This post was updated in January 2026 based on the IRS limits for 2026. A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) allows annual contributions of up to $7,500 for 2026. Contributions are made with post-tax funds, which can be invested in individual stocks, REITs, index funds, etc. Withdrawals after age 59 1/2 are tax-free on capital gains, leveraging…
I started my career as an attending cardiac anesthesiologist and intensivist on October 1, 2019. Beginning in January 2020, I started using Empower (referral link) to track my income, expenses, and net worth. Roughly five years later, I’m analyzing my net worth (y-axis) over time (x-axis) and have seen three…
I’ve found a strategic blend of benefits that suit my lifestyle and spending habits using Bilt Rewards, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Ink Unlimited, and Chase Freedom Flex. Here’s a breakdown of each card and how I leverage their perks and rewards to maximize my cents per point (CPP) when redeeming…
The overwhelming majority of my non-retirement net worth is in my brokerage account invested in the index exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI, 0.03% expense ratio, represents the United States’ total stock market) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS, 0.07% expense ratio, represents the international market).…
Although primarily focused on growth investments, I contribute monthly to the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF™ (SCHD) to diversify my Fidelity brokerage account portfolio. This exchange-traded fund (ETF) focuses on high-quality, dividend-paying U.S. stocks and has a net/gross expense ratio of 0.06%. Here are some of the reasons I’m investing…
With market volatility, unexpected layoffs, personal emergencies, and uncertainty about the future, the COVID pandemic taught us the value of establishing an emergency fund. Let’s discuss how I approach this essential financial task. As Fidelity houses my employer’s retirement accounts, Roth IRA, and brokerage accounts, I wanted my emergency fund…
In March 2020, international markets nose-dived due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impacts. At that time, I had been an attending physician for only six months. I decided to make a significant, one-time investment in low-expense-ratio index funds, knowing the market would eventually grow and I would compound over time.…
Besides focusing on ways to increase income, I think it’s just as important to periodically evaluate one’s fixed monthly expenses. In general, I try to place as many expenses on my credit card as possible to earn points; however, there are others taken straight from my checking account. For example,…
One of the unfortunate aspects of physician training is that although we spend countless years and dollars learning how to become competent clinical decision-makers, there aren’t many lessons on financial management. As new attendings, we have “financial advisors” pitching us investment ideas and portfolio management with fees. We also have…
Income and wealth are two entirely different entities. One can have a high income but make horrible financial decisions that focus more on pursuing “wants” rather than making sound decisions for the future. Here’s how I’m diversifying my contributions to retirement.