As another year ends, there are a few tasks we should all consider completing. Some of the tasks have penalties assessed if they are not completed on time and others just lead to a lost opportunity if the deadline is missed. I missed a big opportunity the year I retired when I didn’t realize my … Read more
Is it better to pay off your student debt or save for retirement? It is unbelievable how often I hear this question. Often asked as if the person’s financial future is dependent on getting this question correct. The best answer for any given person at any given time depends mostly on what their budget looks … Read more
When I was 25 years old and in my third year of medical school, I laid out a plan to make me financially secure and able to retire by age 50. I began by calculating an estimate of the monthly income I would need during my retirement years. I then converted that to how big … Read more
Everyone has an idea of what they want their retirement years to be like. But when we finally pull the trigger and retire, we are traversing a new path for the first time. With no prior experience, we are likely to hit some snags. It’s best to learn about these snags from others and not … Read more
I have often written about the benefits of becoming debt free. In fact, last month I listed 20 good reasons to pay off your home mortgage. Whenever I write about becoming debt free, I get mail informing me that being debt free is a stupid idea. They say things like “I can invest my money … Read more
I am a big fan of cash flowing real estate as it has so many advantages over investing in the stock market. I know this firsthand, since I invested in both. Over my lifetime I have invested more money in the stock market than I have invested in real estate, yet my real estate returns … Read more
Personal debt is a topic that lends itself to many disagreements. There is the argument about “good” debt and “bad” debt, which is ridiculous since every debt is a burden. “Good” debt is akin to wearing your cleanest dirty shirt. If given the choice between inheriting a house that has “good” debt (a mortgage), or … Read more
We all need advice from time to time. Sometimes that advice is about personal finances, Investing, borrowing, or maybe even how to play better pickleball. When choosing a source for your financial advice, stay away from financial advisors who have a conflict of interest. The advisor who makes money on your investment decisions is like … Read more
(If you’ve had a chance to read The Doctors Guide to Finding Joy in Your Work, please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon. Reviews help people find good books to read.) I have dabbled at playing pickleball a few times a year since the late 70s, even going so far as to … Read more
(The photo with this article is the view I have as I write this from a timeshare resort in Escondido, California. I couldn’t travel as much if I was still working.) I’m a physician who retired from medicine early, based on most people’s thinking. But at what age is retirement early? The Social Security department … Read more