Heartbeats and Bank Statements: A Survey of the Financial Pulse of Cardiologists

Objectives. The financial well-being of cardiologists has received limited study. Methods. The authors performed an online, anonymous, international survey of the financial well-being of cardiologists from June to August 2024. Results. Three hundred thirty-eight attending cardiologists participated in this survey. Most were from the United States (78%), men (89%), and had a median age of 46 to 50 years. US participants had a median yearly income of $600 000 to $699 000, spent a median of 60 hours/week at work, had a median of 5 weeks/year of vacation, and 14.5% had college/medical school debt. Median incomes varied by practice type: university ($500 000-$599 000), private group ($700 000-$799 000), and community hospital ($700 000-$799 000). Less than half (44%) of the US participants received cardiology-related income such as royalties, 9% took locum/moonlighting shifts, and most (55%) had individual, own-occupation, specialty-specific disability insurance. Most (79%) were married and never divorced. Most (73%) led family financial planning, 59% had an investment advisor, 91% used tax-advantaged investment accounts, 70% knew where their money was invested, and 28% owned real estate with tenants. The median net worth of the US participants was $3 to $5 million, and 78% had a retirement net worth goal, with a median target of approximately $10 million. Half (50%) had trust and estate planning. One-third (32%) of the US participants said they would take a 25% pay cut to work 25% less. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that past divorce and longer work hours were associated with emotional exhaustion, while higher net worth was associated with higher life satisfaction and less emotional exhaustion. Conclusions. The survey provides novel insights into the financial well-being of cardiologists.