Physician Family Finances Podcast

Hosted by Nate Reineke

Business Education

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180

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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August 19, 202635 min

#181 Lifting the Financial Hood: How Young Doctors Can Demystify Market Risk

Stock market charts can look like roller coasters, and most people assume the young riders are the ones who enjoy the drops. Not always. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones answer a question from an emergency medicine physician who is naturally risk-averse and feels pressure to invest aggressively simply because of their age. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A surgeon in Georgia asks, “We have a decent-sized brokerage account but found ourselves in a position with no emergency fund and a five-figure emergency. Should we take out a HELOC or withdrawal from our account?” A pediatrician in Oregon writes, “I have been a diligent saver for much of my career, and on top of that, I just received a sizeable inheritance of a couple million dollars. I still plan on working until 65. Can I start overspending on travel a bit now?” A Family Medicine Doctor in Texas says, “I am working toward PSLF and have heard about the “buyback program”; what is it and how does it work?” 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

August 12, 202632 min

#180 Saving Beyond the 529: How Doctors Can Pass Down Wealth

There are two ways to get saving for your children wrong. You can undersave and leave your kids with student loans. You can oversave and hand a nineteen year old a pile of money with no strings attached. Physician families tend to worry about the first one and end up closer to the second. In our new episode, we discuss which accounts help keep you out of both ditches! We also answer your colleagues' questions A Surgeon in Arizona says, “My portfolio has drifted way off from where I set it a few years ago because stocks ran up so much. Do I actually need to rebalance, and if so, how do I do it without triggering a big tax bill?” A Hospitalist in Texas asks, “I've got a 401(k), a Roth IRA, an HSA, and a taxable brokerage account, and I have no idea what's supposed to go where. Does it matter which investments live in which account, or can I just buy the same thing across all of them?” A Gastro doc in Michigan writes, “Every time the market drops, I get the urge to sell and wait until things calm down. Is there ever a good reason for a long-term investor to move to cash, or is that always a mistake?” 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

August 5, 202634 min

#179 Is the Cash Balance Plan Tax Break Worth It for Doctors?

Should you choose a high tax break or high investment growth? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones break down a common dilemma for high-earning physicians: deciding between a Cash Balance Plan and a traditional taxable brokerage account. Chelsea explains the mathematical "break-even point,” why the potentially lower growth rates of cash balance plans often favor physicians in their mid-to-late 30s and 40s who are in top tax brackets, while Nate highlights the value of brokerage accounts for early retirement flexibility. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. Asking for a friend: How do I help my parents with managing their finances when I am a novice myself? A Urologist in California says, “I want to help my children either buy a house or get started with a new family. Considering gifting them somewhere around $100k. How should I invest the money?” A Neurologist in Oklahoma asks, “We currently work at a university where we receive a generous retirement match and have access to a non-gov 457(b). We have the option to switch to the physician group where we receive 457f contributions, a similar match, a non-gov 457b and the option for a mega BDR. Should we switch?” A Double Doc family in Virginia questions, “We have about 12 months of living expenses set aside for our emergency fund. Is this too much?” 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

July 29, 202640 min

#178 Online Comparison: The Thief of Physician Joy

When you log onto online physician forums, it’s incredibly easy to feel like you are losing a race you didn’t even know you were running. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones tackle a question from a 40-year-old family medicine doctor in Texas who reads online that they are "behind" and discuss why why having a personalized plan helps find peace of mind. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. “I’m currently funding a 529 account and UTMA account for my 5-year-old, and I’m considering opening the new 530A account and funding the max $5000 per year until she turns 18. Does the “double taxation” make this account worth it?” A surgeon in Maine says, “We're considering private school for our kids. How do we know if it's a financial mistake or a fair tradeoff?” A psychiatrist in Oregon asks, “My spouse wants to go part-time or stop working to be home with our kids. How do we actually stress-test that decision instead of just guessing?” 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

July 22, 202618 min

#177 Should You Skip a 529 Without a State Tax Break?

When planning for your children's future education, a lack of an upfront state income tax deduction can make saving feel like a raw deal. Nate Reineke breaks down a question from a Florida surgeon tempted to skip 529 plan contributions entirely because the state lacks a state income tax break. We discuss why focusing solely on short-term deductions can miss the benefit of long-term tax-free compounding growth. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. A double-doctor family in Kansas says, “We did our Backdoor Roth conversions this year, but I am not sure TurboTax coded it right when we filed. How can I tell?” An anesthesiologist in Oregon asks, “I am applying for disability insurance but there is a lot of paperwork, and I am unsure about how to do this the right way. What should I do?” 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

July 15, 202631 min

#176 Remodel or Relocate: Should Doctors Stay or Should They Go?

When you need an extra bedroom and a bathroom remodel, it is incredibly easy to turn a lifestyle dilemma into a stressful math equation. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at a question from a double-doctor family in Virginia who have been in their home for three years and absolutely detest the idea of packed boxes and changing neighborhoods, but feel guilty about the massive price tag of remodeling. We break down why this might not be a a financial question at all and how he real choice comes down to which type of chaos you prefer: the brutal inertia of moving your kids to a new school district, or living in a dusty construction zone for a summer. We also answer your colleagues' questions. An oncologist in Washington says, “Everybody online is saying I should pay my student loans off as fast as possible, then start investing. I am not overly concerned about my loans, but I don’t want to do the “wrong” thing. Should I invest or pay down my student loans aggressively?” A Double Doc family in West Virginia asks, “We are receiving a surprise increase in income this summer (additional $75k per year between the two of us). What should we do with the extra cash?” A Double Doc family in Florida wonders, “I actually like being “ignorant” about spending money at the grocery store… but I sometimes feel guilty about it. Should I be more budget-conscious?” 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

July 8, 202645 min

#175 Encore Episode: A Physician’s Guide to Life Insurance with Brian Leet, MBA, FLMI

Our Summer Encore Series continues! We’re revisiting episode 138, where we chatted with Brian Leet about life insurance. Life insurance is becoming a standard benefit for employers to offer, but is the group policy enough for a doctor like you? Nate Reineke is joined by Brian Leet, who helps families across the country navigate life and disability insurance. We discuss what to consider when calculating a life insurance policy, and when group life insurance through an employer isn’t enough. We also break down when a permanent policy may make more sense compared to a term policy, and how a conversion rider on a term policy could be beneficial to physicians who are just starting. If you’d like to work with Brian, he can be reached at brian@incomepa.com or 503-928-4103. 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 Guest speakers featured are independent third parties and are not affiliated with Physician Family. No cash or non-cash compensation was provided to or received by Physician Family in connection with any guest appearance. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own as of the date of recording and do not necessarily reflect the views of Physician Family. Physician Family's decision to feature a guest is not a recommendation or endorsement of the guest or their products or services. Similarly, appearance on the podcast should not be construed as an endorsement of Physician Family.

July 1, 202629 min

#174: Encore episode: VUL-nerable No More: Unwinding Variable Universal Life Insurance for Doctors

Today we're going all the way back to episode 40. Do you remember that guy? The friendly insurance agent you met as a resident, back when you assumed everyone was as well-intentioned as doctors are. Your family was vulnerable then, and instead of a load of inexpensive term life insurance, you walked away with variable universal life (VUL), sold on the tax angle (which can be legitimate in certain situations but the problem is that for most physicians early in their careers, the high costs and structure make it a poor fit at that stage). We walk you step-by-step through how to unwind that decision without leaving your family exposed. And if you somehow sidestepped this one during residency, forward it to a friend who's still trying to figure out how to protect their family. 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

June 24, 202626 min

#173 Think Twice Before Rolling Your Old 403(b) into a Traditional IRA

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

June 17, 202635 min

#172: Encore Episode: #127 A Physician Parent’s Guide to College Admissions with Lorry Krone, M.A., C.A.C

With summer starting, we wanted to revisit the hot topic of college! Enjoy this encore episode with College Admissions Counselor, Lorry Krone, M.A., C.A.C. As a physician parent, you went through more school than the average Joe. You may think you know the system but, college admissions is constantly evolving. Listen in as Nate Reineke and Ben Utley are joined by Lorry Krone, M.A., C.A.C, a certified college admissions counselor. From the San Francisco Bay Area, Lorry helps students from across the country get into the school that is the right fit for them. We discuss some of the best practices that you can start with a young child, what helps kids stand out, some common myths and misconceptions that parents have, and why it is important to have a list of college options. If you want to work with Lorry, you can reach her at lorrykrone@gmail.com or visit their website, andersonandkrone.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures Guest speakers featured are independent third parties and are not affiliated with Physician Family. No cash or non-cash compensation was provided to or received by Physician Family in connection with any guest appearance. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own as of the date of recording and do not necessarily reflect the views of Physician Family. Appearance on the podcast should not be construed as an endorsement of Physician Family.