expert

I'm not the original poster, but I am an expert on the opportunity you will soon face. I assume you just graduated and will be entering residency. Congratulations.

I just reviewed a posting in which a young pod claimed success because he is grossing over 100k. What does that mean? Is this the total amount collected? (that's my presumption) This is not success. It is enough to run a budget practice in a cheap location and pay your bills if they are modest. Of course you would need you mom to be an unpaid recptionist.


First, don't believe what graduating residents tell you. They are trying to impress you. They really don't have any idea whether their offers are good until they take the job and work for a year. I'm not impressed by 70k. Apparently you are. Incidentally starting attorneys in large practices are making 120k with real benefits in Indianapolis. I bet you would be hardpressed to find a job for half that with no benefits as a pod in INDY.

I graduated some 15 years ago and I know that opportunities in postgraduate training are better now. (I did 2 years) But I left and went to med school for better opportunities.

In the 12 months prior to selling my practice I performed HAV srgery on 62 patients, Hammertoe surgery on 190, permanent nails on 750 patients, and miscellaneous other procedures. Note that I said patients not procedures, many would have bilateral procedures done. And I was making up to $470 for a 11750. $1800 a buny and $800 a hammertoe. These were my best insurance companies ( I think I once got paid $1200 for a single hammertoe.

I believe I was successful but I never really got on the podiatry bandwagon. I enjoyed what I did but always felt that I had settled for a profession that was a second choice. So I went to med school and have had no regrets.

Anyhow, when I survey the wreakage that my graduating class has become, I am not optimistic about your future. I believe that even with 3 years of residency and your winning smile and stellar personality that you face an uphill battle. You have after all invested an estimated 140k in an education and even if you make the average 130k you repeatedly cite, how much is left over after taxes?
I predict you will struggle financially all your life and need a parttime job after retirement to make ends meet.

In the future you will meet many peers who will talk about what a great income they have, but unlesss you are doing their taxes for them you will have no idea.
just because someone drives a BMW and lives in a $300,000 house doesn't mean they have any savings.