Financial Clarity Blog

For our readers who are still in training, you may be seeing another gift from Uncle Sam-soon. Or maybe you already have! These are crazy times, economically and personally. But even in crazy times, good things can happen. What do we do if those good things come in the form of “extra” money? A stimulus check, a bonus you didn’t think you would qualify for, or maybe even an unexpected inheritance. Do you pay down debt? Do you spend it? Do you save?

With a fresh new wave of stimulus money hitting people’s bank accounts this week, many residents & fellows (and med students, for that matter) will be receiving their $1,400 stimulus checks. Today we thought it would be a good idea to lay out some things to do with your stimulus check while in residency.

The first step to achieving financial independence is to define what financial independence means to you. It's going to be different for everyone. How do you want your life to look? What do you want to do for work if you could choose? What would you like to do in your free time? How much free time do you want to have?

Last week, with the Powerball winner claiming the grand prize of $730 million and the Mega Millions at $1 billion, it got me thinking – what would I do if I won the lottery that much?  Doesn’t everyone wonder that every once in a while?  What would I do first with the money?  I know my wife wants a new backsplash in the kitchen, so I supposed we could get that done. Or buy the forever home. Should I claim the lump sum or the 30-year payout?  Do I tell my friends and family?  Do I tell my wife?  (Just kidding….sort of).  How do I ensure I don’t go bankrupt like a lot of lottery winners?  It all starts with putting together a plan.  Here are some initial thoughts on how I would react and what I would do.

I’m really good at contradicting myself and making sense (in my head) while doing it. For example, I am a big advocate of setting goals and creating a plan to achieve those goals. The simple process of creating a goal and an action plan to achieve it can help you accomplish a lot. I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions because they are usually a half-hearted self-improvement “goal” that we bail on by February. For example, every year, I tell myself I will swear less, say more positive things, and less negative things. I don’t make much progress.

What a year 2020 has been. For some of you, this post may be an inspiration to drink away the memory that is 2020 and start fresh in 2021. I know I could go for a stiff drink this holiday season. Many of you probably saw this title and thought to yourselves, "Wow, Corey must be an alcoholic." Or, "Wow, Corey must have a lot of money if he can afford to blow $5,000 on booze." Or both. I have to confess, I didn't actually spend $5,000 on liquor, but I sort of did. Let me explain.

When it comes to debt, there are both financial and psychological factors at play. The financial ramifications of paying interest ultimately exacerbate the total cost of a purchase. The fixed cost that comes with a monthly debt payment limits your ability to do other things with your money.

Identity theft is a relevant topic for all of us, especially this time of year during the peak holiday shopping season. A component of financial planning includes protecting our financial assets. As we transition into tax season in a couple of months, we also have to be vigilant of people stealing our identity to file tax returns on our behalf. We all know people who have identity theft stories, and they are never fun. Some of you have even experienced identity theft. Today we will look at ways to prevent identity theft so you can keep your personal information safe and away from the bad guys.

Longevity planning and Long-Term Care planning are an integral part of a solid financial plan, especially for LGBT families. But you have to trust that the advisor you work with will help you find, what you want, what you need, what you can afford, and what you can get approved. They also need to give you options if you cannot get the type of coverage you want or need. It is helpful to work with someone who is an expert in working with someone like you.

An important aspect of financial planning is risk management. How we manage the financial risks that could affect us could mean the difference between achieving financial independence or not. When planning for your financial goals, consider what risks could hinder your ability to achieve those goals? What can you do to either mitigate them? Today we will discuss what financial risk is, why it arises, and how managing risks can impact your financial future.