Lifestyle

A reader wants to know whether buying the so-called Dogs of the Dow is a good way to get started investing in the stock market. Investment experts say the Dogs' track record is good -- as long as you're in it for the long haul.

Physicians in solo or small practices face a major fork in the road: Either you will seek a "Sugar Daddy" to buy or take over your practice, or you will go it alone and eschew any payment other than cash or plastic. This has the makings of a Morton's fork dilemma for those who just want to be left alone to practice medicine.

If you're nearing retirement, or simply dreaming about it, you may be considering a move to another state -- one that has a lower cost of living, or perhaps a nicer climate. If so, you might want to cross these 10 states off your list of potential retirement havens.

Congress voted to exempt doctors from the so-called "Red Flags" Rule, which requires financial institutions and creditors -- including physician practices -- to implement policies that would prevent identity theft.

Gas prices are already topping $3 a gallon across the country, and analysts think prices will go even higher. These steps can help keep the price you pay for per gallon as low as possible.

Which careers in healthcare offer the best chance for job and income growth in the coming year? U.S.News & World Report's list of the 50 Best Careers in 2011 ranked 13 high-opportunity jobs in the field of medicine.

President Obama and congressional leaders reached a tentative agreement this week to extend the Bush tax cuts for another two years and slash the employee payroll tax, along with a slew of temporary tax incentives. Here's what they could mean for you.

Congress voted to delay the looming 25% cut in Medicare reimbursements for another year. The legislation moves on to President Obama to sign before the cuts go into effect on Jan. 1.

One of the things that irks me about most financial advisors is that they dump their clients' into a mishmash of investments without a sense of purpose. And some look at investments in isolation, without considering their clients' overall financial picture. Here are some questions to ask to make sure yours isn't one of them.

A cruise can open a traveler's eyes to previously unknown wonders. In this economy, it can also represent the bargain vacation, but you have to do your homework. Part of the fun of choosing the right cruise is discovering your options -- and there are plenty.

With automatic bill payments, you can save time, postage, and hassle. And if your payments are charged to your credit card, you can build up rewards. But there are some downsides that come with putting your bill payments on autopilot.

Some are predicting the use of videoconferencing by physicians is about to boom, and experts say acceptance of the technology by physicians and their patients is growing. While physicians who use videoconferencing tools are able to realize significant efficiency and productivity gains, finding a reimbursement model that works can be a challenge.

Who's in the lead for our "Diagnose the Dow!" healthcare stock-picking contest? With just a week to go, two new players have vaulted into the Top 5. If you think you can do better, hurry and sign up for your chance to win an iPad.

Do you spend more time mulling the difference in cost of products at the grocery store than you do figuring out whether your home has enough insurance coverage? (Guilty as charged.) When it comes to making financial decisions, we need to keep our individual quirks in mind when it really counts -- not in terms of pennies, but in pounds.

In order to glean a better yield than my discount broker's bank account provided, I searched for and found higher-yielding savings accounts at smaller banks. So I decided to switch. It took a bit of time, especially for the transfer of the money between banks, but I thought it was worth it. I don't think so anymore.

From radiation overdose to tubing misconnections, find out which technologies were deemed most dangerous for 2011, and what can be done to prevent incidents in your practice and protect your patients.

Some of the changes included in the 2011 AMA CPT manual include codes for reporting administration of vaccines to children, says the AAFP.

Physicians face another tax-related headache next year: Starting Jan. 1, patients are required to get prescriptions from their doctors for over-the-counter drugs if they want to pay for them using flexible spending accounts.

Surgeons who marry physicians suffer greater career conflicts and work-home strife than surgeons who partner with non-physicians, or those who stay at home, according to a new study. Surgeons married to fellow surgeons face even greater challenges.

While most physicians think of financial planning strictly in terms of investing, the reality is that investing is only one component of a comprehensive financial plan. In fact, capital appreciation is low on the list of priorities and should not be addressed at all until you've protected what you already have.

A buy-sell agreement is a necessity whenever a physician joins a medical practice in an ownership capacity. To avoid future pain, special attention needs to be paid to the formula you use to value the practice.

Two leading medical-device makers announced separate deals to acquire start-ups to bolster their cardiovascular units, while biotech IPOs struggled in a sign that investor enthusiasm for high-risk companies remains anemic.

As the New Year approaches, it's more important than ever to monitor the debate over federal tax policy, be proactive in developing tax and investment strategies that are suited for today's changing tax environment, and work with professional advisors to ensure you don't pay more taxes than you should.

Doing holiday shopping online? You might want to wait. Free shipping has become such a selling point among retailers that a slew of companies have set aside an special day in December devoted to it.

Migrating to a cloud-computing service can give smaller and mid-sized medical practices access to IT management expertise and advances in technology typically available to much larger organizations. But practice managers need to consider security and regulatory issues before they take to the clouds.

Congress voted to delay the looming cut in Medicare pay for physicians, keeping reimbursements at current rates through Dec. 31. The measure would postpone a 23% cut in reimbursements that was due to go into effect on Wednesday.

Here are five of the latest apps for your practice and your personal life, including three physician-reviewed apps, as featured this month in our sister publication, MDNG magazine.

There's still time to save tens of thousands of dollars in federal and state taxes this year. Here are five ways doctors and physician business owners can significantly trim their taxes for 2010 and beyond.

What are the top gifts on kids' holiday wish lists this year? One word: Electronics. Children between the ages of six to 12 years of age, and teens aged 13 years or older, universally asked for this year's hottest devices.

Fewer physicians say they have relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers and other medical companies, but the majority still have some ties, particularly in areas with high healthcare costs, a new study finds.