Welcome back to the Finding Financial Freedom Podcast with Dr. Disha Spath.

Today’s guest is Dr. Joseph Ryan Smolarz, M.D., M.B.A.—a board-certified surgeon turned social entrepreneur with a powerful story of reinvention. In this episode, Dr. Ryan shares his candid financial journey, from the operating room to business school, and how embracing entrepreneurship led him to a more fulfilling and financially secure life.

He unpacks the physician mindset shift that helped him navigate early mistakes, the surprisingly simple logic behind self-storage investing, and how his net worth transformed through calculated risk-taking and education.

Key Topics Covered:

1. From Medicine to Money Mastery

• How Dr. Ryan’s physician journey ignited his interest in financial literacy.

2. Why Self-Storage Stands Out in Real Estate

• Breaking down the complexity of commercial real estate—and why self-storage is the simplest entry point.

3. Learning Personal Finance from Scratch

• How Dr. Ryan went from financially overwhelmed to confident and capable.

4. How Dr. Ryan Dealt with His Transition from Being a Physician to Entrepreneurship

• The reactions he received from fellow physicians when he chose the entrepreneurial route.

5. Tracking the Financial Transformation

• How his net worth shifted as he embraced entrepreneurship, business school, and smart investing.

Listener Takeaways:

• Why commercial real estate—especially self-storage—might be worth exploring
•  How to start your financial education, no matter where you’re at
•  What to expect when you pivot from clinical work to entrepreneurship
•  Real talk on the personal and financial growth that follows bold decisions

Resources Mentioned:

• The Medicine and Money Show by Dr. Ryan Smolarz

Connect with Us:

Host: Dr. Disha Spath, The Frugal Physician Guest: Dr. Joseph Ryan Smolarz, M.D., M.B.A.

This episode is brought to you by:

Earned Wealth: Earned's unique Doctor Wealth Playbook includes tax planning, investing, insurance, career advisory, and more. It’s a holistic approach from advisors who get the financial pressures of your profession. And for a limited time, Frugal Physician listeners can visit Earned.com/Frugal for exclusive access to this comprehensive planning at a discounted rate.