Dr. Alexander Schloe, MD, a family medicine physician and Air Force veteran, joins Dr. Peter Crane to discuss his multifaceted career blending clinical practice, military service, family life, and real estate entrepreneurship. With over a decade in medicine, Dr. Schloe recounts his early exposure to assisted living at age 15 and a pivotal residency experience witnessing substandard care in a facility, prompting his shift toward boutique residential assisted living homes that prioritize dignity, consistent staffing, and personalized care. He explains the financial and ethical advantages of investing in these small, home-like facilities (6–16 residents), which yield higher returns (20–30% cash-on-cash) than traditional rentals while addressing senior care gaps amid staffing shortages and Medicaid cuts. Dr. Schloe emphasizes physician financial literacy starting with emergency funds, debt reduction, and house hacking, before scaling to passive income streams like assisted living. He shares how achieving financial independence in four years allowed him to practice part-time (two days/week), travel with family, and host the Physicians and Properties podcast. The conversation highlights avoiding lifestyle inflation, diversifying investments (e.g., Roth IRA, TSP alongside real estate), and using real estate for tax benefits and legacy building. This episode inspires physicians to pursue side ventures that align purpose with profit, fostering better work-life balance and patient care. Episode Highlights Alex's introduction: Christian, husband, father, family physician, Air Force veteran, real estate investor, and podcast host focused on financial freedom without losing one's soulMission: Help physicians achieve freedom at home and hospital through financial independence and dignified senior care via boutique assisted livingEarly exposure: First job at 15 in assisted living, residency horror story of poor care inspiring a better modelAssisted living realities: Staffing shortages, Medicaid cuts, and the need for small homes with 1:6 ratios for better dignity and outcomesFinancial perks: 20–30% cash-on-cash returns, tax advantages (depreciation, 1031 exchanges), and scalability from owning to investing passivelyPhysician pitfalls: Lifestyle inflation post-residency; advice to delay big purchases and build foundational financial habitsDiversification: Blend real estate with stocks, Roth IRA, TSP; start with house hacking for low-risk entryPersonal wins: Financial freedom in 4 years enabling part-time practice, family travel (e.g., month-long Europe camping), and improved doctoringResources: Physicians and Properties podcast, ralroom.com for assisted living guides and webinarsClosing advice: Get financial literacy (e.g., White Coat Investor, Rich Dad Poor Dad), invest wisely, and don't quit medicine—be better at itTop 3 Takeaways Boutique assisted living offers physicians high returns (20–30% cash-on-cash) and purpose by fixing broken senior care—start with education via webinars or guides to own or invest passively.Build financial independence by prioritizing emergency funds, debt payoff, and house hacking before scaling; avoid lifestyle inflation to accelerate freedom in 4–5 years.Diversify investments (real estate + stocks/IRAs) for tax benefits and legacy; financial freedom enhances work-life balance, making you a better doctor, spouse, and parent.About Dr. Alexander Schloe Dr. Alexander Schloe is a board-certified family physician, Air Force veteran, real estate investor, and host of the Physicians and Properties podcast. With years in military medicine and clinical practice, he focuses on helping physicians achieve financial freedom through real estate, particularly boutique residential assisted living homes that provide dignified senior care. His mission blends purpose and profit, enabling doctors to work on their terms while building wealth and legacy. He practices part-time, invests in assisted living, and shares strategies for burnout prevention and entrepreneurship. Website: https://physiciansandproperties.com Podcast: Physicians and Properties Podcast Assisted Living: https://theralroom.com (RAL Room) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexander-schloe-md About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note: Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. 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