MoneyRx for CRNAs and NPs
Go behind the scenes with host Brett Fellows, CFP®, as he explores the unique financial opportunities and challenges facing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and Nurse Practitioners on the path to financial independence. Each episode delivers expert insights and actionable advice to help you lower taxes, invest smarter, and retire on your terms.
Brett's firm, Oak Capital Advisors, specializes in high-earning CRNAs and nurse practitioners and is currently accepting new clients. From retirement income strategy and tax planning to Social Security timing, Medicare, and estate planning, they offer comprehensive financial planning that goes far beyond investment management. If you're ready to work with someone who truly gets your world, the link to schedule a discovery meeting is in the show notes.
MoneyRx for CRNAs and NPs
Health Savings Accounts: How Nurses Should Use for Triple Tax Advantages
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Most CRNAs and nurse practitioners treat their HSA like a checking account for medical bills. They put money in, pay bills, and move on. But the HSA is the ONLY account in the U.S. tax code that gives you 3 tax benefits at the same time, and when used correctly, it translates to hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax-free wealth.
In this episode, Brett Fellows walks through how to turn your HSA into a serious retirement savings tool, including the investment strategy most nurses skip, the shoebox receipt strategy for tax-free cash in retirement, and the Medicare timing mistake that triggers a penalty most people never see coming.
Brett covers:
- Why you must be enrolled in a high deductible health plan to contribute, and what the 2026 IRS thresholds actually are
- The 2026 HSA contribution limits, catch-up contributions, and the FICA tax savings W-2 employees get that most people overlook
- How the triple tax advantage works and why the HSA outperforms both the traditional 401(k) and the Roth IRA for medical expenses
- The key differences between an HSA, FSA, and HRA
- Why investing your HSA balance instead of spending it is the move that separates a $2,000 balance from a $340,000 one
- The shoebox receipt strategy and how to use old medical receipts for tax-free withdrawals in retirement
- The Medicare look-back rule and exactly when to stop contributing to avoid a 6% excise tax
- What happens to your HSA after age 65, and why it functions as a traditional IRA for non-medical expenses
If you want to see how an HSA fits into your full retirement plan, visit oakcapitaladvisor.com to schedule a call. We work specifically with CRNAs and NPs.
#CRNAs #NursePractitioners #HSA #HealthSavingsAccount #RetirementPlanning #TaxStrategy
Key Timestamps:
(0:18) The HSA secret most nurses are missing
(1:17) Lisa vs. Kevin: same income, $340,000 apart
(2:35) What is an HSA, and who qualifies?
(3:05) 2026 HDHP thresholds and contribution limits
(4:15) The FICA tax savings most W-2 nurses overlook
(04:45) The triple tax advantage explained
(6:45) HSA vs. FSA: key differences (Note: HRA is not mentioned in the transcript)
(07:40) How to invest your HSA and why it matters
(08:25) The shoebox receipt strategy
(09:55) The Medicare timing trap and the look-back rule
(11:15) What happens to your HSA after age 65
(12:05) Action plan and next steps
For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.