The answer to this is the composition of so many different parts.The main driver behind the desire to self educate was to take responsibility for my persistent unease whenever I thought about how our wealth was being managed. This was felt from many different perspectives, as a radiologist, a clinic owner, a wife and mom, and as a daughter and sister. Enlightenment along this path and a wonderful set of supportive friends and family encouraged me to expand my audience and share what I grossly underestimated to be very common roadblocks and knowledge gaps that many of us have as medical professional families. My graphics designer husband with a degree in film and multimedia helps to deliver my message simply and clearly with an inviting aesthetic. And so, here I am!

Many, of varying sizes and different venues; this includes several online presentations.  All to specialized medical professionals here in Ontario.

Firstly, how to find trust, transparency and value through education.

A departure from the more conventional mindset when it comes to investing and building wealth.  I cover the basics regarding financial knowledge pertinent to the physician, particularly high net worth medical professionals. Layered relevant info with added complexity is provided for the keeners.

Insights on how physician financial situations are different from the general population in both culture and structure and why they may require a different approach.

The synergistic impact proper tax understanding and integration can have on your total returns and beyond the capacity of an accountant’s offerings.

More clarity around commonly used terms, tools, accounts and how to optimize their use for medical professionals.

The unique value of working with a family office model and the value of a genuine multidisciplinary approach.

Validation and confirmation that our pain points with the financial industry are more common than we think and by opening a dialogue, we can find better alternatives and solutions.

Mid and mid late career physicians will probably get the most out of what I currently have to offer given this is where I reside in the healthcare landscape. More generally though, those who want more certainty around their retirement strategies and clarity in understanding how their career, taxes, investments and professional corporations can come together for optimal wealth generation and retention will also find valuable information.

Physicians who recognize the importance of wealth generation beyond the income they produce through their medical practice but don’t have the time to do it all themselves.

Physicians who are currently managing their own financial affairs and who are always looking to stay informed on new tax rules, investment strategies, etc.

Physicians who don’t know where to start when it comes to learning the basics of monetary matters related to their investments and savings.

Physicians who have questions about their financial situation, would like to be better informed but don’t have copious amounts of time to focus on financial education.

Any physician with complex financial needs as a high net worth investor and doesn’t have a robust financial plan (etc)

The amount of positive feedback has exceeded my expectations.  I embarked on this journey to better myself from a mental and emotional perspective as I came close to complete burnout, but it has evolved into something much more self-rewarding by sharing this information to support my colleagues and the physician community.  I recognize that too many of us share similar frustrations but we suffer in silence, either from the taboo nature of talking about money in our medicine culture, or we don’t know enough but are embarrassed to admit it. Many of my colleagues and followers have echoed my sentiments and are relieved and grateful to have someone speak up and share my stories of financial failures and successes.

One recurring insight I’ve heard as positive feedback are listeners realizing “you don’t know what you don’t know” and having some great ‘aha’ moments during the talks!

I am still a full-time radiologist and this career remains a top priority as it’s also how I support my family.  But my unquenchable passion over the last several years has been this financial education venture. I’ve been enjoying the evolution of sitting in bed, making personal notes on financial terms, to chatting with a few friends about my discoveries over dinner, to requests for expanding my audience in a more formal capacity.  

Perhaps most importantly, I believe we have choices when it comes to wealth management, but not all options, particularly some great ones, are not readily apparent. I wish I knew 10 years ago the options I know now so I could have made better and more informed decisions back then. I feel a sense of responsibility to make these choices known to our medical professional group particularly given the transformative outcomes I have experienced and have seen with others. What works for me might not work for the next person, but how will we know for sure what’s best for us if we don’t know all the options available?

Having worked at an academic hospital for the entirety of my career, I enjoy educating, including the physician community. All of the content I create and post on my website is free and fully accessible to anyone who feels they could benefit from it.  I get a lot of joy out of learning and sharing - much like I do as a physician. 

To answer a question often asked: no, I am not being paid to produce these talks nor have kickbacks been received for any introductions that I make. I have however, been remunerated for consultation services and have received honorariums in other capacities as a speaker and physician. I am employed at the White Coat Investor as a staff columnist. In the future, I may consider alternative revenue streams including book sales or keynote speaking engagements.

I have created an education fund that is supported by various community partners who also believe in financial education and literacy for the physician community.  These are individuals and/or businesses who are already active in serving and supporting physicians in different capacities. They understand the importance of delivering quality information that isn’t a sales pitch to buy a product or service.

I am employed by the White Coat Investor as a staff columnist. However, I do not receive any compensation for the talks and presentations I have created.  This continues to be an endeavour that is fuelling my love of continued education and support for my colleagues. 

Some events I have hosted have been sponsored by entities vetted and approved by myself in advance. I leverage my knowledge and education to choose what I believe are trusted sources for the benefit of the high net worth physician client, free of monetary motivators.

I’ve hosted talks in hospitals, at restaurants and in various meeting spaces etc. including virtual talks from the comfort of my own home. I am flexible to do what works best for our busy demographic.  

Ideally, in-person talks for groups of 10-25 persons for approximately 60 mins are the most impactful and best resonate with a group. 

I host these talks alone, sharing and speaking in a way that connects directly with the shared experience of my fellow colleagues.

Both. Investors of varying levels of participation attend my sessions and both have shared great feedback. 

One of my goals is to provide physicians with the right questions they should be asking themselves, and/or their financial advisors and accountants to obtain the level of service they need and want and for a value worth paying. 

I am not a licensed financial advisor, accountant nor a financial planner. MD are the only 2 letters of designation after my name.

I’ve amassed my learnings through a vast array of multimedia sources and resources. These include articles from major financial institutions, conferences, interviews with various professionals, fellow physicians practicing financial education for physicians, YouTube, Instagram, the list goes on…

The joy for me is in the ongoing journey of learning and sharing with my colleagues to help them connect the dots and mend breakdowns that have failed us in the financial world. My interests do not include managing others’ money, but if I can help better the physician experience within the financial industry, I consider it a success.  

I am often asked if I can recommend quality professional services that work in the best interest of high net worth physicians, which I’m happy to provide. If any introductions are made, there is no personal compensation arrangement, nor does it impact fees paid by the referred physician.

I am driven to educate physicians, hoping they can use the information I provide as a way to support their conversations with their financial advisors to build greater confidence and understanding in their financial situation or for those who manage their own financial matters. However, like myself several years ago, there are many physicians who do not feel comfortable with their current financial arrangements and are seeking a second opinion. I’m happy to share my learnings and research to support other physicians to do the same.

My future interests include building an offering of trusted and vetted professionals and services who understand the physician circumstance and can provide solutions and continuity of wealth wellness to our community.

I would like to continue to speak with physician groups in small and large group settings. I’d welcome the opportunity to speak as a keynote at medical conferences and other key learning events to share my insights. 

I will continue to build and provide resources to support physical financial education for my friends and colleagues. 

Maybe a book or podcast, who knows? I’m excited to see where these experiences will take me.