Binge read all things wealth building, debt reduction, & lifestyle.

When I graduated from PA school back in 2016, I did what a lot of new grads do when they’re desperate for financial guidance:

I followed Dave Ramsey’s plan.

I was told:
❌ Don’t invest until you’re debt free.
❌ Pay off all your student loans as fast as you can.
❌ Use a financial advisor to pick actively managed mutual funds.

And honestly? It cost me a lot of money and years of delayed wealth-building.

If you’re a PA, NP, pharmacist, or physician with over six figures in student loan debt, this post is your warning. Dave Ramsey’s advice might be dangerous for you.

Why Dave Ramsey’s Advice Doesn’t Work for Medical Professionals

Let’s be clear: Dave Ramsey has helped millions of people get out of credit card debt, avoid car loans, and live below their means.

But that advice is great for the masses, not for medical professionals with $100K+ in federal student loan debt.

When your debt is extreme and your income is delayed due to years of training, you’re not on the financial bell cu...

If you’re a new grad PA, NP, PharmD, or medical professional trying to figure out how the heck you’re supposed to manage your student loans… there’s one number that changes everything:

Your Debt-to-Income Ratio.

This simple calculation determines: 

✅ Whether PSLF is worth it
✅ If private practice is even an option
✅ How painful your monthly payments will be
✅ And how much flexibility you’ll actually have in your career

Let’s break down why debt-to-income ratio (DTI) matters so much, especially if you're just starting out.

What Is Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI) for Medical Professionals?

Your debt-to-income ratio is your total student loan debt divided by your anticipated annual income.

Example:
If you graduate with $100K in student loans and expect to earn $100K as a PA, your DTI is 1:1.

If you have $200K in loans, and still earn $100K, your DTI is 2:1.

🎯 Key tip: Use starting salary, not median salary, especially if you’re still in school or early in your career.

The Ideal DTI Rat...

We became millionaires at 31/32 as a PA-C and construction manager.

Our net worth gains in 2024 were much greater than our annual income, because our money was out earning more money for us.

Here are the top 10 lessons I learned in 2024 about building wealth:

(I didn’t even believe #7 was true a few years ago...)

1. Results are based on compounded efforts. If we saw gains this year, it wasn’t because of what we did this year. It was the cumulative efforts of the last 6 years of aggressive investing. Basically, the candy came out of the piñata. It wasn’t because we hit the piñata once in 2024. It was because we hit it over and over again every year leading up to this one.
2. Mistakes are part of the journey. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough. The biggest hurdle isn’t actually the objective loss you sustain from any mistake, it’s the potential for falling into a mindset that doesn’t serve you as a result.
3. Skills compound like money. Nothing is more valuabl
...

Are you ready, financially speaking, to welcome a baby?

Preparing for a baby can be thrilling yet nerve-wracking, especially when considering the financial implications. My husband and I are currently expecting our second child, which has brought me right back to that headspace of “what do we need to do to get financially ready?” It’s been three years since we last went through this, and a lot has changed.

Buckle up! This is gonna be long but definitely insightful! 

_{👉🏻 Prefer watching instead of reading? Here’s the video version of this blog where I dive into the same strategies: Watch the video}

The Backstory: Preparing for Our First Daughter

Three and a half years ago, we found out we were expecting our first daughter. The joy was immense, but so was the responsibility. We knew that preparing financially was not just for us but primarily for her. Through diligent planning and investing, we’ve positioned her to potentially be worth over $4 million by the time she reac...

Navigating student loan debt as a new graduate in the medical field? Don’t worry, we got you.

For recent medical graduates, understanding and managing the “Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio" is essential for effective student loan management. This ratio has significant implications not only on your immediate financial health but also on your long-term career flexibility and quality of life.

_{👉🏻 Want to see how DTI ratios affect financial decisions in action? Watch our DTI Ratios Explained video for clear visuals and examples.}

What is Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio?

The DTI ratio is calculated by dividing your total student loan debt by your annual income. For newcomers or students, you should base this on your expected starting salary rather than the median for your field, providing a realistic outlook as you start your career.

For example, if you accumulate $200,000 in student loans and your starting salary is $100,000, your DTI ratio is 2:1.

Detailed Implications of DTI Ratio...

As a medical professional wrapping up the year, you’re probably wondering: “How do I get my taxes right this time? Should you try filing yourself? Rely on TurboTax? Or is it time to bring in a CPA? These aren’t just checkboxes; they’re choices that could save—or cost—you thousands. 

_{👉🏻 Looking for expert guidance? We’ve partnered with Bryan Martin, CPA at Taxstra, to provide tailored tax strategies for medical professionals.}

Let’s break down the situations where a CPA is truly worth the investment, and where they can help with more than just filing, especially for those navigating complex strategies like public service loan forgiveness, real estate, or self-employment.

When Should You Bring in a CPA?

1. Married and Pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

For couples where one partner has substantial federal student loans, choosing the right tax filing status can have a huge impact on loan repayment costs. A CPA experienced with PSLF can help you decide betwe...

As a medical professional trying to navigate your finances, have you ever found yourself wondering, “Am I doing enough?”. Even if you’re on the right track, there can be a constant feeling that it’s never quite enough. You’re putting in the effort, but the results seem slow and distant.

Don’t worry, in this post, you will see what it looks like to build wealth over time and how to bring a bit more peace to your financial journey.

Let’s say you're a hardworking medical professional, earning around $130,000 to $140,000 annually—pretty close to the national average for PAs or NPs. In this scenario, you’re single, with a steady income, and committed to investing smartly. Your portfolio includes a 401(k), Roth IRA, HSA, and a taxable brokerage, covering tax-deferred, tax-free, and after-tax accounts. With this diversified tax strategy, you're investing around $2,200 a month, which is a solid 20% of your gross income. That’s the benchmark every medical professional aiming for financial sec...

If you’re in your twenties and navigating the early years of your medical career, this letter is for you. I'm sharing the pivotal financial decisions I made in my twenties that allowed me to become a millionaire at 31. What I learned in my twenties shaped my approach to money, debt, and investing, and I hope it can guide you too.

Early Career Decisions and Managing Debt

When I graduated, I was saddled with $161,000 in student debt, a common scenario for many in our field. Like many, I initially followed Dave Ramsey and his advice to pay off debt aggressively. By committing to an intense work schedule, I cleared this debt in just 16 months. This decision, while providing immediate relief, came with its own set of long-term financial implications.

The Real Cost of Early Debt Repayment

Yes, I was debt-free quickly, but let's talk numbers. Had I opted for a less aggressive repayment plan and invested the surplus income, the long-term gains could have dwarfed the benefits of early de...

As a new medical professional stepping into financial independence, buying a car might seem like one of your first major purchasing decisions. However, before you sign any papers, it's crucial to understand not just the sticker price of your new vehicle but also its long-term financial impact.
Allow me to help you explore the concept of opportunity cost and how choosing the right car can affect your wealth-building journey. 

Opportunity cost is what you forgo when you choose one option over another—in this case, the potential gains you miss out on when you invest your money in a vehicle instead of the stock market or other investments. For example, if you opt to buy a more expensive car, the extra money you spend (and its future potential value) could have been invested elsewhere, growing over time.

Case in Point

$45,000 vs. $30,000 Car Purchase

Let's compare two scenarios where you could buy a car for $45,000 or a less expensive model for $30,000. Each choice comes with diffe...

Achieving millionaire status by our early 30s wasn't just a product of hard work, but the result of being fully aligned in our financial goals and strategies. My husband and I discovered early on that harmonizing our financial actions as a couple was crucial not just for marital harmony but also for effective wealth building. Here, I share the key strategies that helped us navigate our finances together and build our wealth rapidly.

Creating a Shared Financial Vision

The foundation of our journey was a shared financial vision, crafted through in-depth conversations about what we truly wanted from life. We asked ourselves: "What does financial independence mean for us?" and "How do we want our retirement to look?" These questions helped clarify our aspirations, like extensive travel or working part-time by choice, guiding our overall financial strategy.

Choosing Our 'Investing Rate'

Once our vision was clear, we focused on how to achieve it through strategic financial planning. ...