What do chocolate, driverless cars, and a 96-year-old physicist have to teach us about financial planning for physicians?
Last week, I got a glimpse into the future that reshaped my thinking—and it could do the same for how you work with your doctor clients.
My son—a baseball fan—has always wanted to visit Oracle Park since seeing Ichiro’s legendary inside-the-park home run during an All-Star Game. As it happened, my 96-year-old college mentor, who lives in Berkeley and still does research, is also a baseball lover. The three of us attended a Giants game, but the journey to the ballpark became the true story.
Before the game, we visited Google, where my mentor’s son works in AI. We lunched in one of Google’s dining rooms that support healthy eating—sodas are hidden behind frosted doors, while waters are on display. Chocolate? We raided three different cafeteria floors to find it. We saw collaboration spaces, rest pods, and even “dog floors” for employees’ furry companions.
Then we rode to the stadium in a Waymo—yes, a driverless car.
Here’s what this experience showed me—and what you can bring to your conversations with doctor clients:
We’re Aging Differently My mentor, Forrest Mozer, is still actively involved in research at 96, including analyzing data from the Parker Solar Probe. He personally knew Oppenheimer and Teller. Click here to listen to him describe working with these legends. This isn’t an exception—it’s a growing trend. Ask your doctor clients: What do you want your life to look like at 70, 80, 90? Are you financially preparing for a long, vital future?
We’re Working Differently. Google’s culture thrives on collaboration and idea-sharing. Increasingly, doctors are investing in startups, exploring second careers, or becoming medical advisors. Are your clients financially flexible enough to pivot when opportunities arise?
We’re Moving Differently. That Waymo ride was smooth, silent, and futuristic. As transportation evolves, so too must legacy planning, wealth distribution, and even budgeting for emerging tech. Use it as a metaphor for the uncertain, driverless aspects of financial life.
AI Is Reshaping Everything. During lunch, we discussed how AI might replace pathologists. What if your clients’ entire profession shifts or shrinks? What are they doing now to diversify their income or build a resilient financial strategy?
Behavior Still Beats Algorithms. Yes, AI can recommend portfolios. But people don’t always act rationally with money—especially under stress. That’s where advisors add indispensable value. Understanding the emotions behind financial decisions is key.
Action Step for Advisors:
Start a conversation with your doctor clients using these questions:
– What do you imagine doing in retirement—and how does money support that vision?
– How do you feel about AI and its role in medicine?
– If you wanted to consult, teach, or invest post-career, what financial runway would you need?
Remember: Today’s doctors are planning not for a “stop working” retirement, but for a purposeful reinvention. Advisors who align with that vision become indispensable.
So, what does the future look like for your clients—and how are you helping them shape it?