Episode 114: Navigating Rising Interest Rates in 2026 – What Physicians Should Know About Borrowing and Saving

In Episode 114 of Doctor’s Wealth and Wellness, host Norm Wright, Certified Financial Planner at SKC Financial Group, explores how rising interest rates in 2026 impact physicians’ borrowing and saving strategies. He outlines three core concepts: how higher rates increase borrowing costs for mortgages, student loans, and practice loans (highlighting the importance of fixed vs. variable rates), the positive effects on savers through better yields on high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and fixed-income investments, and the value of maintaining long-term perspective during rate uncertainty instead of attempting to predict market movements. Drawing on 2026 Federal Reserve and Vanguard analyses, Norm provides practical awareness steps such as reviewing current loan types, comparing savings rates to recent months, and reflecting on your overall financial plan under different rate scenarios. The episode emphasizes building awareness to improve cash flow management, debt planning, and informed conversations with advisors, while encouraging listeners to try one awareness step this week and reach out via email or for a free 30-minute consultation. Examples in this episode are hypothetical and not representative of a specific individual.