M Advisor Podcast: Financial Clarity for Physicians

Benefits are an important part of an employed physician's financial plan. When preparing for your own benefits enrollment, here are a few mistakes to be aware of:

Select your Long Term Disability (LTD) carefully

Beware of opting in to too many ancillary benefits that have little value

Group life insurance is usually expensive, and it has strings attached that aren't usually considered

If you have a 401(k) or a 403(b), then there's a good chance you're invested in target date funds. Many people don't know what target date funds are or how they work, yet they often have a large concentration of assets in them. Let's explore what target date funds are, how they work, and if they're appropriate.

"The treasure you seek in is the care you dare not enter" - Joseph Campbell

This quote struck me recently, and it is pertinent to many areas of our lives, and it's no different with financial planning. Finances can be complicated and scary. Our next achievement in personal growth might come from facing a scary task.

What is one thing physicians often miss with their finances? It's making sure they save before they spend. Lifestyle creep is a real thing, but physicians often have to deal with lifestyle accumulation throughout medical school, residency, and fellowship. The best time to start saving was in the past; the next-best time is now.

Is Uncertainty the villain in our finances? I don't think so. We're not trying to solve for certainty, as there is a cost to certainty. We're solving for success. How can we tell which is which?

I've heard this story several times during the last few months, so while it's a fairly common story, I thought I'd still share and give some thoughts on it. You can complete a web search for "Mexican Fisherman Story" and read the same or similar version I read.

What I gather from this story is:

-Don't follow someone else's dreams/goals

-Understand your priorities

Sometimes the simplest things are the most difficult. Being content in our lives is one of these simple, yet difficult things. Whether it be from gratitude or internal fulfillment, being content with yourself, your life, and your circumstances can be an advantage to your future, both from a happiness perspective as well as a financial standpoint.

Are we helping our kids too much, too little, or just right as they transition from teenager to adults. While we want our kids to become independent, productive adults, how we intervene teaches them to be dependent or independent. Helping too much can negatively shape their opinion on effort and hard work, but so can helping too little. Striking a balance of support and communicating expectations are likely helpful endeavors. This is a question that should be viewed from the family values lens.

Is your spending frugal or wasteful? What's the difference, and how do you know? In this episode we explore the differences between frugal and wasteful spending and how it impacts your finances and the earth.

What's more impactful than sharing free time with your kids? Could discovering a hobby (together) be one of the most lasting gifts you give to your children? How do you go about finding a hobby? Let's chat about it!