re: When/How to choose a professional to help with finances

First off, congrats on graduating med school with no debt. Not easy to do. Most of your peers are putting an obscene amount of their monthly check back to the student loan companies.

I think you need to do some thinking about where you see yourself in 5, 15, 25 years. Any good advisor is going to ask you that at your first meeting. So think of it now.

Have you been admitted as a partner in this practice group, or do you think you will be in the next few years? How does the buy-in work? Do you need to set aside money for that, or will they finance your buy-in through reduced distributions for a few years?

I would interview a few people - get some references. I'd be looking for an investment person / financial advisor to help you figure out what to do with your money. I'd also consider getting a will drafted. You don't have a family so it's not as important now... but if you do or have an ownership interest, it will be important.

I don't have anything against ML reps, but personally, I prefer someone that is not tied to a particular brokerage. An independent person. It seems to me, both from my experience and experience with my clients, that some (not all) of the company agents tend to, shall we say, promote their company's investment vehicles perhaps over the needs of their clients. Not all of them are like this, of course, but it's something to watch out for.

The other thing that concerned me is your partner telling you to finance as much as you can. I think you will fine a lot of successful people on here would not necessairly agree with that strategy. There is no reason to tie up all your cash... but you don't want to have a ton of debt, either.

Good luck!!