Most surgeons wait until 12–18 months before retirement to think about selling their practice—by then, leverage and tax options are already limited. This article lays out a five‑year, physician‑specific exit protocol that helps you separate personal goodwill, diversify revenue, recruit an associate, and structure a sale that supports both your valuation and after‑tax proceeds.

Many S-Corp owners are told to “keep your salary as low as possible” to save on payroll taxes—but at higher income levels, that advice can quietly cost you six figures in lost retirement wealth. This article shows Orthopedic Surgeons how to align salary, QBI, and 401(k)/cash balance contributions so their tax strategy actually builds wealth.