Physicians assume that once their income stabilizes and their savings plans are in place, they will have peace of mind. But what if that peace never shows up? What if, despite doing everything "right," they still feel anxious, distracted, or perpetually behind? In this episode, we explore a surprising culprit: the emotional toll of financial noise - the relentless stream of news, updates, social media posts, and peer chatter that quietly chips away at your well-being.

Today, we'll walk through real-world examples of clients with rock-solid plans who nonetheless feel like the sky is falling, often because of a tweet, a headline, or a half-baked take on PSLF. They highlight how easy it is to internalize fear and stress derived from sources of information that are inaccurate and irrelevant to your financial reality. The problem isn't a lack of money, it's a lack of mental margin.

You'll leave this episode with two core takeaways: a reminder that boring investing is often the smartest kind; and second, a clear strategy for reclaiming control over what information you let into your brain. Because in a world where financial anxiety can be manufactured by a bot on a Sunday, the ability to filter noise isn't just a nice-to-have, it's essential.

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You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (0:00) Financial stress that isn't about the numbers

• (3:30) How news and social media hijack our financial decisions

• (4:45) Why "boring investing" beats trying to time the market

• (7:00) The disconnect between being financially fine and feeling financially fine

• (8:50) Rules and boundaries around news and social media consumption

• (13:10) A real-time example: PSLF panic caused by a website glitch

• (17:00) Refocusing on what you can control when the financial world feels chaotic

The Hidden Stressor in Your Financial Life No One Talks About

Most of us assume that we won't have to worry about our finances once we've hit a certain income level or dialed in our investment strategy. But time and time again, we meet with physicians who are doing all the right things - saving, investing, managing debt, and still feel uneasy.

That stress often stems from something intangible: the constant noise in the financial atmosphere. Whether it's a headline about student loans, a friend's market hot take, or a viral tweet about PSLF vanishing overnight, this kind of input doesn't just inform us, it can overwhelm us, hijack our sense of control, and leave us in a persistent state of financial unease.

How to Filter the Noise Before It Hijacks Your Decisions

It's not the presence of information that's the problem, it's the volume and velocity. With social media platforms and news alerts pinging us 24/7, our brains are stuck in a loop of reacting rather than responding. We've seen this happen firsthand: clients with airtight plans suddenly spiral over a rogue tweet or misinterpreted update.

The solution isn't to bury your head in the sand, but to build intentional filters. That might mean muting certain keywords, uninstalling apps from your phone, or limiting your news intake to one reliable source, once per day. You don't need to know everything the moment it happens. You just need a clear enough head to make good decisions when it counts.

The Power of Re-Centering on What You Can Control

When the noise around you gets louder, the smartest move is to tune it out and refocus on your own financial plan. We remind our clients to concentrate on what they can control, like how much they save, how consistently they invest, their daily spending habits, and the strength of their cash reserves. These are the levers that truly drive progress in your financial life.

Ruminating on policy changes, market predictions, or viral rumors won't. That kind of anxiety doesn't just cloud your judgment, it can chip away at your health. And we all know: health is wealth. The goal is a life where your finances support your peace of mind, not compete with it.

The best of the best list is a paid sponsorship, but these are professionals/companies that Tyler and Chad collaborate with within their own practices or have been vetted to earn a spot on this list. By supporting our sponsors, it allows Chad & Tyler to dedicate more time to you and the Physician Cents community. If you ever have a question (or not a great experience, which we don't expect!) about a sponsor, please let us know. We call it the "best of the best" for a reason, and we will maintain that standard for our listeners & viewers.

Resources & People Mentioned

• StudentAid.gov – https://studentaid.gov

Connect With Physician Cents

• WealthKeel LLC

• Olson Consulting LLC

• Tyler Olson on Twitter

• Chad Chubb, CFP®, CSLP® on Twitter

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