Inflation, rising interest rates and turbulent markets have physicians on edge. Yet despite those concerns, nearly half of physicians expect their investment portfolios to grow over the next year, according to Medscape’s 2026 “Physician Wealth and Debt Report.”
How worried are physicians about the economy?
Physicians are most concerned about inflation — 41% rate it a 5 out of 5 on concern, and 69% rate it a 4 or 5. Interest rates and market direction draw somewhat less alarm, but still skew toward concern.
| Indicator | 1 – Not concerned | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 – Very concerned |
| Inflation | 4% | 7% | 20% | 28% | 41% |
| Interest rates | 8% | 13% | 30% | 23% | 25% |
| US financial markets | 6% | 10% | 27% | 26% | 31% |
What do physicians expect for their portfolios?
Despite economic concerns, physician optimism holds, with nearly half expect their investment portfolio to grow over the next year.
- 45% expect their portfolio to grow
- 33% expect it to remain stable
- 22% expect it to decline
Are physicians saving more or less than last year?
Most physicians are saving at about the same rate as the prior year. Education accounts (529s) stand out — 24% are saving proportionately more, the highest “more” figure across all account types.
| Account type | Saving more | About the same | Saving less |
| Tax-advantaged retirement (401k, 403b) | 9% | 72% | 19% |
| Post-tax retirement (Roth IRA) | 12% | 71% | 17% |
| Education accounts (529) | 24% | 64% | 12% |
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