May 2023 – Physician In Numbers

Why I Like 529 Plans For College

Going through old mail on my first day of vacation, I realized that I had not deposited any money into my niece and nephews’ 529 plans this year.

I dug out the quarterly account updates, with attached contribution forms. The plan helpfully shows the current totals in each account, and, on another page, the contributions to date.

Reviewing these numbers, I thought it might be worthwhile going over why I think putting money in a 529 plan is worthwhile, even if my strategy isn’t perfect. As a side note, they also show why investing over time is a great idea.

Fitness Log #236 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for 4 years, and plan to continue doing so.

I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Things seem to be settling down, but I will keep it for now–more as a way to be aware and thankful of what is happening in my life.

I’m Off

Waves hitting rocks off the shore, with plenty of spume.

–to a much-anticipated vacation by the sea.

Fitness Log #235

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for 4 years, and plan to continue doing so.

Sometimes I try to highlight a first or new thing for me, or something fabulous. But work was pretty busy and I forgot to keep track of that sort of thing.

Six Lessons From My Mother, A Mother’s Day Reflection

Readers of my blog might think that my father was the only parent who taught me anything about finances.

It’s true that he and I spoke often about money and investing.

However, it would be absolutely incorrect to think that I learned nothing about personal finance from my mother. It’s just that many of her lessons were not so explicitly about money.

In honor of my mother’s contribution to my financial knowledge, here are six lessons I have learned from her that are (or can) be related to financial health.

Fitness Log #234, Friday Firsts And Fabulousness, And My Monthly Goals Check-In

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for 4 years, and plan to continue doing so.

My Future Me posts have been postponed well past 3-4 months a few times in the recent past, enough that I forgot about some of my goals that I was (supposedly) working on. We will see if a monthly check-in might help me stay focused.

The Best Financial Advice I’ve Gotten From A Book

It’s that time of year, when people seem to be asking more questions about how to manage their money.

I suppose it has to do with the turning of the (academic) year, as medical students graduate, and start earning an income; as residents and fellows graduate and look forward to earning a much larger income; and as new attendings finish their first 1-2 years, and wonder where all their money went.

I thought I would share the best financial advice I’ve ever read, and talk about why I think it makes the biggest impact on someone’s financial health.

Fitness Log #233 And Friday Fabulousness

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for 4 years, and plan to continue doing so.

I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some weeks I can’t really think of a “first,” so I am trying to note something positive instead.

My Favorite Posts By Other People, April 2023

I read a lot of personal finance blogs every day. Even though many bloggers seem to be slowing down these days, I still read a number of excellent posts last month. Here are some of my favorites.