MEC Practice Academy 11.19
News|Articles|November 6, 2026

Introducing the Medical Economics Wealth Institute, a personal finance resource for physicians

A new Medical Economics personal finance resource for physicians, with coverage from residency through retirement, is coming soon.

Medical Economics will soon launch the Wealth Institute, a personal finance resource focused on the financial turning points of a physician's career, with coverage in six areas: retirement and investing, taxes and estate planning, real estate, debt and student loans, income protection and disability, and compensation and contracts.

The Wealth Institute will bring physician personal finance coverage from Medical Economics together in one place, from the first paycheck after residency to planning for retirement.

Be among the first to know when it launches: Subscribe to Medical Economics newsletters and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

Built for physicians at every stage of their careers

First-year residents and fellows earned an average stipend of $68,166 as of July 1, 2025, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The median education debt for the medical school class of 2025, counting premedical loans, was $215,000, according to the AAMC's debt fact card.

For residents and new attendings, the questions start with repaying student loans, reading a first employment contract and insuring the income that contract promises against disability. A first home purchase often follows.

As income grows, the focus shifts to building wealth: how investment and retirement accounts work and how a higher income is taxed. Later in their careers, physicians face trust and estate planning and the transition out of practice.

Six areas of coverage

Retirement and investing

Retirement accounts available to employed and self-employed physicians, investing basics and college savings through 529 plans.

“A backdoor Roth IRA is a two-step way to put money into a Roth individual retirement account (IRA) when your income is too high to contribute directly: a nondeductible contribution to a traditional IRA, followed by a conversion of that money to a Roth IRA.” — from “What is a backdoor Roth IRA?”

Explore retirement and investing coverage

Taxes and estate planning

How the federal tax code applies to physician income, which expenses physicians can deduct and how the answer changes for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, starting with license fees, board exams and continuing medical education. The category also covers estate planning, including trusts.

“When income crosses into a higher bracket, the higher rate applies to the dollars above that threshold, not to the income below it.” — from “How do federal income tax brackets work?”

Explore taxes and estate planning coverage

Real estate

Buying a home and investing in property, including how lenders treat student debt in underwriting.

“No federal rule sets the terms of a physician loan, so eligibility, down payment, loan size, interest rate and the handling of student debt vary from lender to lender.” — from “What is a physician mortgage loan?”

Explore real estate coverage

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Debt and student loans

Federal student loan repayment plans, loan forgiveness programs, federal borrowing limits for medical students and other forms of debt physicians carry.

“Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) cancels the remaining balance on a borrower's federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full time for a government or nonprofit employer.” — from “How does Public Service Loan Forgiveness work, and who still qualifies?”

Explore debt and student loans coverage

Income protection and disability

Disability insurance and other coverage that protects a physician's ability to earn.

“A surgeon who can no longer operate but could still teach may meet an own-occupation or own-specialty definition. Under an any-occupation definition, the ability to teach could be enough to deny the claim.” — from “What is own-occupation disability insurance?”

Explore income protection and disability coverage

Compensation and contracts

How physician pay is calculated, including work relative value units, and how employment contracts are structured, from pay terms to restrictive covenants.

“Physician noncompetes remain enforceable in some form in 32 states and the District of Columbia, according to a September 2026 state-by-state guide from the law firm Tucker Arensberg, P.C.” — from “The states where physician noncompetes can still be enforced in 2026”

Explore compensation and contracts coverage


Join us as we launch the Wealth Institute. Subscribe to Medical Economics newsletters and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), to be among the first to receive personal finance coverage built for physicians.

Want to be part of the Wealth Institute? Physicians, financial planners and other experts interested in contributing can contact the Medical Economics editorial team.

Interested in sponsoring Wealth Institute coverage? Learn about advertising opportunities with Medical Economics.


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