Lifestyle

Every year brings new financial challenges, as well as new ways to address those hurdles. Regardless of the year, there are some sound rules when it comes to managing money that -- albeit with a couple of tweaks -- remain tried and true. Here are five of them.

Lack of formal training, professional biases, cultural differences, and other factors can influence how physicians deliver bad news to patients. An expert offers some guidance on what to do -- and what not to do.

"Primary care is the main solution to our health care problems," said Moore. "It is the foundation of the health care systems in the western world."

Financial advisors often have an alphabet soup of letters after their names. Here's a look at some of those titles and what they mean.

Everyone born before July 1, 1939 is required to take a minimum distribution this year, but some planning moves may help less this impact.

I've been told that the classic journalism story is a dog bite piece. So did you realize that dog bites are responsible for 1/3 of the liability freight on your homeowner policy? Nibble on this and a few more interesting facts.

Are you ready to leave medicine? At the 2010 AAFP Scientific Assembly, Edward Shahady, MD, reviewed the steps that should be considered when a physician is ready to retire.

A new study finds that physicians' own health may play a key role when it comes to counseling patients on lifestyle issues such as diet and exercise.

In his opening remarks on meaningful use, David Kibbe, MD, said, "This program is changing the design and future of EHRs."

The number of people using identity theft prevention services is declining, despite a 12.5 percent increase in the number of victims of identity fraud last year, a new study shows. Here's a look at "best in class" credit-monitoring services, and how to go it alone.

Home sale prices sank in July, and one expert believes that may be the most encouraging news we'll see from the housing market for a while. The decline in home prices is being driven by huge inventories, already depressed prices, and the increasing number of distressed sales.

A reader who converted his retirement account from an IRA to a Roth IRA earlier this year has seen the account decline in value. He asks: "Do I still owe taxes on the full amount?" The good news is there's still time for a "do over," but he'll have to act fast.

New expanded health-insurance coverage recently kicked in under ObamaCare, and one might think that that politicians facing difficult re-election campaigns would be trumpeting these benefits as part of their last-minute stumping, and that physician groups would now be finding the silver lining in what has otherwise been perceived as a failed legislation. None of this has happened. In fact, what was billed as the crowning achievement of the 111th Congress is turning into an issue its backers would rather simply ignore.

President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act, which expands loan opportunities for small businesses and provides some substantial new tax breaks for many medical practices.

There's plenty of adventure -- and breath-taking scenery -- to be found in western Canada. Our travel columnists suggest five exciting places to visit to help you make the most of your journey west of the Rockies.

Physicians looking to expand their patient base and branch out beyond their practices should look no further than their local radio stations. A call-in show, or similar program, can help doctors reach out to new patients while providing a valuable service to the community.

Three out of five doctors in training surveyed said they went to work sick in the last year, possibly resulting in suboptimal performance and exposing their patients and colleagues to illness.

Small public and private drug developers are experiencing a wave of aggressive financing, while biotech stocks of all sizes extended their rally into a fourth week.

As large healthcare networks increasingly offer attractive pay packages to physicians, more practice owners worry whether they'll be able to retain and attract top doctors. As a result, many are re-evaluating their compensation packages to make sure that they remain competitive.

Many entrepreneurs and physicians (and their descendants) owe their fortunes to the life-sciences and healthcare industries. Here are the top 10 who made Forbes magazine's "Top 400 Richest Americans" list this year.

A pediatric practice on the brink of bankruptcy is saved after implementing an electronic medical records system that helped it turn profitable in a month, and recoup all its losses in a year.

The long-lasting recession has had one not-too-surprising upshot: More individuals put away the credit cards and embraced a cash-only lifestyle. Studies show people who do so spend less and save more. That's the good news -- but there are definitely downsides to ditching the plastic.

What does it take to go from a doctor in a full-time medical practice to a physician in a non-clinical role? Focusing on your "disruptive skills," or distinctive innate talents, can help guide your career choice and ease the transition.

A growing number of hospitals and group practices are offering physician incentives, many of which are tied to patient satisfaction and quality measures.

Golfer's bible Golf Magazine counts down the "Top 100 Public Courses You Can Play" each year, and highlights the courses that are newly open to the public. This year's additions to the list include courses that are among the most scenic -- and pain-inducing -- in the world.

Oxytocin is the chemical that enhances trust when released -- and it can boost warm and fuzzy feelings, too. Now, one study suggests that charitable organizations may convince donors to give more by exposing them to oxytocin.

A physician business owner wants to know which of many retirement savings account options available today makes the most sense for self-employed individuals.

The state of Massachusetts ranked No. 1 of the Top 10 states in the use of electronic prescriptions last year, according to new survey. Nationwide, about one out of three healthcare professionals have adopted e-prescribing.

Everyone slips up with their credit once in a while -- and whether it's a bonehead mistake or a genuine financial crisis, it's going to damage your credit score. How much? Here's how many points five common credit mishaps will shave off your credit score.

The Kaiser Family Foundation launched a comprehensive new website to help consumers get a better grasp on the changes being wrought by healthcare reform. The site also includes a helpful, animated video that breaks down the key consumer provisions of the new laws.