Physician Family Finances Podcast

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 calcul...

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...

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 the...

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 certif...

What would you do with an uninterrupted four-hour block of quiet time? Nate shares how a family flight to Hawaii turned into a deep dive into the wartime history of Vanguard and its legendary founder, Jack Bogle. Nate highlights several foundational investing concepts that physician families may find helpful when evaluating long-term financial planning decisions.  Nate also dives into the fas...

When you're trying to execute a clean backdoor Roth IRA, having a completely empty Traditional IRA account feels like a green light. But does the IRS see it that way? Kyle Hoelzle and Chelsea Jones answer a critical question from a Pediatric Endocrinologist: “If I fund and convert an empty IRA, why does my separate rollover IRA balance still matter?” Kyle breaks down the IRS Pro Rata Rule using a...

As a busy physician mom or dad, you put everything into your practice and your kids, meaning you want to make sure you're doing the absolute right thing with the money you earn. But when it comes to safeguarding your family’s future, is the life and disability insurance offered through your hospital or employer actually enough? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones tackle a "doozy" of a listener question...

Between managing a packed clinic and a chaotic home life, the last thing any physician needs is a financial statement that looks as cluttered as a playroom floor. Nate and Kyle tackle a question from a Washington dermatologist who is tired of seeing dozens of confusing tickers when their only goal is to grow wealth. We pull back the curtain on why advisors often overcomplicate portfolios, from the...

It’s time to talk about the "cash itch,” that restless feeling doctors get when a healthy high-yield savings account starts to look like a missed opportunity. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones dive into a dilemma from a radiologist in Texas who’s wondering if their idle cash should finally be put to work in the market. While the instinct is to always be investing, Nate and Chelsea argue that liquidit...

As we head into Mother’s Day this weekend, we reflect on everything moms do for us. In today’s world, more and more parents are supporting their children for longer. Nate Reineke looks at the question “What should my kids be paying for?” And how paying for your 20-something-year-old’s car insurance or phone plan can be a roadblock to your plan. As Nate says, you have to put your own oxygen mask on...

When you’re sitting in the 37% tax bracket, the opportunity to shield more wealth from the IRS through a Mega Backdoor Roth feels like a no-brainer. But is the promise of tax-free growth worth the price of locking your money away until age 59 ½? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones tackle a nuanced question from a New York orthopedic surgeon weighing the tax advantages of a Roth against the pure flexibi...

Building on the momentum of your high-earning years can sometimes feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. When it comes to finding a home for your extra savings, it can seem like there are a million account types, and it is becoming more common for doctors to feel they have hit a "tax wall" after filling up the usual buckets. While hitting those limits is a great milestone, it can also be confusin...

The transition from a high-earning career to retirement might hide a major—and expensive—cliff. When it comes to managing your health insurance after you stop practicing, it can seem like there are a million moving pieces, and the rules of the game just changed for 2026. While the open market offers flexibility, it also introduces a sharp cutoff for financial help: if your income is just one dolla...

If you’ve been working with a CPA this tax season, they may have recommended a cash balance plan. Generally, these plans can help docs like you save in taxes. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at one doctor in California who got that exact advice. We break down what exactly a cash balance plan is and how it can help when tax season rolls around. We also look at some factors that could indicate i...

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’...

If you have a tax-inefficient portfolio, it can be like swimming with a giant t-shirt on. You can do it, but there is a lot of unnecessary drag. Nate Reineke and Kyle Hoelzle break down what tax drag in a portfolio means and how physicians like you can reduce it. We also discuss what kind of funds cause the most drag and a better alternative to replace them with. We also answer your colleagues' qu...

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 Neurologi...

The housing market seems to be heating up again as mortgage rates start to come down. If you’re planning a move, it can be hard to determine what upgrades to do on a house that will actually have a good return on investment. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at what upgrades generally have a good ROI and which ones may actually lose you money. We also share how sometimes the most basic fixes tha...

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 o...

If you plan to hit your 401K contribution limit for the year, but see that you can still add money through “after-tax contributions,” you may be wondering if that is a Mega Backdoor Roth and, more importantly, if you should do it. Nate Reineke and Kyle Hoelzle break down what exactly a Mega Backdoor Roth is and some cases where physicians should use it. We also discuss how you can still contribute...

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 col...

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and love is in the air! If there’s one thing most people love, it’s receiving a great job offer. Even better is when you get more than one. But job offers aren’t always as simple as picking the best salary; you have to look at the whole compensation plan, including retirement benefits. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones break down the math that could help yo...

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 build...

After years of building your private practice, the time has come to sell. The business you have poured your time, energy, and money into is being bought by private equity. Should you take the payout in PE shares or cash? Nate Reineke delves into some key considerations that docs like you should know when faced with this situation. We break down how shares could benefit you in the long run and how...

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 navigat...