Scholar Financial Advising is an independent fee-only financial advisory firm with a fiduciary duty to all of our clients. Our ideal client is a DIY investor who doesn’t want to pay AUM, but needs sound and practical advice that they can implement for a flat fee.

Our advisors hold at minimum a Ph.D. in Finance. Stephan Shipe, CEO, is a CFA charterholder and CFP® Professional. Our advising teams also include highly credentialed support staff with strong back office operations to serve our clients with excellence.

Our mission is to Educate, Empower, and Encourage. We like to think outside of the box and enjoy working on more complex financial situations like those that typically surround highly compensated individuals. We believe that clients should manage their own accounts and our role is truly that of an advisor. We look for ways to increase financial efficiency and create plans for our clients to execute that focus on creating a role for every dollar that hits their account.

We emphasize custom plans and the importance of building strong advisor/client relationships. This combination allows us to create and work toward financial goals as a team.

Our Services and Fee Structure

Comprehensive Financial Plans: For a DIY investor looking for us to pull the financial pieces together to create a custom strategy and financial plan that they can execute with periodic check-in meetings.

• Flat Fee: All new clients start with an initial plan ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The exact amount is based on financial complexity and will be provided in the form of a proposal after completing a free introductory call (visit our website to book your call).

• After the initial plan, additional advice is billed at our hourly rate of $385/hour. This hourly service is exclusively available to our current clients.

For clients with ongoing and highly complex financial advising needs, we offer virtual family office services. These services allow you to take back the time you have been spending on your own financial planning while still maintaining control of your accounts. We become your personal CFO for all financial concerns.

• Initial Fee: $15,000, then $3,000-$10,000 per month based on complexity and needs.