Seven Steps to Financial Health

• Published in: Head & neck pathology (Totowa, N.J.) N.J.), 2024-04, Vol.18 (1), p.30, Article 30
• Main Authors: Thompson, Lester D. R., Thompson, Pamela A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comment; Dentistry; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Otorhinolaryngology; Pathology
• ISSN: 1936-0568; 1936-0568
• DOI: 10.1007/s12105-024-01640-7

Physicians and dentists have a very limited exposure to personal financial management and yet find themselves in the top 10% of earners in the United States of America. Education loans, practice expenses, and high standards of living obligate them to be good financial stewards to succeed financially. Anecdotal personal experience and review. The article establishes seven steps to implement as medical/dental students, interns, residents, or practicing doctors to move towards financial health and security. The steps include (1) saving enough; (2) good debt management; (3) being tax savvy; (4) obtaining the correct insurance; (5) making wise investments; (6) if choosing to marry, avoid divorce; and (7) keeping track with periodic progress assessment. Each of these steps contains several components that can aid and guide physicians and dentists in their financial arc of development over their professional career and into retirement, considering generational wealth transfer or charitable donation as ultimate goals. This brief guide is based on my own financial journey to achieve long-term financial independence: start early, use simple tax deferred investments without chasing trends while keeping fees down, live within your means, and adequately insure your income.