MtoM #266: $850K Net Worth as an Anesthesia Assistant

9 snips

Mar 16, 2026

Chabely Rodriguez, a certified anesthesiologist assistant who contracts as a locum tenens provider, built an $850K net worth early in her career. She describes locum work, nomadic living choices, and how she structures income and taxes. She also covers aggressive saving, student loan payoff momentum, negotiation lessons, and planning to front-load finances for future flexibility.

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ANECDOTE

How Chabely Became An Anesthesiologist Assistant

Chabely trained as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant with a ~2-year program including didactic and a year of clinical training.
She always works under an anesthesiologist and contrasted the AA pathway with CRNA routes that allow independent practice in some states.

ANECDOTE

Locums Contractor Setup And Solo 401k

Chabely transitioned from W-2 roles to locum tenens and now works as a 1099 contractor across multiple states.
She uses an LLC and pays herself through a solo 401(k) set up at Vanguard/Fidelity to gain tax and business flexibility.

INSIGHT

High Earnings Are Possible Outside Physician Roles

Chabely earned about $300,000 per year on average over ~4.5 years as an AA, showing high earnings outside physician roles.
That income, combined with disciplined saving, enabled rapid net worth growth despite taxes and living costs.

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In this episode of Milestones to Millionaire, we meet Chabely Rodriguez, a certified anesthesiologist assistant (CAA) who has built an impressive $850,000 net worth early in her career.

Chabely shares her financial journey, including the realities of working in anesthesia, how locums work has influenced her income strategy, and the steps she has taken to steadily build wealth.

We discuss how high-income healthcare professionals outside of medicine can still follow many of the same White Coat Investor principles, including maintaining a strong savings rate, avoiding lifestyle inflation, and creating a long-term investing plan.

Chabely also explains the strategy behind reaching this milestone and reflects on the lessons she has learned along the way. Her story highlights how consistent saving, intentional financial decisions, and a clear plan can lead to significant progress toward financial independence.

Whether you are a physician, anesthesia professional, or other high-income professional, this episode offers valuable insights into building wealth and staying focused on long-term financial goals.

One of the most underrated financial moves in medicine is working locum tenens. It pays significantly more on average, and you can work locums full time or on the side of your full time. When you work with CompHealth, the #1 staffing agency, they cover your housing and travel costs —which on top of higher pay, really adds up.

Locums also gives you more control of your career, allowing you to go where you want, when you want, with a schedule that works for you. It's the perfect way to get ahead financially while getting focused on what you love. Whether it's locum tenens or a regular permanent position, visit https://whitecoatinvestor.com/CompHealth and build your career your way with the power of CompHealth.

Celebrating your stories of success along the journey to financial freedom! Tune in every Monday to the Milestones to Millionaire Podcast, where we celebrate the financial achievements of our listeners and share practical tips for reaching your own milestones. We want to celebrate your milestones—no matter how big or small—and help inspire others to follow your lead. Every week, these episodes feature one listener who has recently achieved a milestone they are proud of and want to celebrate, and they give any advice they have for those who want to follow their example. Make sure to listen every Monday to be inspired by your fellow white coat investors.

Celebrate YOUR Milestone on the Milestones to Millionaire Podcast: https://whitecoatinvestor.com/milestones

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00:00 Milestones to Millionaire Podcast #266 03:46 $850K Net Worth as an Anesthesia Assistant 20:24 Healthcare FSAs