Don't Outlive Your Healthspan: 3 Financial Moves Medical Professionals Need to Make

Why Your Healthspan Might End Before Retirement (and What to Do About It)

Most medical professionals expect to retire around age 65, but what if your body doesn't make it that far?

In the U.S., the average lifespan is 78, but the average healthspan is only 63. That means most people become too tired, immobile, or unhealthy to enjoy their lives before they stop working.

If you're planning to wait until 65 to live your best life, you might already be running out of time.

So what's the solution?

You build wealth before your health fades. And that means understanding three powerful money strategies that allow you to:

• Work fewer hours
• Retire early
• Actually enjoy the time you've earned

Let's break down each strategy.

Coast FIRE: Invest Aggressively, Then Coast

Coast FIRE means front-loading your investments early so they can grow on their own. Once you hit your "coast" number, you no longer need to actively invest.

Your money keeps compounding, even if you:

• Reduce hours
• Switch to lower-stress jobs
• Focus more on family or health

Example: A 28 year old PA with $40K already invested, making $150K/year, can reach Coast FIRE by 35 if they invest ~$35K/year consistently for 7 years and earn an average annual return of 8%.

This doesn’t mean full retirement. It means optional work, better hours, and more energy while you're still healthy.

Full Financial Independence: Retire Early

If you want zero work obligation by 55 (instead of 65+), you'll need a larger portfolio sooner. That means investing more now so you can replace your income with passive income later.

With 10 fewer working years, the math changes:

• Higher investing rate (e.g., often 30-40% of gross income or more )
• Smart use of tax-advantaged accounts
• Avoidance lifestyle creep

But it’s doable: especially for medical professionals with six-figure incomes.

Early retirement isn't just a dream. It's a timeline shift.

Invest for Cash Flow 

Want more flexibility without needing millions invested?

Invest in assets that generate monthly income. That could be:

• Rental properties
• REITs or dividend stocks (though it takes a large portfolio to generate sufficient dividends to live off of)
• Investing in operating business 

Example: If your monthly expenses are $5,000, and your rental property portfolio  generates $2,500/month in cash flow, you only need to work part-time.

Less work. More choice. Better use of your healthy years.

How to Start? Focus on What Actually Moves the Needle:

❌ Not your $7 latte.
✅ Your investing rate.
✅ Your overhead (housing, car, student loan strategy).
✅ Your long-term portfolio.

Every financial decision has a time cost. You’re either buying things now or buying back your time later.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

You can’t control how long you live. But you can control how much time, freedom, and health you have left to enjoy the life you worked for.

Pick a plan: 

• Coast FIRE 
• Full Financial Independence 
• Cash Flow Investing

Start now. Not someday.

Want to Design Your Plan With an Expert?

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