From Entrepreneurial Surgeons to STR Investors: A Coaching Story

Meeting a Visionary ENT Couple

Recently, I had the privilege of consulting with an incredible doctor: a highly successful ENT and who has equally accomplished ENT wife. This entrepreneurial couple had already built a thriving surgical subspecialty locums business, Specialty Surgery Solutions, leveraging their expertise in a niche market. The husband, who was early to mid-career, was not only still practicing medicine part-time but also running their business and hosting a new podcast called Let’s Locums. They shared an inspiring goal: to achieve Coast FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in their mid career.

During our conversation, they revealed their recent purchase of a lake home—a sanctuary for relaxation and recharging. However, as much as they loved their second home, they recognized it wasn’t contributing to their financial goals. They wanted to take the next step: adding an income-producing short-term rental (STR) to their portfolio. As readers of my blog, they were already familiar with my own STR success story, Simpli SoHa, and wanted to learn more about how I did it.

Here’s how that consultation unfolded, along with lessons every physician can apply to their own journey toward financial independence.

Building Wealth Beyond Medicine

One of the first topics we discussed was the power of creating businesses to accelerate wealth growth. While professional work provides a steady income, short of a radical savings plan, it’s often not enough to achieve financial freedom quickly—especially when balancing it against the rising cost of living, medical school debt, and other financial responsibilities. Entrepreneurs like this ENT couple understand that owning a business allows them to multiply their income streams and create value that extends beyond their immediate labor.

Their locums company is a perfect example of this. By structuring their professional work as a micro-corporation, they’ve optimized their income, built a scalable model, and gained valuable business acumen. This type of entrepreneurial mindset is essential for any doctor looking to gain agency over their professional and financial future.

Takeaway #1: Creating businesses will grow your wealth faster than simply relying on your professional work.

Doctors Have What It Takes to Succeed in Business

Physicians are uniquely equipped to succeed in business. Our training instills discipline, critical thinking, and an unparalleled capacity for learning and adapting. These attributes, combined with the large incomes often available to dual-physician families, provide the ideal foundation for building a business or investing in growth assets like real estate.

This ENT couple exemplifies these traits. They saw an opportunity to leverage their skills and resources, not just for their careers but also for entrepreneurial ventures that align with their personal and professional goals. As we discussed their interest in STRs, it became clear they were ready to take the next step, fueled by their curiosity and determination to learn.

Takeaway #2: Doctors have the skills, income, and capacity to create thriving businesses—you’re already halfway there.

Viewing Yourself as a Business

One of the most important concepts I shared during our consultation was the idea that all doctors should view themselves as businesses. Whether you’re an independent contractor, a practice owner, or an employed physician, you’re operating as a micro-corporation. When structured correctly, this approach provides immense benefits: tax optimization, increased financial control, and the ability to diversify your income.

Read More: It’s time for every doctor to start a professional micro-corporation

This ENT couple had already embraced this mindset. Their locums company was not only a financial success but also a testament to their ability to operate as a business. Their next move—adding a real estate investment—was a natural extension of this approach, aligning with their goal of creating multiple income streams.

Takeaway #3: Viewing yourself as a business and structuring your professional work accordingly unlocks new opportunities for financial growth.

Real Estate: A Key to Accelerating Financial Independence

As we delved into their plans for an STR, I shared why real estate is such a powerful tool for building wealth. Real estate provides not only a steady income but also significant tax benefits and the potential for long-term appreciation. When done right, an STR can quickly outpace the income generated from professional work, helping you achieve financial independence faster.

The ENT couple’s lake home was a perfect starting point. While it served as a place of rest and relaxation, it wasn’t organized to generate income. By investing in an STR, they could create a property that offered both personal enjoyment and financial returns. I recommended they start by taking the SemiRetired MD’s “Accelerating Wealth” evergreen course—where they share principles that my wife and I found invaluable when launching Simpli SoHa. Watching the course together would give them a comprehensive understanding of STR investing and help them avoid common pitfalls.

Takeaway #4: Real estate is a tremendous growth and income asset that can help you reach financial independence faster than professional income alone.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

This consultation reminded me why I’m so passionate about helping doctors thrive as entrepreneurs. The ENT couple left our meeting with a clear plan: to continue growing their locums business, explore STR investments, and take actionable steps toward achieving Coast FIRE. If their story resonates with you, here are three ways SimpliMD can help you on your journey:

1. Personalized Micro-Business Consult For just $99, you’ll receive a one-on-one consultation tailored to your goals, plus a one-year SimpliMD membership worth $2,500 in business products.

2. “Creating a Practice Without Walls” Course Learn how to create a professional micro-corporation that gives you agency in the marketplace. This course will provide you with the tools and strategies to take control of your professional future.

3. SimpliMD Business Plan Suite Includes a Business Plan Template designed for self-employed doctors, a Micro-Corporation Budget Template to save you hours of time, and a SWOT Analysis Template to help you optimize your planning.

Final Thoughts

As doctors, we often underestimate the wealth-building potential outside of clinical practice. Whether through entrepreneurship, real estate, or other investments, there are countless opportunities to accelerate your journey to financial independence. Like the ENT couple, you already have the skills, resources, and mindset needed to succeed—you just need the right tools and guidance to take the leap.

Let SimpliMD be your partner in this journey. Together, we can help you achieve the financial freedom and professional fulfillment you deserve.