The Self-Employed Playbook: How One Canadian Orthopedic Surgeon Achieved Financial Freedom

There are pivotal moments in every physician's journey. For one Canadian orthopedic surgeon, that moment arrived just as he was about to take what most would call the “safe” route: a high-paying U.S. employed job after fellowship. The benefits were polished. The salary was strong. The future seemed certain.

But something inside him hesitated.

A quiet voice asked:

“Is this really the life I want?”

He had watched too many peers sacrifice their time, autonomy, and passion to institutions that promised security but delivered burnout.

So he walked away—and built something better.

Phase 1: The Moment of Awakening

After finishing a prestigious knee and sports medicine fellowship, the surgeon faced the typical fork in the road. Accept a salaried U.S. job—complete with call, quotas, and bureaucracy—or return to Canada and carve his own path. He chose the latter.

Why?

Because freedom mattered more than prestige.

He didn’t want a hospital board to dictate his nights and weekends. He didn’t want RVUs to shape how he practiced medicine. He wanted to call the shots.

This was his awakening: to reject dependency and embrace autonomy.

“I realized that employment was just a beautiful cage.”

Phase 2: Designing a Micro-Business That Matched His Values

Returning to Canada, he opened a private orthopedic clinic, but built it differently.

• Lean & Simple: No marble foyers. No bloated staff.

• Solo Practice: He leased space from a colleague at first.

• Family-Based Team: His wife joined as nurse and office manager.

• Long-Term Real Estate Play: One year in, they purchased a small strip mall medical office that would later appreciate dramatically.

His practice reflected what he valued most: ownership, simplicity, family, and purpose. Every patient felt the difference, no bureaucracy, no burnout, just authentic care.

For doctors who resonate with this ethos, I recommend reading our free e-book:

👉 Why Every Doctor Should Form a Micro-Corporation

Phase 3: Turning a Small Practice Into a Financial Powerhouse

This surgeon didn’t strike it rich overnight. He embraced boring excellence:

• Professional incorporation allowed income splitting, tax deferral, and retained earnings.

• Low overhead meant high margins with a manageable patient panel.

• Smart investing in low-fee ETFs created compound growth.

• Real estate appreciation turned a $1M office into a $5M asset in the Toronto area.

He tracked net worth quarterly and ran budgets like a CFO.

And the best part?

“I rarely missed a family dinner.”

Phase 4: A Purpose-Driven Exit From Surgery

Fast forward 30 years: No burnout. No panic. No regret.

He stopped operating but continued clinic work focused on knee arthritis—his true passion.

• No call

• No admin burden

• No guilt

He volunteered abroad and spent extended travel seasons with his wife. I met him while speaking for CME Away on an Antarctica cruise.

This wasn’t a retirement escape, it was a well-planned exit that brought joy.

Phase 5: Building a Legacy That Outlives You

Today, his legacy includes:

• Financial stability for his family

• Donations to his hospital and local charities

• Wisdom shared freely with younger physicians

His advice?

“Track your net worth. Budget annually. Live beneath your means. Own your business. Buy real estate early. And align your work with your values.”

If he could go back?

“I would’ve bought more real estate. Nothing builds wealth passively like land in the right location.”

“Is This Deductible?” Sidebar

Question: I’m parking at O’Hare for my PEA speaking engagement in Iceland. Business or personal expense?

Answer: If the trip is primarily for business, including flights, lodging, and the speaking event, then yes—airport parking is deductible through your micro-corporation.

 Download the Top 15 Tax Deductions for Doctors Who Are S-Corps

🧭 The Orthopedic Surgeon’s Playbook: 10 Key Principles

1. Question the Default Path – Don’t assume employment is safest.

2. Form Your Own Entity – Unlock tax and structural control.

3. Keep It Simple – Small and lean is scalable.

4. Involve Your Spouse – Trusted teammates reduce stress and increase synergy.

5. Buy Office Space Early – Tax-advantaged wealth builder.

6. Invest Conservatively – Boring wins.

7. Track + Budget – Be your own CFO.

8. Plan Your Exit – Don’t wait for burnout to act.

9. Align With Passion – Income will follow impact.

10. Think Legacy – Steward what you’ve built.

Your Turn to Begin

You don’t need to be an orthopedic surgeon to follow this path.

You just need a plan. A structure. A shift in mindset. And the courage to act.

At PEA-SimpliMD, we support your transition from physician to entrepreneur.

✅ Join the PEA Explorer Membership – just $99

✅ Download: Why Every Doctor Should Form a Micro-Corporation

✅ Book a Business Strategy Call With Me.

📬 Join the Movement

“The moment you stop thinking like an employee is the moment you start designing a life of freedom.” — Robert Kiyosaki

Ready to join thousands of physicians reclaiming their autonomy through micro-business ownership?

🎯 Become a PEA Member Now