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Many physicians earn income outside their primary jobs through consulting, expert witness work, or call coverage. How is that 1099 income taxed, and which business expenses might qualify for deductions?We’re bringing back this conversation from the early days of Doctors Eyes Only® for physicians who may have missed it. As our audience has grown, we’ve continued sharing financial planning topics that address the unique circumstances physicians face throughout their careers. We felt this discussion about 1099 income, business deductions, and tax planning was worth sharing again.In this episode, Lauren Oschman, Partner and CEO of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, introduces what she calls “the business version of you.” She explains how income from independent work can differ from W-2 wages, including the responsibility to pay taxes on self-employment income and the role of qualifying business expenses.Lauren discusses potential deductions related to business travel, professional development, medical society dues, business insurance, cell phone use, and a dedicated home office. Eligibility depends on the nature of the work and applicable tax rules. She also explains why keeping business and personal spending separate, maintaining records, and coordinating with an accountant can make managing 1099 income easier.The conversation covers retirement planning for physicians with self-employment income, including SEP IRAs and individual 401(k)s. Lauren discusses why contribution decisions need to account for income from the business and retirement plans associated with a physician’s primary job.She closes with an important reminder: spending money just to claim a deduction isn’t necessarily a sound financial decision. Tax planning should be considered alongside cash reserves, future tax obligations, retirement goals, and other priorities.For physicians earning 1099 income or considering consulting and other independent work, this episode explores questions to discuss with a qualified tax professional and financial advisor.Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326‐2064. Member FINRA/SIPC.Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated.This material should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.Comments on this video are posted voluntarily by third-party YouTube users and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors.Comments reflect the opinions and assumptions of individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views, services, fees, or practices of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors. Vestia does not independently verify all information shared by third parties in the comments and does not endorse or guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or reliability, including statements regarding investment performance, financial projections, advisory fees, or services. Comments should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.

Click the link below to schedule your free 30 minute call! https://www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/ How much money does a physician really need to retire? And once a physician has a retirement savings goal in mind, how should that number influence the decisions they make about work, family, and life today? This episode was originally recorded more than two years ago, when we were beginning to publish the podcast more consistently. Since then, the audience has grown, and we’ve continued to hear interest in the ideas discussed here. In this episode, Lauren Oschman, Partner and CEO of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, discusses an aspect of physician financial planning that can be easy to overlook when the focus is primarily on retirement savings, investment portfolios, and net worth. A retirement number can be useful. Physicians need to understand what they are saving toward and how their financial decisions may affect their future options. But Lauren believes those calculations are only part of the conversation. Financial planning also involves understanding what physicians want their money to make possible while they’re still practicing medicine. Lauren recalls meeting with a physician and her husband. He wanted to stay healthy, enjoy life, and have the flexibility to coach their daughter’s soccer team. She was preparing to start her own practice and wanted more control over her schedule and how she practiced medicine. Lauren also reflects on growing up with an interventional cardiologist for a father. She remembers how hard he worked when she was young. As she approached the end of high school, he began making a conscious effort to spend more time at home. Instead of regularly filling his afternoons with additional cases, he made more room for family. Physicians spend years working toward demanding professional goals. They become accustomed to pursuing the next achievement, whether that’s completing training, advancing in their careers, earning more income, or building additional wealth. Lauren believes that drive also raises an important financial question. If you’re already making progress toward your financial goals, what would earning more money actually allow you to do? Later, Lauren describes another conversation with a family who had accumulated additional savings and was considering whether to invest the money. During their discussion, the family shared that their daughter would be leaving for college in a few years. They had places they wanted to visit and experiences they hoped to share before that chapter of family life changed. That led to a conversation about how their savings could support those priorities alongside their longer-term financial goals. At Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, this perspective is part of what we mean by Wealth That Matters®. For physicians, building wealth may involve preparing for retirement, managing the financial implications of a demanding career, and making decisions about how much to work along the way. Those considerations are connected, and the right balance will look different for every family. The central question isn’t simply how much money a physician needs to accumulate. It’s what that money is meant to make possible. Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326‐2064. Member FINRA/SIPC. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated. This material should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.

Click the link below to schedule your free 30 minute call! https://www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/ What actually happens when a physician has disability insurance and needs to use it? In this episode of Doctors Eyes Only®, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman talks with Dr. Alex Parikh about his experience going from a practicing surgical oncologist to filing an own-occupation disability insurance claim and moving into a different role within medicine. Dr. Alex Parikh spent more than two decades as a surgeon specializing in liver and pancreas surgery. He trained at MD Anderson, spent about 12 years at Vanderbilt, and later served as head of cancer surgery and surgical oncology at the Mays MD Anderson Cancer Center in San Antonio. Earlier in his career, Dr. Alex Parikh purchased individual disability insurance. As a surgeon, he thought about what might happen if a physical problem kept him from operating. Years later, he began experiencing pain in the CMC joint of his right thumb. He was diagnosed with stage three CMC arthritis and eventually underwent surgery. After returning to the operating room, the arthritis progressed into another joint in his thumb. Operating became painful, and even moving toward robotic surgery did not solve the problem. After talking with his hand surgeon about his options, Dr. Alex Parikh began considering what it would mean to stop operating and what he could do next. That is when the disability insurance he had purchased years earlier became part of the conversation. Lauren and Dr. Alex Parikh discuss the difference between group disability coverage and an individual own-occupation disability policy, including how the definition of a physician’s occupation can affect a claim. Dr. Alex Parikh also walks through his experience filing a disability claim. He discusses gathering medical records, documenting his responsibilities as an academic surgeon, the in-person evaluation, the elimination period before receiving disability income, and the timing of moving into a new role. Today, Dr. Alex Parikh is a full-time instructional professor and director of career advising at Texas A&M’s School of Engineering Medicine in Houston. His new role allows him to continue working in medicine without operating. Lauren and Dr. Alex Parikh also discuss why he is glad he obtained disability coverage earlier in his career. As he explains, disability can carry different financial implications depending on when it happens, how much a physician has accumulated, the income needs of the household, and how many working years remain. But this conversation is about more than an insurance claim. Dr. Alex Parikh is candid about the psychological side of leaving surgery after spending decades building a career around it. He talks about missing the operating room and the challenge of giving up work that had been an important part of his professional life. His new role has given him another way to use that experience. He now teaches medical students, advises them on their careers and brings more than two decades of clinical experience into the classroom. For physicians, Dr. Alex Parikh’s story offers a look at a situation many hope never happens: needing to use the disability insurance they have been paying for. Instead of discussing disability insurance only in theory, this episode follows the experience of a surgeon who purchased a policy earlier in his career, developed a physical condition that affected his ability to operate, filed a claim and then had to decide what his work would look like going forward.

Click the link below to schedule your free 30 minute call!https://www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/If you are a physician who has built a medical device, technology company, practice, or other business and think you may eventually sell it, the work that happens before the sale can matter just as much as the transaction itself.In this episode of the Doctor’s Eyes Only® podcast, Lauren Oschman, CFP®, CDFA®, co-founder and CEO of Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, and Vestia Partner and President Brad Quick are joined by Travis Ernst, Operations Manager at NuVescor, to talk about investment banking, business valuation, mergers and acquisitions, and preparing a medical technology business for an eventual exit.Travis explains what an investment banker or M&A advisor actually does when a business owner is ready to sell. That process can include understanding the business, developing a defensible valuation, identifying potential buyers, creating a market for the company, comparing multiple offers, negotiating deal structure, and helping navigate the transaction through closing.The conversation also looks at a recent medical device transaction involving a third-generation business built around an ostomy product. The owner was not simply looking for a buyer. He wanted someone who would continue serving the patients who relied on the product. That meant evaluating potential buyers based on more than purchase price alone.Lauren, Brad, and Travis also discuss how buyers may evaluate a medical technology business. Profitability, growth, repeatable sales, intellectual property, customer relationships, the ability to scale, and whether the company can operate without depending entirely on the founder can all become part of the conversation.For physicians who may want to sell a company in the future, Travis explains why preparing several years ahead can be valuable. Clean financial records, current legal documents, protected intellectual property, a strong management structure, and understanding what a potential buyer will see when they evaluate the business can help an owner prepare for a future transaction.They also discuss why receiving an unsolicited offer is different from creating a process involving multiple potential buyers. When only one buyer is at the table, that buyer may have more leverage. Creating a market can give the seller the ability to compare price, deal structure, fit, and what will happen to the business after the transaction.Lauren also raises another part of exit planning that can be easy to overlook: the physician’s personal financial plan. Waiting until a multimillion-dollar check has already arrived may limit some of the planning decisions that could have been considered before the sale. Thinking about taxes, charitable giving, what comes next, and what the money is ultimately meant to accomplish can begin well before the transaction closes.If you are a physician, medical device founder, or business owner considering an eventual exit, this conversation offers a look at how valuation, buyer selection, deal preparation, financial planning, and the goals of the seller can come together before a business is sold.Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326‐2064. Member FINRA/SIPC. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated.This material should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.

After 27 years in medicine, Dr. Shieva Ghofrany has a different view of her career than she did when she finished residency. One thing she knows for sure: she doesn’t want to retire in the traditional sense. In this episode of Doctors Eyes Only®, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman talks with Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, a board-certified OB-GYN, about what she wishes she had known earlier in her career. They discuss private practice, physician finances, investing during residency, career decisions, the demands of practicing medicine, and how Dr. Shieva Ghofrany has changed the way she works over time. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany grew up as the daughter of two immigrant physicians from Iran, but becoming a physician wasn’t always the plan. She switched majors four times in college before eventually completing her pre-med requirements, attending medical school in Tel Aviv, and returning to the United States for residency. She went on to join an independent private practice with physicians she knew from residency. When Dr. Shieva Ghofrany thinks back to those early years, she remembers having a fairly traditional idea of what a physician career would look like: work, become a partner, contribute to a 401(k), save for her children’s college expenses, and eventually retire. As she tells Lauren, it wasn’t necessarily a plan she consciously chose. It was the default. Today, her career looks different. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany stepped away from full-time office gynecology while continuing to practice obstetrics with her private practice group. She also has a separate telehealth practice focused primarily on perimenopause and menopause. This arrangement allows her more time while continuing to practice medicine. That leads to an important part of Lauren and Dr. Shieva Ghofrany’s conversation: the relationship between financial decisions and career decisions for physicians. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany wishes she had understood more about investing earlier. During residency, no one explained to her that she could contribute to a 403(b). Looking back, she says she could have put away a small amount even on a resident’s salary. She also discusses financial concepts she learned later, including retirement accounts, 529 plans and considerations around 1099 income. Their conversation also turns to lifestyle decisions after residency. After years of delayed earnings, a new attending salary can make it tempting to quickly increase spending on a house, car and other expenses. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany refers to the potential result as “golden handcuffs,” when maintaining a lifestyle begins influencing how much a physician feels they need to work. Her point isn’t that physicians shouldn’t enjoy the money they earn. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany is clear that she does. Instead, she talks about the importance that financial flexibility has had as her own career and priorities have changed. There is also a personal side to the conversation. Dr. Shieva Ghofrany discusses pregnancy loss, challenges involving her children’s health, and being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her forties. Those experiences changed the way she thinks about the familiar phrase “life is short.” Dr. Shieva Ghofrany’s reframe is: “Life is long.” Rather than seeing that as a reason to work less, Dr. Shieva Ghofrany began thinking more intentionally about how she wanted work to fit into her life. At 56, she doesn’t see herself at the end of her career. She wants to continue working, but she also wants to have more control over what that work looks like. For physicians at different stages of their careers, this episode is a conversation about what can change between finishing training and looking back decades later, and the things Dr. Shieva Ghofrany wishes she had understood sooner about medicine, money, work and time.Learn more about Dr. Shieva Ghofrany at drshievag.com, follow @drshievag on Instagram, or contact Dr. Shieva Ghofrany and her team at [email protected].

Click the link below to schedule your free 30 minute call!https://www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/Cybersecurity is becoming an important part of physician financial planning as AI-driven scams, identity theft, and financial fraud continue to evolve. Protecting your financial accounts and personal information is part of protecting the wealth you’ve worked hard to build.In this episode of the Doctors Eyes Only® podcast, Lauren Oschman discusses why cybersecurity deserves a place in every physician’s financial plan. She explains how phishing attacks, password breaches, identity theft, fraudulent bank accounts, and AI-assisted scams can affect physicians. She also shares practical steps to strengthen your financial security, including using unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, freezing your credit, and preventing unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.Physicians spend years building wealth. Protecting it requires the same level of attention. Taking a few preventative steps can reduce risk and help protect your financial accounts, your credit, and your personal information over time.Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326‐2064. Member FINRA/SIPC. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated.This material should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.

Click the link below to schedule your free 30 minute call!https://www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/ Most physicians know to ask whether their estate will be subject to estate tax. What often gets less attention is what happens after assets are inherited.We’ve found that two physicians can inherit the same dollar amount from their parents and have very different tax outcomes. The difference usually isn’t how much they inherit. It’s the type of assets they receive.In this episode, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman explores why inherited brokerage accounts, real estate, traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and Roth IRAs are each subject to different tax treatment. She also shares planning conversations that illustrate how inherited retirement accounts, the 10-year inherited IRA rules, and the step-up in basis can influence the taxes a family may pay over time.Many physicians are already in one of the highest income tax brackets by the time they inherit assets from their parents. If a significant portion of that inheritance consists of pre-tax retirement accounts, the tax implications may be very different than many families expect. We often find that parents and adult children are making financial decisions independently, without realizing how those decisions could affect the family’s overall tax picture across generations.Whether you’re beginning to think about an inheritance you may receive someday or you’re considering how your own assets may eventually pass to your children, this conversation explores how estate planning, tax planning, and multi-generational financial planning can create opportunities for more informed decision-making.Investment advisory services offered through Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, and Vestia Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. Securities offered through Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc., 5187 Utica Ridge Rd, Davenport, IA. 52807 (563)326‐2064. Member FINRA/SIPC. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, Vestia Retirement Plan Consultants, Vestia Advisors, LLC and Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. are independently owned and operated.This material should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney or tax advisor.

If you’ve followed our podcast or YouTube channel, you may have wondered how Vestia got started and why we chose to work exclusively with physicians.In this episode, Vestia Partner and CEO, Lauren Oschman shares the story behind Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors and the thinking that shaped the firm from the beginning. She talks about how the firm evolved, why the team decided to focus on physicians, and how that decision influenced the way financial planning is delivered to physician families.The conversation covers topics that are common throughout a physician’s career, including compensation, tax planning, student loans, retirement planning, practice ownership, investment management, and coordinating with other professionals as financial decisions become more complex. Lauren also explains the idea of Wealth That Matters® and why understanding a physician’s personal priorities is an important part of the planning process.This episode also looks at how Vestia approaches collaboration within the firm and why advisors with different areas of experience work together when evaluating financial questions. Lauren shares examples of how that philosophy has shaped the firm’s growth and the relationships it has built with physician families over time.Subscribe for more physician-focused financial planning insights from Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman and the Vestia team.

Father’s Day Special: Fatherhood, Family, and Legacy with Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon Dr. Jason Heisler What does it mean to be a great father while building a demanding medical career? In this special Father’s Day episode of the Doctors Eyes Only® podcast, Vestia Partner and Chief Growth Officer Kameron Helmuth sits down with orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Jason Heisler for a candid conversation about fatherhood, family, medicine, and the legacy we leave behind. Drawing from nearly two decades in practice and his experience raising four sons, Dr. Heisler shares the lessons he has learned about balancing the responsibilities of being a physician with the responsibilities of being a husband and father. Together, Kameron and Dr. Heisler explore how priorities evolve throughout different stages of life, the importance of intentional family time, and why being engaged with your family matters far more than simply being present. The conversation reflects on the influence of fathers, grandfathers, and mentors, the challenges of building a medical career while raising children, and the reality that many physicians face when trying to balance patient care, professional growth, marriage, and family life. Dr. Heisler shares personal stories about creating family traditions, teaching responsibility, encouraging independence, and helping children develop confidence, character, and resilience. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear honest reflections on physician work-life balance, the pressures of medicine, the importance of communication within a family, and the role fathers play in shaping future generations. Kameron and Dr. Heisler also discuss how perspectives on success change over time, moving from professional achievement and career advancement toward deeper fulfillment found in family relationships, shared experiences, and watching children grow into capable and compassionate adults. One of the central themes of this conversation is that legacy is about far more than money. Legacy is found in the values we teach, the example we set, the relationships we nurture, and the memories we create with the people who matter most. For physicians who spend their careers serving others, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that some of life’s most meaningful work happens at home. Whether you are a physician father raising young children, a surgeon balancing family and practice, or a medical professional striving to create a meaningful life both inside and outside of medicine, this conversation offers thoughtful perspective on fatherhood, family, purpose, and what it means to build a lasting legacy. Happy Father’s Day from Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors and Doctors Eyes Only®.

In this episode of Doctors Eyes Only®, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman, CFP®, CDFA®, sits down with Ethan Nkan, a licensed attorney, former hospital executive, and founder of The Physician Agency, formerly known as Rocky Mountain Physician Agency, for a conversation about physician value and what doctors need to understand when navigating medicine as a business. After spending more than a decade working inside hospital systems, Ethan gained firsthand insight into how healthcare organizations evaluate physician productivity, structure compensation models, and determine the economic impact physicians have on a practice or health system. Drawing from that experience, he now helps physicians better understand their market value and navigate contract negotiations with greater confidence. Lauren and Ethan discuss physician compensation, employment contracts, RVUs, compensation benchmarks, contract renewals, work-life balance, practice support, and the role that career decisions play in long-term financial success. They also explore why many physicians struggle to advocate for themselves, how business negotiations differ from patient care conversations, and what doctors should know before accepting an offer, renegotiating a contract, or evaluating a new opportunity. The conversation also addresses important considerations for women physicians, physicians of color, and internationally trained physicians, including the importance of using objective market data when evaluating compensation and career opportunities. Whether you’re reviewing your first attending contract, preparing for a contract renewal, considering a career move, or simply wondering whether your compensation reflects the value you bring to your organization, this episode offers practical insights into physician contract negotiation, physician compensation, physician career development, and financial planning for physicians.

Happy 529 Day! In this special 529 Day re-release of the Doctor’s Eyes Only® podcast, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman revisits one of the most common questions physician families ask: Are you using your 529 plan the right way? Originally recorded in 2024, this episode remains one of our most popular conversations on college savings and education planning for physicians. Before the episode begins, Lauren shares several important updates reflecting legislative changes that have occurred since the original recording. These updates include an increase in the annual gift tax exclusion amount from $17,000 to $19,000 per person for 2026, expanded 529 plan benefits that increase the amount available for private K-12 education expenses from $10,000 to $20,000 per year, additional qualifying K-12 education expenses in certain situations, and an increase in the annual Roth IRA contribution limit from $7,000 to $7,500 for individuals under age 50. Lauren also discusses the continued availability of the 529-to-Roth IRA rollover provision, which allows eligible beneficiaries to roll up to $35,000 of unused 529 assets into a Roth IRA, subject to applicable rules and annual contribution limits. Many physicians, surgeons, and other high-income medical professionals worry about saving too much into a 529 plan, especially if a child receives scholarships, chooses a less expensive school, or decides not to pursue graduate education. In this episode, Lauren explores how 529 plans have become significantly more flexible than many families realize and why outdated assumptions may be causing some physician parents to miss valuable planning opportunities. You’ll learn how 529 plans work, when they make sense for physician families, how state tax benefits can affect your decision, what happens if your child receives a scholarship, how beneficiary changes work between family members, how 529 funds can be used for certain K-12 education expenses, and how the newer 529-to-Roth IRA rollover rules may create additional flexibility for long-term family wealth planning. Whether you’re an attending physician, surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, radiologist, dermatologist, emergency medicine physician, pediatrician, OB/GYN, practice owner, or part of a dual-physician household, understanding the evolving rules around 529 plans can help you make more confident decisions about education funding, tax planning, and building wealth for the next generation. At Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, we specialize in financial planning for physicians. Our team helps doctors navigate complex financial decisions involving taxes, retirement planning, practice compensation, college savings, investment strategy, and long-term wealth management so they can focus more of their time and energy on medicine, family, and the life they want to build. If you’re a physician looking for guidance on 529 plans, college funding strategies, retirement planning, tax-efficient wealth building, or comprehensive financial planning, we’d love to connect. [email protected] Subscribe for more physician-focused financial planning insights from Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman and the Vestia team. #529Day #529Plan #PhysicianFinance #FinancialPlanningForDoctors #PhysicianFinancialPlanning #CollegeSavings #EducationPlanning #DoctorFinances #WomenPhysicians #Surgeons #MedicalProfessionals #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #PhysicianParents #HighIncomeProfessionals

Physician burnout, digital overload, inbox stress, and after-hours charting are challenges many doctors face while balancing clinical work, administrative responsibilities, and life outside of medicine. In this episode of the Doctors Eyes Only podcast, Lauren Oschman, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Dr. Melinda Rathkopf, board-certified allergist and immunologist and co-founder of Declutter Docs, about how organization, productivity systems, and intentional workflows can help physicians reduce stress and create more sustainable routines. They discuss: • How physical and digital clutter affect stress and mental load • Why many physicians struggle with “pajama time” charting • Inbox management and notification strategies for doctors • Productivity systems for busy physicians and working parents • Time management and energy management for physicians • How workflows and organization impact physician wellbeing • Practical ways to reduce overwhelm at home and at work • Using systems and routines to support focus and efficiency • Creating more space for what matters most Dr. Rathkopf shares insights from her experience as both a practicing physician and the co-founder of Declutter Docs, an organizing and productivity consulting firm that helps professionals build sustainable systems for work and life. Doctors Eyes Only® is presented by Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors, a financial planning firm specializing in financial planning for physicians. Learn more about Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors: https://www.vestiapersonalwealth.com Learn more about Declutter Docs: https://www.declutterdocs.com Follow Vestia: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vestiapwa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vestia-personal-wealth-advisors Follow Declutter Docs: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declutterdocs References Mentioned in This Episode The following books, podcasts, tools, and concepts were referenced during this conversation for educational purposes only: • Getting Things Done by David Allen • Inbox Zero methodology and email management systems • Mel Robbins podcast discussions on time management and productivity • Carey Nieuwhof’s work on productivity and energy management • The “Big Rocks” time management illustration using rocks, sand, and a jar • Ambient AI documentation tools used within electronic medical record systems • Google Calendar and digital family calendar systems • Montessori organizational and educational approaches • AI-assisted productivity tools for meal planning and workflow support Disclosure References to books, podcasts, tools, software platforms, productivity systems, or third-party resources are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors and Doctors Eyes Only® do not receive compensation from, endorse, or have a financial relationship with the individuals, companies, products, or services mentioned in this episode unless explicitly stated otherwise. Viewers and listeners should evaluate any resource independently based on their own needs and circumstances. #PhysicianBurnout #WomenPhysicians #PhysicianWellbeing #DoctorsEyesOnly #ProductivityForDoctors #FinancialPlanningForPhysicians #MedicalProfessionals #WomenInMedicine #PhysicianLife #DeclutterYourLife

In this special Mother’s Day episode of the Doctor’s Eyes Only® podcast, Vestia CEO Lauren Oschman sits down with emergency medicine physician and Bluebird MD founder Dr. Jessica Rosen for a candid conversation about what it actually looks like to build a meaningful career in medicine while raising a family. They talk through the realities many women physicians quietly navigate every day. The pressure to succeed professionally while also trying to be the kind of parent they want to be, the exhaustion that comes with constantly shifting schedules, the emotional weight of carrying the “mental load” at home, and the challenge of finding space for yourself somewhere in the middle of it all. Jessica shares her journey through emergency medicine, practicing in a two-physician household, raising children during demanding seasons of training and practice, and eventually creating a different kind of career through the launch of Bluebird MD. Along the way, the conversation explores how motherhood changes the way many physicians think about ambition, time, success, and what a sustainable career in medicine actually requires. Lauren and Jessica also reflect on perfectionism, guilt, childcare, physician marriage dynamics, night shifts, burnout, and the often-unspoken feeling that women in medicine are expected to somehow do everything well at the same time. Instead of offering simplistic answers, the episode focuses on something more honest: learning to let go of impossible standards and building a life that works for your real priorities and season of life. This is a thoughtful conversation for physician moms, women in medicine, medical trainees, dual-career families, and anyone trying to navigate the intersection of career, family, identity, and purpose with a little more grace and a little less pressure. A warm and deeply relatable Mother’s Day episode about medicine, motherhood, and why “doing it all” may not be the goal after all.   About Dr. Jessica Rosen and Bluebird MD: Dr. Jessica Rosen is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and founder of Bluebird MD, an in-home urgent care practice serving families in the Nashville area. Bluebird MD Website https://www.bluebird-md.com/ Meet Dr. Jessica Rosen https://www.bluebird-md.com/about-dr-jessica-rosen Instagram @bluebirdmdnashvilleBooks and resources mentioned during the episode: “Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time” by Brigid Schultehttps://www.brigidschulte.com/overwhelmed “Fair Play” by Eve RodskyFor book and card deckhttps://www.fairplaylife.com/ Please note: Vestia Personal Wealth Advisors is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or compensated by any of the links above.

In this episode of Doctor’s Eyes Only®, Lauren Oschman walks through estate planning for physicians from a practical, financial planning perspective. This is meant to be an orientation to how estate planning works, how assets transfer, and what needs to happen for a plan to function the way you intend. You can use the timestamps below to follow along: 00:00 A Common Issue with Estate PlanningLauren starts by sharing something she sees often when working with physicians. The documents are in place, but the trust is not funded and the accounts are not aligned, so the plan does not work the way it was intended. 01:00 What This Episode CoversThis is a high-level overview of estate planning for physicians. Lauren explains that this is from a financial planning perspective and that legal details should come from an estate planning attorney. 02:00 The Core Estate Planning DocumentsShe walks through the main components of an estate plan, including a will, a revocable living trust in many cases, healthcare and financial powers of attorney, and a living will. She also emphasizes the importance of keeping an organized record of accounts and passwords so your family knows where to start. 03:30 How Assets TransferLauren explains that assets transfer in different ways. Some pass by contract through beneficiary designations, like retirement accounts and life insurance. Others, like bank and brokerage accounts without beneficiaries, typically go through probate. She also explains how POD and TOD designations work, along with joint ownership. 05:30 What Probate Looks LikeShe describes what happens when assets go through probate, including the time it can take, the involvement of the court system, and the amount of work required from the executor. 07:30 Will-Based Estate PlansLauren explains how a will-based plan works, including situations where a trust is created within the will after death. Even in those cases, assets still go through probate. 08:45 Trust-Based Estate PlansShe then walks through how a revocable living trust works differently. The trust exists during your lifetime, and assets can be titled into it. If something happens, a successor trustee can step in and manage those assets without going through probate. 10:30 What Goes Into a TrustLauren explains how accounts like brokerage accounts and real estate can be owned by the trust. She also notes that investment properties may need additional structuring and that this is something to review with an attorney. 11:30 Why This Gets DelayedShe talks about why estate planning can feel difficult to get started, including finding the right attorney and understanding the terminology and structure. 13:00 The Process Does Not End at SigningLauren emphasizes that signing the documents is not the final step. The accounts and beneficiaries need to be aligned with the plan. 13:30 Beneficiaries and How They WorkShe explains that beneficiary designations override what is written in your will. She walks through examples where outdated beneficiaries can lead to unintended outcomes, including after marriage or divorce. 15:00 Reviewing Your BeneficiariesLauren shares that beneficiaries should be reviewed regularly to make sure they reflect your current wishes. 15:45 Funding the TrustShe explains what it means to fund a trust and why it matters. If assets are not titled in the trust, they may still go through probate even if the trust exists. 16:30 Ongoing ReviewShe notes that estate planning should be reviewed over time to make sure everything stays aligned. 17:00 Talking to Your ParentsLauren shifts to a related topic and encourages physicians to understand how their parents’ estate plans are structured, especially if they may be involved as an executor. 19:00 Knowing Where Things AreShe explains the importance of knowing where accounts are held so that if something happens, there is a clear starting point.

In this episode of Doctor’s Eyes Only®, Vestia Partner and CEO Lauren Oschman, CFP® sits down with Andrew Ibbotson, CEO of RatingsMD, to explore how physicians can take control of their online reviews, reputation, and AI visibility. Many physicians assume that online reviews are secondary to the quality of care they provide. In reality, patients often search a physician’s name before scheduling, and what they find can shape trust before a first visit ever happens. Google reviews and third-party ratings have become part of how patients evaluate doctors, and AI tools are beginning to use that same information when recommending providers. The challenge is that most physicians are not represented online by a complete or accurate picture of their patient experience. A small number of reviews often ends up defining how a physician appears in search results. This creates a gap between the care physicians know they provide and what prospective patients actually see when they evaluate options. In this conversation, Lauren and Andrew walk through how that gap develops and what physicians can do to address it. They discuss how review systems work, why representative feedback matters more than perfect feedback, and how physicians can build trust more intentionally over time. They also explore how AI is changing how patients choose doctors and why consistency across platforms is becoming more important. This episode is especially relevant for physicians who are building independent practices, transitioning out of large health systems, or thinking more strategically about how patients find and evaluate care. The goal is not marketing. It is making sure your reputation reflects the reality of your work. Andrew Ibbotson is the CEO of RatingsMD, a platform that helps healthcare organizations collect and publish verified patient feedback to improve transparency, patient trust, and online visibility. To learn more or get in touch, visit www.ratings.md.