In this episode, Ronnie and I dig into one of the most common and most misunderstood questions in personal finance:

"How much should you actually be saving?"

You’ve probably heard the rule - save 20%. If you’re not, you’re behind. If you can’t, you’re doing something wrong.

But is that really true?

Going from a trainee salary to an attending income is one of the biggest financial inflection points in a physician’s life. In this episode, I share two mistakes I see early-career physicians make and how to avoid them.

We discuss why the “I deserve it now” mindset can quietly create long-term pressure, and why focusing on the so-called boring fundamentals gives you the freedom to spend and invest with confidence later.

If you want your new income to create stability instead of stress, this conversation is for you.

Financial planning is often framed as numbers, projections, and optimization, but those are only part of the picture.

In this episode, I discuss AI in financial advice and explain why experienced judgment still plays an essential role in helping people identify priorities, uncover blind spots, and make decisions that truly align with their values.

Whether you’re a DIY investor, someone who uses AI tools, or someone considering professional guidance, this conversation will help you think more clearly about how each piece fits into your financial life.

In this episode of A Good Problem to Have, I walk through how your tax choices can directly impact your student loan payments, especially if you’re pursuing PSLF.

Whether you’re in training or already an attending, decisions like filing jointly versus separately, filing on time versus filing an extension, and even which repayment plan you’re on can change your monthly payment by thousands of dollars a year.

Some topics of discussion:

• Why this gets especially tricky for married borrowers
• How community property states complicate everything
• Why this is one of those situations where working with a student-loan-aware CPA really matters
• How tax filing timing can be used strategically to manage income-driven repayment calculations
• Why many physicians need to rethink plans like SAVE if PSLF is the goal

In this episode, I talk about relocation expenses and why they consistently catch physicians off guard, even though we all know the moves are coming. The challenge is not just the cost. It's the timing, the repetition, and the fact that it shows up alongside student loans, low income, and already tight cash flow.

Even if saving is limited, or debt is unavoidable, knowing what's coming can make the transition easier to manage mentally and financially.

In this episode, I’m joined again by my friend and colleague Tyrone Ross. This isn’t about hype, predictions, or telling anyone what they should or shouldn’t invest in.

It’s about understanding what’s actually happening in the background and why this technology keeps showing up in the financial system whether we like it or not.

We talk about the real world utility of blockchain, why it's still expensive and frustrating to move money, and what “better rails” actually means. We also discuss why banks, institutions, and regulators are paying attention now, how stablecoins fit into the picture, and what role Bitcoin may or may not play in a thoughtful investment strategy.

Nothing in this episode is about going all in. It’s about learning, reducing fear, and understanding how new financial technology is slowly becoming part of everyday life.

In this episode, I walk through a practical 6-step path for physicians who are starting their careers with significant student debt and want to build toward a 7-figure net worth. This stage can feel slow, frustrating, and uncertain, but with the right structure, discipline, and priorities, the transition from negative net worth to financial momentum is absolutely achievable. You’ll learn:

• How to choose a repayment approach that actually fits your life
• Why protecting yourself with cash reserves and insurance comes first
• How lifestyle guardrails help prevent overspending as income rises
• Why investing early matters, even while paying off debt

In this episode, I talk through the reality of choosing a post-training career path and why the decision between academics and private practice is rarely as simple as it sounds. There are meaningful pros and cons on both sides, and the real story lives in the details of contracts, culture, expectations, and incentives.

You’ll hear about:

• Why academics and private practice each cover a wide range of real-world experiences
• How financial structure, partnership terms, and equity risk show up in private practice
• What to watch for around research time, call responsibilities, and compensation in academics

The goal is not to tell you which path is better. The goal is to help you understand what you are walking into so you can choose the environment that aligns with your values, your priorities, and the kind of work life you want to build.