#135 W-2 or 1099: Are the Tax Savings Actually Worth It for Doctors?

#135 W-2 or 1099: Are the Tax Savings Actually Worth It for Doctors?

Author: Nate Reineke October 1, 2025 Duration: 23:43

Starting a new job always brings changes and new opportunities. For some docs, it may bring the question if being a 1099 contractor will create tax savings or a headache? Nate Reineke breaks down what you should consider if you are deciding between being a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor. We discuss how things like benefits and employer costs should factor into the decision. Be sure to listen to the end to hear what you should ask your CPA in order to make the best decision. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. A Surgeon in New York is planning to pay for their child to attend undergraduate and graduate school in the Northeast. They are worried about overfunding a 529 and want to know if they should use a 529 to save everything for college. An audience member at our webinar asked us how to choose a 529 plan since the state they live in doesn’t offer any state benefits. An Ophthalmologist in Chicago says, we are building a house and are being offered a “lender's credit”. Should we put it toward closing costs or use it to buy down the interest rate? 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)…