The White Coat Investor | Avoiding the Money Mistakes That Sink Physicians

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Burnout isn’t just emotional, it’s financial. Many doctors put off financial planning until they’re deep in debt, stuck in lifestyle inflation, and too burned out to pivot. In this episode, The White Coat Investor Jim Dahle lays out how to build a burnout-resistant career by making smart, intentional money decisions, whether you’re a student or a seasoned physician.

We delve into frugality (the useful and the absurd), how burnout can quietly become your biggest financial threat, what makes a solid investment plan, the waterfall method of managing your money, and why many doctors end up wealthy on paper but broke in practice. Plus: when hiring a financial advisor is the smartest move you can make—and when it’s the worst.

Guest bio: Jim Dahle, MD, FACEP is a practicing emergency physician and the founder of The White Coat Investor. After early experiences with predatory financial advisors, he taught himself personal finance and saw firsthand how financial literacy transformed his life. Motivated to help colleagues avoid similar pitfalls, he launched The White Coat Investor—then the only unbiased financial education resource for physicians. More than a decade later, Dr. Dahle continues to lead the organization as CEO, columnist, and podcast host, staying true to its mission: “help those who wear the white coat get a fair shake on Wall Street.”

We Discuss:

• Financial goals as the “game,” not competition with others
• Embracing frugality (and where it can go too far)
• Burnout as a major financial risk
• Strategies to reduce burnout, including working less and managing spending
• Understanding your financial “basement” (minimum monthly needs)
• Lifestyle creep and how to monitor it
• The “live like a resident” strategy post-training
• Net worth versus income, and why physicians sometimes retire broke
• The financial “waterfall” (how to prioritize where your money goes)
• Why trying to beat the market usually backfires
• Whole life insurance: the hype versus reality
• Creating an Investment Policy Statement (IPS)
• Real estate investing: REITs versus hands-on ownership
• Designing your life and shifts as a financially independent physician
• The "night shift marketplace" model
• When to work with, or fire, a financial advisor
• Case study: mid-career physician financial planning