Lifestyle

Recent stock market gains remain random, with no firm market indicators currently pointing in the direction of a strong rally. So far, Mike says, this rally feels like it's of the "pushing-a-rope" variety.

Senate lawmakers reached an agreement to delay the 21 percent reduction in Medicare claims reimbursements, on the day the cuts were scheduled to going into effect. The bill now moves on to the House for approval.

On a trip down the river Rhone, you'll come upon Viviers -- a tiny village lost in its own world. The town, established in the 5th century, is home to Saint-Vincent Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in France still in use.

Travel in Europe is still very expensive -- though it has little to do with the rate of exchange. The dollar has strengthened against the euro in recent months, but money-exchange costs, credit-card fees, and the American urge to shop often wipe out any financial gain.

Sanjiv Chopra, Faculty Dean for Continuing Medical Education, Harvard Medical School, divines the qualities of an effective leader.

Between income, capital gains, Medicare, self-employment and other taxes, physicians spend up to 50 percent of their working hours laboring for the IRS and the state. Here are four tax-savings strategies that may help ease the burden.

Physicians are losing their ability to treat "superbugs," as well as far more common diseases, due to the rapid increase in resistance to antibiotic drugs, a new report shows. Some advice to avoid contributing to the problem.

On a recent trip to Jordan, our Money MD stayed at Wadi Musa -- the village where the legendary Petra is located. Petra's majestic "Treasury" site was used a location for filming "Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade."

A video making waves online this week illustrates how overhead costs and other expenses whittle down the average physician's take home pay to $27.72 an hour -- that's less than what many high-school teachers make.

Price protection, warranty extensions, purchase insurance, automatic recordkeeping -- and, yes, cash-back -- are just a few of the perks physicians get when they use credit cards to make purchases for their practices.

If you're a doctor with a six-figure income, chances are you've been on the receiving end of an invitation to an "educational" seminar that may include free lunch or dinner at an upscale hotel or restaurant. Investigations by regulators and the AARP have found many of these seminars are rife with fraud.

The nation's five largest health insurers processed 20% of claims incorrectly in 2009, a new study shows. The inaccuracies resulted in backlogs in processing, anger and confusion among patients, and wasted time and delayed payments for physicians.

What makes a great hotel great? Architecture, history, service and, of course, staff. You can find out a lot about the world's great hotels online, but if you really want to know what makes a great hotel great you have to dig deeper to find their stories.

Biotech stocks made up a big chunk at the annual "reconstituting" of the Russell 3000 Index. Each year around this time, the Russell 3000 is reconfigured and stocks are added to the widely held index. Here's a look at some up-and-coming biotechs about to join the widely held index.

The Dead Sea in Jordan may be too salty for sea or plant life, but it certainly draws other kinds of organisms, those of the human species. It is a magnet for people who believe in its healing properties and also for those that are just curious. It is worth a visit and, if possible, should be done in style.

New initiatives under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act are designed to reverse widespread physician discontent with their working environments and return them to the joy of practicing medicine. But, as many are finding, change is never easy.

Physician practices are consolidating at a record pace, driven by payments cuts embedded in the federal health reforms, a new survey finds. Small cardiology practices, which have seen the deepest cuts in Medicare payments, are among the most likely to be acquired by larger providers.

With oil spewing in the Gulf, and ash clouding the skies over Europe, travelers are understandably worried about natural events or disasters spoiling their summer vacations. One reader asks for help in choosing the right travel insurance policy.

A majority of locum tenens physicians find their work satisfying, according to a recent survey. But lower pay and time away from family were cited as the main drawbacks to the job.

Small practices may get some relief from ever-increasing health-insurance premiums in the form of a new tax credit that covers up to 35% of the costs. But figuring out whether your practice is eligible for the credit can be extremely taxing.

Mutual-fund companies clearly state that past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Nonetheless, financial advisors say long-term performance is the only thing most investors care about. Don't make the same mistake -- here are the numbers that really matter.

The current stock-market correction is still very questionable, and there's a higher risk to being heavily invested in stocks right now. Trading remains more random than not, and driven essentially by the news headlines of the day. For now, protection of capital is key.

The "Red Flags" Rule, aimed at preventing identity theft, was delayed until Dec. 31, as lawmakers, policy enforcers and doctors groups wrangled over whether physicians should be considered "creditors" under the rule.

An old-but-classic video uses hysterical visuals to remind us what matters most -- and to take care of these priorities before attending to the thousands of mundane matters that distract us and occupy our attention each day.

Setting sail on the Saone, Provence awaits the Andersons and though they are salivating at the thought of the main course, there are lots of appetizers - Tournus, Chapaize, Lyon, Tournon, Tain l'Hermitage, Viviers, Avignon, Arles - on their way south.

After the stock market's strong end to 2009, and its initial gains earlier this year, fear and uncertainty is gripping investors once again. As usual, many are turning to financial experts for insight on when the carnage might end. But as Tom shows, these forecasts often turn out to be dead wrong.

The most difficult question I am asked by my patients is, "Why?" Why did I become an addict? Why do I still have cravings? Why do I slip up and use, even thought I know it's wrong and I feel stupid and horrible doing it? Despite all my knowledge, education and experience, my answer essentially is, "Because."

Imagine a workplace where you were encouraged to experience autonomy, mastery and a sense of purpose. Now imagine creating a work environment that offered your employees similar gifts. That's the enchanting vision I discovered in a highly engaging and clever new video by author Dan Pink.