Orthopedic surgeons spend months obsessing over valuations, deal terms, and tax strategies—then face a harder question once the wire hits: what now? This article walks through the identity gap no one warns you about, how to design a purposeful “second act,” and the financial guardrails that can protect your practice-sale proceeds from lifestyle creep and impulsive decisions. If you are planning to sell to private equity or another buyer, this is the work to do before the deal closes.

Most surgeons move on after filing taxes, but the months between April 15 and year-end can be the most important planning window of the year. This article explains four high-impact moves—S-Corp salary review, cash balance plan setup, entity structure evaluation, and Roth conversion analysis—and why acting earlier creates more options