Smart Ways to Use Your Sign-On Bonus as a Doctor: A Strategic Guide to Build Wealth, Stability, and Peace of Mind
Every year when schools and residency programs graduate a cohort of doctors, without fail I get some questions - one of which is, “what do I do with my sign on bonus?”
Here’s how doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals can wisely use their sign-on bonus to set a strong financial foundation and avoid common pitfalls.
When doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals begin new positions (especially in hospitals, corporate dental chains, or large medical organizations) it’s common to receive a sign-on bonus. These bonuses are enticing, often ranging from a few thousand dollars to well into five figures.
But, what you do with your sign-on bonus can either set you up for long-term success or trap you in a cycle of financial instability and lifestyle inflation.
So let’s talk strategy. Before the bonus hits your account (or burns a hole in your pocket), here’s how to be intentional about using it.
Financial Foundation: Get Good With Money
In my book club so far this year we’ve read two books on money and they were very different. The first one, Die With Zero tells us to spend our money, throw caution to the wind and live! while the second book, The Psychology of Money tells us a different story - that one should prepare for life’s lemons, save, invest then save some more as life will inevitably through us curveballs. Both books offered great insight and are the inspiration behind this blog post.
How One Doc Paid Off $200,000 in Student Loans in 4 years
One of the hot topics on this blog and among young professionals has been student loan debt. If you attended professional school, chances are you accrued some debt along the way. I was really excited meet our guest, Dr. Rania Habib via Instagram and learned that she repaid her six-figure student loan debt in a short amount time and is now financially independent. In this post she tells us how she did it.
6 Questions To Ask Before Investing
Whether you’re a first-time investor or have been investing for many years, there are some basic questions you should always ask before you commit your hard earned money to an investment.
How To Start Investing in The Stock Market
Investing can be a confusing topic but a vehicle that can change your financial future for the better. You don’t need a lot of money to start investing. In some cases, you only need a few dollars to get started. Of course, you may have a goal of increasing your investments over time but don’t let limited resources stop you from building your long-term wealth.
Retirement Planning for Young Professionals in 2020
It is never too early to start saving towards retirement. A main focus for many of us this year will be our money management and long term goals i.e retirement planning. It is very important o have some knowledge of compounding interest to fully understand the benefits of starting early. In this post I will cover some basics of retirement planning and hopefully compel every young professional to start saving towards retirement (if you haven’t already).
5 Holiday Money-Saving Hacks
The holidays can be such an expensive period! It all starts in October around Halloween and it seems like every week thereafter you’re faced with a reason to spend money. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and then Christmas - it seems like you’re shelling out money left and right and it can swiftly ruin your budget
Your Cell Phone Bill Might Be a Bigger Money Leak Than You Think
I did a complete financial overhaul about a year ago and discovered over $6000 of wasted money. A big chunk of that was in cell phones bills! This was a major money leak. Money leaks are those small expenses that you forget about soon after spending the money. They can wreak havoc on your budget.
Plugging Money Leaks
One of the most challenging parts of getting a grip on your finances is finding money “leaks” and plugging them. I speak a lot on saving/investing for retirement and tackling student loans. However, I must address the topic of unknowingly wasting money aka money leaks. The faster we figure out where all our money is going the better we will be able to plan and have more money to put towards saving, investing, paying off debt, etc.
Best Money/Finance Podcasts for Young Professionals
On the path to becoming a professional regardless of the field you’re in, the focus has been getting to the place where we finally start our careers. Nobody taught us anything money or finance related. We lacked knowledge regarding taxes, refinancing/consolidating student loans, insurances, retirement, and investing.
Turning Your Hobby or Passion Into a Business
I love my profession and honestly cannot think of any other career that I would enjoy as much. My passion lies in creating beautiful smiles and I enjoy and love my patients dearly! However, there are many other things that I love, enjoy and am passionate about.
Spring Clean Your Finances
Spring is not only a great time to put away the winter clothes and deep clean the house. It is also a good time to check in on your finances. Remember those beginning of the year goals like saving more, meal prepping and going to the gym (which by now may have tapered off)? This time of year is great to spring clean your financial goals and set yourself up for success the rest of the year.