Scholar Financial Advising, LLC (“Scholar”) is a fee-only investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which has been providing independent, fiduciary financial advice and comprehensive financial planning to individuals and businesses since it became a registered investment adviser in August 2019.
Scholar specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to high income or ultra high net worth individuals. For convenience and efficiency, all steps of the advisory process will be completed online. Scholar uses a collection of digital tools including web conferencing, online file storage, and digital signatures to accomplish this online advisory process.
Stephan Shipe is the principal owner of Scholar, owning 100% of the firm, and is the Chief Compliance Officer.
Hourly Financial Planning Scholar offers financial advice on an hourly project basis. These hourly projects can focus on a specific topic or all aspects of a client’s finances through a comprehensive financial plan.
Examples of financial advice topics include, but are not limited to: ●Comprehensive financial plan and subsequent reviews that includes savings, spending, and investment goals. This plan is a living document that should be revisited annually or at times of major life changes. ●Retirement planning and withdrawal strategies ●Asset allocation and asset location for tax efficiency ●Annual rebalancing plans for investment accounts ●College savings plans for children ●Financial goal setting ●Debt repayment and consolidation strategy ●Full benefits and insurance coverage review for open enrollment ●Impact of alternative investments including real estate on financial plan ●Semi-annual investment account reviews of performance and risk ●Tax loss harvesting plan ●Assistance in setting up and maintaining retirement and brokerage accounts ●Stock option and restricted stock planning ●Windfall or inheritance investment decisions ●Business and investment valuation ●Vehicle purchase decisions and budgets ●Housing and mortgage reviews Signature Client Program Scholar offers financial advice on a recurring flat fee basis for clients with more complex financial situations and that desire an ongoing relationship. The Signature Client Program is designed akin to a family office, such that Scholar will provide ongoing support, proactive monitoring and advice, and coordination with clients’ other service providers. More specifically, the Signature Client Program includes, but is not necessarily limited to: Coordinated Financial Management. Scholar understands that managing personal and business finances can be overwhelming. There is a large time commitment needed to meet with professionals, research their recommendations, and then implement the advice. Scholar acts as clients’ dedicated financial quarterback, coordinating with clients’ respective CPA, attorney, insurance agents, brokers, and other professionals. This ensures seamless communication and collaboration, saving clients time and effort while providing comprehensive financial oversight.
Future Generations Planning. Preserving and transferring wealth to future generations requires careful planning. Scholar assists clients in developing strategies and structures that foster the successful transfer of wealth, with the long-term financial well-being of family in mind. Scholar’s education and mentorship programs for heirs are designed to instill financial responsibility and prepare them for managing inherited wealth.
Investment Advice. Scholar believes that clients should still maintain control over their financial accounts. However, Scholar monitors client accounts for rebalancing needs, tax loss harvesting, conversion opportunities, and provides specific trade and strategy recommendations for clients to implement when needed. Scholar does not take custody of client accounts and does not directly manage any investment accounts. However, Scholar will provide updates on investment performance and are happy to help set up client accounts, create a transfer strategy (if needed) and educate clients on the self management process.
Unplanned Events. The one constant in finance is that once in a lifetime events happen all the time. Whether it is in the financial markets or our own lives, there is always some

event that needs our attention and these events frequently have financial consequences. When these events occur, clients should simply send them to Scholar to address, respond, and educate. We will do the necessary research, due diligence, and planning to make sure clients can make informed decisions.
As a prerequisite to beginning the Signature Client Program, all Signature Client Program clients must first engage Scholar to prepare and deliver an initial comprehensive financial plan for a separate one-time flat fee. This process involves an in-depth analysis of a client’s financial situation, goals, and objectives. The comprehensive financial plan serves as the foundation for Scholar’s ongoing advisory services, enabling Scholar to develop strategies that align with a client’s specific needs.
Scholar is a fiduciary and takes measures to ensure that conflicts of interests are eliminated or disclosed to clients. Scholar does not receive any compensation from brokerage companies, securities issuers, or any provider of financial products or services. Scholar’s commitment to unbiased advice ensures that advice given to clients is based solely on the needs of the client.
Scholar follows the CFA Institute Code of Ethics. Information on the Code of Ethics can be found in Item 11.
Scholar does not take custody of client assets nor does Scholar have discretionary authority over client accounts. It is the client’s responsibility to act on the advice and action items provided by Scholar.
The final list of agreed upon services are included in the advisory agreement. Fees and services are negotiable.
Financial Planning Process It is essential that clients understand what takes place when they engage Scholar in a financial advisory relationship. The following are the steps that take place from the initial phone delivery of the financial advice. Note that more complex concerns or a comprehensive financial plan would be broken up into smaller parts and may include additional meetings to the process below.
Clients are under no obligation to act upon Scholar’s financial planning recommendations. If a client elects to act on any of the recommendations made by Scholar, the client is under no obligation to effect the transaction through Scholar.
From time to time and when appropriate for a particular client, Scholar will recommend an independent and unaffiliated third-party investment adviser (“Third-Party Adviser”) to manage all or a portion of a client’s portfolio. Third-Party Advisers are evaluated based on a variety of factors, not the least of which include performance return history, asset class specialization, management tenure, and risk profile. Scholar will conduct due diligence as appropriate to confirm that such Third-Party Advisers are duly registered and otherwise well-equipped to manage such clients’ accounts. Scholar does not retain any discretionary authority to hire or fire such Third-Party Advisers on behalf of clients, and clients retain the sole and absolute discretion to retain a Third-Part Adviser recommended by Scholar.
Wrap Programs Scholar does not participate in any wrap fee programs.
ERISA Accounts When we provide investment advice to you regarding your retirement plan account or individual retirement account, we are fiduciaries within the meaning of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) and/or the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), as applicable, which are laws governing retirement accounts. The way we make money creates some conflicts with your interests, so we operate under a special rule that requires us to act in your best interest and not put our interest ahead of yours. Under this special rule’s provisions, we must: ● Meet a professional standard of care when making investment recommendations (give prudent advice); ● Never put our financial interests ahead of yours when making recommendations (give loyal advice); ● Avoid misleading statements about conflicts of interest, fees, and investments; ● Follow policies and procedures designed to ensure that we give advice that is in your best interest; ● Charge no more than is reasonable for our services; and ● Give you basic information about conflicts of interest.
Assets Under Management Scholar does not report any regulatory assets under management.