We all know that physicians can make a good amount of money every month as their income. On the other hand, it has become increasingly apparent that the financial blunders they make at some point in their lives contribute to making things difficult while managing finances.
So, it is essential for both young as well as experienced physicians to understand the possible mistakes they have been making and how they can be avoided in the future.
Here we will discuss some of the common financial mistakes that doctors make and offer advice on how these mistakes can be avoided.
1. Delayed satisfaction fulfilled at once. The number one mistake with delayed satisfaction is that you have been putting off your desires for too long. This makes you experience an enormous boost in the standard of living instead of just a tiny increase when you finally start getting your paycheck. It appears like the ideal time to buy all the things you have been bottling up for a long time.
2. Not maintaining a budget. Another majorly important mistake to avoid is not maintaining a budget. It is easy to keep a well-sought budget early in your career, but budgeting often gets off the scene as the scale goes high. This can result in reckless spending. While accounting for every minor expense is unnecessary, knowing where the more significant amounts are getting spent is important. This can give you an idea of what is exactly happening with your money.
3. Not saving emergency funds. It is usually a prudent measure to have an emergency fund, particularly in this most unpredictable living environment. It assists you in times of crisis and prevents you from sliding into a cycle of increasing debt. It is highly recommended that you have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved up in cash to deal with any unforeseen events.
4. Not knowing where to put money for retirement. Taking advantage of retirement programs such as 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) is typically the first step for physicians. Although these plans offer great value, physicians need to understand how they function. For instance, it is necessary to know what kinds of investments can be made, what fees are associated with each investment choice, etc.
It is always beneficial to seek the advice of an expert and investigate every alternative possibility that is at your disposal.
5. Not managing debts effectively. Another prominent mistake physicians usually make in handling their finances is not managing their debts wisely. It is no secret that physicians typically carry the burden of debt on their shoulders. It can start with student loans and ride up to various others like credit card debts, automobile loans, and payday loans.
It is necessary to have a more visionary approach to come out of these debts, for instance, debt consolidation. You won’t need to struggle with multiple loans to pay off on different dates by consolidating debts, and you can do this at a lower interest rate.
6. Not making appropriate investment choices. There are a lot of medical professionals who just have the legally required minimum amount of auto liability insurance for their states. To maintain financial security in the face of adversity, it is essential to acquire financial literacy and make intelligent investment decisions.
In light of this, doctors must safeguard their financial futures. This can be done by purchasing sufficient insurance to protect them against potential threats such as personal and professional liability, health issues, injuries leading to permanent disability or death, and the loss of valuable possessions.
7. Assuming money is a renewable resource. As a physician, it is reasonable for you to believe that you will continue to bring in a steady income month after month. Physicians have a common tendency to think of money as a renewable resource.
On the other hand, having this concept can sometimes make it difficult to anticipate a situation when your income could diminish or when you will not be able to produce as much money as you usually have been able to.
8. Having the wrong financial advisor. As a physician, you may or may not always need a financial advisor. However, you may need to consult a financial advisor for various reasons. For instance, handling your finances efficiently, putting your money to better use, or simply wanting to make more out of your money. However, consulting an advisor who puts his benefit before yours could make you stand at a greater risk. You must make sure that your advisor has your best interests in mind and must check if your finances are being handled efficiently.
9. Unable to maintain the income-expense balance. Relating to lifestyle decisions, that habit of keeping a tab on your expenses as per your income can sometimes get blurred. This can make it easy to break the income-expense balance and match up your payments with your income if it does not at least exceed it. To avoid such a situation, you must keep a monthly budget and adhere to it.
10. Not utilizing the available resources. This is one of the most surprising choices that some doctors make. They rarely take advantage of the resources at their disposal. It is unethical to observe a physician who does not spend his money generously, just like it is unethical to see a physician who spends his money way too freely. To provide just two examples, you won’t regret treating yourself to an amazing trip or investing a significant amount of money in the car of your dreams.
Conclusion
From what’s been said, it’s clear that you should make it a habit to build and maintain your own financial health as a doctor. The sooner you do this, the better.
You can be more efficient and effective with your money if you plan ahead and do things like making a reasonable budget, consolidating your debts, property investment, learning about taxes, and investing wisely.
Lyle Solomon is an attorney.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
