The High Price of Procrastination

An important aspect of productivity is the concept “Do It Now.” When one concludes that a particular thing should be done, the most cost-effective way to get it done is to do it now. But we often do not follow this ideal. Instead we procrastinate until not doing it becomes more painful than doing it.  … Read more

Understanding the Backdoor Roth IRA

A backdoor Roth IRA is a great additional retirement savings plan for high earning professionals. Since I get many questions on how to make a backdoor Roth IRA contribution, I thought it would be good to help set the record straight and explain the Backdoor Roth IRA rules and answer the common questions that confuse … Read more

A Surgeon’s Thoughts on Turning 61

This month I celebrate my 61st birthday. This birthday marks the first time I really considered the concept of my time on earth running low. Exactly how much time do I have left to do all the things I still have on my bucket list? Will I see my grandsons graduate from college? Will I … Read more

Six Years Retired from Surgery 

This month marks six years since I walked out of the hospital in Lebanon, Oregon, to the song 18 wheels and a dozen roses, by Kathy Mattea, after my final week of locum tenens work. I was reluctant about giving up surgery at age 54, wondering if we had enough passive income and retirement savings … Read more

Why I Only Buy Brokered Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) come in two basic types, those you buy directly from a bank or other lending institution and those available from brokerage firms. Essentially the brokerage firms are offering bank CDs that can be traded like a bond. Brokered CDs are a special class of CDs offered by a lending institution with … Read more

My Year End Financial Housekeeping Routine

I have a routine that I undergo each December to be sure the year ends well financially. With the December 31st deadline approaching I don’t want to miss any of the things that must be completed before year-end. There are many things to consider and I don’t do everything that people talk about doing at … Read more