Meet the Team
Eugene Shkolnikov grew up in the former Soviet Union and migrated to the United States at age 17. With a complex interplay of ideological, political, and economic factors in his native country, Eugene’s belief in the promise of opportunity in the United States provided a foundation that has allowed him to learn, grow and thrive personally and professionally.
In 2000, he graduated from Brooklyn College earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and Finance, he seamlessly moved on to launch his financial planning practice with Northwestern Mutual, in New York City. Throughout his career, Eugene has established himself as someone who specializes in estate, pension, and business planning through personalized holistic planning. His clientele is diverse, including business owners as well as individuals and families. As he has developed long-term relationships with his clients, his finds great fulfillment in seeing the impact of his advice and planning to help his clients to be secure in their future and informing the next generation, allowing them to realize their potential as well.
Eugene’s professional accomplishments have been many including membership in the Million Dollar Round Table, a global, independent association for the world's leading life insurance and financial services professionals, membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence; recipient of the Northwestern Mutual Community Service Award in 2013, recognizing outstanding volunteer leadership and dedication to charitable organizations and philanthropic projects; and most recently achieving Forum, a recognition of excellence of the top Financial Advisors nationally, within Northwestern Mutual. Unwavering commitment to his community is put into action as a board member of Kings Bay Y Community Center, where he actively supports multiple charitable projects. In 2011 Eugene helped to renovate the Kings Bay Y Library, that is now named after him. In 2013, he helped to create the Kings Bay Y Leadership Program for teens. He is the first sponsor and founder of the RAOA Russian American Officers Association, a fraternal organization of law enforcement officers, started in 2003 by officers of the New York City Police Department.
As his practice has continued to grow, Eugene partnered with his colleague, Michael Shafir, to establish the Scholar Financial Group, and they have expanded their practice with the opening of a second office in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
Eugene’s aspiration is to continue to dedicate his efforts to the betterment of his clients, neighbors, and family.
Michael Shafir grew up in Ukraine in 1995, he moved to the United States when he was 21, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, from Baruch College, in 2000.
Michael worked as a financial analyst for an S&P 500 firm and as a stock trader on Wall Street prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, in 2005. Throughout his career, Michael has worked extensively on advancing his education and refining his expertise to best serve his clients.
Through this dedication he has achieved impressive certifications as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Retirement Income Certified Professional, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Advisor for Senior Living, and holds a Certification for Long Term Care. This achievement of excellence ensures that Michael engages with his clients as a subject matter expert, informing the work that they do together in building a custom financial roadmap to address their needs today and into the future with a sound financial plan.
As a Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, Michael’s career has continued to grow. As he has come to know several of his fellow financial planners, he has developed and unique and meaningful synergy with Eugene Shkolnikov, Financial Advisor. Through their work together, and their histories as immigrants, they are able to serve their communities through personal experience and support their clients in establishing secure financial futures. Michael and Eugene have moved on to establish the Scholar Financial Group, maintaining their presence in Manhattan while opening a second location in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, this provides the opportunity to be closer to their concentration of clients in the area.
Michael specializes in areas of business planning including retirement solutions, employee benefits, retention and exit planning strategies. He also supports his individual clients and provides insight regarding questions of risk management, investments, retirement distribution, long-term care and estate strategies.
Within his community Michael is involved in the Kings Bay Y and volunteers with the iMishpacha community organization in Brooklyn, NY.
Michael enjoys spending his spare time with his family, fine dining and travel.
Iryna has over 20 years of experience in the financial and banking industry. She spent 9 of those years working for the Bank of Ukraine. Iryna earned two degrees from L’viv Polytechnic University: a BA in Applied Math and a BA in Finance and Credit. She began her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2006 and holds a New York Life and Health license. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian. Iryna likes to read, travel and spend time with her family and friends.
Her primary focus is assisting both day to day financial planning process and insurance operations.
Anastasiya grew up in Belarus. She studied English at Minsk State Linguistic University. Anastasiya started her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2019 as an Executive Assistant. She assists with day to day insurance operations and the financial planning process. She is fluent in Russian. In her free time, Anastasiya enjoys traveling, ziplining adventures and reading.
Minu Gupta, was born in India and moved to the US in 2005. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and Master’s from Fairfield University, majoring in Management of Information
Technology.
She recently joined the Scholar Financial Group as an Investment Operations Associate. Minu has significant experience working as a third-party administrator, managing and designing pension plans. Her scope of knowledge involves managing the life cycle of pension plan administration: gathering census data from the client, performing ADP/ACP testing, providing contribution numbers to the client, compliance of plan documents, creating
valuation reports and Form 5500 reporting. She has also successfully managed pension plan audits with the IRS.
Minu’s extensive and unique expertise, combined with a desire to build long-lasting client relationships has helped clients maximize deductions by optimizing their short-term and long-term retirement savings.
In her free time, Minu loves to sketch, watch movies and play with her cats Hilda and Zelda.