Physician Burnout and the Power of

Financial Well-Being.

 

Jessica Briscoe, PharmD, Wealth Strategist—Healthcare Sector

 

Burnout among physicians continues to be a significant concern despite recent data

showing improvements post-covid. Long hours, administrative burdens from the

implementation of electronic record-keeping, and the emotional weight of caring for

patients can leave even the most dedicated doctors drained. Lack of autonomy and

demands on productivity seem to worsen the situation (1). Interestingly, studies also

find women can experience burn-out rates 27% higher than their male physician-counterparts (2). While strategies like mindfulness, exercise, and improved scheduling can help, one often overlooked factor is financial well-being.

 

Money itself isn’t the cure for burnout, but financial security can provide something

equally powerful: freedom.

 

When physicians take charge of their finances, they create space to practice medicine on their own terms rather than out of obligation. That means more than just saving a portion of your paycheck. It’s about growing retirement accounts, protecting income through insurance, and diversifying your investment profile so you’re not solely dependent on your clinical income. Building streams of income from dividends, private placements, real estate, and entrepreneurial ventures can create resilience. These not only provide financial returns but also open doors to meaningful work outside of direct patient care — whether that’s teaching, consulting, or building businesses that serve in new ways.

 

In short, financial planning isn’t simply about wealth — it’s about sustainability. By

cultivating multiple sources of income and planning for the long term, physicians can

reduce financial stress, reclaim their sense of agency, and even reignite their passion

for medicine.

 

References:

 

(1)Shanafelt TD, West CP, Sinsky C, et al. Changes in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration in physicians and the general US working population between 2011 and 2023. Mayo Clin Proc. 2024;99(2):252-266. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.11.004

 

(2)Sanford J. U.S. physician burnout rates drop yet remain worryingly high, Stanford Medicine-led study finds. Stanford Medicine News Center. 4/9/25.