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Five Money Mistakes Physicians Make in Their First Five Years

Late starts and high debt make the early attending years unusually consequential. Common traps and how to avoid them.

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Physicians often begin earning a full salary later than peers in other professions, and many carry substantial educational debt. That makes the first five attending years unusually consequential.

The usual traps

Lifestyle inflation, delaying disability insurance, ignoring loan strategy, and trusting advisors without understanding how they are paid are among the most common. This article is general information, not financial advice, so consult a qualified professional for your situation.

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Priya Natarajan, MBA

Priya Natarajan has run operations for multispecialty groups and writes The Script Pad's practice management column.

This article is for professional education and does not replace clinical judgment. Treatment decisions should be based on the individual patient and current guidelines.