A Physician’s Estate Planning Checklist

8 Things to Check & Double-Check as you Prepare

Estate planning is a task that people tend to put off, as any discussion of โ€œthe endโ€ tends to be off-putting.

However, those who die without their financial affairs in good order risk leaving their heirs some significant problems along with their legacies.

No matter what your age, here are some things you may want to accomplish this year with regard to estate planning.

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Saving & Investing In Your Family’s Growing Years

It may seem like a tall order, but it can be accomplished.

If you have a young, growing family, no doubt your to-do list is pretty long on any given day. Beyond today, you are probably working on another kind of to-do list for the long term. Where does โ€œsaving and investingโ€ rank on thatย list?

Plan to put yourself steps ahead of your peers.ย 

For some families, it never quite ranks high enough โ€“ and it never becomes the priority it should become. Assorted financial pressures, sudden shifts in household needs, bad luck โ€“ they can all move โ€œsaving and investingโ€ down the list. Even so, young families have planned to build wealth in the face of such stresses. You can follow their example. It is less an option than a necessity.

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How to Work With An Investment Advisor

When it comes to working with an investment advisor, the value you receive is based in the quality of the relationship you establish and his or her ability to meet, or even exceed, your expectations.

Most clients donโ€™t mind paying a fee for investment advice, and many donโ€™t expect their advisors to perform superhuman feats with their portfolios; however, they do expect their advisors to fulfill their commitment to providing superior service that includes frequent communications, transparency, and conflict-free guidance.

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10 Benefits of a Roth IRA

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Why do so many people choose them over traditional IRAs?

The IRA that changed the whole retirement savings perspective. Since the Roth IRA was introduced, it has become a fixture in many retirement planning strategies.

We can sum up the key argument for going Roth in a sentence: Paying taxes on your retirement contributions today is better than paying taxes on your retirement savings tomorrow.

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What Beneficiaries Need To Know

What happens when an account owner passes away? What do beneficiaries need to do? Step into a beneficiary’s shoes to learn how to prepare your estate for smoother execution.

If your loved ones have invested, saved or insured themselves to any degree, you may be named as a beneficiary to one or more of their accounts, policies or assets in the event of their deaths. While we all hope โ€œthat dayโ€ never comes, we do need to know what to do financially if and when it does.

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Retirement Account Rollovers – The Tax Implications

When physicians consider rolling over retirement accounts, the tax implications should be factored into the decision.

The decision as to whether you should roll over your 401k plan to an IRA, another employerโ€™s 401k plan, or simply to leave it where it is, involves several different factors, including long term investment cost and the availability of investment options within the plans. Both can impact the long term performance of your retirement plan. However, a critical factor that can have a big impact, both short and long term, are the tax implications of a rollover.ย  Understanding these implications is essential before making any decision regarding your 401k plan.

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Whose Lives Should a Physician Insure?

The Physician’s Life Insurance Primer – Should you own life insurance on others?

The primary reason most people own life insurance is to ensure that their loved ones will have the means to replace lost income and pay for their financial obligations in the event of their premature death. In fact, life insurance is a critical financial tool in any circumstance in which the premature death of an individual could result in a financial hardship on another. So, while owning it on your own life may be the best possible use of life insurance, you may want to consider all circumstances in which it could provide essential financial protection for you, your family or your business. Read more to learn more about who physicians should consider insuring.

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Physician Contracts: Independent Contractor or Employee?

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As a physician, there will likely come a time when you need to secure a new position with a hospital, a health care group, or a privately-owned medical practice. All are opportunities in which to practice your specialty, earn a commensurate salary, and provide care for patients.

But not all positions are the same.

While itโ€™s common to be hired as a full-time employee, thereโ€™s also a possibility that youโ€™ll be presented with the option to work as an independent contractor.

And those are two very different things.

Before you sign your next physician contract, make sure you know the difference between working as an employee and working as an independent contractor. There are pros and cons to each, so youโ€™ll need to weigh your options to determine which scenario is right for you.

Looking for a new position or getting ready to sign a new contract?

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Life Insurance as Part of Your Tax Diversification Strategy

The Physician’s Life Insurance Primer Series: How life insurance fits in a savings and tax diversification strategy

For many people, life insurance forms the security foundation of their financial plan. While most financial planners recommend that life insurance be purchased for its protection, and not as a primary savings vehicle, few would argue that cash value life insurance doesnโ€™t have some fairly unique and attractive savings features.ย  When these are considered in the context of a personโ€™s overall savings and investment strategy, they may offer some advantages for physicians, especially for providing additional tax diversification of income sources.

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What’s Missing in Your Financial Plan?

As a physician, what key elements are missing in your plan to get on track and stay on course for financial success?

Thereโ€™s no denying that physicians have a greater opportunity to earn a great living and build wealth than most people; however, they also face several challenges, such as the initial delay in starting their careers under a mountain of debt. Their ability to earn a high, six-figure income is their most valuable asset, but it must quickly be converted into capital that can be accumulated and preserved if they are to achieve financial independence within a shorter time horizon. Without a comprehensive financial plan to guide them in their financial decision, even high-earning physicians can fall well short of that goal.

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