Jamaica: Dental Helping Hands

The DHH team was in Jamaica recently where over 500 patients received essential and life changing dental care.

The purpose of the Dental Helping Hands (DHH) Non-Profit Organization (NPO) is to provide dental services to people who do not have access to dental care, who cannot afford it and who would otherwise not be able to receive treatment. The founders of the organization have a solid mission of giving back to people of our respective communities and countries.

Our latest mission took us to St. Ann, Jamaica in the town of Cascade, where Dr. Patrice Smith, her husband Dr. Reginald Baker, Dr. Mark Edwards (Dean of The University of Technology College of Dentistry), Curtis Foster, RDH and a team of 11 dental students from The University of Technology College of Dentistry (UTech COD) and 20 dental hygiene students from Northern Caribbean University (NCU) rendered dental treatment to over 500 patients.

The Dream Team - 3 doctors, 1 RDH, 11 dental students and 20 dental hygiene students

The mission took place at Cascade Primary School

A steady flow of patients waiting to be registered

Dr. Mark Edwards performing extraction procedure of a badly decayed tooth

The DHH team spent a total of 8 hours in Cascade and rendered essential dental care ranging from simple extractions, surgical extractions, dental prophylaxis (cleanings) and scaling & root planing. Patients also received fluoride treatment, toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to continue at home dental care.

Dr. Baker performing examination

Dr. Smith with UTech dental student as anesthesia is being administered

We always aim is to empower and support the communities we serve by partnering with local dental professionals to share knowledge. By providing communities with education on preventative measures to improve dental health, we honor, support and empower those with less and assist them in becoming self-sufficient. One of our goals is to focus on preventative education while providing patients with a safe environment for necessary care.

Our trip was a success. Exactly 507 individuals received much needed dental care. A huge part of our team’s success stems from individuals like yourself who see a need and donate either time, supplies or money. These donations go a very long way in the lives of the people we serve.

The DHH team is on a mission to not only improve the dental health but the overall quality of life of the lives we come in contact with . We will continue our mission to serve and provide these communities with much needed dental services.

If you would like to join us or donate to our cause, visit our website www.dentalhelpinghands.org and follow us on social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Reasons You Need To Visit Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and one of the dreamiest destinations to travel to. This summer I happened to have my wedding there and it was hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. Shaped like an inverted “Y, “ surrounded by mountains and dotted with charming waterfront villas and open air restaurants - Lake Como is the most picturesque travel destinations. It is a very dreamy and mysterious place - with its faded veneer of old money gentility, picturesque Victorian gardens, and lakeshore villas and restaurants. Lake Como is the perfect relaxing place to spend the summer and is well worth the visit.

Lake Como - shaped like an inverted “Y”

Villa on Lake Como

Restaurant on Lake Como

Best Times To Visit

Lake Como is a popular weekend getaway destination for Milanese looking to get away from the crowds of Milan, so if you are trying to beat the crowds weekdays would be best. The cheapest and less crowded times to travel to Lake Como is during the off seasons, i.e April to mid-June or September and October. The temperatures at this time are perfect since it’s not during the hot Italian summer or the cold winter. Peak season begins at the end of June through August - this is most exciting time with lots of bustling tourists, these are also the warmest months of the year. I personally enjoy warmer climates and the excitement of bustling crowds so I opted to visit in mid August.

How To Get There

The easiest way to get to Lake Como is via Milan. The closest of the two airports in Milan to Lake Como is Milan-Malpensa (MXP). From there you can opt to take a taxi or get a rental car and drive 45 minutes to Lake Como or take the 1 hour train ride from Milan. If taking the train head to Milan’s central station, Milano centrale - you can browse schedules and purchase tickets online here.

Where To Stay

There are lots of gorgeous villas and hotels in Lake Como and the “best” towns to stay in are debatable. But, I would recommend staying in the towns of Como, Varenna, Bellagio, Tremezzo or Laglio. For my wedding weekend I stayed in the towns of Laglio and Moltrasio - I will also note that the famous actor George Clooney’s villa is in Laglio.

My recommended villa’s (also the only ones that I am familiar with) are: Villa Vittoria (where some of our wedding guests stayed and is just a few doors away from Villa Oleandra - George Clooney’s home), Villa Regina Teodolindo (also close to George Clooney’s home), Villa Lario, Villa D’Este, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and Grand Hotel Imperiale (another venue where or wedding guests stayed).

From the bedroom window at Villa Vittoria in Laglio

View from the Lake View Suite - Villa Vittoria

View from our Suite at Villa Vittoria

Grand Hotel Imperiale - Moltrasio

Town of Moltrasio

Things To Do

The best way to properly enjoy Lake Como and enjoy all it has to offer is to pick a place as your home base and then take advantage of the ferries which traverse the Como villages everyday. There are also the options of fast boats, slow boats, private boats and buses (which is much slower). Visit the towns/villages and just explore.

The Prettiest and Most Popular Towns are:

Town of Como

• Como

  • Perhaps one of the Lake’s largest, most vibrant and also, most popular towns, is Como. It is filled with lively cafes, authentic Trattoria and plenty of places to sample Italian Gelato - Como is a great place to spend a day exploring. One of the highlights of Como is the spectacular Duomo, with its grand, dominating façade, and equally astonishing interior.

Town of Bellagio

• Bellagio

  • Bellagio is by far the most famous town on Lake Como. It is famed for its majestic Italian villas over-looking the Lake, and for being the home to famous individuals. Take a ferry across and enjoy perusing the vast variety of shops, restaurants, wineries and Villas. There’s a beach (yes, you heard right), hiking trails and areas that offer water sports like kayaking and pale boarding. If you want to just take it easy, find a cafe or spa and unwind.

Town of Varenna - Villa Monastero

• Varenna

  • Varenna is a small fishing village that has a plethora of authentic Italian eateries that serve up traditional dishes with locally sourced ingredients. it’s a great place to sample local wines, as well as experiment with the abundance of gelato flavors. See Villa Monastero for sight seeing.

Town of Tremezzo - Villa Carlotta

• Tremezzo

  • One of the most popular tourist towns on Lake Como is Tremezzo, meaning that it is built up with gran hotels and incredible villas. Tremezzo is one of the most beautiful towns on the entire Lake. It’s usually a stop over point for tourists visiting Bellagio. Like most towns in Lake Como, there are a lot of villas to explore; most notably Villa Carlotta, with its grand white façade and commanding size.

Town of Lenno - Villa del Balbianello

• Lenno

  • Lenno is famous for Villa del Balbianello (where I got married). It’s a picture perfect estate that was also used as a set in the movies Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale (James Bond). This i the most romantic place to have a wedding.

Town of Cernobbio - Villa D’Este

• Cernobbio

  • Cernobbio is famous for its luxury hotels catering to the rich and famous. It has a peaceful, cosmopolitan vibe and is home to Villa D’Este -which was the original summer home for a cardinal but now a luxury hotel. It’s also the home of Villa Erba.

Lake Como offers visitors a variety of different attractions, from its spectacular natural scenery, hiking trails, beaches and gorgeous towns and villages that are quintessentially Italian. Whether you prefer to be in the centre of activity or prefer being more isolated and enticed by the local way of life, Lake Como has something for everyone to enjoy.

5 Boss Behaviors To Grow Into

The Greatest Gift of Leadership is a Boss Who Wants You To Be Successful - Jon Taffer

A truly great boss is hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget. You’ve heard it before - people don’t leave jobs or their companies, they leave their bosses. This holds true as I think about the bosses I’ve had and as I reflect on the type of boss that I aspire to be.

Research has shown that there are a number of key leadership behaviors that bosses or managers can learn and develop. These behaviors are grounded in managing social-emotional reactions to our surroundings. By cultivating these behaviors, leaders can build a team that is accountable, trusting, resilient, proactive, and passionate about their work and the company’s mission.

Here are the 5 leadership behaviors that can have an impact on your team’s productivity and engagement:

• Compassion

  • Compassionate leadership means showing genuine interest in team members’ success and well-being. This leadership behavior establishes a commitment to understanding, but not necessarily agreeing. It is also a more objective form of empathy. Unlike empathy, compassion creates emotional distance so that the leader can make sound and proactive decisions on the team member’s behalf. This behavior will ultimately lead to more trust and loyalty from team members.

• Effective Listening

  • Listening can be more empowering than speaking. Effective communication skills are key to building trust with teammates and getting them to buy into your vision. Effective listening is a combination of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills that can be learned and practiced over time.

• Embracing Change

  • Great leaders are able to quickly change course and help their team evolve with the organization’s needs. These people enjoy the process of continually striving for improvement and pushing their teams to the next level. They also are not afraid to fail as they realize that mistakes are mere opportunities to better themselves.

• Embracing a Coaching Mindset

  Great leaders produce other great leaders through coaching. As a coach you are able to see each individual’s development and growth. Great leaders are able to tie people’s individual development to organizational objectives which increases accountability, improves retention, and develops stronger leaders within their teams.

• Cultivating an Inspiring Vision

  • Effective leaders prioritize the creation of an inspiring work environment which propels their teams to see beyond their perceived limitations and step up to new challenges. Motivational leaders have a keen understanding of how to create a strong sense of community and belonging within their organizations. They regularly celebrate and reward achievements, and sets the standard for performance. As a result, their teams tend to see lower turnover, increased productivity, and elevated levels of motivation.

Great leaders are skilled communicators that tend to be humble, compassionate, and transparent. Some are born with innate talents and a set of behaviors that make them particularly suited for greatness. However, many leadership behaviors can be learned, developed, and practiced over time.

Now, do you think you have what it takes to be a great Boss or Leader? Thought so, Let’s Do This!

A version of this article can be found at BetterUp.

Can You Refinance Student Loans After Consolidation?

Consolidation and refinancing can both be viable options when trying to simplify student loan repayment or lower monthly payments.

Combining student loan balances under one roof, either through consolidation or refinancing, has the potential to lower a borrower’s interest rate (in the case of refinancing), extend the repayment term, or both, which can reduce the monthly payment to a more affordable level.

Many borrowers, however, find themselves asking whether they can refinance student loans after they have already consolidated them.

In short, if you have previously consolidated your student loans—whether through the government or a private lender—you can still refinance your student loans if you are eligible.

Difference Between Student Loan Consolidation and Refinancing

Student loan consolidation may be referring to two different things in most cases:

1. Consolidating federal student loans via the Direct Consolidation Loan program

2. Consolidating federal and/or private student loans together via refinancing with a private lender

Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program

Federal Direct Consolidation Loan is a program that allows you to combine outstanding federal student loan balances, either in full or in part, with the federal government. Private student loans are not eligible for consolidation under this program.

Borrowers can easily complete a consolidation of selected federal loans through a brief online request form through the Department of Education. All the provisions of federal student loans remain available to borrowers, including income-driven repayment plans, deferment, and forbearance, with a loan consolidation.

Consolidating Student Debt When Refinancing

Refinancing student loan debt is a different process that involves a private student loan lender, not the federal government. When refinancing, student loan borrowers have the option to combine one or more federal or private student loans into a single loan with a new lender—sometimes referred to as private student loan consolidation.

Refinancing is available through many private lenders, meaning interest rates, repayment terms, features, and total costs differ greatly. Refinancing can be beneficial to student loan borrowers if they are able to secure a lower interest rate than what a consolidation or their original loan terms offered. However, if you refinance federal student loans, you will lose any protections that came with the loans and access to federal repayment plans.

How to Refinance Consolidated Student Loans

Some borrowers may opt to consolidate their federal student loans initially, then later decide that they want to refinance to take advantage of benefits like a lower interest rate. In this case, refinancing can be done directly with a private lender even after a consolidation is done.

To refinance consolidated student loans, student loan borrowers need to simply find the private lender they would like to utilize, complete an application for the refinance, and once approved, make payments to the new private loan lender.

Most student loan lenders offering to refinance loans have an easy online application process, the ability to add a cosigner to strengthen the application, and several options for repayment terms.

You can compare student loan lenders and find your best match here.

How Often Can You Refinance a Student Loan?

Student loan borrowers can refinance their student loans as many times as they would like, so long as their credit and income remain strong. Lenders do not typically put restrictions on how often loans may be refinanced, although borrowers may need to move to a different lender if a refinance was recently completed.

As student loan interest rates shift, refinancing student loan debt may be a cost-effective strategy for reducing the total cost of borrowing. However, there are factors to consider before refinancing multiple times.

See the full article here: Can You Refinance Student Loans After Consolidation?


This is a sponsored post by LendEDU

Dental Helping Hands: Who We Are

Dental Helping Hands is a non-profit organization that provides dental health services to underserved communities in developing countries.

It all started when three classmates of Howard University College of Dentistry decided they wanted to give back. The group consists of an Oral Surgeon, an Orthodontist and a General Dentist with the heart to share their talents with the world. They volunteer their time and travel to different countries to provide free dental services such as, cleanings, extractions, restorations, treat abscesses and cleft lip and palate repair. Our aim is to empower and support the communities we serve by partnering with local dental professionals to share knowledge. By providing communities with education on preventative measures to improve dental health, we honor, support and empower those with less and assist them in becoming self-sufficient.

Discover your reasons to volunteer

The reasons that people decide to volunteer can be very personal. For some it might be a desire to give back to a world that has provided them with great advantages. For others, there is a longing for an experience quite removed from their day-to-day routine. There are those who simply identify a need or problem and are determined to be part of a solution. Many are drawn by an interest in traveling to new places, meeting new people, and doing something worthwhile at the same time.

From a strictly professional standpoint, short-term humanitarian dental service projects usually have one or two objectives. One is to meet the urgent emergency oral-health needs of a specific group of people—such as a village, a congregation at a site of worship, or a group of local children or orphans. Another objective is to provide education about dental health to similar groups of people.

It is quite common to hear those who have participated in a volunteer project describe it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. From a strictly professional standpoint, short-term humanitarian dental service projects usually have one or two objectives.

One is to meet the urgent emergency oral-health needs of a specific group of people—such as a village, a congregation at a site of worship, or a group of local children or orphans. Another objective is to provide education about dental health to similar groups of people. There is certainly a considerable sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment that comes with using your unique skills to help others—and doing so under less than ideal circumstances.

Many returning volunteers feel that they have gained much more than they have given because they have attained a greater understanding of different cultures and regions of the world. In sharing their knowledge and ability, they have been able to alleviate suffering caused by dental disorders and they have made new friends in the process.

I hope this inspires you to do something kind for someone, volunteer in your respective communities and perhaps sign up to be a volunteer or even a donor of our organization, Dental Helping Hands. Visit our website to volunteer or donate dentalhelpinghands.org and follow us on Instagram.

How I Saved Over $4000 by switching Cell Phone Carriers

One of the most challenging things when it comes to personal finance is finding and plugging money leaks. If you’ve seen my previous article on the topic you will find that it is quite easy to spend money without realizing. Money leaks are those small expenses that you forget about soon after spending the money. They can wreak havoc on your budget.

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!

At the time, I was with one of the major cell phone providers carrying three lines of service. That is, three cell phones that weren’t fully paid for and three lines with unlimited talk, text and data. All this came at a cost of roughly $280/month. My fiancé had a similar situation where he was with another major cell phone provider carrying two lines of service. His monthly payments were around $240/month. Combined we were paying approximately $6240 in cell phone bills alone per year!

Nowadays, most cellphone plans don’t lock you into a contract. Gone are the days where you’re stuck with the same cellphone carrier for two years, unless you’re willing to pay hundreds of dollars in early termination fees. These days it’s easy to switch, and in many cases you can save yourself a lot of money by doing so.

We did some research and by switching providers we are currently saving roughly $4000/year! We combined my 3 lines with my fiancés 2 lines and went with a single carrier and currently pay $139/month for all 5 lines. That is roughly $1668 per year. This is saving us a whopping $4572 per year just on cell phone bills! Our services continued with the same great quality as before. I must mention however that in switching carriers, we had to purchase 3 new cell phones carrying an upfront cost of roughly $1600.

This was a simple adjustment which revealed an area that isn’t necessarily thought about when attempting to reduce expenses. If you are attempting to plug money leaks, definitely do not ignore this category as you might also find an opportunity for huge savings.

Also, If you’re hesitant to switch carriers because you get great coverage with your current carrier, there’s something you need to know. Smaller carriers such as Metro, Boost Mobile and Cricket, all run off of one of the major networks — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon. So, if you’re with AT&T but sick of paying $120 per month for your plan, switch to Cricket Wireless and pay just $55 per month for unlimited data all on the same network. You’ll still get the same great coverage even though you’re no longer on an AT&T plan. You can find a list of carriers here.

*This is not a sponsored post, I do not get paid for the above views.

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.

A money leak is simply any amount of money that you spend and are unable to identify what you spent that money on at the end of the month when you’re reviewing your bank and/or credit card statements. It can happen quite quickly and sometimes go unnoticed. For example, one week you may not have gotten a chance to prepare your meals and suddenly you’re eating out everyday for lunch, or you subscribed to a free trial of HBO to binge watch a season of one of you’re favorite shows and forget to cancel the membership. These seemingly tiny expenses add up and before you know it you’re wondering where all your money went.

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 - by switching providers I am currently saving roughly $4000/year! 

Here’s how to identify and begin plugging your money leaks:

Step 1: Print out your credit card and/or bank statements for the last 3 months and highlight all your set monthly automatic withdrawals, example: mortgage/rent, savings, Insurances, car note, utilities, etc. Now look at those highlighted items and see if there’s a possibility to cut or lower the cost of any of those items like a cell phone bill, cable bill, interest rate on a car note or even a credit card.

• Are your utility bills consistent? Cell phone and cable bills are terrible money leaks. Cable companies will sometimes increase monthly payments which can go unnoticed if you’re on automatic withdrawal. 

  • Do you need cable at all? Consider alternatives like Netflix or Hulu which are a fraction of the cost. 

  • Are you paying for more services than you need? Many of us no longer utilize a landline so why pay for it?

  • If your monthly data usage on your cell phone is, say 10mb or so then why pay for unlimited data?

  • Have you tried refinancing your auto loan? This would be a good thing to do especially if your credit score has increased since you initiated the loan.

  • Call your credit card companies and request a lower rate. If the answer is no, simply switch to another company that offers you a lower rate.

Step 2: Identify all the un-highlighted items and categorize them.

• Typically the miscellaneous expenses are date nights/eating out, emergencies, etc.

  • Save all your receipts and review them each week so that you can track your spending. By knowing that you have to review your receipts you may not be so apt to spend frivolously.

  • Use a budgeting app to help you stay on track. If you find it difficult to stay on top of your finances, consider tools like Mint or You Need a Budget.

  • Avoid leaky places and budget before you go. A simple night out with friends can turn into regret if you do not plan ahead. We all know how out of control things can get when we’re having fun, especially if drinks are involved. Have a ballpark figure in mind or a set amount that you want to spend on food and drinks and don’t go over that limit.

Needless to say, once you’ve found the leaks and plugged them you must decide what do you do with that “extra” money. Treat it like it’s a bonus from work or a gift from your generous grandma - no, do not spend it. Options for this money could be investing, saving towards your retirement, paying off credit card debt, or making extra payments on your student loan debt.  

Money leaks are poison to any kind of financial progress. If you have too many of them, it can make personal finance feel incredibly confusing and hopeless because it feels like all of your money is just evaporating. Take charge, use the above guidelines to get started and take control of your finances.

Asset Protection For Young Professionals

Asset protection is a hot topic among young professionals. Let’s face it, we spent years in school and sacrificed a lot to get to this point so it’s only right to search for ways to protect what we’ve earned. Asset protection is a term used to describe the way we go about protecting our finances from those who see us as a target. These may be creditors, individuals looking to sue, etc. Everyone needs to give thought to this but there are some groups, namely physicians and dentists that are more vulnerable to legal action.

• Malpractice Insurance

  • Whether you’re a physician, dentist, or any other type of healthcare professional, having malpractice insurance is not only important but necessary. Approximately 34% of doctors will have a lawsuit or judgement against them in their lifetime, according to the American Medical Association. Be sure to purchase a malpractice insurance policy that provides the best coverage for your specialty.

• Retirement Accounts

  • Having retirement accounts are very important, but many of us are not aware how it provides asset protection benefits. All qualified retirement accounts provide complete protection from a broad array of creditor classes, including malpractice and bankruptcy creditors. Putting money away for retirement allows you to contribute to tax deductible and tax deferred accounts.

• Creating a Corporation

  • A Limited Liability company and a corporation are business entities that are separate from the owner of the business. You can create a corporation and become an employee of your own company. That way, if anyone should come after you personally or if a judgement was ruled against you it would only affect the income which you earned as an employee working for said cooperation.

• Pre-Nuptial Agreement

  • For some this can be a touchy subject but many couples are getting married at a later age and may have acquired assets prior to marriage. A prenup is a very good idea for a young doc. It gives you a chance to have control over how assets are divided in the event the marriage ends in divorce. You get to make these decisions while you still love each other without interference from the state. 

• If you get married, STAY Married

  • When discussing asset protection, we think about how to protect ourselves if we are sued. However, you are far more likely to lose assets to your spouse than to a disgruntled patient. Believe it or not, many times when a doctor or other young professional loses assets it’s through divorce. Come up with ways to stay connected with each other throughout the years and keep your marriage fresh! hint: Don’t stop dating each other.

Use the above bullet points as a place to begin and start protecting the assets you worked so very hard to acquire.

Harmful Effects of DIY Braces

*WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES *

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) braces and at-home teeth straightening kits have become a trend popping up all over the internet, promising dentist-quality results at a fraction of the price. While I understand how attractive these may look and sound, unfortunately, things that sound too good to be true often are. As an orthodontist I have seen some pretty damaging effects of DIY braces and wanted to share a few facts about this dangerous trend.

What Are DIY Braces

We consider DIY braces anything that you do yourself to facilitate the movement of teeth. There are videos posted online where teens and young adults use items like rubber bands, dental floss, fishing lines, earring backs, paper clips, and more to move their teeth. These items are often found embedded or covered by gum tissue. Mail order aligners are becoming very popular but many of their disadvantages are not being addressed. Here we will discuss some reasons why seeing an orthodontic professional is best.

Harmful Effects of DIY Braces

Orthodontic treatment is about more than just straightening teeth. It involves moving of teeth and bone to restore proper form and function. It must be managed properly to yield the best results. Attempting to close a gap or straighten your teeth yourself significantly increases the risk of serious damage to your teeth and gums, resulting in tooth loss, changes in speech and possible infection. It is also worth considering that repairing the damage from DIY procedures could be far more expensive than the investment in an orthodontic specialist.

• Tooth Loss

Using tight rubber bands or other materials to adjust your smile quickly is detrimental to tooth health. Rather than create the straight smile you crave, makeshift braces could destroy your teeth at their roots.

Unrestricted blood flow is necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Makeshift braces and ill fitting DIY clear aligners can impinge on the tissues and cause unwanted movement of teeth. That subsequent movement can result in conditions such as the one seen below and cause a host of other issues that will require an immediate visit to your dentist.

• Infection

Since DIY braces involve nonsterile, nonmedical-grade supplies, it’s easy to develop an infection. Rubber bands, paper clips, and similar items can cut into the gums and injure the tissue, causing open sores that aren’t able to heal while you continue to wear the makeshift braces. A gum infection may not sound serious, but it can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, severe bone loss, and spread through your circulatory system.

• Speech Problems

The position of teeth also has an effect on the way we speak and pronounce words. DIY Braces often do not account for movement outside of the desired areas. This movement must be controlled properly to prevent conditions evidenced in the pic below. As a result, your upper and lower jaw may not fit together as they once did, ultimately affecting your phonetic ability.

• Relapse

DIY braces offer no guarantees, so even if you try to make your own and successfully manage to move your teeth, the results most likely won’t last. Professional braces are designed to move teeth in slight increments over a period of time. There’s a reason for this: Quick adjustments have a greater chance of shifting back.

Since DIY braces tout quick results in less time, your teeth are more likely to move back to their original positions after discontinued use.

• Pay More Than You Saved

Most people turn to DIY methods to save money, but when it comes to important dental procedures, you could end up paying much more to repair the damages. Surgery to address infections, correcting bone loss or extracting non restorable teeth can be traumatizing and expensive. When you consider the costs associated with correcting damages from DIY braces and at-home straightening kits, you’re better off saving the money for professional braces and having the treatment done right by a professional.

Please do not fall victim to these DIY trends and fast braces schemes. Do your research and ensure you are choosing the right professional for your smile and overall health.

Why You Should Consider Ditching Your Whole Life Policy

I remember sitting through many lunch and learns back in dental school and residency where we were constantly told that we needed to get life Insurance. After the differences between Whole and Term Life Insurances were discussed, many of the insurance agents(Reps) would emphasize the need for Whole Life versus Term Life Insurance, especially for us soon-to-be dentists. They advertised Whole Life Insurance as the best plan to “offer great returns”, “protect our assets,” while providing a substantial death benefit.

Fast forward a few years later and after much research, I have come to the realization that obtaining and holding a whole life insurance policy was not the best idea. Let’s look at the difference between the two:

Term Life Insurance

Term Life Insurance is “pure” life insurance. The policyholder pays fixed premiums for a limited period of time (term). If they die while the policy is in effect, their beneficiary receives a death benefit.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole Life Insurance is a type of permanent life insurance which is guaranteed to remain in force for the insured's entire lifetime. It offers a savings component and life-long protection. As long as premiums are paid, whole life insurance provides a death benefit after you die.

Life insurance is not a very good investment vehicle. Life Insurance is best utilized in case of unexpected death, hence the case for term life insurance.

Here’s Why Whole Life Insurance May Be A Bad Idea:

• The cost of whole life insurance is a lot higher than the cost of term life Insurance.

• In Term life insurance, the beneficiaries receive the death benefit IF you die during the designated period. Whereas, in whole life insurance, the death benefit is received WHEN you die.

• Whole Life insurance provides a death benefit in case you die while someone else depends on your income, but it is a very expensive way to provide that protection.

• Whole Life insurance accumulates a cash value that you can borrow against. However, it takes time to accumulate that cash value. In fact, your first year premiums usually are paid to the agent that sold you the policy. While there may be a number of uses for this cash value, it is generally inferior to other options that can accomplish the same purpose.

Tackling Student Loan Debt

Almost all young dentists face confusing (and often conflicting) choices after graduation because of the significant amount of student loan debt they have from dental school. The average dental school graduate has more than $247,000 in student debt. That figure has risen nearly 40% since 2010.

"[Dentists have] been trained for years to focus on passing the next academic exam, completing a procedure correctly or passing a licensing exam," says Dr. Douglas Carlsen, founder of Golich Carlsen, a financial consulting firm for dentists. Carlsen retired from his own dental practice in 2004. "[Dentists] have not, in many instances, been prepared well for the real world of employment and possible business ownership," he says. "They have not been prepared for the world of consumer purchasing and financial planning."

The key, Carlsen says, is for dentists to get on solid financial footing so they can start to tackle their student loan debt. Here's how:

‍

Make a Financial Plan

Carlsen recommends that young dentists address debt by establishing goals they want to reach within a certain deadline. Include your partner, if you have one. Factors to consider include what kind of lifestyle you want to have, how much student loan debt you have, how much savings you want to have and what kind of practice you will be a part of in the next one, five, and 10 years, he says. Identifying these parts of your life will help clarify the amount you can dedicate to paying down debt while living your life.

‍The goal of the financial plan is to help you keep your expenses low. By reducing your spending, Carlsen says you could dedicate 40% of net income to pay down debt. "I personally know of dentists that have paid off $400,000 in less than eight years," he says.

‍Free budgeting apps, such as Mint and Personal Capital, can make it easy for dentists (or anyone else) to track their spending.

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Consolidate and Pay Down Student Debt

In general, dentists with good credit can consolidate and refinance their loans with a lower rate from a private lender. For example, Common Bond could save the average dentist thousands over the life of their student loans.

‍If qualifying for student loan refinancing at a lower interest rate is not an option immediately after dental school, Carlsen recommends consolidating federal student loans and using an income-driven repayment plan.

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Remember Your Retirement Fund

You'll want to balance student loan repayment with other goals, such as retirement. Nate Wenner, a CPA and certified financial planner who specializes in working with dentists, recommends dentists set aside at least 10% of their gross income toward retirement.

‍"After meeting that baseline level of saving, one can look to more aggressively pay down any debt which carries an interest rate higher than what you might expect to earn by investing over the next 10 years," he says.

‍Good financial habits can help dentists retire early, Carlsen says. He notes that the dentists who retired at 50 he knows have these characteristics in common: They bought a home and remained in it until retirement. They have saved more than 20% of their annual net income after their student loans have been paid off. They started saving for retirement by age 35 or earlier. And finally, they paid cash for everything except their homes and practices.

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Hold off on Buying a Home or Practice

Carlsen says the worst mistake he sees young dentists make is to buy a home too soon. "A young dentist should not buy a home until he or she is stabilized in their employment or practice situation," he says.

‍Don't rush into buying a practice, either. "I see many of the national brokers promising much higher income projections for practices for sale than what is prudent," Carlsen says. "There will be a plethora of practices for sale by baby boomer dentists in the next five to eight years. Take your time and find a practice that suits your style, not what others tell you to do."

‍Following these tips can help dentists pay off their student loans faster and set themselves up for an even brighter future.

T‍his is a sponsored post from Common Bond

A version of this story was originally published in Forbes.com.

Benefits of Social Media to Your Dental Practice

For many years, dentists relied almost exclusively on reputation, word of mouth, expensive advertising and flyer marketing to help build their practices. But, it’s a different time now and more likely than not, our patients/audience are on one or more social media platforms. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat,etc being active on social media will give us the ability to drive traffic, reach new patients and build lasting relationships that will only benefit our practices.

Some great benefits of Social Media to our practices are:

1. Increased Visibility

   Social media allows for greater visibility, provides us the chance to reach a wide audience and create relationships with current and potential patients. Because of this increased visibility we are now able to spread information about our practices far and wide.

2. Reach & Interact with Potential Patients

   One of the most important things about social media is that we are able to reach and connect with our audience. It’s a great place for them to see customer testimonials, experiences, friendly office images and the results of our work. Responding to questions through social media helps as well - our patients will like the fact that their doctor is accessible.

3. Strengthen Patient Relationship

   Before now, patients needed to call the office and speak to the receptionist to schedule an appointment, ask questions or discuss a concern. Now that there’s social media, our patients have better access to us and our offices. They can send messages and get a quick response, and If our social media pages are less clinical, it will be easier for our audience to see us as relatable. The viral nature of social media also means it’s easy to spread information about you and your practice far and wide. By writing articles, posting videos and sharing information that demonstrates our expertise, we can begin to show our patients what we and our practice(s) are about. It is also a great tool to elicit responses by creating content that gets people to click, comment or share.

In my practice, we recently started to utilize Facebook, Instagram and we are working on snapchat filters (kids love this!). The results so far have been great! Our patients learn more about our practice, staff and doctor(s), and they are leaving us really great feedback which is helping to drive traffic to our website and ultimately our practice. If you’re not already, you should definitely consider utilizing social media in your practice - if done correctly will benefit your practice in the long run.

Related Post: Social Media Blunders that Will Hurt a Young Doc’s Career

Live Your Life on Purpose

You are a person of destiny. You are equipped. You are talented. You are creative. You were designed for a purpose.

To live a life of purpose means to live your life with Intention. To say you’re living with intention means that there is meaning and purpose behind all your actions. When you are living with intention life doesn’t just happen to you, you are not merely existing, everyday is not “just another day.”

It is quite easy for us to get caught up in the minutia of everyday life. There are so many distractions that can often lead us away from our life’s purpose. This is something a lot of us struggle with and not living with intention is often times the source of much of our unhappiness.

To live a purposeful life, you have to:

1. Find What Makes You Happy, Do More of That.

Think back to the times when you felt truly happy or fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What emotions did you feel? Once you’ve identified these things, try to incorporate more of those experiences in your life.

2. Get out of Your Comfort Zone, Be Intentional.

Living beyond your comfort zone helps you embrace uncertainty and unlock your true potential. If you say “yes” to experiences, or activities that shake up your sense of security, they can lead to the discovery (and confirmation) of your talents. When you strive to live outside your comfort zone, you will find yourself confronting some limiting beliefs that often times stem from fear. Move through these things knowing you will come out the other end having grown as an individual.

3. Take Time for Stillness (Mindfulness)

We are in a world of constant stimulation and distractions and it can be hard to quiet the turbulence of our thoughts. Cultivating stillness and silence is a powerful way to restore our balance and energy. Tapping into stillness creates inner clarity and expanded awareness that will help you discover yourself with greater ease and understanding. Stillness also allows us to pay close attention to our thoughts - we become active participants in our lives. We start to notice the things that make us happy and it’s easier to reject the things that don’t.

Start living your life today purposefully and intentionally. Go!

How Student Loan Consolidation Positively Impacted My Credit Score

Many of us have student loan debt, and if you’re a dentist or physician your student loan amount may be pretty significant. Figuring out how to go about tackling them can be quite daunting; knowing whether to consolidate or refinance, choosing from the different repayment options, and deciding which is best for you.

On my own journey to pay down my mountain of debt I stumbled upon a little surprise. I discovered that a wonderful side effect of consolidating your student loans is a credit score increase. I was able to significantly increase my credit score by consolidating my loans.

Here’s how that works:

• One factor that determines your credit score is the number of lines of credit that you have open.  Remember that you get a loan for every semester of school and thus at the end of your four years (or however long your schooling is), you will end up with several student loans. As a general rule, If you have too many lines of credit, your score will go down.  By consolidating your student loans, you are replacing your many student loans with one new loan.  You will still have the same amount of debt, but the number of lines of credit goes down, thus increasing your score.

• A second advantage of student loan consolidation is that it will appear that you have paid off all of your other loans.  Any record of debt repaid is a good thing!  Depending upon how your loans are consolidated, it could read that your loans were refinanced or it could read that it was paid in full.  Either way, your credit score is helped.

• One final advantage of consolidating your student loans is that it can often lower your monthly payments.  This helps your credit score because the ratio of debt to income will go down.  

Consolidating your student loans is dependent upon the type of loans that you have.  For Federal Loans, consolidation is usually a great idea, but for private loans it gets more tricky as there are several private loan lenders to choose from (SoFi, Laurel Road, LendKey, Earnest, Splash Financial, etc). Do your research, speak with a trusted professional and choose the best option for you.

Paradise Found: Turks & Caicos Islands

Turks & Caicos is one of the most beautiful Caribbean Islands I’ve visited! (besides Jamaica, of course - I’m biased). It’s surrounded by the largest sand banks in the world which allows for crystal clear, turquoise blue water. It is scenic, quiet and a lot less touristy than other surrounding islands. It is truly paradise!

On My way to Turks & Caicos!

My girlfriends and I recently enjoyed a long weekend “girls trip” to this beautiful island. This was in the month of November when the temperatures in the northeastern parts of the United States were rapidly falling and we were all in need of a little sunshine.

We spent 5 days on this breathtakingly beautiful island and the only thing I (kind of) regret is not photo documenting the entire trip. But, that is the magic of this place; It makes you slow down, unplug and completely immerse yourself in all it’s splendor.

Below you will find a travel guide that can be handy if you ever find yourself planning a getaway to beautiful Turks and Caicos. A fair warning - Turks is not a cheap place by any stretch of the imagination. It is very much geared towards luxury and not at all considered a budget destination.

Grace Bay Beach

How To Get There:

Several islands make up the Turks & Caicos Islands and thus there are several airports. Since we were going to Providenciales , we flew into the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) which is the main airport on the island. We all flew separately from different North East airports. The cost from New York (JFK), Washington, DC (DCA) and Pittsburgh (PIT) ranges from $450-$600 at that time of year.

We also rented a car upon arrival so that we could not only get to our villa in Provo but enjoy exploring the Island. We rented from Grace Bay Car Rentals for around $220 for 5 days.

Commute from the airport to our Villa

You can get around via Taxi or rental car. If you are staying at a hotel in Grace Bay (touristy area) and have no plans to leave your resort then this might be unnecessary. However, if you’re staying away from the resort area (like we did), you will need a rental car to get around. Keep in mind that in Turks and Caicos, they drive on the left (the British way). Most steering wheels will be on the right. Not to worry if this freaks you out initially, my American friends adjusted quite quickly.

Local Currency:

The local currency is the United States Dollar (USD), so no conversions to worry about for my American friends.

Weather:

Since this is the Caribbean, expect tropical weather. The average temperature ranges between 80-90 degrees year round with sprinkles of showers randomly which seizes quite quickly.

Where We Stayed:

Our Villa was exquisite! We stayed at Sunrise Ridge - the main house, and it was phenomenal. It is located in the exclusive Turtle Tail neighborhood of Providenciales and is a 5 acre estate set on one of the highest points of the Turks and Caicos islands.  The ridge has captivating views of the Ocean, Flamingo Lake and the island of Providenciales. Our villa came decked with a swimming pool, Barbecue, outside dining, private decks and a fire pit.  It had everything we needed and was stocked with things from blenders to coffee makers to beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers. Cost was ~$1000/night and varies depending on the time of year.

Aerial View of our Villa

Ocean View From The Pool Deck of Our Villa

This Hammock By The Pool Was My Favorite Spot.

The Courtyard Where I Had My Morning Tea Each Day

View From The Living Room

Kitchen and Dining Room

View From The Bedroom

Food:

• Since we stayed in a villa, we stocked up on food at the nearby grocery store - Graceway IGA Supermarket, which was about 10 minutes away. Even though we had ample food at the house we wanted to experience the restaurants on the island.

• The Deck at Seven Stars - We went here on our first night in Turks for something quick to eat. We ended up grabbing bar food (choice from the menu) and was quite satisfied. The conch fritters are divine.

• Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar at Grace Bay Resorts - Go here on a Saturday night when there are lots of people and the energy is high. However, expect long wait times for food as they get super busy. The food and drinks here are quite pricey but really good.

• Coco Bistro - Located in the heart of Grace Bay in walking distance of all the resorts. The food and atmosphere are really nice and a must try.

• Hemmingway’s - We ate here on our last night in Turks. The ambience, customer service, food and drinks are excellent! I had the curried lobster and wanted more when it was done.

Don’t let the look of this fool you. I waited a very long time for this Grouper from Infiniti Restaurant and it was worth every second.

What To Do:

You go to Turks because of the beaches! and the main one is Grace Bay Beach on the north side of Providenciales.

• Horse back riding tour with Provo Ponies - this was quite fun and rather relaxing.

• Sunset drinks at the very modern, and sleek boutique Hotel Gansevoort - One of the best things here is the beach bar. The drinks are really good and they make a mean mojito.

• Snorkeling at Turtle Cove - We didn’t make it here but were told by the locals that this is the spot for snorkeling as Smith’s Reef is VERY beautiful.

• Bonefishing at Juba Point Salina - If you’re into bone fishing, this is where it’s done because of the low depths of the water. The water here isn’t suitable for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding or anything of that nature.

• Flamingo Lake to see the flamingos - Want to go flamingo spotting? Flamingo pond is where you want to go. The number of flamingos will vary with the time of year.

Soothing Horse Back Ride with Provo Ponies

As I mentioned, the one thing I (kind of) regret is not taking more photos. If I had thought about doing a travel guide I certainly would have. However, a visit to Turks and Caicos should definitely be on your bucket list in my opinion. It is one of those very simple yet breathtakingly beautiful destinations that you ought to experience. Of course, do your research and have an open mind.

Experience does for the soul what education does for the mind. - Casey Neistat

And we’re out.

Refinance or Consolidate your Student Loans?

As young professionals, many of us left or will be leaving school with student loan debt. As our grace periods wear off and we enter repayment a lot of us find ourselves scouring the internet or asking friends and colleagues how they are going about tackling their student loans. It can be daunting going through the options - some of us have loans from undergraduate school and/ or graduate school. Some of us may have taken out private student loans, federal loans or a combination. Either way, we need to know the options for repaying these loans.

Student loan refinancing and student loan consolidation are two different tactics to help borrowers repay their loans. In some cases student loan consolidation is the way to go, and in other situations student loan refinancing is best. So what that difference?

Consolidation

Consolidation refers to combining multiple student loans into one loan. You may have taken out a separate loan for each semester of school and thus by consolidating you are combining all those different loans into one, which results in just one monthly payment instead of many.  This is designed to make repayment easy and typically refers to federal student loans. Since it applies to federal student loans you keep all the benefits that federal loans offer (loan forgiveness, income based repayment, etc). Consolidation however, does not lower the interest you pay on the loans. The interest you pay is calculated based on the average interest of all your combined loans. It is important to note that consolidation does not necessarily save you money - it simply combines all your loans to make your payments easier to manage.  

Consolidation is only done through the Department of Education (studentloans.gov)

Refinancing

Refinancing your student loans is a good option if you have several loans from several sources (private, federal, etc). This option does not combine your loans, but rather creates a brand new loan. Your new loan’s interest rate can be lower depending on your credit score, so it is important that this score is healthy. The great thing(s) about refinancing is that you will now have one single new loan instead of many and there is the potential to get a lower interest rate which can save you a lot of money over time.

Refinancing can be done through a private loan lender (not government). There are many options out there like SoFi, Laurel Road, Earnest,, LendKey, etc.

Which is best?

• If you have multiple private loans OR a single private loan with a high interest rate - Refinance

• If you have federal student loans and planning on getting student loan forgiveness or rely on Income based repayment - Consolidate

• If you have both federal and private loans and want a single loan with low interest rate - Refinance

An Orthodontist Can Boost Your Self Esteem!

People who are happy with the the way they look are typically more confident and have higher self esteem than those who are not. The way our teeth look and the appearance of our smile can have a pretty significant impact on the way we view ourselves.

It’s true that individuals with misaligned (crooked) teeth usually are more reserved, shy or self conscious. They in turn cover their mouths when they smile or laugh, smile with their lips closed, or avoid speaking when around strangers or peers.

This is where an Orthodontist comes in. Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that has a focus on the alignment of teeth. Orthodontists diagnose, prevent, intercept, and treat dental and facial irregularities. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the goal of orthodontic treatment is a beautiful smile and a good bite—meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw and look great.

Having healthy self-esteem and self-confidence is especially important for children, as it can impact their mental and emotional well-being during their early years of development and can shape the person they grow up to be. In today’s competitive world, you want to empower your child with everything you can to feel confident about themselves.

But, braces is not just for kids. Nowadays, adults are getting braces to get the smile they always wanted and deserved. There are several different types of braces to choose from; traditional metal braces, ceramic braces that match the color of your teeth and even clear aligners, like invisalign. More and more adults are getting braces and totally embracing the journey, like Mollie (pictured below) that’s owning her braces journey.

Mollie expresses that “I was a cheerleader but I never smiled big. Group photos and everyone is smiling but then there’s me looking all angry with the soft smile. The school picture photographers always used to tell me to smile with my teeth but I always refused.” Now she is on her way to a straighter, more beautiful smile and embracing every step of it.

Mollie with the soft smile, before she was comfortable to smile showing teeth.

A more confident Mollie, with braces showing off her beautiful smile.

Smile/non-smile :)

The changes that occurred in only 3 months of having braces on. Bottom: month 1; Top: Month 3

Her smile is getting straighter and more beautiful.

Follow along with Mollie’s braces journey by visiting her instagram page (molliewearsbraces).

In my practice, I have seen how life altering getting a straighter, more beautiful smile can be. Orthodontists can help boost one’s self-esteem by:

• Improving one’s appearance - Straighter teeth means a much more beautiful smile, which in turn means a more attractive appearance.

• Improving Health - straighter teeth are easier to clean than misaligned (crooked) ones, which means healthier gums, fewer cavities and fewer staining.

• Correcting Speech Impediments - While not all speech patterns can be corrected without the help of a Speech & Language Pathologist, the straightening of teeth can help to improve some speech patterns.

If you’ve been thinking about a more desirable smile or have been considering Orthodontic treatment, visit the AAO website here to find an Orthodontist in your area.

Disclaimer: I am not Mollie’s Orthodontist

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Set New Year Intentions (Goals) that You Will Actually Stick To

A new year is upon us, which means it’s time to reflect on the past year and bid the last 12 months adieu. With 2019 comes the promise of a fresh start whether it be personal or professional. But, how many of us get really excited for a new year and set lofty goals only for them to fall by the wayside by mid-January? Setting new year resolutions has been a long time tradition but statistics show that only about 10% of people actually stick to their new year resolutions past the month of January - that’s pretty low, but we can change that.

I am a huge proponent of self improvement and and an even bigger proponent of setting goals that are actually measurable and attainable. So how exactly do you set intentions that you will actually stick to? Be SMART about it.

Before you set a goal, first figure out your “why.” By figuring out and articulating the reason you want to achieve something you are more likely to remain motivated to stick to it, rather than it being something you think you should do.

S - Small and Specific: Break your goals into smaller, more specific ones. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier in 2019, be more specific by making it about adding 1 fresh fruit or vegetable and a bottle of water per day for the month of January.

M - Measurable : All your goals must be measurable, that means you should be able to describe the physical manifestation of the outcome of your goal. Example, losing 2lbs per week by adding one fruit or vegetable and a bottle of water to our diet each day.

A - Attainable and Accountability: Is your goal attainable? Can you realistically achieve your goal? Another great way to stay on track is to find someone you trust to keep you accountable. Example, someone who will check in to make sure you had your fruit/vegetable each day or someone who will ensure you meal prep.

R - Relevant and Realistic: Is this goal relevant to you or even realistic? Ensure you’re not setting a goal that you really don’t care about and hence not realistic. Example, I dislike running. If i make it a goal of mine to incorporate running 1 mile/day I know I will fail. Instead, I ensure I get my cardio in by getting on the elliptical or bike each day.

T - Timely: Make a tentative plan for everything you do. Don’t just make it a goal to exercise once per day. You know your schedule, you know if you’re a morning or late night person. Instead of saying you will work out once per day, say you will work out at 5:30 each morning for 1 hour before work/school.

In all of this, a sure way to make things happen is to write it down. It sounds strange, but there is enormous power in putting things down on paper, and according to research you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams when it’s written.

Bonus: Be your own D**n Cheerleader and eliminate self doubt. Figure out what keeps you motivated and inspired. I love quotes! I keep them everywhere - my phone’s wallpaper, sticky notes around the house, on my desk at work, I listen to music, books and podcasts that are uplifting. I tolerate no negativity and try to stay away from it at all costs.

Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish. By breaking down your goals into bite-sized, manageable actions and writing them down,setting goals and intentions for the new year that you can actually stick to becomes a much easier process. Happy New Year!

Retirement Planning for Young Professionals

*Updated to reflect 2019 Increases

It is never too early to start saving towards retirement. As the new year approaches everyone is setting their goals and intention for the coming months. A main focus for many of us will be our money management and long term goals(retirement planning). It is imperative to 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).

Before moving forward, I must remind you that retirement planning is a long term investment. In most cases you will not be able to access these funds until around age 59 1/2 without severe ramifications (taxes + penalties). So, if you are investing and need to access your funds sooner than this, you may have to think of other types of investments, which we will talk about in a subsequent post.

There are many different accounts and plans available and choosing the right one is very important as they each have different benefits and advantages, especially when it comes to tax planning. Here are a few to help you get started.

Simple IRA (Saving Incentive Match Plan for Employees)

For the year 2018, participants can make employee contributions of up to a maximum of $12,500 per year if you are under 50 years old and $15,500 if you are older than 50. Both employee and employer contribute to this account. Contributions are non tax deductible.

Traditional IRA

Anyone can open a traditional IRA account - but honestly, if you are a dentist or physician (like most of my colleagues are), then there really is no use for this type of account. During residency you have the option to open a Roth IRA (more on that below) because your lower salary allows you to stay within the income restrictions. Later as you start your career and your salary increases you will most likely surpass the income caps and will have the ability to deduct your traditional IRA contributions. However, it’s worth understanding as it forms the framework for all other types of retirement accounts. A Traditional IRA is set up by you (not an employer) and the maximum contribution to this type of account is $6,000 if you’re under 50 years old and $7,000 if you’re older. The contributions are tax deductible and grows tax-free.  If you withdraw the money prior to age 59 1/2, there will be ramifications of a 10% tax (penalty) as well as any income tax which would be owed on the money.  After age 59 1/2, you just have to pay the income tax based on your tax bracket at that time.  At age 70, you will be required to start withdrawing part of the money each year, the “Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).”  This is age based and starts out at about 3.6% and increases to about 8.8% at age 90.  

Roth IRA

I absolutely love a Roth IRA. However, there is a contribution income limit. If you make more than $120K (single) or $179K (married), you cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. However, there are ways to get around that with Roth IRA conversions, which we will discuss in a subsequent post. Anyone with earned income can open a Roth IRA and contribute up to $5000 per year.  If income is sufficient, one can also open a Spousal Roth IRA and contribute another $5000.  If you’re over 50, those limits are raised to $6000 per year.

The reason I love a Roth IRA is because you contribute with after-tax money, but it is never taxed again!  You don’t pay taxes on capital gains and dividends as the money grows, and it comes out tax-free in retirement.  You generally can’t access the money before age 59 1/2, but unlike a 401K or Traditional IRA there are no required minimum distributions beginning at age 70.

401K

If you are an employee of a company and your employer offers a 401K retirement plan, there’s absolutely no reason why you should not be participating. It is even more important that you participate if said company is offering a match. A match is basically free money! Do not leave free money laying on the table. The contribution maximum for the year 2019 is $19,000 and the great thing about a 401K is that you are investing pre-tax dollars. The not-so great thing is that when you go to retrieve your money (after age 59 1/2), you will be taxed on this (unlike with a Roth IRA).

If you're an Independent Contractor (not a W2 employee), you’re considered to be “running your own business.” In this case, you can also make an employer contribution of 20% of your net income up to $55,000.

SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension)

If you have your own practice, a SEP IRA may be a good option. This allows you to contribute 25% of your business profit or $55,000 per year, whichever is less. The contributions are tax deductible, and investments grow tax deferred until retirement.

This is not a comprehensive list of retirement vehicles but it’s a great place to start. Everyone, as early as possible, should start contributing to one of the above. Speak with your financial planner or accountant for more clarification about which plan is best for you. Hope this helps in getting started.

Tanzania: Dental Helping Hands

The purpose of the Dental Helping Hands (DHH) Non-Profit Organization (NPO) is to provide dental services to people who do not have access to dental care, who cannot afford it and who would otherwise not be able to receive treatment. The founders of the organization have a solid mission of giving back to people of our respective communities and countries.

Our latest mission took us to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where Dr. Patrick Christopher (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery resident and President of our non-profit Organization) and a team of other surgeons and volunteers performed life saving and life altering surgeries for individuals who were in dire need.

The DHH team spent four days in Tanzania and performed trauma surgeries, cleft lip & palate repair, facial reconstruction, keloid repair, and tumor removals.

Tumors on right side of patient’s face

Patient prepped and ready for tumor removal surgery

Our trip was a success. Seven (7) individuals in dire need of care were able to receive life altering surgeries at no cost. A huge part of our team’s success stems from individuals like yourself who see there’s a need and donate either time, supplies or money. These donations go a very long way in the lives of the people we serve.

In 2019 we will continue our mission to serve and provide these communities with much needed dental services. Services we typically offer include dental cleanings, extractions, fillings, root canals, and even surgical intervention. We provide education and supplies to help maintain their oral health long after we are gone.

Please help us continue to serve the underserved by donating to our non-profit here.