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Stephan Shipe, PhD, CFA, CFP®

Independent, fee-only, hourly financial planning.

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Scholar Financial Advising Stephan Shipe, PhD, CFA, CFP®
Winston-Salem, NC

Serving Clients Nationwide

Independent, fee-only, hourly financial planning.

15 Certified Advisor Reviews™
Rate this Advisor

(336) 360-6833

Website

Areas of Focus

  • Capital Gains
  • Financial Life Planning
  • Investing
  • Owning a Business
  • Retirement Planning

About Me

Hi, I'm Stephan Shipe. I started Scholar Financial Advising to help people achieve their financial goals by creating strong advisor-client relationships and not charging fees for financial advice in the traditional way.

I truly believe that the best way to receive financial advice is when there are no competing incentives and when conflicts of interests are minimized.

That’s why we decided to operate Scholar Financial Advising as a remote, independent, and fee-only financial advisory firm for DIY investors. We even took the fee-only idea one step further and instead of charging the common percentage of Assets Under Management fee, we charge a flat hourly fee for financial advice. This means that there are no account minimums, no requirement for us to take control of your account, and no sales commissions for our recommendations.

You pay us for advice and we give you that advice. A simple process; a true pay-for-service fee model.

As a finance professor, I love being able to share the magic of finance with students. I wanted to take that passion that I have for educating others on financial matters outside of the classroom and help those that are establishing and striving for their financial goals, so Scholar Financial Advising was created with all advisors holding at minimum a Ph.D. in Finance.

Our remote financial planning process has a strong technology focus to help busy local clients or non-local clients virtually.

Choosing someone to work with as a financial advisor is not a decision you should take lightly so I encourage you to reach out and let’s talk about what you are looking for in an advisor. We offer a no-obligation, free consultation to anyone considering us as their financial advisor. You can schedule your appointment directly from our website or reach out to me using the contact form above.

Professional Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  • Ph.D. in Finance

Affiliations

  • CFA Institute
  • CFP Board
  • Fee Only Network
  • Financial Planning Association
  • Garrett Planning Network
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

Primary Location

Winston-Salem, NC

Additional Locations

📍 Atlanta, GA

📍 Palm Beach, FL

📍 New York City, NY

📍 Raleigh, NC

📍 Washington, D.C.

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone
Book Intro Call

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • Flat Fee
  • Hourly Rate
  • One-time Financial Plan

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule an Introductory Meeting. This initial meeting is free and has no commitment. We can speak on the phone or over coffee to see whether our working together is a good fit. If you are outside the Winston-Salem area, I have a range of technology options that allow me to provide financial planning services remotely.

About our Firm

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC is a Winston-Salem, North Carolina based fee-only investment advisory firm focused on providing DIY investors with fiduciary financial planning services on a flat fee, hourly basis. Stephan Shipe, PhD, CFA, CFP® is the owner and advisor for Scholar Financial Advising LLC.

Financial advising requires a lot of trust from both client and advisor. We truly believe that each individual’s financial situation is unique and that a successful financial plan requires more than some calculations. This is why we emphasize the importance of building a strong advisor/client relationship and work hard to create and work toward financial goals as a team.

The fiduciary nature of our advice is very important to our core goals managing this financial planning firm. All advice you receive from Scholar Financial Advising is in your best interest and you’ll never have to question where competing incentives lie.

To facilitate the financial planning process we utilize a technology mix that allows for remote communication with clients, efficient document storage and sharing, and the use of customizable financial planning tools and software.

✅ Our Mission: Educate. Empower. Encourage. Educate clients on the importance of financial health as well as the steps to create and maintain a stable financial future. Empower them by giving them the skills and practical knowledge necessary to make positive financial decisions. Encourage them to make the right choices by reducing behavioral biases through communication, follow-up, the creation of a long-term client-advisor relationship.

✅ Who is a Good Fit: The majority of my clients are DIY investors who don’t want to hand over their investments over to an advisory firm or pay an Assets Under Management (AUM) fee. They are typically looking for someone to pull all the financial pieces together for them and come up with a financial plan that they can execute. We also work with clients who are looking for a second opinion or have a specific finance question.

📍Most of our clients work with us remotely. We have clients in over 30 states, but our home base is Winston-Salem, NC.

Education

Florida State University, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Finance | University of North Florida, BBA, Finance | Indian River State College, Associate of Arts

Badges

Languages

  • English

Hobbies and Interests

  • Camping
  • Family
  • Grilling
  • Hiking
  • Motorcycling
  • Reading
  • Skiing
  • Traveling

SEC Lookup

View Disclosure

Who We Serve

  • Attorneys
  • Business Owners
  • College Graduates
  • Corporate Executives
  • Couples
  • Dentists
  • DIY Investors
  • Dual Income Family
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Gen X
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Investors
  • Living in Retirement
  • Newly Engaged / Newlywed
  • Parents
  • Physicians
  • Technology Professionals
  • Young Families

To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn a nominal monthly fee from financial advisors and firms in exchange for marketing services (including being featured on this profile page), subject to terms of use. This compensation creates a natural conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Wealthtender is not a client of these advisors or firms. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

Write a Review


By clicking submit, you acknowledge this review is based on your own experience and reflects your genuine opinion. You also agree to our review policy, privacy policy, and terms and conditions, and give this financial advisor permission to publicly display your review on their website.

Excellent Advisor

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Dec 11, 2024
We are so glad to have found Stephan and are grateful for his excellent advice. Even during uncertain times we feel confident with his recommendations. He’s very personable and we feel he knows us and understands how to best advise us. He is always available for questions and advice when we need him. Thanks Stephan!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Janna
Janna

Expert financial plan development

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Dec 4, 2024
We have been DIY investors for the last decade after discovering the high-cost low-return fee structure associated with the large financial advising company we were working with at the start of our careers. Our finances have become too complicated to be completely DIY and we realized we needed expert advice to adjust our investing strategy and manage our assets better over the long term for taxes, retirement and estate planning purposes. The fee-based model is the only model I trust after our previous experience. We wanted to remain in control of our investments. We wanted to work with an objective financial expert on more of a consulting basis to develop and maintain a tailored plan for us to execute. Stephan and Scholar Financial Advising was the right fit for us. Stephen helped us get our financial picture organized and simplified. He developed a clear roadmap for what to consolidate and move around with a timeline for executing changes. We are grateful to have started working with him this year and look forward to continuing to work with him for many years.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for S Stevens
S Stevens

Thankful to have found Stephan!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 19, 2024
My wife and I have always handled our own finances. As we get closer to retirement, we felt we needed a bit more help. We searched for a long time to locate someone we felt we could trust. We are very happy to have found Stephan. Stephan shares the same philosophy on investing as we do, and he has been able to provide us with valuable information and recommendations to help us on our path to a happy retirement.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Ken
Ken

Great experience!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 17, 2024
My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our first meeting with Stephan. We are "do it yourselfers" and have reached a point where we need help and the AUM model just doesn't work for us. Stephan provided great guidance and a clear to plan that we are beginning to execute. A big thanks to him and his whole team for their responsive and thorough approach!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for John
John

Excellent resource

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Nov 6, 2024
I had Mark as my financial advisor and I could not be more satisfied. His plan was comprehensive and he tailored it for exactly what I wanted and what I didn't know I needed. He explained it all in great detail and always responds to emails within a day when I have questions about the plan. Best of all the cost of the service. I will be sticking with SAF for the course of my career and beyond.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for George
George

Financial Education

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 20, 2024
I have worked with Stephan Shipe for several years, and I have been very pleased with the detailed financial plan he provided to me. While my hope was to find someone that could help make sure I stayed on track, I have in fact gained much more than that over the years. His patience in providing financial education each year has been invaluable. In addition, the entire team at Scholar Financial Advising are incredibly helpful and very professional.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Lisa
Lisa

Great advice from friendly advisors

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Aug 19, 2024
Very happy with the conversations my wife and I have had with SFA. The whole team is professional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. We've been working primarily with Mark, who has been amazing. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for financial advisors who will be sure to put your interests first in a data-driven and reasonable way.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for D
D

Wish we had done this earlier!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Jun 6, 2024
My wife and I are very happy we decided to go with Stephan as our financial advisor. He explains everything clearly and is very responsive to questions. He has great advice for specific questions and also for comprehensive planning. After implementing all of his suggestions, we feel much more confident about our financial future. Highly recommend!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Chris & Crystal
Chris & Crystal

Comprehensive Financial Plan

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 28, 2023
I have worked with several financial planners over the years. However this was the first time I went with a fee based financial planner. Stephan was recommended to me by a colleague who was very satisfied with the services. I was not exactly sure what to expect but I also ended up very satisfied with the plan. Stephan provided my husband and I with a very clear view of what retirement will look like as well as a recommendation on actions to take now. I learned a few things and also have a clear understanding. Well worth it and extremely satisfied with the service.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for David
David

First class organization and exactly what I was looking for

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 28, 2023
I searched long and hard, far and wide, to find the kind of financial assistance that fit my circumstances. I like to keep things simple, and paying someone 1+% per year to manage my situation did not offer sufficient bang for the buck. At the same time I value expertise from professionals and was willing to pay for a good consult and strategic advice. I was beyond pleased with my experience with Scholar Financial. My interactions with Stephan Shipe and with Deon Strickland were professional, timely, informative, and gave me the EXACT information I had been looking for. Deon reviewed my particular situation, drafted a specific plan for me, and held my hand as I implemented it. Finding these two was like finding a needle in a haystack - and it was exactly the needle I needed to stitch up the solution I had been looking for. I recommend them highly.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Jennifer H.
Jennifer H.

Exceptional Financial Planning Experience with Stephan and Mark

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 23, 2023
I recently had the pleasure of working with Stephan and Mark, two outstanding financial advisors, who have gone above and beyond to create a personalized financial plan for my wife and me. From the very beginning, it was evident that their primary focus was on understanding our unique financial needs and goals, and providing tailored advice to help us achieve them. It's clear that they have our best interests at heart, and their fee structure reflects that. They operate without any commission or incentives tied to our investments, which has allowed us to trust them fully and feel confident in their recommendations. Throughout the entire process, they were incredibly patient, thorough, and knowledgeable. They took the time to carefully explain the various aspects of our financial plan, ensuring that we fully understood each component and felt comfortable with the strategies they proposed. Their proactive approach to communication and their availability for any questions or concerns we had further solidified our confidence in their services. Stephan and Mark have not only crafted a comprehensive financial plan for us, but they have also provided us with peace of mind, knowing that we are on track to achieve our long-term financial goals. We are genuinely grateful for their guidance, expertise, and commitment to our success. If you are looking for financial advisors who will put your needs first and deliver exceptional results, we wholeheartedly recommend Stephan and Mark. They have exceeded our expectations and have been an absolute pleasure to work with.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Robert
Robert

They delivered the plan and advice I needed as I enter retirement.

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 23, 2023
I wanted an analysis on when I should start drawing Social Security and pension that considered funding my lifestyle from my retirement and investment accounts in a tax efficient way. They delivered. My initial conversation with Stephan confirmed they could provide the services I need now, and I have flexibility on how to use their services in the future. I worked with Mark who responded timely as I gathered and submitted my documents for the analysis. He sent me the financial plan so that I could review before our Zoom meeting. I appreciate how he listened. He incorporated my wishes and concerns as we reviewed the plan, and he explained how the plan would address those issues. Mark was very direct about the items that could derail my plan and why. I appreciate Mark's encouragement to enjoy my life funded by my decades of saving while having guiderails in place to ensure a financially secure retirement. In addition to an annual review, I know that I can contact them when a major unexpected expense or event arises, and they will be able to review my plan and provide guidance. Going into the conversation, I thought I was financially literate with good knowledge of the type of accounts I have and considerations as I retire. Afterwards, I felt confident in my knowledge and my ability to manage my investments for the foreseeable future. With the current volatile financial environment, it is good to know that I have support when I need it. If you need advice as you begin saving and investing for your future or if you want confidence in retirement timing or if you need someone to provide a sense check for you, Scholar Financial can help.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Anonymous, Charlotte Area
Anonymous, Charlotte Area

What would we do without him?

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 17, 2023
I consider myself very financially literate, but I was getting overwhelmed by the plethora of information out there on how to successfully plan for financial goals and retirement. Stephan took all the guesswork away, created a clear path, and provided much needed reassurance. We look forward to our meetings and are excited to share our progress each time! We always come away with concrete action items and it feels good to take ownership of our plan with his guidance. Thanks so much, Stephan!!
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Lindsay
Lindsay

Exactly what I was looking for!

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 11, 2023
I was looking for an advisor that would give solid advice as my wife and I approach retirement, without conflicts of interest. Stephan has lived up to my high expectations. Concrete advice that is easy to understand, flexibility, availability, and no conflicts of interest. Meets our needs completely.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Sonny Morton, MD
Sonny Morton, MD

Outstanding Fit

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Mar 10, 2023
Having been with a previous planner a long time, I thought I knew what I wanted. I wanted a mix of coach/cheerleader that let me lead, but who brings expertise and knowledge I lack. Stephan has been that--and MORE! He's incredibly smart, great human skills, and a subtle and kind desire to help that's very comforting. This mix of technical savvy and support is an awesome fit for my needs. I like being coached and supported by Stephan and think we'll be together long term! I certainly hope so.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Current Client
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Jim Sacco
Jim Sacco
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