Have you ever thought that traveling and going on adventures would have to stop either when you have kids or when you are saving money to pursue financial independence as a physician associate / physician assistant? Heidi will share how those beliefs are misconceptions! Heidi Dusek is the founder and host of Ordinary Sherpa podcast and brand designed to inspire families to connect through simple and authentic adventure experiences. Heidi is well-versed in challenging the status quo, connecting p...
Jun 10, 2022•59 min
Unfortunately, many physician associates / physician assistants have experienced or will experience burnout. Meg Leddy, PA-C, went from experiencing burnout to teaching other PAs and other healthcare professionals about burnout and wellbeing. In this episode, Meg shares her burnout story, and also discusses why sleep and other elements of self-care are so important for helping with burnout. We also discuss how physician associate / physician assistant finances affect burnout. She is the host of ...
Jun 03, 2022•30 min
Did you make it to the AAPA Conference 2022 this week in Indianapolis, or are you planning on attending next year in Nashville? In this episode, I share some of the highlights of this years' conference as well as what you can expect when you attend an AAPA conference as a physician associate / physician assistant. During the conference this year, it was so interesting to hear Simone Biles and Jane Pauley discuss their mental health journeys over the years. Hayley Arceneaux then shared her incred...
May 27, 2022•19 min
If you're fortunate enough to learn about financial independence and starting to become financially literate before PA school, what can you do ahead of time to prepare and set yourself up for success? Rebecca is a brand new PA student (she just started last week!), and her husband, Skyler, is the FI part of the couple as he loves spreadsheets and optimizing their finances. They also share how they can communicate well as a couple when trying to discuss finances on their way to FI. Whether you're...
May 20, 2022•42 min
Mira, who goes by The Neurodivergent Pre-PA, has received the exciting news that she was accepted into two PA programs and is also on the wait list of others. She plans to start PA school in the fall of 2022. During our discussion, Mira shares what her school and work experiences have been like as a neurodivergent individual. Her life experiences have prompted her to be an advocate for those with disabilities. She also shares some of the financial struggles and considerations that she has had as...
May 13, 2022•36 min
Jeff, who refers to himself as a "retired chiropractor" turned PA-C, shares his incredibly unique story of how he has pursued many career paths prior to recently becoming a PA. He has also tried various hobbies over the years, enjoyed various roadtrips and sabbaticals, and has embraced the minimalism lifestyle. He also discusses how minimalistic concepts correlate well with several financial independence concepts. Take a listen to hear how a wandering path can actually be quite intentional livin...
May 06, 2022•59 min
Have you ever considered moving to another country, and then wondered if you could still practice medicine as a physician associate or a physician assistant while living there? There are now several countries where you could work as a PA, and the amount of countries that recognize the PA profession keeps expanding. Megan, aka The Expat PA, joins the show to share her experience having transitioned from being trained and practicing in the US to now living abroad and practicing in the UK. The best...
Apr 29, 2022•22 min
Some women and moms find that learning about finances can seem challenging. Jen Narciso, host of the Investor Mama podcast, started her show to help with some of these challenges and prove that investing while pursuing financial independence is for everyone. We dive into a variety of topics in this episode including motherhood, relationships with significant others, real estate investing, house hacking, caring for aging parents, and loss of loved ones. It is critical that women feel empowered to...
Apr 22, 2022•47 min
Karen Calcaño, PA-C, is our lovely guest on today's episode, which is Part 2 of a two part series. Karen shares her amazing and moving story of resilience as she became a first gen PA, then struggled with burnout in our broken healthcare system, and now is focused on building both wealth and a life she loves. She also dives into some tips on how to be more productive in this episode. The best part is that she has incredible resources to help you on her blog, www.scalpelandheart.com , and she als...
Apr 15, 2022•33 min
Karen Calcaño, PA-C, is our lovely guest on today's episode, which is Part 1 of a two part series. Karen shares her amazing and moving story of resilience as she became a first gen PA, then struggled with burnout in our broken healthcare system, and now is focused on building both wealth and a life she loves. The best part is that she has incredible resources to help you on her blog, www.scalpelandheart.com , and she also just opened her Personal Statement Mastery course to help pre-PA students ...
Apr 08, 2022•49 min
If you're a practicing physician assistant / physician associate or a PA student, consider joining both the national PA society (AAPA) as well as your state PA society. These organizations have many benefits for both you as an individual as well as for the PA profession as a whole. Some of the benefits include the following: advocacy for legislative changes, promotion of the profession, access to free CME, networking amongst colleagues and new friends, and even AAPA member discounts for various ...
Apr 01, 2022•17 min
Depending on how much income you or you and your spouse earn, you may end up being required to pay a large amount of taxes. The amount of federal and state taxes that you pay will also very likely increase over the years as your income grows as a practicing physician assistant / physician associate. But did you know that there are various ways that you can actually reduce your tax burden, and some of these suggestions can help you build more wealth with time? And of course, these are completely ...
Mar 25, 2022•18 min
Have you ever considered finding a locum tenens assignment either in your own state or throughout the country as a travel PA? Many physician assistants / physician associates who work locums gigs are 1099 independence contractors instead of W2 employees. As a 1099, you're both the "business" and the "employee". But what does all of this mean? Take a listen to hear Caroline continue to discuss these topics in Part 2 of our conversation! In this episode, she also shares why she thinks that working...
Mar 18, 2022•40 min
Have you ever considered finding a locum tenens assignment either in your own state or throughout the country as a travel PA? Many physician assistants / physician associates who work locums gigs are 1099 independence contractors instead of W2 employees. As a 1099, you're both the "business" and the "employee". But what does all of this mean? Caroline dives into these topics in detail over a two part series on the show, so make sure to come back next week for part 2! Interested in learning more?...
Mar 11, 2022•51 min
If you're trying to learn more about personal finance, Dave Ramsey and his 7 baby steps have likely come up in your research. Dave's personal finance suggestions have helped countless individuals and couples get out of debt. But how many of his 7 baby steps and other teachings and recommendations are sound advice through the lens of those pursuing financial independence? Enjoy the show? You can now support the PA the FI Way podcast through Buy Me a Coffee! Thank you for all of your support! http...
Mar 04, 2022•19 min
Are you a current or future physician assistant / physician associate and have wondered how to get a better handle on your finances to become more financially literate? Have you wondered how in the world are you going to pay off your astronomically high student loan debt? Or have you ever experienced burnout and have asked yourself, “Do I really need to work until the traditional retirement age of 65?” Pursuing financial independence as a PA can be the solution to help you take control of both y...
Feb 25, 2022•32 min
Take a listen to hear Ludi's story of how she came to the United States from Haiti as an older teenager, went to undergrad, started working, and eventually went to PA school! She worked hard and took guidance from others to take the leap to become a PA. Ludi also shares how she graduated without having to take out any student loan debt. She is working on a few projects including a future children's finance book, and check out her 2022 Gratitude Journal that she has released! Follow Truly Ludi on...
Feb 18, 2022•24 min
Want to be inspired today? Take a listen to hear Alpha share his amazing story of how he and his wife are on the path to financial independence to create freedom for their family. In addition to working as a pediatric physician assistant / physician associate, he has been working on various side hustles to earn extra income and increase monthly cash flow. We discuss owning ATM machines, crowdfunding, medical surveys, and dive into the topic of real estate investing! Resources mentioned: Rich Dad...
Feb 11, 2022•53 min
The creators behind Prescriptions and Paychecks join me on the show for this fun and informative conversation! Stephanie works as a dermatology PA-C, and her husband, Santiago, works as a PharmD. They are pursing FIRE with three young kiddos (raccoons), and they share how using an Au Pair (Bro Pair) has been helpful for childcare. They are currently enjoying their jobs so much that they are not tempted to retire early anytime soon; however, they are still pursing financial independence to allow ...
Feb 04, 2022•55 min
In this episode, my top 10 financial independence books that I've read over the past few years are reviewed, as well as 3 honorable mentions. Additionally, some other great books that PAs have written for current and future PAs are discussed. Interested in purchasing one of these books? Support the show by ordering through the links below! My Top 10 FI Book Recommendations: - The Simple Path to Wealth - Quit Like a Millionaire - The Psychology of Money - Set for Life - Choose FI - I Will Teach Y...
Jan 28, 2022•35 min
Bonds can help smooth some of the volatility that investing in stocks may provide, and I bonds in particular can serve as a good hedge against inflation. The White Coat Investor's post on how to buy I bonds: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/buy-i-bonds/ You can now support the show through Buy Me a Coffee! Thank you for all of your support! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pathefiway Follow along on Instagram: @pathefiway https://www.instagram.com/pathefiway/ Join the private Facebook group created...
Jan 21, 2022•19 min
Negotiating can seem so intimidating, but it can be a huge tool to help you build wealth over time. In this episode, an overview of various items that you can (and probably should) negotiate are discussed. Hint: it's not just your compensation! Whether you're negotiating for your first PA job out of PA school or you're renegotiating in your current role, it's important to know what your top goals and priorities are. Additionally, it's vital to understand what your contract states as well as what...
Jan 14, 2022•32 min
Have you ever taken a personality test such as Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, etc.? These test results can be so incredibly revealing about how you perceive the world and why you act the way you do. They can also show you your strengths, and equally important, your weaknesses. My amazing and wonderful sister joins me as a guest to share how we have very opposite personalities, and how that has affected us throughout the years. If you are able to learn about the personality types of the loved ones in y...
Jan 07, 2022•39 min
What better topic for this episode airing on the last day of the year than to celebrate some financial wins of 2021 and financial goals of 2022 of some of the podcast listeners?! Thank you to those who shared for contributing, and for those listening as I hope you find these motivating for you to reach your financial goals on your way to financial independence. In this episode, the following items were discussed the most: - Tracking your net worth (check out this blog post about calculating and ...
Dec 31, 2021•25 min
My husband and I just returned from our trip to Costa Rica this past weekend, and in this episode, I share how we were able to travel hack the trip by using travel rewards from credit card sign up bonuses to earn free travel! Additionally, take a listen to hear about the beautiful Hyatt hotel that we stayed at (Andaz Costa Rica Resort At Peninsula Papagayo) for free using points, as well as the fun activities and adventures that we did such as ziplining, fishing, taking a side-by-side tour, etc....
Dec 24, 2021•49 min
This episode was prompted by a question asked in the PA the FI Way Facebook group that was created for current and future PAs interested in financial independence. If you haven't already, feel free to join! Interestingly enough, several high-income professionals besides physicians may qualify for "physician loans", including PAs, depending on the lender. However, would pursuing a physician loan be wise for a new grad PA? As with many topics in personal finance, there are several pros and cons to...
Dec 17, 2021•15 min
Evan and Ginger with PA Money Sense share some guidance for budgeting while in PA school. It can be so tempting to take out the max of student loans that you can get, as well as spend every dollar of it! However, keep in mind that you will have to pay interest for each dollar that you spend. Evan and Ginger also tell us about their budgeting tool that they created to help you track your budget during PA school. You can use code PAFI30 to receive 30% off the PA School Budget Tracker ! Follow them...
Dec 10, 2021•28 min
Jacob, Cofounder of My PA Box, joins us on the show today to share the benefits of this incredibly helpful resource for those applying to PA school. My PA Box can help you narrow down which PA programs would be the best fit for you to apply to, ultimately cutting costs as well as headaches from your life! Jacob also shares how My PA Box was started with his business partner, as well as the inspirational stories of both himself and his family. Use code PAFI (in all caps) at mypabox.com for 15% of...
Dec 03, 2021•45 min
The most wonderful time of year is just around the corner! If you're a pre-PA, a PA student, or a practicing PA-C, this holiday gift guide was curated just for you to give you some ideas for your wishlist. Otherwise, if instead you're the significant other or family member of a current or future PA, but have no clue what to get them, then you're also in the right place! Check out the holiday gift guide by clicking here ! Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and holiday season! Sponsor for toda...
Nov 26, 2021•14 min
Most PAs graduate from PA school with over six figures of student loan debt! There are so many options to pay back your debt, some of which can include trading your service as a PA to have your student loans forgiven such as PSLF. Another plan may include refinancing with a private lender for a lower interest rate, but in some cases, it may make sense to actually keep federal student loans. For some, an IDR plan may be a better fit. How in the world do you decide which option for loan repayment ...
Nov 19, 2021•43 min
