Episode 13: Equity, Exit Plans, and Expensive Zip Codes: Wealth Strategy in Real Life

Thinking about buying a rental property or vacation home? We start this episode with a listener question on whether real estate still makes sense in today’s market. We walk through the impact of high interest rates, what kinds of returns to expect, and when alternatives might be a better fit. Next, we tackle a tricky family planning question: how to handle gifting down payments to children who live in very different housing markets? We explore gift tax rules, estate equalization strategies, and how to avoid resentment or misunderstanding when gifts aren't equal. Then we shift to a forward-looking topic: what to do if you’re 5 to 7 years away from selling your business and want to make sure your personal finances are ready. From trust structures and charitable planning to asset protection and risk mitigation, Stephan breaks down what high-net-worth owners should start thinking about now. In this week’s Money in the Headlines, we unpack a recent Wall Street Journal article: “Money Can Buy a Longer Life—to a Point.” Have a question for a future episode? Send it our way at scholarfinancialadvising.com/podcast.