Medicine On
Your Terms.
Financial Independence isn't about quitting perfectly good careers. It's about having the 'F-You Money' to cut back shifts, drop call, and practice without administrative pressure.
A guide by Taxstra Tax & Accounting — CPA-led tax strategy for business owners
The Golden Handcuffs Are Tight
Why high income doesn't equal financial freedom
You make $400k a year, but you spend $350k. You have the Tesla, the big house, and the private school bills. You are stuck on the hamster wheel, trading time for payments.
Most doctors unknowingly lock their money in "Age 59.5" jails (401ks, Pensions). If you want to retire at 45 or 50, you can't touch that money without penalties.
Blocks to Early Exit
The most common FIRE obstacles for physicians
- Lifestyle Creep: Spending 90% of your take-home pay
- The 'Asset Location' Problem: ALL wealth locked in pre-tax 401ks
- Health Insurance: Fear of leaving the group plan (we solve this)
- Divorce: The single biggest destroyer of FIRE plans
- Burnout Spending: Buying expensive toys to numb the pain of a job you hate
Tax Engineering for Freedom
How to access your money before age 60 without penalties
Roth Conversion Ladder
The classic FIRE move. Convert Traditional IRA funds to Roth in low-income years. Wait 5 years. Withdraw the principal penalty-free. Repeat.
Rule of 55
If you leave your job in the year you turn 55 (or later), you can access THAT specific 401(k) penalty-free. We structure your departure to hit this window.
72(t) SEPP
Substantially Equal Periodic Payments. A section of the tax code that allows you to withdraw from IRAs at ANY age, penalty-free, if you stick to a strict schedule.
The 'Bridge' Brokerage
We prioritize building a taxable brokerage account. Though not tax-deferred, it offers Capital Gains rates (0%, 15%, 20%) and total liquidity at any age.
Coast FIRE
Front-load your savings early. Once you hit 'Critical Mass', you can stop saving entirely and just work enough to cover living expenses. This usually means dropping to 0.5 FTE.
Geographic Arbitrage
Move from a high-tax state (CA, NY) to a no-tax state (FL, TX, TN) post-retirement. Or move to a lower cost of living area to stretch your portfolio 30% further.
Do You Have Enough? — The 4% Rule
Calculating your FI number as a physician
The 4% Rule (Trinity Study) suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually, adjusted for inflation, and not run out of money for 30 years.
For physicians retiring EARLY (e.g. 50-year horizon), we often recommend a safer withdrawal rate, like 3.25% or 3.5%.
The Formula: Yearly Spend ÷ 0.035 = Your FI Number. If you spend $150k/year, you need $4.28 Million.
The Path to Freedom
*Assuming $100k/yr savings + 7% growth. For illustration only.
FIRE FAQ
Claim Your Freedom.
Talk to a Taxstra CPA about your income level and get a custom tax optimization plan.
Find Out What You're Overpaying in Taxes
Book a free 30-minute call to walk through your situation. We'll tell you exactly how our CPA-led team can help — and whether we're the right fit.