MedMoneyGuide

Our Editorial Methodology

Trust is the most valuable asset in finance. Here is exactly how we evaluate, rank, and review products for physicians.

Core Principles

Strict Editorial Independence

Our editorial team operates completely independently from our affiliate and business development teams. Lenders, insurers, and financial institutions cannot pay for a higher rating, alter a review, or dictate our editorial calendar.

Physician-Specific Criteria

We do not review products based on general consumer criteria. We evaluate products specifically on how they serve medical professionals—weighing factors like DTI flexibility for student loans, zero-down options, true own-occupation definitions, and whether they understand 1099/locum income.

Data-Driven Rankings

Our scoring systems (1.0 to 5.0) are based on quantitative analysis of rates, terms, and features, combined with qualitative feedback from practicing physicians who have used the products.

Primary Source Citations

We rely on authoritative primary sources for our data, including the IRS, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the AAMC, MGMA, and peer-reviewed literature. We do not aggregate unverified claims.

How We Score Products

We do not use a one-size-fits-all scoring model. A product that is excellent for a general consumer might be terrible for a physician. We break down our 5.0 scale based on the specific category of the product.

Physician Mortgages

  • Maximum loan amount with 0% down
  • Flexibility with student loan DTI (e.g., using IBR payments vs. 1% rule)
  • Absence of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
  • Ability to close before employment start date (up to 90 days)
  • Customer service and understanding of physician contracts

Disability Insurance

  • True "Own-Occupation" definition of disability
  • Quality of residual/partial disability riders
  • Future Increase Options (FIO) and medical underwriting terms
  • Company financial strength (A.M. Best ratings A or higher)
  • Premium costs relative to specialty classification

Student Loan Refinancing

  • Interest rates relative to current federal rates
  • Resident-specific repayment options (e.g., $100/month during training)
  • Cosigner release policies
  • Death and disability discharge provisions

How We Make Money

MedMoneyGuide is a free resource. To keep it free, we maintain affiliate relationships with some of the companies featured on our site. If you click a link and open an account or get a loan, we may earn a commission.

However, this compensation never influences our ratings, our reviews, or whether a product is included on our site. We regularly recommend products from which we earn nothing simply because they are the best option for our readers.