@olsonplanner.bsky.social
The physician's financial planner and tax professional. #MedSky Planning Services: www.olsonfp.com Podcast and Other Resources: www.physiciancents.com
Totally agree.
17.11.2025 01:41 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0It's very gutted.
I still share things over there, but a lot of the people whose perspectives I looked forward to are either just gone or they're here.
I've tried to make a go of it here, but I just don't have the bandwidth.
The weekend twitter threads still get some good conversations going.
If you’re waiting to buy a home until rates drop, you could be waiting awhile
If you’re hoping for lower rates so you can refinance, you could put yourself in a tough spot
A great chat with Matt Graham about mortgages, the Fed, and how to make good decisions no matter the rates:
New episode of A Good Problem to Have is out
This one’s all about cash flow communication
Learning how to manage your spending in a way that keeps you intentional
Whether you're a couple or single, it's important to create the right systems
A few clients this summer asked the same question:
“Can we afford a pool?”
They weren’t short on net worth
They were short on liquidity
And it turned into one of the most interesting planning conversations we’ve had all year
From today's new episode:
A few clients this summer asked the same question:
“Can we afford a pool?”
They weren’t short on net worth
They were short on liquidity
And it turned into one of the most interesting planning conversations we’ve had all year
From today's new episode:
Physicians don’t need to retire early to win.
They just need the power to choose what “enough” looks like.
I've seen the difference in real life many times, and its HUGE.
That’s Financial Independence, Recreational Employment.
8. Protect Your Energy
Money buys options, not happiness.
The goal isn’t to hoard cash, it’s to own your time.
Don’t allow the pursuit of financial independence replace the reason you wanted it.
7. Redefine “Work”
Once you’re financially independent, work becomes recreational.
- Cut back to 0.8 FTE
- Do locums a few months a year
- Teach or consult
- Build something of your own
You’re not escaping medicine. You’re reshaping it.
6. Keep Investing Simple
No need for complexity.
Example allocation:
60% US Stocks
20% International
10% Real Estate
10% Bonds/Cash
Index funds. Low cost. Rebalance once a year.
I share this concept with my clients regularly - your returns come from time in the market not outsmarting the market
5. Plan for Health Insurance
The hidden cost of early freedom is healthcare.
Budget $25-35K/yr until Medicare.
Use ACA plans, private coverage, or part-time work benefits.
If you do consistent 1099 work, you can deduct the premiums.
It’s not a reason to quit the plan, just be prepared.
4. Build Tax Flexibility
Diversify where your money lives - pre-tax, Roth, and taxable.
That mix gives you total control in early retirement:
You can manage your bracket, convert to Roths, and fund your life w/o penalties.
Get to investing in these accounts as early in attendinghood as possible.
Keep housing ≤2× income*
Drive cars for 8+ years
Stop pretending every dinner is a reward for surviving another shift
Every “upgrade” delays your independence.
*Yes if you live in a HCOL are, you may have to adjust your retirement timeline expecation.
3. Control Lifestyle Inflation
Your biggest threat isn’t taxes, it’s lifestyle expenses.
Examples of ways to mitigate that:
2. Save Aggressively
You can hit FI in 10-15 years, but only with a 40-50% savings rate.
✅ Max 401(k)/403(b)/457(b)
✅ Do backdoor (or even mega backdoor) Roths
✅ Max HSA
✅ Invest overflow in a taxable brokerage
High income gives you the opportunity.
Discipline turns it into freedom.
1. Know Your Number
Figure out what your ideal life actually costs.
➡️ Annual expenses × 25 = baseline FI number (4% rule).
If you want independence in your 40s or 50s, use 30× instead.
Don’t guess. Know the target.
That’s what Financial Independence, Recreational Employment (F.I.R.E.) really means:
✅ Freedom to walk away
✅ Flexibility to design your week
✅ Fulfillment from work that feels optional
Here’s how to get there 👇
Most doctors chasing FIRE picture an escape hatch.
But if you’re honest, you don’t actually want to stop working, you want to stop needing to work, right?
At least that's what I've learned across many conversations with doctors.
You want control over your schedule, your patients, and your time.
The FIRE movement got it wrong for physicians.
You don’t want to quit medicine, you want the freedom to choose it.
That’s Financial Independence, Recreational Employment. 👇
On Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/1wqpJ5F...
On Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
If you're offered a guaranteed salary
There are 3 primary things to consider:
1) Time commitments
2) Expectations
3) Tax ramifications
From today's new episode of A Good Problem to Have:
If you have $150,000 in student loans
There are two main options:
• Going for PSLF
• Paying them off in full
Today’s new episode walks through both of them
Listen on Spotify or Apple
haha yeah!
08.10.2025 21:20 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Remember: this sets your entire career trajectory.
A bad first contract can delay wealth-building by 5–10 years.
Don’t sign until you understand every clause like your life depends on it, because your lifestyle does.
Get help. Seriously.
You’re a doctor, not a contract attorney.
Hire someone who reviews physician contracts daily.
If you need a vetted one, check Resolve — they specialize in this.
Benefits aren’t always benefits.
“CME allowance: $3,000”
Sounds good... until you realize you’re expected to travel cross-country for mandatory CME.
Same with “sign-on bonuses.” Check if you have to repay them if you leave early.
Call schedule creep is real.
Your contract should define call expectations and limits.
If it says “as reasonably assigned,” that’s code for whatever we decide later.
Spell it out in hours, frequency, or ratios.
Termination clause = power shift.
“If either party can terminate with 90 days’ notice,” guess when the employer uses that?
When census drops or a merger happens.
Try to get severance or relocation reimbursement if they terminate without cause.
Non-compete may be a non-starter.
If it’s longer than 12 months or covers multiple counties, push back.
You don’t want to have to move your family because of a paragraph of fine print.
