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What do I do with my money next?

Posted on 8/22/13 at 12:49 pm
Posted by AndyJ
Member since Jul 2008
2764 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 12:49 pm
My wife and I are both physicians, I've been done with residency for 4 years and she will be done with her fellowship in 3 months. We will each make an average physician salary (more than a primary care, but less than the super specialists). We both have maxed out 401ks. We both have permanent life insurance (I do question why our financial adviser pushed this on us, but I am sure he liked his commission). I really do like our adviser, but there is an obvious conflict of interest in what he tells us to buy. My wife and I are both conservative with our money. Where should we put any extra money? I'm sorry this is such a noob question, but I don't know much about finances. I just read Saving for Retirement by Gail MarksJarvis, but all that did was make me question why I'm paying a guy and not doing it myself lol. I'm asking you guys because he is coming in a few weeks for a meeting with us.
This post was edited on 8/22/13 at 12:51 pm
Posted by Duckman13
Tiger Stadium
Member since Dec 2006
3048 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 1:12 pm to
1)by permanent life, do you mean whole?
2)do you have an emergency fund (4-6 months living expenses)
3)do you own a house?
Posted by Brian Wilson
Member since Mar 2012
2026 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 1:58 pm to
quote:

I do question why our financial adviser pushed this on us


Sounds like he's putting his own interests in front of yours. I'd drop him and get a new guy.
Posted by elposter
Member since Dec 2010
24981 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 2:11 pm to
Do you have student loan debt?
Posted by Ace Midnight
Between sanity and madness
Member since Dec 2006
89618 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 3:52 pm to
Make a budget - pay yourself first, and follow the baby steps like the other poster said.

Other tips:

15-year mortgage

Don't finance cars

You'll be rich before you know it.
Posted by Ric Flair
Charlotte
Member since Oct 2005
13681 posts
Posted on 8/22/13 at 3:55 pm to
If you are a hospital employee, check to see if they offer a deferred compensation plan. Some places let you put an additional 16K or so a year into a retirement fund tax free (no match or anything like that) on top on the 401K/403b, if you are a "highly compensated employee."
Posted by Douboy
Louisiana
Member since Nov 2007
4332 posts
Posted on 8/23/13 at 8:59 am to
quote:

We both have permanent life insurance


Not to sound like a douche, but most people who don't have "extra" money will not understand buying whole life policies. I don't know the details on your policies, but generally, whole life insurance can be a good PART of the investment/savings strategy when you have actual money and not just a pile of Dave Ramsey books.
Posted by Gevans17
Member since Dec 2007
1135 posts
Posted on 8/25/13 at 9:12 am to
First thing is to get "own occupation" disability insurance. Your biggest asset is your earning potential. Next thing I'd do is switch to level term life insurance.
Posted by ed3303
Alexandria
Member since Jan 2009
392 posts
Posted on 8/25/13 at 5:08 pm to
I agree that a permanent insurance product serves your agent better than it serves you. You DO need insurance, but an appropriate size 20 year term policy, will protect your family until that time when you are self insured and no longer need insurance (substantial assets, no mortgage, kids grown and out of school, etc).
One exception to the insurance issue might be a maximum funded policy. Basically, it is for high income earners who have already exhausted their other tax deferred options. It allows you to create a policy with a set premium, but you can overfund that policy up to a certain amount and the cash value is invested in mutual funds and maintains it's tax deferral. Once you transition from the accumulation stage of your life to the distribution stage, you can withdraw the equivalent of your cash value without owing taxes on the withdrawals. In the meantime, the policy does have a death benefit if you pass away prematurely. You don't purchase this for the death benefit (again, that is where you buy term insurance), but the death benefit is what makes this strategy another tax deferred option. It is fairly complicated, but it works well if used appropriately and you have an advisor who is familiar with the concept.
I also totally disagree with those that say to open a Scottrade, Fidelity, etc account and buy mutual funds. You are going to be busy with life and a career, you want to hire a pro to run your money. If you want to open an account for some of your "play" money, that's perfectly acceptable.
Posted by tirebiter
7K R&G chile land aka SF
Member since Oct 2006
9282 posts
Posted on 8/27/13 at 8:12 pm to
You should spend some time on this guy's blog, he is an emergency room physician and good investor. Well, other than him not listening to me about equity REIT risk going into 2008. Physicians, especially specialists and up the chain, are different than most retail investors due to much higher incomes, it's good you are thinking ahead.

white coat investor
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