Stephan Shipe - Scholar Financial Advising

Scholar Financial Advising, LLC is a Winston-Salem, North Carolina based fee-only investment advisory firm focused on providing individuals 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. I truly believe that each individual’s financial situation is unique and that a successful financial plan requires more than some calculations. This is why I 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 my advice is very important to my 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 I 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.

✅ My 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. I also work with clients who are looking for a second opinion or have a specific finance question that doesn’t require a full financial plan.