Insurance Planning
Protect your most valuable asset: your ability to practice.
A 30-year-old physician has roughly $9 million in lifetime earning potential. The right insurance strategy protects that asset, and everything you have already built.
How We’re Different
During my third year in residency, I remember casually mentioning to a good friend and financial advisor that I knew I needed to set up a disability insurance policy. I knew it was important, but like most trainees juggling long hours, exams, and rotations, I kept putting it off. I told myself I’d take care of it “when things slowed down.”
They never did.
Just three months later, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Overnight, I went from being fully eligible for coverage to being completely uninsurable for disability insurance.
That experience has stayed with me. Losing the ability to protect my income, not because I didn’t want it, but because I waited too long, was a lesson I learned the hard way. And it’s the reason I speak so openly about it now.
If you’re healthy today, please don’t wait. Your ability to work and earn an income is your greatest financial asset. Protect it while you still have the opportunity to do so.
Start your quote today. Your future self will thank you.
The Most Important Clause in Your Policy
Why own-occupation disability is non-negotiable for physicians.
Most disability policies use an “any occupation” definition, meaning you are only disabled if you cannot work at any job for which you are reasonably suited. A neurosurgeon who loses fine motor control might still qualify as a medical consultant. Under that definition, no benefit is paid.
Own-occupation changes everything. Under this definition, you are disabled if you cannot perform the material duties of your own specialty. Full stop. It is the only definition worth having as a physician, and individual policies are far more likely to offer it than group coverage.
Any-Occupation Definition
Benefits only if you cannot work any job for which you are reasonably qualified. Leaves most physicians exposed.
Own-Occupation Definition
Benefits if you cannot perform the material duties of your own medical specialty, even if you work in another capacity.
Typical Group Coverage
Usually any-occupation after 24 months, not portable, and taxable if employer pays premiums.
Coverage Types
A complete protection strategy for physicians.
Disability insurance is the foundation, but a comprehensive protection plan layers multiple policies to cover every meaningful risk.
Own-Occupation Disability
The gold standard for physicians. You are considered disabled if you cannot perform the material duties of your own specialty, even if you could theoretically work in another field. Most group policies don't offer this. Your individual policy should.
Term Life Insurance
A 20- or 30-year level-term policy provides a death benefit that replaces your income for your family during your peak earning years. Most physicians need $2–5M in coverage. We model the right amount for your situation.
Umbrella Liability
Your home and auto policies stop at their limits. An umbrella policy provides an additional $1–5M layer of liability protection, critical for physicians who are perceived as high-value lawsuit targets.
Malpractice Coordination
We don't sell malpractice insurance, but we review your existing coverage to confirm it integrates correctly with your disability and life policies and isn't creating gaps or redundancies in your overall protection plan.
Timing Matters
When to buy, and why waiting costs you.
Insurance premiums are locked at the age and health you are when you apply. Every year you wait is a year of higher rates for the rest of your career.
Buy now. Lock in the lowest rates of your career.
Insurers price disability policies on age and health at application. A 27-year-old resident qualifies for rates and underwriting that a 35-year-old attending simply can't get. Most carriers offer resident discounts of 10–20%, plus a future increase option, so you can add coverage as your income grows without another medical exam.
Your income jumped. Your coverage probably didn't.
The transition from residency to attending creates a significant gap between what group benefits cover and what you actually need. We review your employer-provided policy (typically 60% of base salary, taxable, no own-occupation definition) and build an individual policy that fills the real gap.
Your business needs protection too.
If you own a practice, a disability could threaten more than your personal income. It could threaten your business. Business overhead expense (BOE) insurance keeps the lights on while you recover. We help practice owners layer individual, BOE, and key-person coverage correctly.
Carrier Partners
We work with the best carriers for physicians.
Not every carrier is built for physicians. We work with Guardian and MassMutual because they consistently offer the strongest own-occupation definitions, financial stability, and physician-specific riders.
Guardian
One of the strongest own-occupation definitions in the market. Excellent for surgical specialties.
MassMutual
Highly competitive for high-income physicians. Strong financial ratings and flexible rider options.
Attend Wealth advisors are licensed insurance professionals. We shop the market on your behalf, present options without commissions driving our recommendation, and help you understand every rider before you sign.