HCOL vs LCOL: Where Should Physicians Practice?
Physician salary comparison adjusted for cost of living and state taxes. A $400K salary in Jacksonville has 2.4x the purchasing power of the same salary in San Francisco.
15 min
Personal Finance
Browse 14 articles about personal finance on the SalaryDr Blog.
14 articles published
Featured
VTI vs VOO: Which Index Fund Is Best for Doctors?
VTI vs VOO head-to-head comparison for physician investors. Spoiler: both are nearly identical (97% correlation). The decisions that actually matter for your wealth are different.
12 min read
All Personal Finance Articles
How to Become a Millionaire as a Doctor
Data-driven physician wealth-building guide with net worth milestones by age, savings rate impact tables, and the 5 wealth killers every doctor must avoid. Includes frugal PCP vs high-spending specialist case study.
16 min
Best Investment Portfolio for Physicians in 2026
3 model investment portfolios for physicians at every career stage — early career, mid-career, and pre-retirement. Low-cost index fund allocations, asset location strategy, and tax optimization.
16 min
How to Avoid Capital Gains Tax as a Physician
7 legal strategies for physicians to minimize capital gains tax — tax-loss harvesting, donor-advised funds, Roth accounts, primary residence exclusion, and Qualified Opportunity Zones.
16 min
Backdoor Roth IRA for Doctors: Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step-by-step guide to the backdoor Roth IRA for high-income physicians. Avoid the pro-rata trap, understand the mega backdoor option, and maximize tax-free retirement savings.
15 min
Financial Planning for Doctors: A Complete Roadmap
The comprehensive financial planning guide for physicians — from residency through retirement. Career-stage framework, retirement account waterfall, insurance stack, and actionable strategies for every phase.
22 min
Physician Mortgage Loans: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything physicians need to know about doctor mortgage loans in 2026 — no PMI, student loan exclusions, lender comparison, and when to choose a physician mortgage vs conventional.
16 min
Student Loan Repayment Strategies for Physicians
Physician Student Loan Strategies 2026: PSLF vs. refinancing vs. IDR. Save $100K+ by choosing the right approach for your $200K+ medical school debt. Complete comparison.
12 min
Physician Disability Insurance: Own-Occupation Coverage Guide
Learn everything physicians need to know about disability insurance from own-occupation coverage and benefit amounts to costs by specialty and how to choose the right policy to protect your income.
10 min
Physician Retirement Planning by Specialty
18 min
Physician Financial Planning: A Step-by-Step Guide
A comprehensive financial planning roadmap for physicians. From building an emergency fund and protecting your income to maximizing retirement accounts and building long-term wealth.
15 min
Mega Backdoor Roth: The Ultimate Guide for High-Income Physicians
How high-income physicians can contribute up to $69,000+ to Roth accounts annually using the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy. Step-by-step guide including 401(k) requirements, after-tax contributions, and in-plan conversions.
15 min
How to Do a Backdoor Roth IRA for Physicians in 2026
Step-by-step guide for high-income physicians to contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026 using the Backdoor Roth strategy—even with income over $200K. Includes pro-rata rule tips and Form 8606 instructions.
12 min