 balances into a Roth IRA actually works, and the differences between charitable remainder trusts and donor advised funds and when each one makes sense.

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. The opinions expressed are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organizations. Investing in financial markets involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Before making any investment decisions, you should consult with a qualified financial advisor who can assess your individual financial situation, objectives, and risk tolerance. Thanks for listening!

Episode 56: $200K a Year in AUM Fees, Buying Your Nanny a Car, and Education with Lindsay Tanne Howe

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

A listener with $18 million at a wirehouse advisor is paying just over $200,000 a year in AUM fees and was told by his advisor that there's no way he could handle a portfolio that size on his own. Stephan separates the management of money from the advice on money, walks through why the AUM model scales well for advisors but poorly for clients, and gives a real answer on where the threshold for self-management actually sits. Spoiler: it's much higher than most advisors will admit.

Then, a family with a longtime nanny on payroll wants to provide her a safe new vehicle now that the daily drive to private school has changed the job. Stephan walks through three structures, including the option most families overlook, and explains why insurance is the biggest risk most people miss when a personal vehicle starts getting used for what looks like commercial work.

To close, Lindsay Tanne Howe, founder and CEO of LogicPrep, returns to the show for a conversation on how education is increasingly driving where families choose to live. Stephan and Lindsay discuss the big-fish small-pond question that comes up in places like Greenwich, the rise of new family hubs from Lisbon to South Florida, when families should start planning for college (earlier than most assume), and how AI is reshaping both the admissions process and what colleges are teaching once students arrive.

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

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

A listener wants to split a $250,000 private real estate loan between a Roth IRA and non-qualified funds — and charge each portion a different interest rate to maximize tax-free growth. Stephan breaks down why that structure raises serious prohibited transaction red flags, what the IRS is actually looking for, and why the risk-reward calculus may not add up.

Then, a listener with newly obtained EU citizenship through Polish ancestry wants to set up European bank accounts and understand the U.S. tax implications. Stephan covers FBAR, FATCA, foreign tax credits, and why keeping things simple is usually the right answer for U.S. citizens spending time abroad.

To close, Dr. Deon Strickland joins for the quarterly Scholar Big Picture conversation. Stephan and Deon discuss the K-shaped economy, how AI may affect labor versus equity returns differently depending on where you sit, what it means for emerging markets, and why industrial metals might be worth a closer look.

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:

Newsletter: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/newsletter

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Submit a question for the show: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast

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

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

If you're thinking about selling your business in the next few years, the most important work happens before you ever hire a banker. Stephan breaks down how to reduce owner dependency, clean up financials, identify synergistic buyers, and position a business to command the highest possible multiple, using the example of a physical therapy group with 14 locations and growing PE interest.

Next, Stephan addresses a question from a couple who spent eleven years working in the energy sector in the UAE and returned to the U.S. with nearly $900,000 still sitting in a Dubai bank account. He explains FBAR and FATCA reporting requirements, the difference between willful and non-willful non-compliance, and why getting in front of this with a qualified tax attorney is urgent.

In the From the Field segment, Stephan is joined by Trent Abbott, Vice President of Global Development at Hagerty, the world's largest specialty insurance provider for collector vehicles. Trent covers how collector car insurance differs from standard auto coverage, why agreed value is the single most important concept for new collectors to understand, how Hagerty handles global coverage for vehicles used at rallies and concours events abroad, and what the recent surge in hypercar valuations means for families who may be underinsured right now.

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:

Newsletter: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/newsletter

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Submit a question for the show: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast

Episode 46: Evaluating PPLI, Investing in a Child’s Startup, and Cross-Border Tax Complexity

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

This week, we begin with a listener question about Private Placement Life Insurance. While the promise of tax-deferred growth and liquidity through policy loans can sound compelling, Stephan walks through the real tradeoffs: layered fees, insurance drag, liquidity constraints, and whether similar outcomes can be achieved more simply through traditional brokerage structures and securities-backed lending.

Next, we tackle a question many affluent families quietly face. A daughter launching a venture-backed tech startup has asked her parents to participate in a $250,000 seed round. Stephan explores how to separate parental support from investment discipline, why matching venture terms matters, how to avoid distorting the cap table, and how to protect family relationships if the business struggles.

In our From the Field segment, we are joined by Christine Concepción, an international tax attorney who advises globally mobile families and closely held businesses on cross-border structuring. The conversation covers tax residency rules, center of vital interest tests, entity restructuring when moving abroad, permanent establishment risks, PFIC traps, and why advance planning is critical before relocating or investing internationally. Christine also explains why it is often easier for foreign investors to structure investments in the U.S. than for U.S. citizens to invest abroad.

As families diversify not just portfolios but also residences, citizenships, and business interests, coordination across jurisdictions becomes essential. This episode offers a practical look at how to approach those decisions with clarity and discipline.

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:

Personal Wealth Conference: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/conference-2026/

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Submit a question for the show: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast

Episode 44: Oil Well Concentration Risk, Australian Superannuation, and Learning to Fly

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Scholar Wealth Podcast, we answer two listener questions that highlight how risk, complexity, and discipline show up in real financial decisions.

First, a listener who recently sold part of a business and now has $12 million invested asks whether allocating $750,000, half of their alternatives bucket, to a single private oil well investment makes sense. We discuss concentration risk, projected IRRs versus lived returns, operator opacity, and why alternative allocations should be diversified across time and strategy.

Next, a dual U.S.–Australian couple with $1.5 million in Australian superannuation plans to retire permanently in the United States. We explain how super funds work, why they can become complex for U.S. taxpayers, the reporting burdens involved, and how consolidation and investment selection may reduce tax and administrative friction.

In our From the Field segment, Paul Sallach, founder and president of All In Aviation, joins us to discuss what pilot licensing actually looks like for busy professionals. We cover realistic training timelines, hour requirements, cost structures, ownership versus renting decisions, depreciation expectations, and how aviation can restore time flexibility for high-earning professionals.

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:

Personal Wealth Conference: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/conference-2026/
Newsletter: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/newsletter

Start your planning journey: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/welcome
Submit a question for the show: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast

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

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This week on the Scholar Wealth Podcast, we look at three very different decisions that all require clear thinking and long-term planning. First, Stephan breaks down the financial and family considerations behind buying a €450,000 childhood home in Portugal, including how to separate emotion from economics and how to navigate cross-border tax and management issues.

We then shift to carried interest and what it really means for a principal-level professional. Stephan explains how carry works, why the value is so uncertain, and how to build a financial plan that does not depend on future payouts.

In this week’s From the Field segment, we talk with Walker Strangis of Walker Wine Company about building a fine wine collection with lasting value. He shares practical guidance on buying with purpose, avoiding common mistakes, and thinking about wine as part of a family legacy.

NEXT STEPS

Stay in touch beyond the podcast:

Newsletter: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/newsletter

Start your planning journey: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/welcome
Submit a question for the show: https://scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast

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

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this week’s Scholar Wealth Podcast, two listener questions that reflect the increasingly global and multi-generational nature of wealth management.

First, how non-U.S. residents can access broad index-fund diversification without triggering unnecessary U.S. estate and withholding tax exposure, including how Irish-domiciled ETFs work, where they differ from U.S. funds, and what investors should consider when building a portfolio from abroad.

Next, a family office whose investment policy statement hasn’t been updated since 2012. Stephan outlines what a modern IPS should include in 2026, from updated asset-allocation parameters and liquidity planning to governance across multiple family branches, philanthropic strategy, and long-term succession considerations.

Finally, in our From the Field segment, Stephan is joined by luxury holiday designer Christine Mango. Christine shares how high-end families approach seasonal décor — from design trends and planning timelines to the craftsmanship and details that create spaces that feel festive, timeless, and personal.

Have a question for a future episode? Submit it at scholaradvising.com/podcast