Stephan Shipe
Scholar Advising
winston-salem, NC
- CFP®
- Ph.D.
- CFA®
Contact Stephan
Schedule Free ConsultationStephan can help you with
- Tax Strategy
- Equity Compensation Strategy
- Multigenerational Wealth Transfer
- Complex Tax Optimization
- Retirement Planning
- Business Exit and Succession Planning
- Charitable Giving and Foundation Design
- Legacy and Family Governance
Stephan specializes in
- Business Owner/Entrepreneur
- Technology Professional/Engineer
- Corporate Officer
- Medical Professional
Expertise
- Investment Analysis and Planning
- Portfolio Guidance
- Retirement Planning
- Benefits and Compensation Planning for Employees
- Equity Stock and Options Planning for Employees
- Tax Efficient Withdrawal Planning
- Tax Optimization
- Insurance and Risk Management
- Estate and Legacy Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Cash Flow Analysis
- Saving and Investing for College
- College Search Scholarship and Funding Planning
- Late Stage College Funding and Planning
- Financial Behavior and Wellness Education
- Life Event Planning
- Windfall Planning
- Real Estate Planning
- Digital Assets and Currencies
- Family Office Services
- International or Cross Border or Expat Planning
- Business Finance Planning
- Benefits and Compensation Planning for Employers
- Equity Stock Options Planning for Employers
- CFO Services
- Exit Planning
- Intergenerational Planning
Pricing
Flat-Fee and Retainer:
Every client relationship begins with The Scholar Method, a comprehensive flat-fee engagement covering eleven areas of your financial life, from retirement and investments to taxes, equity compensation, insurance, and estate planning. The initial engagement ranges from $10,000 to $30,000 based on the complexity of your situation. Visit our case studies page for examples, and contact us for a complimentary personalized proposal outlining your exact fee. After the initial plan, the relationship continues on a custom monthly retainer, which includes an annual rebuild of the full analysis.
As a fee-only fiduciary, we are compensated only by our clients. We charge no AUM fees, accept no commissions or referral fees, and do not take custody of client accounts. Our fee is quoted in advance and based on the complexity of your needs. There is no asset minimum.
About
Stephan Shipe, Ph.D., CFA, CFP®Founder & CEO, Lead Advisor
Dr. Stephan Shipe is the founder, CEO, and lead advisor of Scholar Advising. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance with a support area in econometrics from Florida State University and is both a CFA® charterholder and CFP® professional.
Since founding Scholar Financial Advising in 2018, Stephan has focused on helping corporate executives, business owners, and families of significant means navigate complex financial decisions. His research on investor behavior, executive compensation, and investor protection has been published in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, the Journal of Empirical Finance, and the Journal of Investing, and led to work with regulators on investment advisor fee disclosure laws. He serves on the finance faculty at Wake Forest University and has taught at the University of New Hampshire and Florida State University. He also hosts The Scholar Wealth Podcast.
Scholar Financial Advising is an independent, flat-fee fiduciary firm built for individuals and families with complex financial lives. Our clients prefer to stay in control of their financial accounts and value a trusted partner with the expertise to navigate consequential decisions.
Our team of finance professors, Ph.D.s, CFA charterholders, and CFP® professionals specializes in the decisions that come with complex wealth, including equity and deferred compensation, concentrated stock, private business ownership and exits, retirement timing, multigenerational planning, and charitable giving. Every plan is reviewed by multiple advisors before it reaches the client. Today we serve clients in more than 40 states, advised on more than $2.3 billion in assets in 2025, and have been featured in more than 300 media placements.
Our Services:The Scholar Method: Every client relationship begins with The Scholar Method, a comprehensive flat-fee engagement covering eleven areas of your financial life. Our team analyzes, models, and stress tests your full picture, then walks through the plan with you in a working session. The initial engagement ranges from $10,000 to $30,000 based on the complexity of your situation. Visit our case studies page for examples.
Ongoing Advisory: After the initial plan, the relationship continues on a custom monthly retainer. Retainer clients receive two strategy meetings and two check-ins each year, year-round access to a dedicated advisor and associate, coordination with their CPA, attorney, and other professionals, and an annual rebuild of the full analysis.
Next Steps:Contact us for a complimentary personalized proposal outlining your exact fee.
Learn more about Scholar Advising, our services, and our fees.
Services: Financial planning, Tax strategy, Equity compensation, Retirement planning
Ideal Client: Executives, business owners, physicians, and families with complex financial lives who want flat-fee advice and prefer to keep control of their accounts.
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- Scholar Financial Advising Application, ADV2A
- Website, info@scholarfinancialadvising.com, (336) 360-6833