Physician Family Finances Podcast

Every lifeguard learns the same thing before they are allowed near the water. You do not swim into someone's arms. A panicking person will climb you, and then there are two people in trouble instead of one, so you bring something that floats and you keep it between you. Nobody watching from the sand thinks the lifeguard is being stingy about it. This week we talk about aging parents who are running out of money, and what a physician's household has to keep standing while it helps. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A Surgeon in Pennsylvania says, “I currently have a HDHP with an HSA and contribute the family amount since my son is also on my insurance. He will drop off mid-year and I will then have single coverage. Does this affect my HSA contributions?” A Urologist in Minnesota wonders, “Our oldest starts college next fall and the 529 has more in it than I expected. How do we actually spend it, and do we tell him what's in there?” A Radiologist in Illinois asks, “I inherited an after-tax retirement annuity from my dad. What is it?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected]. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Stock market charts can look like roller coasters, and most people assume the young riders are the ones who enjoy the drops. Not always. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones answer a question from an emergency medicine physician who is naturally risk-averse and feels pressure to invest aggressively simply because of their age. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A surgeon in Georgia asks, “We have a decent-sized brokerage account but found ourselves in a position with no emergency fund and a five-figure emergency. Should we take out a HELOC or withdrawal from our account?” A pediatrician in Oregon writes, “I have been a diligent saver for much of my career, and on top of that, I just received a sizeable inheritance of a couple million dollars. I still plan on working until 65. Can I start overspending on travel a bit now?” A Family Medicine Doctor in Texas says, “I am working toward PSLF and have heard about the “buyback program”; what is it and how does it work?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected]. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Should you choose a high tax break or high investment growth? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones break down a common dilemma for high-earning physicians: deciding between a Cash Balance Plan and a traditional taxable brokerage account. Chelsea explains the mathematical "break-even point,” why the potentially lower growth rates of cash balance plans often favor physicians in their mid-to-late 30s and 40s who are in top tax brackets, while Nate highlights the value of brokerage accounts for early retirement flexibility.We also answer your colleagues’ questions.Asking for a friend: How do I help my parents with managing their finances when I am a novice myself?A Urologist in California says, “I want to help my children either buy a house or get started with a new family. Considering gifting them somewhere around $100k. How should I invest the money?”A Neurologist in Oklahoma asks, “We currently work at a university where we receive a generous retirement match and have access to a non-gov 457(b). We have the option to switch to the physician group where we receive 457f contributions, a similar match, a non-gov 457b and the option for a mega BDR. Should we switch?”A Double Doc family in Virginia questions, “We have about 12 months of living expenses set aside for our emergency fund. Is this too much?”Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected] marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

When planning for your children's future education, a lack of an upfront state income tax deduction can make saving feel like a raw deal. Nate Reineke breaks down a question from a Florida surgeon tempted to skip 529 plan contributions entirely because the state lacks a state income tax break. We discuss why focusing solely on short-term deductions can miss the benefit of long-term tax-free compounding growth. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. A double-doctor family in Kansas says, “We did our Backdoor Roth conversions this year, but I am not sure TurboTax coded it right when we filed. How can I tell?” An anesthesiologist in Oregon asks, “I am applying for disability insurance but there is a lot of paperwork, and I am unsure about how to do this the right way. What should I do?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected]. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

The end of a career brings a lot of transitions. After working for decades to be successful, you want to ensure your transition into retirement is smooth and that you aren’t missing any last-minute savings opportunities. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones look at a Cardiologist in Oregon who is retiring soon and is questioning whether they should contribute to their IRA. We look at why the answer isn’t simple across the board but varies based on individual situations. We also answer your colleagues' questions. One doc asks, “Should I refinance if my mortgage balance is low?” An oncologist in California says, “Should I transfer my old 401(k) into my new one?” A child psychiatrist in Nevada is curious if they should shop around for a better disability insurance quote. Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected]. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Mortgage rates are on the move once again, and if you have an ARM that is coming up on a variable rate period, it may be time to consider changing your mortgage type. The answer to knowing if you should is easier than you may think. Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones give you the one simple step to determining what is best for you in the long run. We also answer your colleagues’ questions. A Neurologist in Georgia says, “I was revisiting my retirement benefits and I forgot that I had contributed to the 457 and not the 403b because my work matches "50% of your 457 Savings Plan contributions up to 4% of your eligible pay." I feel like I should max this out as well? We took the contribution to the 457 down to 0 in our 2nd to last visit. If we do max this out, would I contribute 8% to get the maximum contribution from work of 4%?” An OBGYN in New Jersey asks, “Do I actually need life insurance?” A Double Doctor Family in Florida wants to know, “Should we have our home purchase fund invested in the stock market?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you’re evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing [email protected]. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures