Ep105: The Mindset of the Entrepreneurial Physician with Dr. Ryan Smolarz

Welcome back to the Finding Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Disha Spath.

Today’s guest is Dr. Joseph Ryan Smolarz, M.D., M.B.A.—a board-certified surgeon turned social entrepreneur with a powerful story of reinvention. In this episode, Dr. Ryan shares his candid financial journey, from the operating room to business school, and how embracing entrepreneurship led him to a more fulfilling and financially secure life.

He unpacks the physician mindset shift that helped him navigate early mistakes, the surprisingly simple logic behind self-storage investing, and how his net worth transformed through calculated risk-taking and education.

Key Topics Covered:

1. From Medicine to Money Mastery

• How Dr. Ryan’s physician journey ignited his interest in financial literacy.

2. Why Self-Storage Stands Out in Real Estate

• Breaking down the complexity of commercial real estate—and why self-storage is the simplest entry point.

3. Learning Personal Finance from Scratch

• How Dr. Ryan went from financially overwhelmed to confident and capable.

4. How Dr. Ryan Dealt with His Transition from Being a Physician to Entrepreneurship

• The reactions he received from fellow physicians when he chose the entrepreneurial route.

5. Tracking the Financial Transformation

• How his net worth shifted as he embraced entrepreneurship, business school, and smart investing.

Listener Takeaways:

• Why commercial real estate—especially self-storage—might be worth exploring
•  How to start your financial education, no matter where you’re at
•  What to expect when you pivot from clinical work to entrepreneurship
•  Real talk on the personal and financial growth that follows bold decisions

Resources Mentioned:

• The Medicine and Money Show by Dr. Ryan Smolarz

Connect with Us:

Host: Dr. Disha Spath, The Frugal Physician
Guest: Dr. Joseph Ryan Smolarz, M.D., M.B.A.

This episode is brought to you by:

Earned Wealth: Earned's unique Doctor Wealth Playbook includes tax planning, investing, insurance, career advisory, and more. It’s a holistic approach from advisors who get the financial pressures of your profession. And for a limited time, Frugal Physician listeners can visit Earned.com/Frugal for exclusive access to this comprehensive planning at a discounted rate.