Practice Finance

My nurse recently died and her beneficiary designation form states that her retirement plan assets should go to her former spouse. Since she completed the form years before her divorce, should I honor it?

Although I filed my 2008 return, the IRS subtracted the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit and sent me a letter requesting additional information. Does the credit still exist?

Adopting a cafeteria plan will allow you and your employees to not only pay health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis, but also unreimbursed medical expenses, dental expenses, eye care, and pharmaceuticals.

Given the perceived long-term consequences of the U.S. borrowing so much money, should you consider moving funds out of U.S. equities to international equities?

How can I protect my financial plan from the risk of rising inflation and interest rates?

Now is an ideal time to learn about the proven benefits, strengths, and versatility of life insurance and annuity investing.

Physicians who begin practicing and subsequently go back to training in a fellowship have a unique opportunity if they were contributing to a pretax retirement plan, such as a 403b.

An option for residents and fellows who moonlight and want to defer some of their earnings into tax-advantaged plans is to open a Simplified Employee Pension plan.

I'm joining a practice later this summer with a starting salary of $180,000. How much house can I purchase without the fear of becoming "house poor"?

Lurking within the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are nearly $300 billion in potential tax breaks, and much of it is available to you.

I know I need more life insurance than what my employer gives me, but how much should I get and what type should I get?

I'm a physician who has just started practicing. How do I protect myself and my assets?

A lot of my colleagues are moving their investments to certificates of deposit and cash accounts. Should I be doing the same?

As a resident with more debt than income, how can a financial adviser help me?

Is it safe to have my office staff pay my practice's bills online?

With the value of stocks and other equities at an all-time low, now might be the time to transfer those assets to your heirs in hopes of the value rebounding over the course of their lives.

The federal stimulus bill offers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, but there are ways to take advantage of this new tax break even if you already own a home.

I asked one of our vendors to be a golf tournament sponsor for a charitable organization. I was told "no" and wondered why. What can I do to have better luck next time?

Why won't lenders offer 15-year or 30-year fixed-rate loans on small medical office buildings?

I am trying to refinance my home, and my lender says my application is in limbo because my credit is "frozen." What's the deal?

My bank's personal financial statement form asks if I have any contingent liabilities or obligations. What does that mean?

The question on many people's lips is whether the stock market has reached bottom or whether there is still a ways to go before we get there.

Is it better to give away half of my $1 million retirement plan or keep the entire plan and give $500,000 of other assets?

Two of my employees have asked for in-service distributions from our practice's 401(k) plan. While still employed, is a participant able to receive a distribution?

I recently lost a relative and was appointed executor of her will. My attorney advised me that I am entitled to take an executor's fee and that this is deductible by the estate. Does it make sense to take an executor's fee?

I made a personal loan to an employee, and then she quit. Can I withdraw the funds from her retirement plan account?

Despite today's historic market woes, I have come to the conclusion that stocks or their equivalents are the safest, most convenient, most efficient method of growing your savings and securing your retirement.

I currently hold a credit card with a $5,000 balance and a 15 percent interest rate. I was wondering if I should decrease the amount I am contributing to my retirement plan through work and put the "extra" dollars toward the credit-card debt.

I understand the importance of securing an individual disability policy while still in training, but I recently was told that with my income potential, I should consider securing two policies. Why is that?

I am interested in starting to save for my two-year-old child's college education. I have heard great things about 529 plans and was wondering if that is the only plan I should utilize?