I’m 16, and while I’m interested in almost everything, my biggest passions are the origin of the universe, the human brain, consciousness, and biology. That’s why I plan to go into medicine—it combines all of my main interests and also offers one of the most statistically stable, high-income career paths.
I’d likely choose a specialty with an average salary around $500k-$1million. My goal is to maximize that income to build significant wealth—not through index funds or anything with returns under 10%, but through higher-return opportunities. Based on my research, real estate crowdfunding and angel investing seem to offer the best odds for strong ROI if approached wisely. I’m aiming for 15–25% returns, which, with $400k invested annually, could grow into substantial income once the returns start compounding.
I also want to enjoy life—owning a home in a high cost of living area worth at least $1 million, and buying a couple of supercars totaling $400k while I’m still young. At the same time, I want to keep building my net worth so my kids can start compounding early in their careers, creating lasting generational wealth. Eventually, when I’m older and more experienced, I’d like to have the resources to bring my ideas to life.
Is this a good plan? My research might be off, so I’d appreciate any advice or better strategies.
You’re talking about becoming a doctor like it’s a guaranteed golden ticket: $500k salary, luxury cars, generational wealth, and the free time to bring your ideas into the world. But here’s the question you really need to answer: do you actually want to practice medicine, or do you just want the paycheck?
Because if it’s the paycheck, there are easier, faster, and less soul-crushing ways to get it. Medicine is not a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s 10–15 years of grinding — undergrad, med school, residency, maybe fellowship — where you’ll work 60–80 hours a week, live on almost nothing, and carry six figures of debt while your friends in other fields are already earning and investing. By the time you hit attending-level pay, you’ll likely be in your mid-to-late 30s.
And even then, that $500k isn’t as bulletproof as you think. After taxes, loans, living expenses, and whatever “lavish” lifestyle you chase, there’s a very real risk you won’t be investing the $400k a year you’re imagining.
And that 15–25% annual return goal? That’s fantasy-level consistent performance, not reality. Angel investing is gambling — even the best, most connected people in the game lose money more often than they win. Real estate crowdfunding? Many of those deals are illiquid, full of fees, and fail more often than the marketing suggests. If you want to roll the dice on those, fine — but don’t build your entire wealth plan around lottery-ticket odds.
The closest thing to a guaranteed wealth-building plan? Start investing in low-cost, broad-based index funds as early as possible, and let compound growth do its job. It’s not sexy. It won’t impress anyone on Instagram. But if you start early, keep adding to it, and let decades of compounding work for you, it will outperform the majority of high-risk strategies over the long haul — without the stress of gambling your future on a few deals hitting big.
If you love medicine — if the work itself excites you and you’d do it even if it paid half as much — then go for it. But if you’re drawn to it because it feels like a safe road to money, you’re misunderstanding both medicine and wealth building.
So before you start planning the garage for your $400k worth of supercars, figure out whether you want to be a doctor or just rich. Because if it’s just the latter, there are faster, less soul-crushing ways to get there — and they don’t involve putting other people’s lives in your hands.