What does it take to break free from financial stress and become a changemaker in healthcare?
In this episode, Dr. Andrea Austin connects with Michael Swartz, a fee-only financial planner and coach who specializes in guiding physicians from residency to retirement. Drawing from his work at Schwartz Financial Planning, and his Health and Wealthness podcast, Michael offers a roadmap for physicians to navigate financial challenges and align their careers with their purpose.
They explore how the psychological weight of student loan debt can drive overwork and burnout, with Michael sharing strategies to reframe debt as an investment in future earning potential. He emphasizes the importance of a wealth-based mindset—where decisions are driven by values, not just income—and provides practical advice on balancing clinical demands with personal well-being. From empowering physicians to say “no” to toxic work environments to planning for a sustainable retirement. The conversation also covers the pitfalls of rigid financial goals, the power of coaching to shift mindsets, and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive professionals who share your vision for change.
If you’re a physician feeling trapped by student loans, overwork, or a misaligned career, this episode provides actionable tools and inspiration to reclaim financial and personal freedom.
Together, they dive into:
- Reframing student loan debt as an investment in earning potential, not a burden
- Balancing clinical work with personal well-being to avoid burnout
- Empowering physicians to make value-driven career decisions with financial confidence
- Practical retirement planning tips for high-income professionals
If you’re a physician feeling trapped by financial pressures or seeking to align your career with your purpose, this episode offers actionable strategies to reclaim control and drive meaningful change.
About the Guest:
“I help physicians find clarity and confidence in their financial and personal lives.” – Michael Swartz
Michael Swartz is a fee-only financial planner, coach, and owner of Schwartz Financial Planning, specializing in financial planning for physicians from residency to retirement. He is the author and host of Health and Wealthness, a book and podcast dedicated to guiding physicians through financial and life transitions. With personal insight from his wife’s career as a physician assistant, Michael helps physicians navigate student loans, career transitions, and retirement planning with a focus on empowerment and well-being.
📍 Connect with Michael
Website: healthwealthness.com
Podcast: https://healthwealthness.com/podcast
Book: Health and Wealthness: The Physician’s Guide to the Retirement Journey
📚 Resources + Mentions
- 🔗 Health and Wealthness: The Physician’s Guide to the Retirement Journey by Michael Swartz
- 🔗 Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
- 🔗 The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- 🔗 Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians
🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways
- Reframe debt as an investment: Shift your mindset from seeing student loans as a burden to viewing them as an investment in your earning potential, reducing psychological stress and empowering long-term planning.
- Wealth is a mindset: True wealth means living aligned with your values, regardless of income, allowing you to make career decisions without financial pressure dictating your choices.
- Seek fee-only financial planners: Work with a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) to ensure unbiased, fiduciary advice tailored to physicians’ unique financial needs.
🩺 About the Host
Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.
With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.