James M. Dahle, MD, FACEP

Some investors and advisors advocate using individual municipal bonds rather than a good municipal bond mutual fund. Here are 4 reasons that might not be a good idea.

The number of physicians with an "estate tax problem" is lower than it used to be. For those with such a problem, one option to reduce their estate tax bite is giving away their primary residence prior to death. This is done using a Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT).

As doctors enter their 50s and 60s, many start dreaming about retirement; unfortunately, properly planning for retirement requires as much time and effort as planning a career.

When searching for an advisor, there are several things you can do to maximize the chances of getting lined up with a competent, fairly-priced advisor right from the beginning.

As doctors enter their 50s and 60s, many start dreaming about retirement; unfortunately, properly planning for retirement requires as much time and effort as planning a career.

For decades, there has been a grand debate afoot in the investing world between "total return" and "income" investors. Extremists in the latter camp may get burned on 4 issues.

Physicians and other high-income professionals may spend 20 to 40 years accumulating money, but few give thought to unwinding investments during retirement.

There is no doubt that a bear market is coming, and now is the time to make sure you are ready. Successful investing is more about managing risk-particularly, your own behavior-than anything else.

A medical resident's most valuable financial asset is his future earnings ability, which is at serious risk of loss due to a personal disability.

Investing your retirement savings wisely is not all that different from fighting a battle. Unfortunately, too many investors don't actually know the enemy they're fighting.

Right now people are pulling money out of emerging markets like crazy and it seem a whole lot like the old sell high/buy low behavior that smart investors are supposed to avoid.

Many physicians will own rental property at some point in their investment career. However, they often fail to analyze it properly before making the purchase.

The vast majority of investors never actually reach "adulthood." To do so is a process you must go through if you wish to meet your financial goals.

The benefits of having several different asset classes in your portfolio are well-known. Since no one can predict the future, you want a portfolio that will do acceptably well no matter what happens in the world.

Investing your retirement savings wisely is not all that different from fighting a battle. Unfortunately, too many investors don't actually know the enemy they're fighting.

When it comes to planning for retirement, there are three concepts that physician investors often misunderstand. Unfortunately, two of these three constitute "bad news."

Financial pundits often tout dollar-cost averaging as a method to manage risk in the markets, but just as it lowers risk, it also lowers expected returns.

Many investors add an investment in real estate to their portfolio and there are a number of ways to do this depending on how much time and money you are willing to put in.

One of the best ways to save for college is a 529 plan. And the best one in the country is getting even better thanks to lower administrative fees and two new investment options.

Investors don't have a crystal ball. But if you want to be successful, using a fixed asset allocation and periodic rebalancing can boost returns while saving you time and worry.

Most doctors are aware of the importance of diversifying their portfolios. However, too few of us have applied these same principles to the taxation of our assets when it comes time to spend them in retirement.