I see the other side of this in the ER. Watching a family try to navigate the 'administrative burden of death' while simultaneously processing acute grief is heartbreaking. You aren't planning for your death; you are planning for their peace. It is the single kindest gift you can

I didn't pay off $305k of debt by acting like a wealthy attending; I did it by continuing to act like a broke resident for five years post-grad. The identity shift has to happen before the bank account changes, not after.

Amen. 'Medicine is a public trust.' In a world obsessed with RVUs and throughput metrics, it is easy to lose sight of that. This is proof that the sacred bond between doctor and patient is still alive and well.

Your January paycheck is usually the biggest "pay cut" of the year because FICA taxes reset. *Adjust Automations: The 401k limit likely bumps up for 2026. Log into your payroll portal now and adjust your % contribution so you hit the new max automatically. *Front-Load the

The issue is that people confuse 'investing' with 'entertainment.' Sports betting is just paying for a dopamine hit, no different than buying a video game or a drink. The moment you stop burning cash for a temporary rush and start buying assets (crypto or equities), you switch

It is even worse when you look at the scorecard. HB 2007 failed by exactly one vote in committee because a handful of 'free market' Republicans sided with the Hospital Association lobbyists. They traded patient access for campaign donations and used the 'rural hospital

I disagree on the last tier. $2.2M isn't 'set for life'—it’s 'set for a middle-class retirement.' Using the 4% safe withdrawal rule, $2.2M generates ~$88k/year in passive income. That is comfortable, but for a physician accustomed to a high burn rate, it is definitely not 'done.

10 Financial Commandments for Physicians: 1. Live like a resident for 2-5 years post-grad. 2. Get "Own-Occupation" Disability Insurance immediately. 3. Avoid Whole Life Insurance. 4. Max out 403b/401k & Backdoor Roth IRAs. 5. Don't buy "the doctor house" until loans are <1X

As a doctor, I'd add: Prioritize sleep. In your 20s, you think you can run on caffeine and adrenaline forever. In your 30s, the bill comes due. Health is the ultimate asset.

As a doctor, I see the cost of not having it every day. I treat patients in the ER with end-stage complications of diseases that could have been managed for pennies a day if they had access to primary care. We are currently paying premium prices for 'catastrophic care' because

I can write orders in the computer all day, but if there isn't a nurse to execute them, a pharmacist to verify them, and a therapist to rehab the patient, my orders are just wishful thinking. Doctors diagnose, but the interdisciplinary team heals. We are dead in the water

This is why pediatric wards are closing in community hospitals across the country. In a 'business-first' healthcare system, pediatrics is a liability. Hospitals are cutting these units to expand high-margin service lines like orthopedics and cardiology (for adults). It is a

The most effective antidepressant isn't always a pill. Often, it's sunlight, 8 hours of sleep, whole food, lifting heavy weights, and finding a purpose bigger than yourself. We have engineered the movement and meaning out of our lives, and our mental health is the collateral

Because for the first decade of that 20-year window, I was paying tuition, not earning a salary. And for the next 5 years, I was a resident making $15/hour. Even as a high-income ER doc, I couldn't start investing $10k/month until I was in my 30s. The 'time in the market' advice

I agree that labor is the biggest cost, but we have to ask which labor we are paying for. In the last 30 years, the number of physicians has grown modestly, while the number of administrators has exploded by over 3,000%. We don't need to cut nurses, techs, or doctors (the

Missed AI? Don't Miss This! RGTI vs. IONQ: Which Stock Will Be The 10x? Here's my analysis:

As a physician, I see so many high earners master Step 1 but completely ignore Step 3. We are trained to be risk-averse, so we often stick to the 'safe' path of working harder for linear gains. But as you noted, the jump from $1M to $2M usually comes from asymmetric bets

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. The first $200 is the seed. The 3% savings account is a flower pot. The 7% investment is a forest. You have to plant in the right soil.

I feel this deep in my bones as a doctor. Law and Medicine are the two professions where the 'sunk cost fallacy' is the strongest. We invest so much time and identity into the career that it feels impossible to pivot. But you're right: A bad day of freedom is infinitely better

The medicine eventually stops, but the relationship doesn't have to end at the door. Being there is the ultimate sign of respect. It’s a reminder that while we can't always cure, we can always care. Well done.