Dr. Michelle Cuevas - The NP Who Left the W2 Life to Build Income, Flexibility, and a Life on Her Terms

Making the jump from employee to business owner can feel scary for NPs and CRNAs, but it can be done successfully. In this episode, Brett Fellows sits down with Dr. Michelle Cuevas, DNP, FNP-C, a family nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and self-described explorer who made the leap from W2 employee to 1099 business owner and has not looked back.Michelle built the NP Specialist Nursing Inc., her own clinical 1099 company, and then launched the NP Travel Specialist, a travel business that gives her flexible income and the freedom to explore the world with her family. Brett and Michelle share insights for anyone considering a similar move.In this episode, they explore:What finally pushed Michelle to leave the W2 world after nearly three decadesThe costly legal and financial mistakes she made going 1099, and what she wishes she had knownHow to evaluate a side business or second income stream as a nurse practitionerWhy the DNP did not necessarily increase her direct income, but absolutely opened doorsHer approach to managing student loan debt with intentionHow full practice authority and state-level legislation directly impact NP income and opportunityWhat a solo 401(k) looks like for a self-employed NPThe one piece of money advice she would give her younger selfWhether you are a nurse practitioner dreaming of going 1099, considering a side business, or trying to figure out what financial freedom looks like in practice, this episode is for you.#NursePractitioner #1099Life #NurseEntrepreneur #FinancialFreedom #MoneyRxKey Timestamps:(0:18) Welcome and Introduction to Dr. Michelle Cuevas(5:18) How Diverse Clinical Experience Impacted Her Earning Power(7:18) Why Michelle Chose Nursing and Pursued Her Doctorate(11:18) The Catalyst for Transitioning from W2 to 1099 Clinical Work(21:18) Lessons Learned: Legal Mistakes and Business Structure Errors in California(26:18) The Reality of Financial Complexity and Choosing Retirement Accounts(31:18) Diversifying Income: Launching "The NP Travel Specialist" Business(35:18) Evaluating the ROI of a DNP Degree(36:18) Managing Student Loans: What Nurse Practitioners Often Get Wrong(39:18) Managing a Large Family and Long-Term Financial PlanningFor more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.