Lifestyle

Although the tax deadline is still six months away, an important date just passed that taxpayers should pay attention to, because with all the potential changes coming, the one thing you want is to be prepared.

Social Security benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase in 2013; the maximum taxable income for workers will also increase.

Napa may be California's supreme wine producer, but after years of flying under the radar Paso Robles is emerging as a strong competitor and is conveniently located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

When trying to decide which practice model is best for you, business, personal and community variables all enter in. And yet, for some physicians the decision sometimes boils down to one important criterion.

Last week was the worst week in four months for the market as a closer look at the first earnings reports of the season showed disappointing news lurking under initially positive-looking data. Earnings will continue to hold sway this week as 40% of the Dow companies report.

Although the economy and jobs are the most important election issue, health care might be the deciding factor between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. A new Harvard study reveals that Obama has a distinct lead in this area.

Medical schools are looking to increase enrollment to meet the projected physician shortage in the U.S., and there are some secrets they're keeping that might deter some students from joining the medical field.

The housing market is beginning to rebound and you may be looking to take advantage, but the so-called Medicare tax may actually affect current or future real estate investments.

The large amount of debt medical school students graduate with (an average of $161,290) can be a deterrent from working in underserved areas and pursuing careers in lower paying specialties. So the government is providing some relief that you might be eligible for.

Key performance indicators are the best way to track physician and staff productivity in a medical practice to protect income and eliminate errors and redundancies in the office.

Some days, even Andrew Minigutti, MD, forgets that his practice's allergy specialist isn't one of his actual employees. Instead, she is an outside employee working out of Minigutti's Plano, Texas practice to the benefit of not only the patients, but the doctors as well.

The average Joe on the street and the average doctor are in disagreement about why health care is so expensive. Here are eight reasons for why the U.S. pays more for its health care and gets less than other developed nations.

Did Vice President Joe Biden hurt his strong debate performance with his smirking, laughing and sarcastic comments? The Obama administration attempts to move past the president's dismal debate with a fiery Biden.

Bundled retirement plans may be the most common and most convenient for small businesses, but medical practices can save money by unbundling, which means having multiple separate parties for each aspect of the plan.

A tour of duty as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy presented an Illinois spinal surgeon with the business model that would make his practice a success and shaped his style for interacting with patients.

Doctors can often be the victims of financial advisors looking to make some money off wealthy targets. Take control of your own financial destiny by hiring a financial coach who will discuss goals and eventually cede control as time progresses.

While economic growth over the last month was just modest, health care has done well with demand for health care consulting services skyrocketing, according to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book.

The more likely it looks that Mitt Romney will win the election, the more volatility stocks that benefited from ACA will show. Medicare-related stocks will also be vulnerable as Paul Ryan has a plan for the program.

Critical illness insurance is finding increasing popularity as someone who suffers a critical illness will eat up about $12,000 above and beyond what's covered by health insurance - just in the first year!

Making that sometimes difficult shift from not wanting to deal with the business side of your practice to taking ownership, thinking like an entrepreneur and coming up with creative strategies to deliver care the way you want.

The third quarter's earnings season is just kicking off, but already analysts have low expectations, dragging stocks down in all but one sector.

Avoiding reward credit cards just because of annual fees might be a mistake for certain types of consumers who could benefit because of their lifestyles, according to a new analysis.

Welcome to a corner of California that is forever the home of Hamlet and Hans Christian Andersen: windmills, half-timbered houses, painted panels, Danish pastries, and even The Little Mermaid.

The downgrade of global economic growth by the International Monetary Fund provides a fitting backdrop for the start of third quarter earnings season. This raises the prospect that most companies will cite the weak economic environment to provide a subdued outlook for the fourth quarter and beyond.

A bad experience at an airport can set your vacation off on the wrong foot or send you home at the end in a bad mood (when you have to get ready to go back to work, too). Here are five to avoid if possible.

Most physicians don't take into account the unanticipated out-of-pocket expenses and hidden costs that crop up after installation when choosing to implement an electronic medical record.

Given the uncertainty of presidential elections, the markets won't like the next few weeks. But do they really prefer Republican presidents over Democrats? Plus, drug companies continue to run into problems with patent infringement in India.

When life changes, money changes. When money changes, life changes. Many financial downfalls can be anticipated by overcoming overconfidence, dissolving denial and facing even unpleasant financial facts.

PMD readers weigh in on the report that physicians are looking to get out of health care and the majority of commenters agree that the biggest problem with health care in the U.S. is outside forces - namely the government and insurance companies - in the physician-patient relationship.