Success Stories
Physicians
Is it really possible to put your financial house in perfect order?
Case Study:
Consider a married couple in their mid-60s. One spouse continues to practice in a specialized medical field and hopes to keep working into their 70s, while the other has recently retired. They have three adult children who are financially independent.
Like many physicians, their career path involved years of education and training before significant earnings began. They’ve accumulated substantial assets, but their financial life feels fragmented across investments, taxes, estate planning, and retirement. Despite having an investment advisor, a CPA, and an attorney, no one is coordinating the big picture — leaving them to connect the dots themselves.
The question becomes: How can physicians build an integrated plan that supports both their demanding careers and their long-term goals?
Key Concerns
Physicians often face unique challenges:
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High, W-2 income subject to heavy taxation with limited deductions.
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Complex benefit structures (403(b), 457(b), pensions, deferred comp).
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Late career starts due to years of training and residency.
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High liability exposure and the need for strong asset protection strategies.
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Risk of burnout, making flexibility in retirement timing especially valuable.
In this example, the physician couple asked themselves:
Does our investment strategy make sense and give us the highest probability of fulfilling our goals?
Are we maximizing our income tax opportunities?
Is our estate plan sufficient?
Our Organized Process
A structured planning process for physicians may involve:
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Investment Planning: Reallocating portfolios to balance growth with income needs, while considering risk of market downturns close to retirement.
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Tax Planning: Reviewing returns for missed opportunities, exploring strategies such as Roth conversions, backdoor Roth IRAs, or charitable planning.
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Asset Protection: Evaluating structures to help shield assets from malpractice or creditor risk.
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Estate Planning: Coordinating with attorneys to ensure documents reflect family priorities and legacy goals.
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Work-Life Balance: Creating a plan that supports continued practice for as long as desired, while protecting time for family and personal pursuits.
The Results
By pulling together these moving parts into one overarching financial strategy, physicians can reduce inefficiencies, align professional advisors, and gain clarity about their future.
The ultimate goal is not just to build wealth, but to create confidence — knowing their plan addresses taxes, liability, retirement readiness, and family legacy in one cohesive framework. A process such as the Custom Wealth Architect™ can provide this integration, while the Custom Wealth Inspection™ ensures plans remain up-to-date as careers, laws, and goals evolve.
*This is a case study and is for illustrative purposes only. Actual performance and results will vary. This case study does not constitute a recommendation as to the suitability of any investment for any person or persons having circumstances similar to those portrayed, and a financial advisor should be consulted. This case study does not represent actual clients but a hypothetical composite of various client experiences and issues. Any resemblance to actual people or situations is purely coincidental. In a fee-based account, clients pay a quarterly fee, based on the level of assets in the account, for the services of a financial advisor as part of an advisory relationship. In deciding to pay a fee rather than commissions, clients should understand that the fee may be higher than a commission alternative during periods of lower trading. Advisory fees are in addition to the internal expenses charged by mutual funds and other investment company securities. To the extent that clients intend to hold these securities, the internal expenses should be included when evaluating the costs of a fee-based account. Clients should periodically re-evaluate whether the use of an asset-based fee continues to be appropriate in servicing their needs. A list of additional considerations, as well as the fee schedule, is available in the firm's Form ADV Part 2 as well as the client agreement.
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