#162 Do Cash Balance Plans Help Physicians Balance What’s Paid In Taxes?

#162 Do Cash Balance Plans Help Physicians Balance What’s Paid In Taxes?

Author: Nate Reineke April 8, 2026 Duration: 38:19

If you’ve been working with a CPA this tax season, they may have recommended a cash balance plan. Generally, these plans can help docs like you save in taxes. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at one doctor in California who got that exact advice. We break down what exactly a cash balance plan is and how it can help when tax season rolls around. We also look at some factors that could indicate it’s just not the right time to start a cash balance plan. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A Pediatric Hospitalist in Virginia asks, “If my spouse has our children on her HSA-eligible health plan, and I also have an HSA-eligible plan, can we contribute more than the $8,750 family limit?” An OBGYN in Arizona says, “Should I buy points on my new mortgage? What are they and why are they being offered?” A GYN ONC in Oregon is buying their first home soon and is curious about physician loans. A Nephrologist in Pennsylvania wonders, “My spouse only makes 40k/year of self-employment income. Is it worth setting them up with a solo 401 (k)?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, 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)…