In this episode, I talk about why emergency medicine doctors face a unique financial challenge after training, why “can I afford it?” is the wrong question to ask, and how to think about spending in a way that protects your future flexibility.

We cover intentional spending, avoiding overcommitment, and how to create a lifestyle that gets better without trapping you into needing maximum income forever.

In this episode, I walk through the pros and cons of 1099 income for doctors, including retirement planning opportunities, solo 401(k)s, tax considerations, malpractice insurance, health insurance, and how to properly compare a 1099 offer to a traditional W-2 role.

If you’re considering consulting income, moonlighting, or a transition away from a W-2 job, this episode should help you think through the decision more clearly.

Today, I’m sitting down with Dylan and Cambra, a couple navigating residency life, a growing family, and the constant tension between saving for the future and actually enjoying life right now.

They’re doing a lot right. They’re saving, investing, tracking their spending, and making intentional decisions.

But like a lot of people in training, it still doesn’t feel like enough.

For Cambra: 35:38

In this episode, I walk through why having a will & power of attorney in place matters, even if you’re just starting out and don’t feel like you have much to protect.

We also talk about how to get this done quickly and affordably, so it doesn’t sit on your to-do list forever.

It’s not complicated, but it is important.

If you’re in residency, investing is not about maximizing returns or building massive wealth.

It’s about creating the habit.

Future you is going to have a lot more income to work with.

This phase is about making sure you’re ready for it.

In this episode, I walk through why an emergency fund matters, how to approach it on a resident salary, and where to actually keep the money so it’s working for you but still accessible when you need it.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about building a little bit of stability, one step at a time.

Most new doctors don’t have a money problem. They have a visibility problem.

If you don’t know what’s coming in, and you don’t know where it’s going, it’s really easy to end up saving nothing… or worse, building debt without realizing it.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware.

Because the habits you build now are the ones that scale when your income does.

In this episode we’re talking about employer benefits. You’re going to get that packet. That PDF. And your first instinct might be to ignore it.

Don’t.

There’s real value in there. Health insurance decisions, HSAs vs FSAs, group disability, life insurance, retirement matching, PTO… all things that can meaningfully impact your finances right out of the gate.

Take an hour or two, get this right, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a much smoother intern year.