Lifestyle

Emerging markets are known to be risky, and the situation in Egypt drives the point home. Upheaval in the Middle East demonstrates political risk, one of the major dangers of emerging markets. Another danger? Investment advisers who downplay those risks for their own interests.

The number of victims of identity theft fell sharply last year, but consumers' out-of-pocket costs skyrocketed, a new study found. New-account fraud, including non-bank accounts, and "friendly fraud" were the most common types of crime.

The rate of inflation in the U.S. is usually measured by the Consumer Price Index, but your own personal rate of inflation may be drastically different. Understanding your personal inflation rate, and how to control it, is crucial because it's a real threat to your purchasing power and your lifestyle.

I love discovering entrepreneurial physicians who are doing something different, and having fun with their efforts. Author of the blog "ZDoggMD: Slightly Funnier Than Placebo," Zubin Damania MD is a rapper-hospitalist in Northern California with roots in music and stand-up comedy. In the mood for a chuckle? Check out his latest video.

Practice-based medical labs -- where blood is drawn and analyzed in-house, as opposed to being sent out for analysis -- can not only improve patient care, they have the potential to increase practice revenue when set up correctly. But before diving in, you need to know your patients.

What can young physicians do to manage the day-to-day costs of life, and overwhelming debt load, while focusing on launching their careers at the same time? Here's some advice to help manage the complex financial problems young doctors typically face.

One in 16 U.S. surgeons had a suicidal thought in the past year, but just 26% sought help from a mental-health professional, a new study found. Surgeons cited concerns about their medical license as a reason for not seeking help.

It's that time of year again, when analysts and data crunchers pore over National Football League statistics to try and glean who will have the best performance Super Bowl Sunday -- stock-market performance, that is.

At some stage in its "business life cycle," every medical practice or physician-owned business starts to spin its wheels, either because the patients or clients are showing dissatisfaction, or there's way too much business and things are bogging down. Here's how get back on track.

A reader hits up our travel columnists for advice on where to go when they travel. Here are their personal favorites -- and feel free to add some of your own suggestions in our comments section.

As many as seven healthcare-related companies, including closely watched mobile-app maker Epocrates, were slated to file initial public offerings this week -- the busiest week for U.S. IPOs since 2007.

While it's too late to save on 2010 taxes, it's not too early to start thinking about 2011. With the right charitable-giving strategy, you can do the most good while making the most of available tax deductions.

Many academic programs spare no expense in training their MDs. Private practices, however, are driven by both excellence in clinical care and profitability. Here are some tips to ensure you get top compensation when negotiating pay and benefits with a new practice.

Female physicians just starting out are paid nearly $17,000 less than their male counterparts, and earn much less than men across nearly all specialties, according to a new study.

Physicians who manage their own investments -- and financial advisors who manage investments for physicians -- overwhelmingly focus on investment return rather than the one thing that will guarantee your portfolio will increase in value: Saving. Here's why saving more now is more important than earning more later.

Many financial advisors ignore tax efficiency when investing, and their clients end up paying more taxes than they should. Last week, I addressed the importance of investing the right types of securities in tax-advantaged savings accounts. In the second of my two-part series on minimizing taxes, we'll look at investing in taxable accounts.

Travel review site TripAdvisor published its annual ranking of the "2011 Dirtiest Hotels in America," as reported by travelers. This year's list includes 10 hotels from eight states.

For physician practices looking for an added revenue stream, sometimes that flowing water can be closer than you think. A new kiosk-type device allows patients to fill out forms and swipe their cards to make co-pays right on the spot. As a result, data is entered more accurately and physicians can put an end to missed co-pays.

I'm a huge proponent for executing a consistent marketing plan, but I've been a poor example recently! So now I'm recommitting myself to one part of my marketing plan that has proved to be extremely effective for my business over the past four to five years: Blogging.

Declines in market values and uncertainty about the future of healthcare has caused many physicians to question whether it's time to find a new financial advisor. Before you switch investment firms, here are some important considerations.

Tourist places in Mexico tend to be ... touristy. But in a little town of about 12,000 souls called Loreto, under the base of the stark Sierra de la Giganta Mountains, you'll find a taste of the country's Old World charm. Loreto looks the way Cabo did 50 years ago.

A third of physicians practicing today are over 65, and that number is expected to rise as financial pressures make it tough for doctors to retire. Experts are beginning to question whether enough precautions are in place to ensure the competency of aging physicians.

I've compiled some quotes about money, success and life in general that remind us that we don't have to reinvent the wheel -- we just need to know how to source it. We also learn, yet again, that a felicity of expression is timeless. So read on for some of my favorite quotes, and share some of your favorites with your fellow readers in the comments section.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average traded above 12000 for the first time in nearly three years, as investors were heartened by signs of earnings growth, including reports from some of the biggest names in healthcare.

A reader asks: What are the advantages or disadvantages of two physicians forming a partnership and working under one business ID number versus working under a C Corp, S Corp or LLC?

Each year, investment-research giant picks three mutual-fund "managers of the year" to pats them on the back for their investing skills. The truth is, "hot" money managers have no better chance of beating the financial markets over the long haul than a bunch of blindfolded monkeys.

The new tax law's $5 million gift-tax exemption for 2011 and 2012 gives high-net-worth individuals a short-lived opportunity to give more money to family members tax-free.

When it comes to travel, everyone's got their own horror stories, but relatively few have suffered as much as Dr. Gary Feldman. The Ventura, Calif., pediatric geneticist beat out more than 800 contest entries to be named "The World's Unluckiest Traveler."

Publishers of the Wall Street Journal filed suit Tuesday to turn over a court order that bars public access to a database that includes information on how much individual physicians were paid by Medicare.

Advice from financial experts are as varied as the types of investments they suggest -- and all too often, few pay attention to the tax consequences when making their recommendations. This week, I'll cover the pros and cons of common investment advice for tax-advantaged accounts.