How much do physicians actually need to retire comfortably? If you’ve heard numbers like $4 million—or more—and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

In this episode, we break down where these retirement numbers come from, why physicians tend to think they need significantly more than the average American, and how to calculate a retirement target that actually fits your life.

Using data from Medscape, Northwestern Mutual, and the U.S. Census Bureau, we explore income differences, spending expectations, taxes, and the realities of retiring as a physician, especially if you’re considering early retirement.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What physicians report needing for retirement and how that compares to the average American
• Why higher income doesn’t automatically mean you need more to retire
• How delayed earnings and fewer high-income years affect physician retirement planning
• Why retirement planning is really about spending, not just net worth
• How taxes change your true retirement number
• The role of lifestyle choices and flexibility in determining how much is “enough”
• What to consider if you want to retire before age 60, including healthcare costs
• A better question to ask instead of “What’s my retirement number?”

Key Takeaway:

There is no single “right” retirement number for physicians. Your retirement target depends on your spending, lifestyle goals, taxes, and timeline—not what other doctors are doing.

Please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite Podcasting platform.

Get 12 Financial Mistakes that Keep Physicians from Building Wealth at https://www.growyourwealthymindset.com/12financialmistakes

If you want to start your path to financial freedom, start with the Financial Freedom Workbook. Download your free copy today at https://www.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com/fiworkbook

Dr. Elisa Chiang is a physician and money coach who helps other doctors reach their financial goals by mastering their money mindset through personalized 1:1 coaching .

You can learn more about Elisa at her website or follow her on social media.

Website: https://ww.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElisaChiang

https://www.facebook.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WealthyMindsetMD

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/ElisaChiang

Disclaimer: The content provided in the Grow Your Wealthy Mind...

Why do physicians earning multiple six figures still feel financial pressure?

In this episode, we talk about why a high income doesn’t automatically lead to financial ease—and why many doctors feel stressed about money despite “doing everything right.” This isn’t about budgeting harder or cutting out every joy. It’s about understanding the real reasons behind that stuck, anxious feeling.

In this episode, we cover:

• What it really means for high-income doctors to “feel broke”
• Lifestyle creep vs lifestyle expansion, and why doctors are especially affected
• How delayed gratification during training shapes spending habits
• Why taxes and payroll deductions make high salaries feel smaller
• The difference between growing net worth and tight cash flow
• What actually helps: margin, flexibility, and values-based spending

If this episode resonated, you’re not bad with money—you’re navigating a complex financial season with real responsibilities.

Please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite Podcasting platform.

Get 12 Financial Mistakes that Keep Physicians from Building Wealth at https://www.growyourwealthymindset.com/12financialmistakes

If you want to start your path to financial freedom, start with the Financial Freedom Workbook. Download your free copy today at https://www.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com/fiworkbook

Dr. Elisa Chiang is a physician and money coach who helps other doctors reach their financial goals by mastering their money mindset through personalized 1:1 coaching .

You can learn more about Elisa at her website or follow her on social media.

Website: https://ww.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElisaChiang

https://www.facebook.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WealthyMindsetMD

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/ElisaChiang

Disclaimer: The content provided in the Grow Your Wealthy Mind...

Most physicians assume that every dollar in their employer-sponsored retirement account belongs to them. That assumption can be a very expensive mistake.

In this episode of The Grow Your Wealthy Mindset Podcast, we break down vesting—what it means, how it’s governed by federal law, and why it matters when physicians change jobs or negotiate contracts. I also share a personal early-career mistake that cost me my employer contributions, and how understanding vesting later helped me make a strategic career decision worth tens of thousands of dollars.

You’ll learn the difference between cliff vesting and graded vesting, how academic, hospital, and private practice roles may differ, and the one action step every physician should take before leaving a job.

Key takeaway: Before you assume that money is yours, make sure it actually is.

Please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite Podcasting platform.

Get 12 Financial Mistakes that Keep Physicians from Building Wealth at https://www.growyourwealthymindset.com/12financialmistakes

If you want to start your path to financial freedom, start with the Financial Freedom Workbook. Download your free copy today at https://www.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com/fiworkbook

Dr. Elisa Chiang is a physician and money coach who helps other doctors reach their financial goals by mastering their money mindset through personalized 1:1 coaching .

You can learn more about Elisa at her website or follow her on social media.

Website: https://ww.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElisaChiang

https://www.facebook.com/GrowYourWealthyMindset

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WealthyMindsetMD

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/ElisaChiang

Disclaimer: The content provided in the Grow Your Wealthy Mind...