Physician Family Finances Podcast

When you change jobs, a rollover rep may offer to help move your old retirement account, stressing how much control you'll have over your investment options in an IRA. But is that what this decision is really about?Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones take a question from an OBGYN in South Carolina moving about $400,000 from former employers. A rollover rep is steering them toward an IRA instead of their new 403(b). Nate and Chelsea unpack what that call is really offering: an account with potentially higher investment management fees, plus a tax wrinkle many physicians miss. Pre-tax dollars in a traditional IRA can complicate a future Backdoor Roth. Rolling old funds into the new 403(b) is often worth a look, though the right move depends on your situation. We also answer your colleagues' questions. An Emergency Medicine Doc in Washington wonders, “We have about $5,000 in credit card debt, no emergency fund, and we want to start investing. Should we crush the debt, build savings, or start investing first?” An Orthopedic Surgeon in Ohio asks, “I have a practice partnership buy-in coming in about two years, and it looks like I'll either have to pay cash or take a roughly cut-in-half salary for two years to fund it. Should I take the salary reduction, or find another way?” An Orthopedic Surgeon in New York says, “I'm thinking about a "coast FIRE" approach or a mini-retirement so I can be more present while our kids are still at home. Is it financially feasible for us to pause or scale back mid-career?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

The end of a career brings a lot of transitions. After working for decades to be successful, you want to ensure your transition into retirement is smooth and that you aren’t missing any last-minute savings opportunities. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at a Cardiologist in Oregon who is retiring soon and is questioning whether they should contribute to their IRA. We look at why the answer isn’t simple across the board but varies based on individual situations. We also answer your colleagues' questions. One doc asks, “Should I refinance if my mortgage balance is low?” An oncologist in California says, “Should I transfer my old 401(k) into my new one?” A child psychiatrist in Nevada is curious if they should shop around for a better disability insurance quote. Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Mortgage rates are on the move once again, and if you have an ARM that is coming up on a variable rate period, it may be time to consider changing your mortgage type. The answer to knowing if you should is easier than you may think. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones give you the one simple step to determining what is best for you in the long run. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. A Neurologist in Georgia says, “I was revisiting my retirement benefits and I forgot that I had contributed to the 457 and not the 403b because my work matches "50% of your 457 Savings Plan contributions up to 4% of your eligible pay." I feel like I should max this out as well? We took the contribution to the 457 down to 0 in our 2nd to last visit. If we do max this out, would I contribute 8% to get the maximum contribution from work of 4%?” An OBGYN in New Jersey asks, “Do I actually need life insurance?” A Double Doctor Family in Florida wants to know, “Should we have our home purchase fund invested in the stock market?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Interest rates are coming down again. You may find yourself asking, should I pay off my 5% mortgage aggressively or invest more for retirement? Nate Reineke looks at how each option may benefit doctors like you and what he sees with the families we work with every day. He also breaks down when you may change tactics in the future and how being on track for retirement may allow you to do a little of both. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. An anesthesiologist in Oklahoma says, “I want to refinance the ARM I took out a couple years ago. What rate can we get?” An emergency medicine doctor in Georgia asks, “As a 1099 Emergency Medicine Doctor, should I max out the employer side of my solo 401k or contribute to my IRA?” A family medicine doctor in Florida wonders, “I am 50 years old and behind on college AND retirement, which should I fund first?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Your parents have supported your goals and dreams your whole life, and now that they are growing older, you want to help care for them. The predicament many physicians face is how to balance giving money to their parents and save enough for retirement. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones discuss some changes you can make to accomplish this goal and how trade-offs are inevitable. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. Cardiologist in Texas says, “I am a W2 employee but I have $100k of additional 1099 income. Should I open a SEP IRA or a Solo 401k?” Dermatologist In Florida asks, “My spouse makes $500k/year. Is it worth it for me to take a job that makes $80k/year while my children are pre-teen?” A Urologist in New York wonders, “If I am going to be in a high tax bracket in retirement, and I’m in a high tax bracket now, should I put money in a Roth or taxable account instead of making pre-tax contributions?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

You’ve worked and saved your whole career to have the best retirement possible. Now that you are close to retirement, what actually needs to change? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones answer questions from physicians like you, breaking down exactly that. A Gastroenterologist in Washington asks, “As I get closer to retirement, I’m realizing that spending down my investments is very different from building them up. What are the most important things to focus on with retirement right around the corner?” A Neurosurgeon in New York says, “If I am at the top marginal tax bracket now and intend on spending enough in retirement that we keep me at the highest tax bracket then, should I still contribute to a pre-tax 401k?” An Anesthesiologist in California wonders, “When should I take Social Security? I have always assumed age 70, but are there benefits of taking it earlier?” A Dermatologist in Texas asks, “What if we put most of our money in stocks but just keep a few years of cash on the side so we don’t have to sell when the market is down? Does that actually make things safer?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

After years of studying, tests, and residency, you’ve finally moved up and the job offer comes with a forgivable loan they’re calling a signing bonus. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at one case where the numbers are huge, meaning a job change for this physician could cost them huge. We break down why saving these bonuses could save you in the long run and some way’s we’ve seen doctors navigate these loans. We also answer your colleagues questions. A Psychiatrist in Maine asks, “If my kids are likely to have much of their college covered through scholarships and unused GI Bill benefits, how should that change the way I approach college savings?” A Psychiatrist in West Virginia says, “When I did my estate plan, the service that I used suggested that I put age restrictions on distributions. I need more education on why the need to divvy it up, when I assume our children would need access to the funds for support as young adults even prior to the age of 25.” A Psychiatrist in Kentucky wonders, “When it comes to life insurance, my husband and I both have several policies with different terms. If I want my parents to get the payout from one of the policies (with my husband still being contingent if my parents have passed), what is the easiest way to do that? Do I change the beneficiary on the policy itself? Should we change the beneficiary to the trust first and then have instructions for the executor to give my parents the money?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

As we all reflect on 2025 and move into the first week of 2026, we wanted to reflect on some ideas that still hold true to this day. Money won’t buy you happiness. You have all heard this before, and by and large, everyone agrees with this statement, yet for many physicians, your actions say otherwise. Enjoy this re-release of an episode from the early days, where Nate Reineke lays out how working with hundreds of physician families has shaped his thinking on what living an abundant life really means and how you can shift your perspective about money to actually start living one. Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures