Chabely Rodriguez, 30, certified anesthesiologist assistant She’s changing what it means to be successful in the dynamic healthcare industry by her annual figures of success which exceed $300,000. Rodriguez relocated to Georgia in 2023. She’s made shrewd professional decisions to ensure long-term financial independence, and she’s done it all without going to med school. Her road to success is a testament to the paths that are possible within our diverse healthcare profession that don’t solely rely on conventional routes.
In a big step for her career, Rodriguez accepted a new challenge in 2024, taking a six-month contract position in Georgia. This decision opened up new pathways professionally for her, and from a financial aspect enabled her to really diversify her portfolio. She made an estimated $200,000 annually in her position in Florida. Her present post has provided her an affluent living.
Rodriguez’s financial goals are ambitious. Her original plan was to retire at 50 after making a $2 million investment. To date, she has made a total of investments totaling an impressive $500,000 as of January 2025. She puts the equivalent of 40% of her pre-tax income into her brokerage and retirement accounts. This decision illustrates her ambitious dedication to fostering economic prosperity and fiscal responsibility.
Despite the pressures of student debt, Rodriguez was able to pay off nearly $124,000 in loans in one lump sum in 2023. This feat is even more impressive given that she had long held a “scarcity mindset,” as she calls it, since childhood.
To be sure, Rodriguez admits that her focus has changed even in the four years she’s been in office. Where she used to care about homeownership, now she cares about financial flexibility and financial security. Her recent shift to New Mexico, after her contract in Georgia was up, is a testament to this new perspective.
“I feel so much more comfortable, and I can remove myself from situations if I’m uncomfortable,” Rodriguez stated, emphasizing her newfound freedom and confidence.
While Rodriguez could potentially earn closer to $500,000 annually by working similar overtime hours as she did previously, she is mindful of her work-life balance. “I want to make more money, but I don’t want to burn myself out along the way,” she explained.
Her spending habits have changed too, so that she can live life, but not in the shadow of financial anxiety. “I can treat my partner to something, or treat myself to something … I am now saying, ‘Hey, I make enough. I don’t need to push it past my limit to pay for this. Now, I can just breathe,’” she said.
Now, his success story is one that is helping to inspire and light the way for others in the healthcare field. Now looking back on her journey, she does so with gratitude and an eye towards continuing to prepare for what lies ahead. “I always want to prepare for [the worst],” she noted, highlighting the importance of planning in achieving financial security.