PHYSICIAN ESTATE PLANNING: Choosing a Personal Representative or Executor for Your Last Will and Testament

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP®

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Your Executor or personal representative is named in your Will and is responsible for management of assets subject to probate. A basic checklist of the duties of the personal representative looks like this:

  1. Gather all estate assets;
  2. Collect all amounts owed the decedent;
  3. Notify creditors and paying all valid debts;
  4. Selling assets as needed to pay expenses or as directed by the Will;
  5. Distribute assets to beneficiaries;
  6. File decedents final federal income tax return;
  7. File an estate tax return if the estate is large enough; and
  8. File inventories and annual returns with the probate court, if required.

The position requires a lot of responsibility and involves many duties and a considerable commitment of time. The personal representative must petition the probate court for formal appointment.

Selection of your personal representative should not be made lightly, or as a favor to a friend.  It requires a lot of work and very often for little or no pay.  Friends and family typically will not charge the estate for their time and work.  Outside advisers like attorneys and accountants will not hesitate to bill for their work effort.  A few items for your selection criteria should be:

  1. Longevity – the person should have a likelihood of being able to serve after your death;
  2. Skill in managing legal and financial affairs;
  3. Familiarity with your estate and wishes;
  4. Integrity and loyalty; and
  5. Impartiality and absence of conflicts of interest.

Alternatives to family or friends might be a corporate executor, such as a bank, an attorney, or other adviser.  Similar criteria should be used in the selection of a trustee.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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QUALIFIED EXCHANGE: 1035 Life Insurance Policy

DEFINITION

By Staff Reporters

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1035 Exchange

DEFINITION: A method of exchanging insurance-related assets without triggering a taxable event. Cash-value life insurance policies and annuity contracts are two products that may qualify for a 1035 exchange.

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A 1035 exchange is a feature in the tax code that permits individuals to transfer funds from an existing life insurance endowment, or annuity policy to a new one without tax consequences.

The IRS permits these like-kind trades under Internal Revenue Code section 1035, where this process takes its name from.

These transactions are not subject to tax deductions or tax credits but rather tax deferrals, meaning that individuals would only pay taxes on any earnings once they receive money from the policy later.

Without this provision, policyholders would have to close their previous accounts and be subjected to both taxes and surrender charges before they could open a new account.

Cite: https://www.annuity.org/annuities/1035-exchange/

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IRS: Digital Income and Third Party Payment Platforms

The IRS 1099-k Tax Form

By Staff Reporters and IRS

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Third party payment platforms are required to send you a 1099-K tax form if you made more than $5,000 on the platform in 2024. This reporting change will give the IRS a clearer picture of how much you earned in untaxed income this year to help ensure you pay your taxes properly. For the 2025 tax year, the threshold will drop to $2,500.

The IRS originally rolled out a plan to implement new reporting requirements for anyone earning over $600 via payment apps in 2023. After two years of delays, the tax agency has decided to implement a phased rollout, lifting the reporting threshold to $5,000 for the 2024 tax year.

If you earn freelance or self-employment income, you’re likely no stranger to 1099 tax forms. You’re required to report any net earnings over $400 to the IRS when you file your tax return, even if you don’t receive a 1099. The 1099-K tax change places a reporting requirement on payment apps so the IRS can keep better tabs on income earnings that might otherwise go unreported.

More: https://www.irs.gov/payments

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MONETARISM: Financing and Policy

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Monetarism is the belief that changes in the money supply are the main determinant of changes in inflation, associated especially with Milton Friedman, an American economist. Cases of hyperinflation have indeed been associated with the rapid printing of money. But when governments adopted monetarist policies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, they found money supply hard to control and also struggled to decide which measure of money supply was best to target. Monetarist policies were abandoned in favor of inflation targeting.

Monetary financing is the direct financing of government spending by the central bank. This happened during the hyperinflation in Germany in 1923 and was thus regarded as anathema for a long period afterwards. As a result, some commentators viewed quantitative easing after the financial crisis of 2007-09 with great suspicion. Technically, however, QE is not monetary financing, because central banks only buy government bonds in the secondary market and because they pay interest on reserves (the money they create).

Monetary policy The use, normally by the central bank, of interest rates and other tools to try to influence the economy. Interest rates are raised when the bank is trying to control inflation and lowered when inflation is low and it is trying to revive the economy. The financial crisis of 2007-09 led central banks to face the zero lower bound. This prompted many of them to use a new tool, quantitative easing, which was designed to bring down long-term rates or bond yields.

Cite: Economist.com

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BEAT: Base-Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT)

By Staff Reporters

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Base-Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT): The 2017 tax reforms moved the U.S. from a worldwide taxation system to a quasi-territorial system, so foreign earnings are no longer included in a company’s domestic tax base.

To discourage companies operating in the U.S. from avoiding tax liability by shifting profits out of the country, Congress imposed a 10% minimum tax called Base-Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT). The BEAT rate will increase from 10% to 12.5% in 2026. 

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LEVERAGE FINANCIAL RATIOS for Doctors

By CFI Team and Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Leverage Financial Ratios

Leverage ratios measure the amount of capital that comes from debt. In other words, leverage financial ratios are used to evaluate a company’s debt levels. Common leverage ratios include the following:

The debt ratio measures the relative amount of a company’s assets that are provided from debt:

Debt ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets

The debt to equity ratio calculates the weight of total debt and financial liabilities against shareholders’ equity:

Debt to equity ratio = Total liabilities / Shareholder’s equity

The interest coverage ratio shows how easily a company can pay its interest expenses:

Interest coverage ratio = Operating income / Interest expenses

The debt service coverage ratio reveals how easily a company can pay its debt obligations:

Debt service coverage ratio = Operating income / Total debt service

EDUCATION: Books

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MedPAC: Recommends Hospital & Physician Payment Updates

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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MedPAC Recommends Hospital & Physician Payment Updates

During its January 2025 meeting, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reviewed and endorsed recommendations for Medicare payment reform and updates. Among other decisions, the commission recommended revisions to the annual Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) update methodology and increased pay rates to hospitals under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS).

This Health Capital Topics article reviews MedPAC’s recommendations, responses from industry stakeholders, and the likelihood that the commission’s recommendations will be enacted by Congress. (Read more…)

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EDUCATION: Books

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EDGAR: What it Is & How it Works?

Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval

By Staff Reporters

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EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) is an internal database system operated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that performs automated collection, validation, indexing, and accepted forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the SEC. The database contains a wealth of information about the commission and the securities industry which is freely available to the public via the Internet.

In September 2017, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton revealed the database had been hacked and that companies’ data may have been used by criminals for insider trading.

MORE: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/

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EDUCATION: Books

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IRS: Three Year Rule

DEFINITION

By Staff Reporters

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The IRS three-year rule, formally known as the statute of limitations, establishes a three-year window from the date you file your tax return or the due date of the return, whichever is later. During this period, both you and the IRS can make changes to your tax return. This means you have three years to claim a refund if you discover you overpaid, and the IRS has three years to audit your return or assess additional taxes if they find discrepancies.

This rule isn’t just about setting deadlines — it’s about creating a fair playing field. It gives taxpayers enough time to discover and correct mistakes while also allowing the IRS a reasonable time frame to verify the accuracy of returns. The clock typically starts ticking on April 15th of the year following the tax year, unless you filed early or received an extension.

However, there are important exceptions to this rule. If you underreport your income by more than 25%, the IRS gets six years to audit your return. And if you never file a return or file a fraudulent one, there is no statute of limitations. The IRS can come knocking at any time.

For most taxpayers, though, once three years have passed, the IRS can no longer come back and demand more money.

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IPO: Road Show with Pros and Cons

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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What Is a Roadshow?

In general, a roadshow is a series of meetings or presentations in which key members of a private company, usually executives, pitch the initial public offering, or IPO, to prospective investors. Effectively, the company is taking its branding message on the road to meet with investors in different cities, hence the name.

The IPO roadshow presentation is an important part of the IPO process in which a company sells new shares to the public for the first time. Whether a company’s IPO succeeds or not can hinge on interest generated among investors before the stock makes its debut on an exchange.

There are also some cases where company executives will embark on a road show to meet with investors to talk about their company, even if they’re not planning an IPO.

Pros and Cons of a Roadshow

According to Rebecca Lake, if the company goes public and no one buys its shares, then the IPO ends up being a flop, which can affect the company’s success in the near and long term. If the company experiences an IPO pop, in which its price goes much higher than its initial offering price, it could be a sign that underwriters mispriced the stock.

A roadshow is also important for helping determine how to price the company’s stock when the IPO launches. If the roadshow ends up being a smashing success, for example, that can cause the underwriters to adjust their expectations for the stock’s IPO price.

On the other hand, if the roadshow doesn’t seem to be generating much buzz around the company at all, that could cause the price to be adjusted downward.

In a worst-case scenario, the company may decide to pull the plug on the IPO altogether or to go a different route, such as a private IPO placement.

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IRS: Tax Deductions

CLARINET LESSONS

By Staff Reporters

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In 1962, a parent was able to deduct the cost of their child’s clarinet lessons and the instrument itself, after they were prescribed by an orthodontist to fix the child’s overbite, according to a report by Boston University School of Law.  

Unsurprisingly, it initially went to court, where it was ruled that it qualified as a legitimate medical expense (despite not being the most traditional treatment).

So, when it comes to the IRS, it’s not always about prescriptions or surgeries — sometimes, even clarinet lessons can count.

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HOSPITAL: Price Transparency Improved by Executive Order

BREAKING NEWS

By Staff Reporters

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WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters)U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aiming to improve price transparency on healthcare costs by directing federal agencies to strictly enforce a 2019 order he signed during his first term.

The order directs the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to within 90 days come up with a framework to enforce Trump’s 2019 executive order forcing health insurers and hospitals to disclose healthcare cost details.

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This includes requiring the disclosure of actual prices not estimates, update existing guidance or proposing new regulations that ensure price information is standardized, and updating or issuing enforcement policies that guarantee compliance.

“You’re not allowed to even talk about it when you’re going to a hospital or see a doctor. And this allows you to go out and talk about it,” Trump told reporters as he signed the order. “It’s been unpopular in some circles because people make less money, but it’s great for the patient.”

Cite: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22239329/

More: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/01/19/podcast-sage-transparency-on-hospital-prices/

EDUCATION: Books

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INHERITANCE: Disclaimers

DEFINITION

“Show Me the Money”

By Staff Reporters

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In some situations, an inheritance might complicate an estate and add to the estate tax burden.  If there are sufficient assets and income to accomplish financial goals, more assets are not needed. A disclaimer may be useful.  This is an unqualified refusal to accept a gift or inheritance, that is, when you “just say no”.  You have decided not to accept a sizable gift made under a will, trust or other document. 

When you disclaim the property, certain requirements must be met:

  • The disclaimer must be irrevocable;
  • The refusal must be in writing;
  • The refusal must be received within nine months;
  • You must not have accepted any interest in the property; and
  • As a result of the refusal, the property will pass to someone else.

The property passes under the terms of the decedents will, as if you had predeceased the decedent. If the filer of the disclaimer has control, the property will be included in the disclaimant’s estate and can only be passed to another as a gift for as an inheritance. The intent of the disclaimer is to renounce and never take control of the property.

EDUCATION: Books

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NEWEST THOUGHTS: Physician Personal Emergency Fund Size is Getting Complicated

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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It has been said that most ordinary people should have at least three to six months of living expenses (not including taxes) in a cash-equivalent reserve fund that is easily accessible (i.e., liquid).  The amount needed for a one-month reserve is equal to the amount of expenses for the month, rather than the amount of monthly income. This is because during no-income months there is no income tax.  

However, the situation might not be the same for physicians in today’s harsh economic climate. 

The New Realities

Now, some physician-focused financial advisors, financial planners and Certified Medical Planners™ suggest even more reserve fund savings; up to two years. That’s because many factors come into play when determining how much a particular doctor’s family should have.

For example: 

  • Does the family have one income or two? If the doctor is in a dual-income family with stable incomes and they live on a single income, the need for a liquid reserve is less.  
  • How stable is the doctor’s income source? If a sole provider with an unstable income who spends all of the income each month, the need for a liquid cash reserve is high. 
  • Does the doctor own the practice, work in a clinic, medical group, hospital or healthcare system? In other words – employee (less control) or employer (more control). 
  • What is the doctor’s medical specialty and how has managed care penetrated his locale, or affected her focus? What about a DO, DDS/DMD or DPM, etc.
  • How does the family use its income each month; does it have a saver, spender, or investor mentality?  
  • Does the family anticipate the possibility of large expenses occurring in the future (medical practice start-up costs or practice purchase; children, medical school student debts; auto or home loans; and/or liability suits, etc)?  
  • Pan physician lifestyle?

The Past 

In the ancient past, a doctor may have opted for a nine-twelve month reserve if the need for security was high – and a six-to-nine month reserve if the need for security was low. But today, even more may be needed.  How about 15-18 months, or more? Perhaps even 24 months!

So, the following questions may be helpful in determining the amount of reserve needed by the physician: 

1. How long would it take you to find another job in your medical specialty if you suddenly found yourself unemployed – same for your spouse?

2. Would you have to relocate – same for your spouse? 

3. How much do you spend each month on fixed or discretionary expenses and would you be willing to lower your monthly expenses if you were unemployed? 

Assessment

Once the amount of reserve is determined, the doctor should use the appropriate investment vehicles for the funds. 

At minimum, the reserve should be invested in a money market fund. For larger reserves, an ultra-short-term bond fund might be appropriate for amounts over three-six months. While even larger reserves might be kept in a short term bond fund depending on interest rates and trends. 

So, what do the initials M.D. really mean? … More Dough!

How much reserve do you have and where is it stashed?

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EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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PHYSICIAN ENTREPRENEURS: Rising Again!

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Marcinko Associates is a financial guide. We help answer your questions in an empowering way. We educate and empower medical colleagues to understand their financial picture and to make better financial decisions. We strive to simplify everything, clear up confusion, and address specific needs and goals.

Whatever your financial situation, we do not shame, criticize, or sell. We enrich, educate and empower. We work with medical colleagues at every stage of their financial journey, through big life personal changes to annual employment reviews, in order to help them understand, invest, and protect their money and autonomy.

And, like the famed ‘Tibetan Sherpas“, we guide physician entrepreneurs from medical practice business plan creation, funding, start-up operations and strategic management improvement to maximize profits and stream-line patient care quality initiatives.

READ: https://marcinkoassociates.com/welcome-medical-colleagues/

REQUEST FREE BUSINESS PLAN WHITE PAPER

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

Just email: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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MARCINKO & ASSOCIATES: Core Operating Values

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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D. E. Marcinko & Associates Core Operating Values

9.   We act with honesty, integrity and are always straightforward.
8.   We strive to be innovative, creative, iconoclastic, and flexible.
7.   We admit and learn from mistakes and don’t repeat them.
6.   We work hard always as competitors are trying to catch up.
5.   We treat others with dignity and respect.
4.   We are the onus of consulting advice for the well being of others.
3.   We fight complacency as former success is in the past.
2.   The best management styles are timeless, not timely.
1.   Our clients are colleagues and always come first.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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Doctor Entrepreneur's Podcast | Libsyn Directory

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HEALTH ECONOMICS: Who Should Study and Learn this Dismal Science?

DR. DAVID EDWARD MARCINKO MBA MEd CPHQ CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Who should study health economics?

Understanding how economic behavior factors into health and health care decisions can benefit anyone interested in this field. However, the following groups of individuals may benefit most from the study of health economics:

  • Medical providers: Doctors, nurses, and assistants can evaluate new treatments, technologies, and services to determine ways to deliver value-based care. Medical providers benefit from understanding the economics behind these developments [MD/DO, DPM, DDS/DMD, RN, PA, etc].
  • Administrators: Health care administrators process insurance co-payments and manage financial metrics for health care providers. Learning the intricacies of health care economics can provide the necessary context as they liaise with insurance providers and use new technologies to process payments.
  • Policymakers or public health officials: Those who are in charge of policy decisions at the local, state, federal, or international levels benefit from understanding the economic relationship between stakeholders and the general public.
  • Business leaders: Because many Americans receive private insurance, health care becomes a major expense for employers. Business leaders must understand the health economics outlook to appease their employees, shareholders, and even their customers.

EDUCATION: Books

SPEAKING: Dr. Marcinko will be speaking and lecturing, signing and opining, teaching and preaching, storming and performing at many locations throughout the USA this year! His tour of witty and serious pontifications may be scheduled on a planned or ad-hoc basis; for public or private meetings and gatherings; formally, informally, or over lunch or dinner. All medical societies, financial advisory firms or Broker-Dealers are encouraged to submit a RFP for speaking engagements: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com 

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UPDATE: Beneficial Ownership Information [BOI]

BREAKING NEWS OF NEW DEADLINE

By Staff Reporters

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The Treasury Department has set a new deadline of March 21st 2025 for millions of businesses to fulfill a new reporting requirement on “beneficial ownership information,” after a court order allowed the federal agency to start enforcing the measure.

The Corporate Transparency Act, which Congress enacted in 2021, requires small businesses to disclose the identity of people who directly or indirectly own or control the company. The measure aims to prevent criminals from hiding illicit activity conducted through shell companies or opaque ownership structures, according to the Treasury.

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DAILY UPDATE: S&P 500 Notches Record Market Close

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.

http://www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

SPONSORED BY: Marcinko & Associates, Inc.

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Daily Update Provided By Staff Reporters Since 2007.
How May We Serve You?
© Copyright Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc. All rights reserved. 2025

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

US stocks were mixed on Tuesday to begin a holiday-shortened week of trading, with potential policy moves by the Federal Reserve and President Donald Trump in focus.

The benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose nearly 0.2%, with most of the games coming in the final 10 minutes of trading, to hit a fresh record close of 6,129.58. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) and NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) finished barely in the green.

Stocks on Wall Street were largely cautious after Monday’s closure for Presidents Day as investors debate the future path of interest rates. Fed officials over the long weekend signaled a firm belief that rates should stay at current levels to combat rising inflation.

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Treasury yields stepped higher as investors sought more clues to the chances of rate cuts this year, given recent data failed to give a clear steer. The benchmark 10-year yield (^TNX) rose to trade around 4.54%.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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SCAMS: Pig Butchering

By Staff Reporters

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What Is a Pig Butchering Scam?

Pig butchering scams get their colorful (and gory) name from the process of fattening hogs before slaughtering them. Except in this case, it’s a scammer making friends with you before taking your money. These cons have four distinct phases:

  1. Initial contact is made by a scammer. The scammers are often enslaved by organized crime rings who force them to contact potential victims through social media platforms, dating apps, online networking sites, and job boards.
  2. Fattening, a phase where the scammer gets to know and builds trust with a victim. They may pretend to be romantically interested in the victim, befriend the victim, or offer the victim a job.
  3. Slaughter refers to the phase where the con pays off. Scammers may persuade victims to send them money, invest in a fake company or cryptocurrency, or reveal sensitive personal information that can be used for identity theft. Over time, scammers ask for large sums of money threatening to end contact if victims refuse to pay.
  4. Shaming and disappearance. Scammers will continue their relationship with the victim until the victim is unable to pay or catches onto the scam. Scammers may taunt their victims to shame them into silence, or they may simply vanish along with any accounts, websites, or apps they’ve been using.

How to Avoid Pig Butchering Scams:

To avoid becoming a victim of a pig butchering type scam, watch for these red flags and know how to protect yourself:

  • Unexpected contact: Never respond to unsolicited messages from unknown contacts, even about seemingly benign topics, especially via text message and on encrypted messaging applications.
  • Refusal to participate in video chats: If someone you’ve been messaging with consistently declines to interact face-to-face, they likely aren’t the person from the profile photo.
  • Request for financial information: Don’t share any personal financial information with individuals you’ve never met in person. If a new virtual friend or romantic connection starts making financial inquiries, put the brakes on the relationship.
  • Invitation to invest in specific financial products: Be wary of any unsolicited investment advice or tips, particularly from someone you’ve only spoken to online and even if they suggest you trade through your own account. Always question what a source has to gain from sharing tips with you and whether the transaction fits with your financial goals and investment strategy.
  • Unknown or confusing investment opportunity: Carefully evaluate the product, as well as the person and/or company requesting your investment. Along with a basic search, try adding words like “scam” or “fraud” to see what results come up. Consider running recommendations by a third party or an investment professional who has no stake in the investment, and use FINRA BrokerCheck to see if the promoter is a registered investment professional.
  • Unfamiliar trading platforms: Do extensive research before moving any money, particularly in an emerging market like cryptocurrency, which has hundreds of exchanges and new avenues for trading continuing to evolve. Who controls the platform? What security measures are in place? How can you withdraw funds if needed? If you don’t know the answers to those questions, don’t put your assets there.
  • Exaggerated claims and elevated emotions: Take a closer look at any investment that offers much higher than average returns or is touted as “guaranteed.” Fraudsters will also often use their knowledge about you to appeal to your emotions—something like, “Don’t you want to have money to send your kids to college?”
  • Sense of urgency about an upcoming news announcement or share price increase: Remember that insider trading is illegal, and you should never trade in shares of a company on the basis of material, nonpublic information.

MORE:

Learn more about how to protect your money from fraud and get more insight from the FBI and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on pig butchering schemes involving cryptocurrency.

If you think you’ve been a victim of a pig butchering stock scam, submit a regulatory tip to FINRA. If you think you’ve been the victim of internet fraud, file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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ACCOUNTING: Financial v. Managerial [CPA v. CMA]

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Financial accounting and managerial accounting are two distinct branches of the accounting field, each serving different purposes and stakeholders. Financial accounting focuses on creating external reports that provide a snapshot of a company’s financial health for investors, regulators, and other outside parties. Managerial accounting, meanwhile, is an internal process aimed at aiding managers in making informed business decisions.

Objectives of Financial Accounting

Financial accounting is primarily concerned with the preparation and presentation of financial statements, which include the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. These documents are meticulously crafted to reflect the company’s financial performance over a specific period, providing insights into its profitability, liquidity, and solvency. The objective is to offer a clear, standardized view of the financial state of the company, ensuring that external entities have a reliable basis for evaluating the company’s economic activities.

The process of financial accounting also involves the meticulous recording of all financial transactions. This is achieved through the double-entry bookkeeping system, where each transaction is recorded in at least two accounts, ensuring that the accounting equation remains balanced. This systematic approach provides accuracy and accountability, which are paramount in financial reporting. CPA = Certified Public Accountant.

Objectives of Managerial Accounting

Managerial accounting is designed to meet the information needs of the individuals who manage organizations. Unlike financial accounting, which provides a historical record of an organization’s financial performance, managerial accounting focuses on future-oriented reports. These reports assist in planning, controlling, and decision-making processes that guide the day-to-day, short-term, and long-term operations.

At the heart of managerial accounting is budgeting. Budgets are detailed plans that quantify the economic resources required for various functions, such as production, sales, and financing. They serve as benchmarks against which actual performance can be measured and evaluated. This enables managers to identify variances, investigate their causes, and implement corrective actions. Another objective of managerial accounting is cost analysis. Managers use cost accounting methods to understand the expenses associated with each aspect of production and operation. By analyzing costs, they can determine the profitability of individual products or services, control expenditures, and optimize resource allocation.

Performance measurement is another key objective. Managerial accountants develop metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of various business processes. These performance metrics are crucial for setting goals, evaluating outcomes, and aligning individual and departmental objectives with the overall strategy of the organization. CMA = Certified Managerial Accountant

Reporting Standards in Financial Accounting

The bedrock of financial accounting is the adherence to established reporting standards, which ensure consistency, comparability, and transparency in financial statements. Globally, the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are widely adopted, setting the guidelines for how particular types of transactions and other events should be reported in financial statements. In the United States, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which serve a similar purpose. These standards are not static; they evolve in response to changing economic realities, stakeholder needs, and advances in business practices.

For instance, the shift towards more service-oriented economies and the rise of intangible assets have led to updates in revenue recognition and asset valuation guidelines. The convergence of IFRS and GAAP is an ongoing process aimed at creating a unified set of global standards that would benefit multinational corporations and investors by reducing the complexity and cost of complying with multiple accounting frameworks.

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TEST: Financial Literacy in the USA

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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A new report from the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center shows that the average American scored just 48% on a financial literacy test, with groups scoring as low as 37% in certain areas. Since the report’s inception in 2017, the results have been relatively stable: Americans have scored 48% to 52% correctly on the annual study.

But only 16% of Americans scored between 75% and 100% on the test in 2024. This alarming statistic has far-reaching consequences for companies, the wider economy, and more than half all Americans. 

Cite: https://www.benzinga.com

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FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING TERMS: All Doctors Should Know

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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#1 – Accounts Payable

Accounts payable are short-term obligations to be paid by an organization. It arises from trading activities and other business-related expenses during the business, including parties from whom we have purchased goods or services and costs incurred for which money is yet to be paid, generally in the same financial year.

#2 – Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable form part of current assets and refer to amounts due from parties to whom we have sold goods or services or incurred expenses on their behalf for which money is yet to be realized. It may include debtors, bills receivable, etc., which can be converted into cash in the short term to ensure the organization’s liquidity.

#3 – Balance Sheet

A Balance Sheet is a reconciliation of assets (current and fixed) and liabilities (current and noncurrent), and capital invested in an organization. Stakeholders such as creditors, shareholders, and banks, which have granted loans to the organization and government, use the Balance Sheet to analyze the financial position, growth, and stability.

#4 – Current Assets

Current assets refer to an organization’s realizable resources in the short term, generally during the same financial year. They include cash/bank balance and assets that can convert into cash, ranging from short-term loans and advances, sundry debtors, short-term investments, etc.

#5 – Equity

Equity is the amount invested in the business by its owners, in the form of capital in the case of sole proprietorship and partnerships, or shares (equity and preference) of varying denominations in companies (public or private).

#6 – Expenses

All the money outflow (present or future) incurred for procuring goods and services to affect sales in a business (direct expenses) and incidental to the business (indirect expenses) as well as ancillary to the running of an organization are referred to as expenses

#7 – Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are tangible resources that an organization uses for carrying out daily operations of a business, such as land, plant and equipment, furniture and fixtures, buildings, machinery, etc., which are not purchased to be sold in the short term.

#8 – Ledger

Ledger is the book of entry for recording transactions in such a way that we come to know the outstanding debit or credit balance of an account in our business for which we record the opening balance, transactions made in that account, and the closing balance to find out the exact position of that particular account.

#9 – Income Statement

The Income statement forms part of the financial statements and tells us the exact position of our gross and net profit at a particular cut-off date. It is done by recording all the direct incomes and closing stock on the credit side and all direct expenses and opening stock on the debit side to find the gross profit and all the indirect incomes and indirect expenses similarly to find out the net profit.

#10 – Liabilities

Liabilities are the present (short term) and future(long term) obligations of an organization which represents the debts due to be paid for goods and services procured for the business in the past and include sundry creditors, short term loans and advances, bills payable, etc. which come under short term liabilities and debentures, term loans from a bank, long term loans and advances, etc. which come under long term liabilities.

#11 – Net Income

The profit or loss arrived at after deducting all direct and indirect expenses from all the direct and indirect incomes equals to net income made by a business which is the earning done by the business at a cut-off date and is very useful in comparing the growth and financial position of an organization from previous years as well as for adopting measures for the betterment of the profitability levels of the business.

#12 – Revenue

The gross income earned by the organization from carrying out core business activities without deduction of any expenses is termed as revenue earned by the organization, which also indicates the sale and other incomes in total.

#13 – Credit

Wherever an account is credited, it reduces the balance of an account in the case of real accounts, creates an obligation to pay an individual in the case of personal accounts, and increases the income side if a nominal account is credited.

#14 – Debit

Wherever an account is debited, it increases the balance of an account in the case of real accounts, creating an obligation to receive money from an individual in the case of personal accounts and increasing the expenses side if a nominal account is debited.

#15 – Audit

An audit is an examination of books of accounts prepared by an organization to validate the entries recorded and ensure the accuracy and correctness of the financial statements along with finding out any discrepancies in the books, including frauds, if any, hidden by the employees of the organization.

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PARADOX: Obsessing About Security Breeds Insecurity?

Human life is Inherently Insecure

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The desire for security and feelings of insecurity are the same thing.

The idea of security, financial or otherwise, is an illusion; human life is inherently insecure.  But, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prudent with risk and diligent financial planning with strategies like saving and investing.

However, according to colleague Eugene Schmuckler PhD, MBA, MEd seeking security is like many things; the more you try to grasp and obsess about financial security, the more quickly you will reach a point of diminishing returns. You will feel increasingly less secure at a certain point.

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JANUARY BAROMETER: Entire Year Stock Market Investment Performance?

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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According to Rob Lenihan, of TheStreet, the January Barometer is a theory that says the investment performance of the S&P 500 in January is representative of the predicted performance of the entire year. The theory says that if stocks are higher in January, they should be higher for the year, and if they are lower in the first month, they’ll be lower for the year.

The S&P 500 finished down on January 31st, but the broad market ended up 2.6% for the month, so maybe we should heed the words of Wall Street legend Yale Hirsch, who first came up with the concept in 1972 in his Stock Trader’s Almanac, a widely read investment guide. Hirsch, by the way, also gave the world the Santa Claus Rally, which describes a rise in stock prices during the last five trading days in December and the first two trading days in the following January.

Analyst Stephen Guilfoyle said early this month in a post for TheStreet Pro that Santa Claus posted a loss this year, which was Santa’s second consecutive year in the red. 

“No sweat,” the veteran trader said in his January 9th TheStreet Pro column. “That’s just a seasonal trade, and 2024 was a very nice year for U.S. equities in a broad sense.”

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CFP versus CFA

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER versus CERTIFIED FINANCIAL ANALYST

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)

A certified financial planner (CFP®) helps individuals plan their financial futures. CFPs are not focused only on investments; they help their clients achieve specific long-term financial goals, such as saving for retirement, buying a house, or starting a college fund for their children.

To become a CFP®, a person must complete a course of study and then pass a two-part examination. The exam covers wealth management, tax palnning, insurance, retirement planning, estate planning, and other basic personal finance topics. These topics are all important for someone seeking to help clients achieve financial goals.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

A CFA, on the other hand, conducts investing in larger settings, normally for large investment firms on both the buy side and the sell side, mutual funds or hedge funds. CFAs can also provide internal financial analysis for corporations that are not in the investment industry. While a CFP® focuses on wealth management and planning for individual clients, a CFA focuses on wealth management for a corporation.

To become a CFA, a person must complete a rigorous course of study and pass three examinations over the course of two or more years. In addition, the candidate must adhere to a strict code of ethics and have four years of work experience in an investment decision-making setting.

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Generative AI in Healthcare – Valuation Considerations

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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HCC recently authored the article “Generative AI in Healthcare – Valuation Considerations” published by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts in the November/December issue of The Value Examiner.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is the utilization of algorithms to create content—such as text, code, imagery, videos, and even simulations—in mere seconds. The goal of AI in general is to mimic the intelligence of humans to perform tasks. “Generative” AI aims to learn from data without the assistance of humans. While today’s generative AI bots are not yet prepared for widespread utilization in patient care settings, AI is garnering significant interest in the healthcare industry as providers begin to test its capabilities in clinics and offices.

This article reviews the role that generative AI is beginning to play in the U.S. healthcare system, the potential of AI in healthcare, and concerns related to the technology.

Read the Entire Article HERE

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FINANCIAL PLANNING: Specifically for Physicians and Medical Professionals

By http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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(“Informed Voice of a New Generation of Fiduciary Advisors for Healthcare”)

For most lay folks, personal financial planning typically involves creating a personal budget, planning for taxes, setting up a savings account and developing a debt management, retirement and insurance recovery plan. Medicare, Social Security and Required Minimal Distribution [RMD] analysis is typical for lay retirement. Of course, we can assist in all of these activities, but lay individuals can also create and establish their own financial plan to reach short and long-term savings and investment goals.

But, as fellow doctors, we understand better than most the more complex financial challenges doctors can face when it comes to their financial planning. Of course, most physicians ultimately make a good income, but it is the saving, asset and risk management tolerance and investing part that many of our colleagues’ struggle with. Far too often physicians receive terrible guidance, have no time to properly manage their own investments and set goals for that day when they no longer wish to practice medicine.

For the average doctor or healthcare professional, the feelings of pride and achievement at finally graduating are typically paired with the heavy burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.

You dedicated countless hours to learning, studying, and training in your field. You missed birthdays and holidays, time with your families, and sacrificed vacations to provide compassionate and excellent care for your patients. Amidst all of that, there was no time to give your finances even a second thought.

Between undergraduate, medical school, and then internship and residency, most young physicians do not begin saving for retirement until late into their 20s, if not their 30s. You’ve missed an entire decade or more of allowing your money and investments to compound and work for you. When it comes to addressing your financial health and security, there’s no time to waste.

And you may be misled by unscrupulous “advisors”.

MORE: https://marcinkoassociates.com/financial-planning/

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EDUCATION: Niche Specific, Timely, Online, Asynchronous and Affordable

For Financial Advisors & Financial Planners, CPAs, CFPs, CFAs, Stock-Brokers, Insurance Agents, Attorneys, Wealth Managers and Related Advisors!

By Staff Reporters

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FINANCIAL EDUCATION PODCAST: CMPs™ are In … Are CPAs Out?

CERTIFIED MEDICAL PLANNER™: Education for Financial Planners to Thrive with Doctor Clients!

MICRO-CERTIFICATIONS: Education for Financial Advisors Seeking Physician-Client Prospecting Success?

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CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA CMP

Email: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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MBA versus MHA and MSHA Degree

HEALTHCARE BUSINESS DEGREES AND DEFINITIONS

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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What ‘MBA’ Stands For?

MBA is the common abbreviation for a Master of Business Administration degree, and recipients typically stop attending school after receiving it.

However, those who are interested in conducting business research may decide to pursue a doctorate in business or management. Such students can earn a Ph.D. or a Doctor of Business Administration degree, commonly known as a DBA.

What ‘MSHA’ Stands For?

Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) are largely equivalent designations for degree programs that focus primarily on leadership and management of hospitals, healthcare organizations, and businesses that operate in the healthcare sector.

In contrast, an MBA in Health Administration is a Master of Business Administration degree program with a concentration, track, or specialization that provides students with several courses in topics specific to healthcare management and administration. Most of the coursework in an MBA program is devoted to general training in business functions, such as accounting, finance, logistics, marketing, personnel and project management.

MHA and MHSA programs devote all or most of their curriculum to studying the healthcare system, healthcare policy, and the application of business principles in the field of healthcare. MBA in Healthcare Administration programs devote only a portion of their curricula to topics specific to the healthcare sector.

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Investment Advisor [IA] VERSUS Financial Advisor [FA]

DEFINITIONS

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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While IAs and FAs may seem the same, they are not the same. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) have clearly defined investment advisors as distinct from financial advisors.

The term financial advisor is a generic one that can encompass many different financial professionals, although it most commonly refers to stock brokers (individuals or companies that buy and sell securities).

Investment advisor, on the other hand, is a legal term and thus has a more clear-cut definition – or at least as clear as legalese is apt to be.

KEY DIFFERENCES:

  • Financial advisors help with all aspects of your finances, including saving, budgeting, insurance, retirement planning, and taxes.
  • Investment advisors focus specifically on choosing and managing investment portfolios.
  • Financial advisors offer broader financial guidance, while investment advisors concentrate solely on investments.
  • Investment advisors are held to the fiduciary standard, while financial advisors who work as brokers may operate under different rules.

MORE: https://www.financestrategists.com/financial-advisor/advisor-types/investment-advisor/

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CPA versus CMA

Certified Public Accountant VERSUS Certified Managerial Accountant

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The CPA and CMA designations cater to distinct professional focuses within the accounting and finance fields. A CPA is often seen as the gold standard for public accounting, emphasizing auditing, tax, and regulatory compliance. This certification is highly regarded for roles that require a deep understanding of financial reporting and external auditing. CPAs are frequently employed by public accounting firms, government agencies, and corporations that need to ensure their financial statements adhere to strict regulatory standards.

On the other hand, the CMA designation is tailored for professionals who aim to excel in management accounting and strategic financial management. CMAs are trained to analyze financial data to inform business decisions, focusing on internal processes and performance management. This makes the CMA particularly valuable for roles in corporate finance, strategic planning, and management consulting. Companies looking to optimize their internal financial operations and drive business strategy often seek out CMAs for their expertise in cost management, budgeting, and financial analysis.

The educational and experiential requirements for these certifications also differ. To become a CPA, candidates typically need to complete 150 semester hours of college education, which often includes a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Additionally, CPAs must pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet specific state licensing requirements, which usually include a certain amount of professional experience.

In contrast, the CMA certification requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, two years of relevant work experience, and passing the two-part CMA exam. This flexibility in educational background can make the CMA more accessible to a broader range of professionals.

MORE: https://www.becker.com/blog/cpa/cma-vs-cpa-the-difference-between-cpa-and-cma

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ICE and Bank of America [BoA] Indices

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The ICE 3-Month USD LIBOR interest rate is the average interest rate at which a selection of banks in London are prepared to lend to one another in American dollars with a maturity of 3 months.

The Bank of America US High Yield Constrained Index is a market value-weighted index of all domestic high-yield bonds and Yankee high-yield bonds (issued by a foreign entity and denominated in U.S. dollars), including deferred interest bonds and payment-in-kind securities.

The ICE BofA BB-B US High Yield Constrained Index is composed of U.S. dollar-denominated corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. market rated BB through B, based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings, with issuer exposure capped at 2%.

ICE BofA U.S. Convertible Index tracks the performance of publicly issued, exchange-listed US dollar denominated convertible securities of US companies with at least $50 million face amount outstanding and at least one month remaining to the final conversion date. Index constituents are market capitalization-weighted and rebalanced monthly.

ICE BofA ML MOVE Index is a widely used measure of bond market volatility, similar to the VIX Index for stocks. The MOVE Index (also known as the Merrill Lynch Option Volatility Estimate) is a yield-curve-weighted index that tracks the market’s expectation of volatility in the U.S. bond market based on 1-month Treasury options.

ICE Exchange-Listed Preferred & Hybrid Securities Index tracks the performance of exchange-listed US dollar denominated hybrid debt, preferred stock and convertible preferred stock publicly issued by corporations in the US domestic market. Preferred stock and notes must have a minimum amount outstanding of $100 million; convertible preferred stock must have at least $50 million face amount outstanding. Index constituents are market capitalization-weighted subject to certain constraints. The index is re-balanced monthly.

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BLOOMBERG: U.S. Universal Index

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index represents the union of the U.S. Aggregate Index, U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, Investment Grade 144A Index, Eurodollar Index, U.S. Emerging Markets Index, and the non-ERISA eligible portion of the CMBS Index.

The index covers USD-denominated, taxable bonds that are rated either investment grade or high-yield. Some Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index constituents may be eligible for one or more of its contributing sub-components that are not mutually exclusive. These securities are not double-counted in the index.

The Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index was created on January 1st, 1999, with index history back-filled to January 1st, 1990.

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HFR INVESTMENTS: Two Indices

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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HFRX Equity Hedge Index serves as a daily-priced proxy for alternative strategies that maintain positions long and short, primarily in equity and equity derivative securities.

HFRX Fixed Income – Credit Index serves as a daily-priced proxy for alternative strategies that provide exposure to credit strategies. Credit strategies refers to a wide range of sub-strategies and may include corporate, sovereign, distressed, asset-backed, capital structure arbitrage, and other relative value approaches. Strategies may also include and utilize equity securities, credit derivatives, commodities, or currencies.

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HOSPITAL Revenue Metrics Review

By Staff Reporters

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The emphasis on hospital revenue metrics at hospitals may be a sign of misplaced prioritization away from patients and their well-being. For example:

  • Orthopedic Surgeons Generated the $2.75 Million in Hospital Revenue Per Orthopedist Per Year.
  • Interventional Cardiologists Generated $2.45 Million in Hospital Revenue Per Cardiologist Per Year.
  • General Surgeons Generated $2.17 Million in Hospital Revenue Per Surgeon Per Year.
  • Family Practice Doctors Generated $1.5 Million in Hospital Revenue Per Doctor Per Year.

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CURRENCY: Carried Orientated

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Carry-oriented currencies are higher-yielding currencies of countries where interest rates are generally higher than those of countries with lower-yielding currencies.

These higher-yielding currencies are targeted for “carry trades,” where investors borrow money in a low-interest rate currency and invest in a higher yielding currency, potentially profiting from the difference in interest rates.

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CREDIT: Much About Agreements!

By Staff Reporters

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Credit report with score on a desk

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Credit analysis is a form of financial analysis used primarily to determine the financial strength of the issuer of a security, and the ability of that issuer to provide timely payment of interest and principal to investors in the issuer’s debt securities. Credit analysis is typically an important component of security analysis and selection in credit-sensitive bond sectors such as the corporate bond market and the municipal bond market.

Credit default swap index (CDX) is a credit derivative, based on a basket of CDS, which can be used to hedge credit risk or speculate on changes in credit quality.

Credit default swaps (CDS) are credit derivative contracts between two counterparties that can be used to hedge credit risk or speculate on changes in the credit quality of a corporation or government entity.

Credit quality reflects the financial strength of the issuer of a security, and the ability of that issuer to provide timely payment of interest and principal to investors in the issuer’s securities. Common measurements of credit quality include the credit ratings provided by credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. Credit quality and credit quality perceptions are a key component of the daily market pricing of fixed-income securities, along with maturity, inflation expectations and interest rate levels.

Credit Rating Agency (CRA) is a company that assigns credit ratings for issuers of certain types of debt obligations as well as the debt instruments themselves. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits investment banks and broker-dealers to use credit ratings from “Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations” (NRSRO) for similar purposes. As of January 2012, nine organizations were designated as NRSROs, including the “Big Three” which are Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings.

Credit rating downgrade, by a credit rating agency (Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s or Fitch) means reducing its credit rating for a debt issuer and/or security. This is based on the agency’s evaluation, indicating, to the agency, a decline in the issuer’s financial stability, increasing the possibility of default. A downgrade should not to be confused with a default; a debt security can be downgraded without defaulting. And, conversely, a debt issuer can suddenly default without being downgraded first–credit ratings and credit rating agencies are not infallible.

Credit ratings are measurements of credit quality provided by credit rating agencies. Those provided by Standard & Poor’s typically are the most widely quoted and distributed, and range from AAA (highest quality; perceived as least likely to default) down to D (in default). Securities and issuers rated AAA to BBB are considered/perceived to be “investment-grade”; those below BBB are considered/perceived to be non-investment-grade or more speculative.

Credit risk is the inability or perceived inability of the issuers of debt securities to make interest and principal payments will cause the value of those securities to decrease. Changes in the credit ratings of debt securities could have a similar effect.

Credit Risk Transfer Securities (CRTS) are unsecured obligations of the GSEs (Government Sponsored Enterprises). Although cash flows are linked to prepays and defaults of the reference mortgage loans, the securities are unsecured loans, backed by general credit rather than by specified assets.

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EARNED INCOME: Defined

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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What Counts as ‘Earned Income’?

The IRS defines earned income as money you get for working, including the following:

  • Wages
  • Commissions
  • Bonuses
  • Tips
  • Honorariums for speaking, writing or taking part in a conference or convention
  • Self-employment income

Income that doesn’t qualify includes:

  • Taxable pension payments
  • Interest income
  • Dividends
  • Rental income
  • Alimony
  • Withdrawals from Roth IRAs or other non-taxable retirement accounts
  • Annuity income
  • Welfare benefits
  • Unemployment compensation
  • Worker’s compensation payments
  • Social Security income.

Cite: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/earned-income-and-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-tables

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MONEY Supply in Circulation

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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MONEY SUPPLY: The amount of money in circulation. The money supply measures
currently (1985) used by the Federal Reserve System are:


 M 1 – Currency in circulation + demand deposit + other check-type deposits. 35
 M2 – M 1 + savings and small denomination time deposits + overnight repurchase
agreements at commercial banks + overnight Eurodollars + money market mutual
fund shares.
 M3 – M2 + large-denomination time deposits (Jumbo CDs) + term repurchase
agreements.
 M4 – M3 + other liquid assets (such as term Eurodollars, bankers acceptances,
commercial paper, Treasury securities and U.S. Savings Bonds)

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BULLET Bond Structure

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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A Bullet bond structure is a bond portfolio structure that clusters a portfolio’s bond maturities around a single maturity (usually an intermediate-term maturity).

This structure tends to perform best when the yield curve is moving from flat to steep (long-term rates are rising faster than short-term rates, or short-term rates are falling faster than long-term rates).

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IRS: Revenue Agent V. Revenue Officer

By Staff Reporters

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What is a Revenue Agent?

IRS revenue agents are unarmed, civil agency employees that are skilled auditors who typically conduct in-person field audits. These are normally scheduled at the taxpayer’s home, place of business or accountant’s office where the organization’s financial books and records are located.

What is a Revenue Officer?

IRS revenue officers are unarmed civil agency employees whose duties include visiting households and businesses to help taxpayers resolve their account balances. Their job is to collect taxes that are delinquent and have not been paid to the IRS and to secure tax returns that are overdue from taxpayers.

The IRS currently has about 2,300 revenue officers working cases across the country. Revenue officers educate taxpayers on their tax filing and paying obligations and provide guidance and service on a wide range of financial issues to help the taxpayer resolve their tax issues. They also ensure taxpayers are aware of their rights under the law and provide them with quality customer service.

Confirming if it’s the IRS

Revenue officers and revenue agents are unarmed and carry two forms of official credentials with a serial number and their photo. Taxpayers have the right to see each of these credentials and can also request an additional method to verify their identification.

Remember, taxpayers should know they have a tax issue before these visits occur since multiple mailings occur. And, IRS-CI special agents are the only armed IRS personnel and always present their law enforcement credentials when conducting investigations.

Cite: https://www.irs.gov

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LUCAS Paradox

By Staff Reporters

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The Lucas Paradox occurs when capital is not flowing from developed countries to developing countries despite the fact that developing countries have lower levels of capital per worker, and therefore higher returns to capital.

According to Wikipedia, economic theory predicts that capital should flow from rich countries to poor countries, due to the effect of diminishing returns of capital. Poor countries have lower levels of capital per worker – which explains, in part, why they are poor. In poor countries, the scarcity of capital relative to labor should mean that the returns related to the infusion of capital are higher than in developed countries.

In response, savers in rich countries should look at poor countries as profitable places in which to invest. In reality, things do not seem to work that way. Surprisingly little capital flows from rich countries to poor countries. This puzzle was famously discussed in a paper by Robert Lucas PhD in 1990.

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PARADOX: Anti-Trust Definition with Book

By Staff Reporters

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The anti-trust paradox suggests that antitrust enforcement artificially raised prices by protecting inefficient competitors from competition.

The Antitrust Paradox Book is an influential 1978 book by Robert Bork that criticized the state of US anti-trust law in the 1970s. A second edition, updated to reflect substantial changes in the law, was published in 1993. Bork has credited Aaron Director as well as other economists from the University of Chicago as influences.

Bork argued that the original intent of antitrust laws as well as economic efficiency makes consumer welfare and the protection of competition, rather than competitors, were the only goals of antitrust law.

Thus, while it was appropriate to prohibit cartels that fix prices and divide markets and mergers that create monopolies, practices that are allegedly exclusionary, such as vertical agreements and price discrimination, did not harm consumers and so should not be prohibited.

The paradox of antitrust enforcement was that legal intervention artificially raised prices by protecting inefficient enterprises from competition.

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PHANTOM: Income Tax on TIPS

By Staff Reporters

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“Phantom Tax” or “Phantom Income” for direct owners of Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS) TIPS adjust their principal values and interest payments for inflation. As with other directly owned Treasury securities, TIPS principal, including the inflation adjustments, is not paid back to investors until the securities mature.

However, the principal adjustments are taxed by the IRS as income in the year in which they occur, even though no actual payments are made in those years to investors who own TIPS directly. This is why this income is called “phantom income” and the tax on it is known as the “phantom tax.”

Investors can avoid the phantom income/tax issue for TIPS by holding TIPS in tax-deferred retirement accounts. Mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) typically take the “phantom” factor out of TIPS ownership by distributing the principal adjustments as taxable dividends.

As with direct ownership of TIPS, the tax consequences of these distributions by mutual funds and ETFs can be reduced by holding TIPS-owning instruments in tax-deferred retirement accounts

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DAILY UPDATE: Veterans Scammed as 3 Major Markets Drop

MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST TODAY’S NEWSLETTER BRIEFING

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Essays, Opinions and Curated News in Health Economics, Investing, Business, Management and Financial Planning for Physician Entrepreneurs and their Savvy Advisors and Consultants

Serving Almost One Million Doctors, Financial Advisors and Medical Management Consultants Daily

A Partner of the Institute of Medical Business Advisors , Inc.

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Read: Health insurers reportedly took billions of dollars from Medicare to cover veterans who didn’t use services. (the Wall Street Journal)

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US stocks closed the holiday week on a downbeat note as Wall Street slogged to the finish of a largely triumphant year.

The S&P 500 (^GSPC) lost 1.1%, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) shed 1.5% Friday at the close. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) gave up 0.8%. Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) hovered near seven-month highs around 4.6%.

After stacking impressive gains this year, some of the biggest names in tech lost ground as investors took profits, rebalance portfolios, or reassessed their lofty valuations. Tesla (TSLA) lost 5%. Nvidia (NVDA) gave up c2%, while Amazon (AMZN) decreased by 1%.

Wall Street has just three trading days remaining in a 2024 full of big gains, but markets have been unable to mount a “Santa Claus” rally into the end of the year.

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Visualize: How private equity tangled banks in a web of debt, from the Financial Times.

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STOCK MARKET TRAPS: Overbought Bulls and Oversold Bears

By Staff Reporters

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What Is a Bull Trap?

A bull trap, according to James Chen, is a false signal, referring to a declining trend in a stock, index, or other security that reverses after a convincing rally and breaks a prior support level. The move “traps” traders or investors that acted on the buy signal and generates losses on resulting long positions. A bull trap may also refer to a whipsaw pattern. Read: Bull Trap.”

What is a Bear Trap

The opposite of a bull trap is a bear trap, which occurs when sellers fail to press a decline below a breakdown level.

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