In this episode of Wealth Mavericks, Erin sits down with Dr. Subrat Khanal, a board-certified Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician in upstate New York, for a conversation that goes well beyond “money talk.” It’s about building a life with intention—health, family, career, and wealth—without letting the busiest seasons of life dictate your future.
Curiosity Led Him to Medicine—and Keeps Him There
Dr. Khanal shares that his original pull toward medicine wasn’t the typical “childhood calling.” In fact, no one in his close family worked in medicine—though there were distant connections and plenty of encouragement from relatives. What truly hooked him was curiosity: the desire to understand how the human body works, why disease happens, and how interventions can restore health.
That curiosity didn’t fade after training. If anything, it deepened. He describes medicine as a field where science continually reveals new truths—and he’s still fascinated by how much there is to learn.
Why Pulmonary + Critical Care Was the Right Fit
Choosing a specialty wasn’t random either. Dr. Khanal explains that he didn’t want to be boxed into a narrow lane early on. The ICU environment appealed to him because it forces you to think across all organ systems, quickly piece together a story, and respond decisively.
He also loves the balance of his two “worlds”:
- Outpatient pulmonary care: long-term relationships and ongoing management of chronic and complex lung conditions.
- ICU care: high-stakes, high-intensity medicine where every day can feel like life and death.
That 50/50 split, in his words, is “the best of both worlds.”
The Hardest Part: When Life Feels Unfair
One of the most powerful moments in the episode is when Dr. Khanal describes what hurts the most—cases that feel “unfair.” Young patients with sudden tragedy. Rare diseases in people who did everything “right.” Situations where modern medicine still doesn’t have answers.
In those moments, the job becomes less about curing and more about dignity, comfort, and supporting families through the hardest days of their lives.
Two Physicians, One Home: Work Doesn’t Stop at the Door
Dr. Khanal and his wife are both in the same specialty—something they didn’t plan, but grew into organically. Erin asks whether they “bring work home,” and his answer is refreshingly honest: it’s simply woven into their lives now.
They’ve discussed cases at home, looked at imaging, and learned together. Even their kids have been exposed to it in age-appropriate ways—turning “work” into something that feels integrated rather than intrusive.
The bigger challenge, especially during COVID, wasn’t the mental side—it was the fear of bringing illness home.
How They Protect Work-Life Balance Without “Chasing More”
Burnout is a constant theme in medicine, and Erin notes how intentionally Dr. Khanal and his wife have structured life to avoid sacrificing their health and family.
Their work schedule helps:
- ICU blocks are intense and require true recovery time.
- They protect off weeks as real off weeks.
- Clinic weeks feel more like a “normal” 9–5 rhythm, creating evenings and weekends to recharge.
What stands out most is the mindset underneath it: they’re not chasing money or status at the expense of peace. They’re choosing a life with margin.
Raising Kids in a Different World—and Keeping Core Values
Dr. Khanal reflects on the difference between growing up with “third-world problems” (basic utilities, scarcity, survival) and raising children in the U.S. where comfort and access are normal.
His concerns aren’t about food or electricity—it’s about the risks of an “easy life”:
- temptation
- addiction
- cultural drift
- distractions that can pull kids off course
His solution isn’t fear—it’s anchoring the family in core values:
- be grounded
- be kind
- treat others fairly
- give generously
- develop empathy for suffering
He emphasizes that the world will change fast (AI, crypto, culture shifts), but those values should remain stable.
Health as a Core Asset: Habits Over Hype
Dr. Khanal’s passion for longevity and health optimization comes from two places:
- Seeing disease every day (diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, lung disease).
- Feeling aging personally—how recovery changes, how the body responds differently over time.
He describes his approach as process-driven, not perfection-driven:
- Intermittent fasting (black coffee + water in the morning; first meal later in the day).
- Protein + greens as a foundation.
- Resistance training 3–5 times per week, 30–45 minutes.
- A disciplined but sustainable approach—he calls it 80/20, with space for enjoyment (yes, including dark chocolate).
His bigger point is simple: if you do the right actions consistently for a few months, the habits start to carry you automatically.
Wealth Means Time—Not Just More Money
When Erin asks what “wealth” means, Dr. Khanal gives an answer many high earners eventually arrive at:
At first, money feels like the goal because you don’t have it.
Later, time becomes the real currency, because it’s finite.
For him and his wife, financial freedom is:
- having passive income that eventually exceeds expenses
- being able to work because they want to, not because they have to
- using time for family, wellness, service, and meaning
He talks about a future where they can choose projects like free clinics, community health outreach, or even returning to poverty-stricken areas (including Nepal, where he grew up) to serve—without money pressure controlling the decision.
The “Couples Money Talk” Most People Avoid
One of the most practical parts of the episode is how they handle finances as a couple.
They built a simple structure:
- assets
- liabilities
- defense (insurance, protections, future planning like 529s)
Then they created a consistent rhythm: sit down on payday and review what came in, what went out, what’s coming up, and how they want to allocate intentionally.
His takeaway is powerful: your spouse should be a true partner in the finances—because alignment is an asset.
Final Wisdom: Fall in Love With the Process
To close, Erin asks for one piece of advice for living more intentionally. Dr. Khanal’s answer ties the whole conversation together:
Don’t chase outcomes.
Build processes.
Let results follow.
Whether it’s health, money, marriage, parenting, or career—process beats motivation every time.
Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/h8eAu0nrl0w?si=qiXYs0lPP31FzQnM