#133 Dependent Care FSA: Time Suck or Tax Saver for Doctors?

#133 Dependent Care FSA: Time Suck or Tax Saver for Doctors?

Author: Nate Reineke September 17, 2025 Duration: 21:26

There are a thousand opinions out there on how to raise kids, but the one thing everyone can agree on is that raising kids is expensive. Luckily, there’s a way that doctors like you can save on taxes and use pretax dollars to pay for childcare. Nate Reineke breaks down how a dependent care FSA can be used to pay for daycare or nannies and how it helps physicians get an easy tax break. We also answered your colleagues’ questions. A Pediatrician in California says, I inherited an IRA from my mom. I plan to work for the next 10 years, and the IRA is subject to the 10-year rule. I am switching jobs to a higher-paying job in 2026. Should I withdraw now or wait? A business owning spouse of a Dermatologist in Virginia opened a group 401 (k) plan with a non-spouse employee who never became eligible for the plan. They want to know if they can close the group plan and roll the funds into a Solo 401 (k). A cardiologist in Oregon says that his wife has an inactive 401 (k) that is changing custodians and is in a blackout period. He wants to know what that means. An Addiction Medication Specialist in Oregon says, according to my plan, I am on track for retirement, and I may decrease my working hours soon. Should I open a cash balance account? Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It’s time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we’re a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures


Finding a clear path through financial planning feels uniquely challenging when your career is in medicine and your heart is at home with family. The Physician Family Finances Podcast exists in that specific, demanding space. Host Nate Reineke, alongside co-host Chelsea Jones, brings their experience as Certified Financial Planner™ professionals directly to conversations with physician parents. They understand the dual pressures of managing a practice, caring for kids, and making smart long-term decisions with your earnings. Each episode moves beyond generic advice to tackle the real questions you face, from navigating student loan strategies and investment options tailored to a physician's timeline to planning for retirement without sacrificing your family's present. This isn't about quick tips; it's about building a sustainable framework that aligns with your values and goals. Tune in for a candid, practical discussion that makes complex topics like tax laws and wealth building accessible, so you can gain confidence and clarity with your finances. The entire podcast is built on the principle that securing your future should feel like an achievable part of your life's work, not an overwhelming distraction from it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Physician Family Finances Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Should physicians hire their spouses? Fishy or fine? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:58
Some tax strategies are fishier than others. This week, you’ll hear about how things are going with Nate and his son’s development as a fisherman, and we’ll also tackle a somewhat fishy 401(k) question: can you, or SHOUL…
Fishing for Conversions: Physician Mistakes on Backdoor Roth Accounts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
If fishing were easy, they’d call it catching. If backdoor Roths were easy, they’d call it a loophole. Listen in as Nate Reineke and Ben Utley answer a cumbersome backdoor Roth question from a physician who fears they ma…
From Scrubs to Shrubs: A Doctor’s Guide to Financing a Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:52
Buying a home is hard. As a physician, you want to make sure you get the best rate, use the right type of loan, and avoid the mistakes that drag out the process. Listen in as Ben Utley and Nate Reineke dissect the comple…
Physicians, Flowers, and 403(b)s: A Mother’s Day Finance Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:54
Let's be real here: You spent your first 20 years of life rolling your eyes at your mom's advice and the rest of your life realizing she was right. So right now, make sure you have a table reserved (or groceries bought)…