BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM STUDY GUIDES Lower Extremity Trauma
[Click on Image to Enlarge]
ME-P Free Advertising Consultation
The “Medical Executive-Post” is about connecting doctors, health care executives and modern consulting advisors. It’s about free-enterprise, business, practice, policy, personal financial planning and wealth building capitalism. We have an attitude that’s independent, outspoken, intelligent and so Next-Gen; often edgy, usually controversial. And, our consultants “got fly”, just like U. Read it! Write it! Post it! “Medical Executive-Post”. Call or email us for your FREE advertising and sales consultation TODAY [678.779.8597] Email: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com
Medical & Surgical e-Consent Forms
ePodiatryConsentForms.com
iMBA Inc., OFFICES
Suite #5901 Wilbanks Drive, Norcross, Georgia, 30092 USA [1.678.779.8597]. Our location is real and we are now virtually enabled to assist new long distance clients and out-of-town colleagues.
ME-P Publishing
SEEKING INDUSTRY INFO PARTNERS?
If you want the opportunity to work with leading health care industry insiders, innovators and watchers, the “ME-P” may be right for you? We are unbiased and operate at the nexus of theoretical and applied R&D. Collaborate with us and you’ll put your brand in front of a smart & tightly focused demographic; one at the forefront of our emerging healthcare free marketplace of informed and professional “movers and shakers.” Our Ad Rate Card is available upon request [678-779-8597].
Posted on September 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I. and Staff Reporters
***
***
Stocks: The NASDAQ rose to its fifth record high of the week, while the S&P 500 and the Dow sank late in the day as investors turned their attention to the FOMC meeting next week.
Bonds: While equities climbed all week long, the bond market has been sending signals that weak economic data really isn’t great news.
Commodities: Oil rallied after President Trump expressed his growing frustration with Vladimir Putin and threatened further energy and financial sanctions. Meanwhile, the US may ask its G7 counterparts to apply 100% tariffs against China and India for purchasing Russian crude.
Posted on September 12, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I. and Staff Reporters
***
***
BIAS
Bias is a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
MYOPIA
Myopia (nearsightedness) is a common condition that’s usually diagnosed before age 20. It affects your distance vision — you can see objects that are near, but you have trouble viewing objects that are farther away like grocery store aisle markers or road signs. Myopia treatments include glasses, contact lenses or surgery.
MYOPIA BIAS
Myopia Bias makes it hard for us to imagine what our lives might be like in the future.
FinancialExample: When we are young, healthy and in our prime economic earning years it may be hard for us to picture what life will be like when our health depletes and we no longer have the earnings necessary to support our standard of living.
Irony: This short-sightedness makes it hard to save adequately when we are young … when saving does the most good.
Posted on September 7, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Health Capital Consultants, LLC
***
***
A recent study of hospital physician acquisition and employment found that such acquisitions decrease competition and raise prices. A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, released in July 2025, “empirically analyze[d] the effects of mergers between complementary firms on competition and pricing,” and found hospital prices increased by an average of 3.3%, while physician prices increased by an average of 15.1%.
This Health Capital Topics article reviews the study’s findings and implications for the healthcare industry. (Read more…)
Posted on September 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters and A.I.
***
***
Markets: Stocks started off Friday on a high note after a weak jobs report raised hopes that the Fed will cut interest rates this month. But the rally faded as the afternoon wore on, while 10-year bond yields tumbled to their lowest level since April.
Trade: President Trump said “fairly substantial” tariffs for semi-conductors are coming “very shortly,” but hinted that companies like Apple will be spared. He also clapped back at EU regulators for fines against Google.
Offbeat commodities: Raw sugar prices hit a two-month low as Brazilian producers churn out more of the sweet stuff, cocoa prices are expected to pop after Cargill paused production in Ivory Coast, and corn hit its highest price since July thanks to strong export demand.
Posted on September 5, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I. and Staff Reporters
***
***
Stocks: Equities climbed slowly but steadily yesterday as investors braced themselves for today’s all-important jobs report.
Crypto: Bitcoin fell as a selloff in cryptocurrencies associated with the Trump family pulled the entire crypto market lower.
Commodities: Gold remains in the spotlight as traders bulk up on bullion to protect their portfolios in case the FOMC loses its independence. If that does happen,Goldman Sachs analysts think gold could climb to $5,000.
Posted on September 4, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I. and Staff Reporters
***
***
Stocks: Markets slowed along yesterday with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ buoyed after a pivotal antitrust ruling for Alphabet pushed big tech stocks higher across the board.
Bonds: The 30-year Treasury pushed 5% yesterday as traders fret about the Fed’s independence and the odds of interest rate cuts.
Commodities: Oil sank on reports that OPEC+ is contemplating increasing its crude output next month, while gold reached yet another new record high as uncertainty swirling around the future of tariffs continued to rise. JPMorgan analysts now think the precious metal could climb as high as $4,250 by the end of next year.
Stocks: The stock markets rose today after Jerome Powell opened the door to interest rate cuts. The Dow soared to a new all-time high, while small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 had a banner day.
Bonds: Yields fell while the chances of a rate cut after the Fed’s next meeting in September rose to 83%.
Commodities: Gold rose on rate cut hopes while oil fell as peace talks between Ukraine and Russia stalled. But the biggest winner is coffee: prices have risen for six straight days to cap off its biggest weekly gain since 2021.
A SPECIAL MEDICAL-EXECUTIVE-POST GUEST PRESENTATION
***
What Is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)?
A special purpose vehicle is a subsidiary created by a parent company to isolate financial risk. It’s also called a special purpose entity (SPE). Its legal status as a separate company makes its obligations secure even if the parent company goes bankrupt. A special purpose vehicle is sometimes referred to as a bankruptcy-remote entity for this reason.
These vehicles can become a financially devastating way to hide company debt if accounting loopholes are exploited, as seen in the 2001 Enron scandal.
Posted on August 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd
***
***
In today’s dynamic economic landscape, the concept of a “side hustle” has evolved from a mere trend to an essential component of personal financial strategy for many individuals; even doctors.
A side hustle is a way to earn extra income outside of your primary job or main source of employment. It typically involves part-time work, freelancing, small businesses, or gig-based activities that can be pursued flexibly in your free time. Unlike traditional employment, side hustles often offer more autonomy, creative freedom, and the potential to monetize skills, hobbies, or passions.
***
***
Doctor Gigs?
So, if you’re a doctor, dentist or podiatrist considering a side hustle, focus on something sustainable and long-term. Ask yourself: What am I already good at? What do people already ask me to help with? The best side hustles don’t require reinventing the wheel — just monetizing the one you’ve already been pushing uphill.
But, avoid gigs that require a huge upfront investment or promise overnight success. Instead, look for something that offers flexibility, ideally something that works with your schedule, not against your sanity.
Track your earnings and how much time you’re putting in. Side income should support your goals, whether that’s paying off debt, saving for a trip or just breathing easier when office rent comes due.
But, if it’s draining your energy from your medical practice with little to show for it, it might be time to rethink the hustle.
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 an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com -OR-http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
Doctors and dentists earn money by treating patients. CPAs and Attorneys have clients, and retail stores buy items low and sell them at higher prices. This is called a business model.
More formally, a business model identifies the products or services the business plans to sell, the target market, and any anticipated expenses, in order to outline how to generate a profit. Business models are important for both new and established businesses. They help companies attract investment, recruit talent, and motivate management and staff.
Businesses should regularly update their business model, or they’ll fail to anticipate trends and challenges ahead. Business models also help investors to evaluate companies that interest them and employees to understand the future of a company they may aspire to join.
***
The Business Model of Pharmacy Benefits Managers
In the United States, health insurance providers often hire a third party to handle price negotiations, insurance claims, and distribution of prescription drugs. Providers that use such pharmacy benefit managers include commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, Medicare Part D [drug] plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and state government employee plans. PBMs are designed to aggregate the collective buying power of en-rollees through their client health plans, enabling plan sponsors and individuals to obtain lower prices for their prescription drugs. PBMs negotiate price discounts from retail pharmacies, rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers, and mail-service pharmacies which home-deliver prescriptions without consulting face-to-face with a pharmacist.
Pharmacy benefit management companies can make revenue in several ways.
First, they collect administrative and service fees from the original insurance plan.
Then, they can also collect rebates from the manufacturer.
Traditional PBMs do not disclose the negotiated net price of the prescription drugs, allowing them to resell drugs at a public list price (also known as a sticker price), which is higher than the net price they negotiate with the manufacturer. This practice is known as “spread pricing”. The industry argues that savings are trade secrets. Pharmacies and insurance companies are often prohibited by PBMs from discussing costs and reimbursements. This leads to lack of transparency.
***
***
Therefore, states are often unaware of how much money they lose due to spread pricing, and the extent to which drug rebates are passed on to en-rollees of Medicare plans. In response, states like Ohio, West Virginia, and Louisiana have taken action to regulate PBMs within their Medicaid programs.
For instance, they have created new contracts that require all discounts and rebates to be reported to the states. In return, Medicaid pays PBMs a flat administrative fee.
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 an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com -OR-http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
THE ADDICTIVE INVESTING / TRADING PERSONALITY OF DOCTORS
Dr. Donald J. Mandell, a pediatrician, always needs to leave the office fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The reason is because it takes that long to make the necessary number of trips to ensure the front door is truly locked.
Dr. Kamela A. Shaw, a general surgeon, is constantly rushing to the bath room so that she can wash her hands. As far as she is concerned, it is not possible to get one’s hands clean enough considering the COVID pandemic or recent influenza outbreak.
Although the behaviors displayed by these two doctors are different, they are consistent in that each, to some degree, display behavior that might be called an obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD].
An obsession is a persistent, recurring preoccupation with an idea or thought. A compulsion is an impulse that is experienced as irresistible.
Obsessive-compulsive individuals feel compelled to think thoughts that they say they do not want to think or to carry out actions that they say are against their will. These individuals usually realize that their behavior is irrational, but it is beyond their control. In general, these individuals are preoccupied with orderliness, perfectionism, and mental and interpersonal control, at the expense of flexibility, openness, and efficiency. Specifically, behaviors such as the following may be seen:
Preoccupation with details.
Perfectionism that interferes with task completion.
Excessive devotion to work and office productivity.
Scrupulous and inflexible about morality (not accounted for by cultural or religious identification);
Inability to discard worn-out or worthless objects without sentimental value;
Reluctance to delegate tasks or to work with others.
Adopts a miserly spending style toward both self and others.
Demonstrates a rigid, inflexible and stubborn nature.
Most people resort to some minor obsessive-compulsive patterns under severe pressure or when trying to achieve goals that they consider critically important. In fact, many individuals refer to this as superstitious behavior. The study habits required for medical students entail a good deal of compulsive behavior.
As the above examples suggest, there are a variety of addictions possible. Recent news accounts have pointed out that even high-level governmental officials can experience sex addiction. The advent of social-media has led to what is referred to as Internet addiction where an individual is transfixed to a computer, tablet PC or smart-phone, “working” for hours on end without a specific project in mind. The simple act of “surfing”, “tweeting-X”, “texting” or merely posting opinions offers the person afflicted with the addiction some degree of satisfaction.
Still another form of addictive behavior is that of the individual with gambling disorder (GD).
GD is recognized as a mental disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V. This is the behavior of an individual who is unable to resist the impulse to gamble. Many reasons have been posited for this type of behavior including the death instinct; a need to lose; a history of trauma; a wish to repeat a big win; identification with adults the “gambler” knew as an adolescent; and a desire for action and excitement. There are other explanations offered for this form of compulsive behavior. The act of betting allows the individual to express an immature bravery, courage, manliness, and persistence against unfavorable odds. By actually using money and challenging reality, he puts himself into “action” and intense emotion. By means of gambling, the addicted individual is able to pretend that he is favored by “lady luck,” specially chosen, successful, able to beat the system and escape from feelings of discontent.
Greed can also have addictive qualities. In fact, a poll conducted by the Chicago Tribune revealed that folks who earned less than $30,000 a year, said that $50,000 would fulfill their dreams, whereas those with yearly incomes of over $100,000 said they would need $250,000 to be satisfied. More recent studies confirm that goals keep getting pushed upward as soon as a lower level is reached.
Edward Looney, executive director of the Trenton, New Jersey based Council on Compulsive Gambling (CCG) reports that the number of individuals calling with trading-associated problems is doubling annually. In the mid 1980s, when the council was formed, the number of people calling the council’s hotline (1 – 800 Gambler) with stock-market gambling problems was approximately 1.5 percent of all calls received. In 1998 that number grew to 3 percent, and rose to 8 percent by 2012. Today, that number is largely unknown because of its pervasiveness, but Dr. Robert Custer, an expert on compulsive gambling reported, that stock market gamblers represent over 20 percent of the gamblers that he has diagnosed. It is evident that on-line trading presents a tremendous risk to the speculator.
The CCG describes some of the consequences:
Dr. Fred B. is a 43-year-old Asian male physician with a salary above $150,000 and in debt for more than $150,000. He is married with two children. He was a day trader.
Michael Q. is a 28-year-old Hispanic male registered nurse. He is married and the father of one (7 month old) child. He earns $65,000 and lost $50,000 savings in day trading and is in debt for $30,000. He has suicidal ideation.
[B] A Question of Suitability
Since online traders are in it for many reasons, investment suitability rarely enters the picture, according to Stuart Kaswell, general counsel of the Securities Industry Association, in Washington, DC. The kind of question that has yet to be confronted, by day or online trading firms, is a statement, such as: “Equities look good this year. We favor technology stocks. We have a research report on our Web page that looks at the social media industry.” Those kinds of things are seldom considered because they do not involve a specific recommendation of a specific stock, like Apple, Google, Groupon, Facebook or Twitter.
However, if a firm makes a specific recommendation to an investor, whether over the cell-phone, iPad®, fax machine, face-to-face, instagram or over the Internet, or Twitter-X, suitability rules should apply. Opining similarly on the “know your customer” requirements is Steven Caruso, of Maddox, Koeller, Harget & Caruso of New York City. “The on-line firms obviously claim that they do not have a suitability responsibility because they do not want the liability for making a mistake as far as determining whether the investor was suitable or buying any security. I think that ultimately more firms are going to be required to make a suitability, [or eventually fiduciary] determination on every trade”.
[C] On-line Traders and Stock Market Gamblers
Some of the preferred areas of stock market gambling that attract the interest of compulsive gamblers include options, commodities, penny stocks and bit-coins, index investing, new stock offerings, certain types of CAT bonds, crowd-sourcing initiatives, and some contracts for government securities. These online traders and investment gamblers think of themselves as cautious long-term investors who prefer blue chip or dividend paying varieties. What they fail to take into consideration is that even seemingly blue chips can both rise and precipitously drop in value again, as seen in the summer of 2003, the “crash” of 2008, or the “flash crash” of May 6, 2010. On this day, the DJIA plunged 1000 points (about 9%) only to recover those losses within minutes. It was the second largest point swing 1,010.14 points, and the biggest one-day point decline, 998.5 points, on an intraday basis in Dow Jones Industrial Average history.
Regardless of investment choice, the compulsive investment gambler enjoys the anticipation of following the daily activity surrounding these investments. Newspaper, hourly radio and television reports, streaming computer, tablet and smart phone banners and hundreds of periodicals and magazines add excitement in seeking the investment edge. The name of the game is action. Investment goals are unclear, with many participating simply for the feeling it affords them as they experience the highs and lows and struggles surrounding the play. And, as documented by the North American Securities Administrators Association’s president, and Indiana Securities Commissioner, Bradley Skolnik, most day or online traders lose money. “On-line brokerage was new and cutting edge and we enjoyed the best stock market in generations, until the crashes. The message of most advertisements was “just do it”, and you’ll do well. The fact is that research and common sense suggest the more you trade, the less well you’ll do”.
Most day or online traders are young males, some who quit their day jobs before the just mentioned debacles; or more recently with the dismal economy. Many ceased these risky activities but there is some anecdotal evidence that is re-surging again with 2013-14 technology boom and market rise. Most of them start every day not owning any stock, then buy and sell all day long and end the trading day again without any stock – – just a lot of cash. Dr. Patricia Farrell, a licensed clinical psychologist states that day traders are especially susceptible to compulsive behaviors and addictive personalities. Mark Brando, registered principal for Milestone Financial, a day trading firm in Glendale, California states, “People that get addicted to trading employ the same destructive habits as a gambler. Often, it’s impossible to tell if a particular trade comes from a problem gambler or a legitimate trader.”
Arthur Levitt, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in discussing the risks and misconceptions of investing are only amplified by on-line trading. In a speech before the National Press Club a few years ago, he attempted to impress individuals as to the risks and difficulties involved with day trading. Levitt cited four common misconceptions that knowledgeable medical professionals, and all investors, should know:
Personal computers, tablets, mobile devices and smart-phones are not directly linked to the markets – Thanks to Level II computer software, day traders can have access to the same up-to-the-second information available to market makers on Wall Street. “Although the Internet makes it seem as if you have a direct connection to the securities market, you don’t. Lines may clog; systems may break; orders may back-up.”
The virtue of limit orders – “Price quotes are only for a limited number of shares; so only the first few investors will receive the currently quoted price. By the time you get to the front of the line, the price of the stock could be very different.”
Canceling an order – “Another misconception is that an order is canceled when you hit ‘cancel’ on your computer. But, the fact is it’s canceled only when the market gets the cancellation. You may receive an electronic confirmation, but that only mean your request to cancel was received – not that your order was actually canceled”.
Buying on margin – “if you plan to borrow money to buy a stock, you also need to know the terms of the loan your broker gave you. This is margin. In volatile markets, investors who put up an initial margin payment for a stock may find themselves required to provide additional cash if the price of the stock falls.
How then, can the medical professional or financial advisor tell if he or she is a compulsive gambler? A diagnostic may be obtained from Gamblers Anonymous. It is designed to screen for the identification of problem and compulsive gambling.
But, it is also necessary to provide a tool to be used by on-line traders. This questionnaire is as follows:
1. Are you trading in the stock market with money you may need during the next year?
2. Are you risking more money than you intended to?
3. Have you ever lied to someone regarding your on-line trading?
4. Are you risking retirement savings to try to get back your losses?
5. Has anyone ever told you that spend too much time on-line?
6. Is investing affecting other life areas (relationships, vocational pursuits, etc.)?
7. If you lost money trading in the market would it materially change your life?
8. Are you investing frequently for the excitement, and the way it makes you feel?
9. Have you become secretive about your on-line trading?
10. Do you feel sad or depressed when you are not trading in the market?
NOTE: If you answer to any of these questions you may be moving from investing to gambling.
***
***
The cost of compulsive gambling and day trading is high for the individual medical or lay professional, the family and society at large. Compulsive gamblers, in the desperation phase of their gambling, exhibit high suicide ideation, as in the case of Mark O Barton’s the murderous day-trader in Atlanta who killed 12 people and injured 13 more in July 29th 1999. His idea actually became a final act of desperation.
Less dramatically, for doctors, is a marked increase in subtle illegal activity. These acts include fraud, embezzlement, CPT® up-coding, medical over utilization, excessive full risk HMO contracting, Stark Law aberrations and other “white collar crimes.” Higher healthcare and social costs in police, judiciary (civil and criminal) and corrections result because of compulsive gambling. The impact on family members is devastating. Compulsive gamblers cause havoc and pain to all family members. The spouses and other family members also go through progressive deterioration in their lives.
In this desperation phase, dysfunctional families are left with a legacy of anger, resentment, isolation, and in many instances, outright hate.
[D] Day Trading Assessment
Internet day trading, like the Internet and telecommunications sectors, become something of a investment bubble a few years ago, suggesting that something lighter than air can pop and disappear in an instant. History is filled with examples: from the tulip mania of 1630 Holland and the British South Sea Bubble of the 1700’s; to the Florida land boom of the roaring twenties and the Great Crash of 1929; to the collapse of Japans stock and real estate market in early 1990’s; and to an all-time high of $1,926 for an ounce of commodity gold a few years ago.
Today it is Ask: $3,388.30 USD Bid: $3,367.30 USD
CONCLUSION
To this list, one might again include smart-phone or mobile day trading.
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 an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com -OR-http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
Posted on July 31, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
***
On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year (CY) 2026.
In addition to the agency’s suggested increase to physician payments, the proposed rule also announces a new payment model and more tele-health flexibilities.
According to CMS, the “proposed rule is one of several proposed rules that reflect a broader Administration-wide strategy to create a health care system that results in better quality, efficiency, empowerment, and innovation for all Medicare beneficiaries.” (Read more…)
Posted on July 29, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
***
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.
Stocks: Investors cheered the news of an EU & US trade deal over the weekend, pushing the S&P 500 above 6,400 for the first time ever. But the index gave up most of its gains late in the day as attention turned to a huge week of data ahead (more on that in a minute).
Trade: Today was the first day of discussions between US and Chinese negotiators in Stockholm to keep the trade war truce alive. Elsewhere, President Trump foresees a baseline 15% to 20% tariff rate for the rest of the world.
Commodities: Gold fell as trade deal hopes heightened investors’ risk appetite, while oil spiked higher after Trump gave Russia a 10- to 12-day deadline to sign a truce with Ukraine.
According to Bloomberg, 83% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings have outpaced Wall Street’s estimates, putting the index on pace for its best season of beats since the second quarter of 2021.
Classic Definition: Research from Ernst-Young [Nikhil Lele and Yang Shim] uncovered a chasm between how consumer patients think they’re doing financially, and the actual state of their finances. Even more striking, their study suggested that improving consumers’ financial health will become one of the top imperatives in reframing consumer financial services.
Modern Circumstance: For example, the study asked consumers to rate their own financial health, and 83 percent rated themselves “good,” “very good” or “excellent.” Now, contrast this figure with what is known about their actual situation:
60 percent of Americans say they are financially stressed.
56 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement.
40 million American families have no retirement savings at all.
40 percent of Americans are not prepared to meet a $400 short-term emergency.
Paradox Example: Fortunately, even though the vast majority of consumers rate themselves as financially healthy, the study found that most still want to improve. Importantly for health economists, the attractive 25-34 and 35-49 year-old age groups were most likely to be extremely or very interested in improving their financial and economic health.
Paradox Example: Massively affluent consumer patients are even more interested in improving this paradox than their mass market counterparts.
Posted on July 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I.
***
***
Stocks: President Trump said there’s a “50/50 chance” of a deal with the EU ahead of next week’s deadline. Investors decided they like those odds, and pushed the NASDAQ and S&P 500 to yet another new closing record high—in fact, the S&P 500 set a new record every day this week. Meanwhile, trade deal talks with Brazil have reportedly stalled.
Commodities: Oil fell to a three-week low today as Iran signaled a willingness to come to the negotiating table with European powers for nuclear talks.
Hopes of trade deals and less need for a safe haven investment pushed gold prices lower.
Stocks: The multi-day rally wavered this afternoon as investors turned their attention to big tech earnings tomorrow. The S&P 500 closed at a record high, while the NASDAQ finally broke its hot streak.
FOMC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sees no reason for Jerome Powell to step down, while President Trump tempered his outrage against the Fed chair. Instead, well-known economist Mohamed El-Erian took up the gauntlet.
Trade: Bessent said China may get an extension to make a true trade deal, while promising a “rash of trade deals” in the coming days. Speaking of, Trump declared the US has made a deal with the Philippines capping import levies at 19%.
As we plan for our financial future, I think it’s helpful to be cognizant of these paradoxes. While there’s nothing we can do to control or change them, there is great value in being aware of them, so we can approach them with the right tools and the right mindset.
Here are just seven of the paradoxes that can bedevil financial planning and investment decision-making:
There’s the paradox that all of the greatest fortunes—Carnegie, Rockefeller, Buffett, Gates—have been made by owning just one stock. And yet the best advice for individual investors is to do the opposite: to own broadly diversified index funds.
There’s the paradox that the stock market may appear overvalued and yet it could become even more overvalued before it eventually declines. And when it does decline, it may be to a level that is even higher than where it is today.
There’s the paradox that we make plans based on our understanding of the rules—and yet Congress can change the rules on us at any time, as it did just a few weeks ago.
There’s the paradox that we base our plans on historical averages—average stock market returns, average interest rates, average inflation rates and so on—and yet we only lead one life, so none of us will experience the average.
There’s the paradox that we continue to be attracted to the prestige of high-cost colleges, even though a rational analysis that looks at return on investment tells us that lower-cost state schools are usually the better bet.
There’s the paradox that early retirement seems so appealing—and has even turned into a movement—and yet the reality of early retirement suggests that we might be better off staying at our desks.
There’s the paradox that retirees’ worst fear is outliving their money and yet few choose the financial product that is purpose-built to solve that problem: the single-premium immediate annuity.
Assessment
QUESTION: How should you respond to these paradoxes? As you plan for your financial future, embrace the concept of “loosely held views.” In other words, make financial plans, but continuously update your views, question your assumptions and rethink your priorities.
Posted on July 20, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I.
***
***
The GENIUS Act is the law of the Land
President Trump signed the bill into law Friday, setting up a framework for regulating stablecoins—digital currency pegged to traditional assets—that are linked to the US dollar. It’s a big win for the crypto industry, and Trump said it was a “giant step to cement American dominance of global finance and crypto technology.”
The law could help push stablecoins into the mainstream, and major companies like Walmart and Amazon have been said to be considering launching their own, according to Morning Brew.
Markets: Stocks slid lower today even as a preliminary survey revealed that consumer sentiment hit its highest point since February, while inflation expectations fell to pre-tariff levels. The selloff deepened on reports that President Trump wants 15% to 20% tariffs against the EU, though the NASDAQ managed to eke out a win.
Crypto: Although bitcoin fell after the president signed the GENIUS Act into law, ether rose to its highest price in six months today, while enthusiasm for the new legislation pushed total crypto assets above $4 trillion.
Yes, you can contribute to both a Roth IRA and a 401(k), provided you don’t exceed annual contribution limits for each account.
Determining whether to contribute to a Roth IRA, 401(k), or both can be an important step in planning for your retirement. Here are the key differences, including tax advantages, employer contributions, and investment options.
Eligibility requirements are the first consideration when contributing to a Roth IRA and a 401(k). For Roth IRA contributions, your eligibility is determined by your income. Specifically, if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds certain thresholds, your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA may be reduced or eliminated. However, there are no income limits for contributing to a 401(k), making it accessible to anyone with earned income.
IRS rules do allow for contributions to both a Roth IRA and a 401(k), provided you adhere to the annual contribution limits for each account.
This means you can take advantage of the higher contribution limits of a 401(k) while also benefiting from the tax-free growth of a Roth IRA. This dual approach can be a strategy for maximizing your retirement savings. The advantages to contributing to both accounts present some key benefits, such as:
Tax diversification in retirement, allowing for better management of taxable income.
Potential reduction of overall tax burden.
Maximization of savings potential by taking full advantage of the benefits each account offers.3
Balancing contributions between a Roth IRA and a 401(k) requires careful planning. You might start by contributing enough to your 401(k) to receive the full employer match, which is essentially free money, if your employer offers this. Once you’ve secured the match, consider maxing out your Roth IRA contributions, if you’re eligible.
The Fed Drama: A White House official said President Trump will likely fire Jerome Powell soon. Stockssank at the thought of the Fed head being shown the door, offsetting the pleasant surprise of a flat wholesale inflation reading.
Markets: Stocks managed to recoup their losses after Trump said it’s “highly unlikely” that he will fire Powell, but bonds remained shaken.
Crypto: Bitcoin bounced higher after the crypto bills currently under consideration in the House of Representatives cleared a key hurdle.
Also called “qualified” or “statutory” stock options, ISOs are considered tax-advantaged stock options based on U.S. tax law. With ISOs, the spread (the difference between the award price and the fair market value) will count as income for the alternative minimum tax (AMT) in the year you exercise your options.
Example: If you exercise and hold the shares for more than one year past the exercise date and more than two years past the original grant date, the sale of the stock becomes a qualifying disposition, and any realized profit is typically taxed at the long-term capital gains rate. If you sell earlier, the spread will be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.
ISOs vs. NSOs: What’s the difference?
There are two types of employee stock options: statutory and nonstatutory. They can also be referred to as qualified and nonqualified, respectively. ISOs are statutory (qualified) and differ from nonstatutory (nonqualified) stock options (NSOs) in a few key ways:
Eligibility. ISOs are issued only to employees, whereas NSOs can be granted to outside service providers like advisors, board directors or other consultants. Typically, mainly senior executives or key employees are given ISOs, as a company is not required to offer ISOs to all employees.
Tax perks. ISOs have more compelling tax treatment compared with NSOs.
Overconfident Investing Bias happens when we believe we can out-smart other investors via market timing or through quick, frequent trading. This causes the results of a study to be unreliable and hard to reproduce in other research settings.
Example: Data convincingly shows that people and financial planners/advisors and wealth managers who trade most often under-perform the market by a significant margin over time. Active traders lose money.
Example: Overconfidence Investing Bias moreover leads to: (1) excessive trading (which in turn results in lower returns due to costs incurred), (2) underestimation of risk (portfolios of decreasing risk were found for single men, married men, married women, and single women), (3) illusion of knowledge (you can get a lot more data nowadays on the internet) and (4) illusion of control (on-line trading).
Posted on July 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Health Capital Consultants LLC
***
***
On June 25th, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its forecast on U.S. healthcare spending through 2033. The analysis, published in Health Affairs, estimated healthcare spending growth in 2024 and projected the growth into 2033. CMS found that overall healthcare spending growth has decreased slightly but is still elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, and is expected to continue to moderately grow.
This Health Capital Topics article examines the factors underlying the forecasts. (Read more…)
Stocks: The major Wall Street stock indexes languished. The S&P pulled back from its record high to close the week just a bit lower, but the NASDAQ managed to post a gain across the week.
Crypto: Bitcoin hit a new high-water mark above $118,000. Next week, July 14th, Congress hosts “Crypto Week” to discuss regulating the industry in a growth-oriented manner.
Commodities: Silver rose to its highest level since 2011, and it’s been even hotter than gold. The metal is up ~27% this year. Oil, meanwhile, ticked higher on speculation that President Trump will place more sanctions on Russia early next week.
Bitcoin notched another all-time record yesterday, beating the previous record that was set two days ago.
Goldman Sachs plans to ask junior bankers to certify their loyalty every three months in order to prevent poaching by private equity firms, Bloomberg reported.
Stocks: Jobless claims came in lower than expected, the 30-year US bond auction met with strong demand, and Delta Airlines unofficially kicking off earnings season with a solid report. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQhit record highs.
Crypto: Bitcoin reached a record high for the second day in a row, hitting $113,863.31 today. The crypto’s price has stayed above $100k for 60 consecutive days.
Commodities: Coffee futures in New York climbed as much as 3.5% in response to President Trump’s threat to slap 50% tariffs on Brazil, which is the top producer of higher-end arabica coffee.
Stocks: The major indexes plowed higher with the minutes of the last FOMC meeting showing that officials were not at all united about when to begin cutting rates. Investors also treated more tariff letters sent by President Trump to seven more countries including Iraq and the Philippines as not vital.
Bonds: US Treasuries snapped a five-day losing streak after a $39 billion sale of 1-year notes was met with solid demand.
Posted on July 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Health Capital Consultants LLC
***
***
On June 9th, 2025, Oregon’s governor signed into law the country’s strictest corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) prohibition. Senate Bill (SB) 951 will severely curtail the involvement of private equity firms and other corporations in the state’s medical practices.
This Health Capital Topics reviews the bill and discusses the implications on the healthcare industry. (Read more…)
The S&P 500 closed within a hair of a new record yesterday marking an enormous comeback that followed the April announcement of “Liberation Day” tariffs.
Despite a persistent vibe of uncertainty related to US economic policy and geopolitics:
The S&P 500 closed less than 0.1% away from a record high which it notched in February before cratering nearly 20% in April. The index has regained ground in fits and starts since then and briefly surpassed its record in intra-day trading yesterday.
On Monday, the tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 one-upped the broader market and logged its highest-ever close. It came after President Trump said Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, which eased investors’ concerns about a potential oil crisis.
According to Morning Brew, between unresolved geopolitical conflicts and President Trump’s still-unfolding tariff policies, a portfolio manager with Capital Wealth Planning, Kevin Simpson, told CNBC that he was “surprised by the magnitude of the rebound.”
Deals: Stocks popped at the open yesterday on the news that Canada has rescinded the digital services tax in order to lure the US back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the EU will accept a 10% universal tariff in exchange for some key concessions.
Stocks: The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ both hit new record highs today, with the S&P 500 wrapping up its best quarter since Q4 20
The Fed: President Trump published a handwritten note asking Jerome Powell to cut interest rates, even as the White House considers new ways to replace the Fed Chair. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs now sees the chances of the Fed cutting interest rates in September as “somewhat above 50%.”
Posted on June 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Health Capital Consultants; LLC
***
***
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives moved President Trump’s budget proposal forward, sending to the Senate a budget reconciliation bill (with a one-vote margin) – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 – that renews expiring tax cuts and enacts new ones at a cost of almost $4 trillion. These costs would largely be paid for by cuts to other programs, including to federal healthcare programs, which cuts will have significant ramifications for the healthcare industry.
This Health Capital Topics article reviews the current status of the budget bill and healthcare industry implications. (Read more…)
Assets under advisement refer to assets on which your firm provides advice or consultation but for which your firm does either does not have discretionary authority or does not arrange or effectuate the transaction. Such services would include financial planning or other consulting services where the assets are used for the informational purpose of gaining a full perspective of the client’s financial situation, but you are not actually placing the trade.
Assets under advisement could also be those which you monitor for a client on a non-discretionary basis, where you may make recommendations but where the client is the party responsible for arranging or effecting the purchase or sale. A common example of this AUM scenario is when an advisor reviews a participant’s 401(k) allocations. If the adviser does not have the authority or ability to effect changes in the portfolio, these assets are likely considered assets under advisement rather than regulatory assets under management.
Assets under advisement are permitted to be disclosed on Form ADV Part 2A as a separate asset figure from the assets under management. There is no requirement to disclose the assets under advisement figure, but some advisors opt to include the figure to give prospective clients a more complete picture of the firm’s responsibilities. If you choose to report your assets under advisement, be sure to make a clear distinction between this figure and your regulatory assets under management.
***
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 fiduciary 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.
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 an RFP for speaking engagements: CONTACT: Ann Miller RN MHA at MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com
Posted on June 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I.
***
***
Deals: The US and China revealed the details of their trade deal framework, easing restrictions on rare earth metals and semiconductor chips. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick promised up to 10 more deals are on their way ahead of the July 9th tariff-pause deadline, but that probably won’t include Canada: President Trump ended all trade discussions with the country thanks to a dispute over the digital services tax.
Stocks: Indexes climbed at the open thanks to the deal with China, but they tumbled on news of a fallout with Canada. Still, the S&P 500 managed to post its 1,245th new all-time high, while the NASDAQ booked its own record close. The Dow trundled higher as well, though it’s still about 1,600 points below its previous record.
Posted on June 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By Staff Reporters
***
***
A SWF is essentially an investment fund run by the government. Similar to how a hedge fund or a private equity firm operates, the government would set aside a pot of money and invest it in assets such as stocks, bonds, startups, or real estate.
The idea of the US establishing a sovereign wealth fund akin to Norway’s or Abu Dhabi’s gained momentum recently across the political spectrum. Former President Trump endorsed the concept during a speech on his economic policy agenda for a second term, and the Biden administration has been quietly cheffing up a proposal for a wealth fund over the past several months, Bloomberg reported.
Trump and Biden officials described the fund as a key tool the country could deploy to win the global technological arms race and better compete against geopolitical rivals like China.
For example, the wealth fund could finance capital-intensive sectors such as shipbuilding, nuclear fission, and quantum cryptography that don’t offer near-term ROI for private investors.
However, disadvantages of a SWF include:
Non-Guaranteed Returns, with the Risk of Total Loss
Influence on Foreign Exchange Rates, Introducing Uncertainty
Potential Mismanagement of Funds Due to a Lack of Transparency
Dependency on Global Economic Conditions, Impacting Fund Performance
Challenges in Maintaining Accountability and Addressing Ethical Concerns
Posted on June 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
***
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.
Nvidia and Microsoft both set new record highs as the AI trade continues to revive. Nvidia rose 0.46%, while Microsoft climbed 1.05%.
CoreScientific exploded 33.01% on reports from the Wall Street Journal that the bitcoin miner may be acquired by AI company CoreWeave.
ServeRobotics gained 9.87% after the delivery robot maker launched its service on the streets of Atlanta today.
McCormick is looking spicy: The consumer goods company rose 5.31% after earnings outpaced analyst forecasts.
PennEntertainment rose 4.94% after the gambling company was upgraded by analysts at Citizens, who think the stock’s underperformance is about to reverse.
Solar stocks may be thrown a lifeline by the Senate, which is considering keeping some clean energy tax credits in the spending bill. EnphaseEnergy popped 12.83%, SunRun rose 6.46%, and SolarEdgeTechnologies climbed 5.11%.
Copper miners popped as prices of the precious metal rose today. Freeport–McMoRan jumped 6.85%, SouthernCopperCorp. climbed 7.79%, and AngloAmericanplc added 7.16%.
What’s down
Micron Technology lost 0.98% despite the chipmaker reporting fiscal third quarter results that beat Wall Street’s expectations.
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions sank 2.36% after the military tech company announced it will sell $500 million worth of stock to raise money for capital spending.
Equinix crumbled another 9.56% after a terrible fiscal outlook pushed Raymond James and BMO analysts to downgrade the internet services company.
Here is a list of the most common and helpful investment terms you’ll come across and should know.
Ask. The price that someone looking to sell stock wants to receive.
Bid. The price that someone is willing to pay for stock.
Buy. To acquire shares and thereby take a position in a company.
Sell. To get rid of shares whether because you’ve reached your goal or to prevent losses.
Bull market. Market conditions in which investors expect prices to rise.
Bear market. Market conditions in which investors expect prices to fall.
Dividend. A portion of a company’s earnings paid to shareholders.
Blue chip stocks. Shares of large and well-recognized companies that have a long history of solid financial performance.
Earning per share. A company’s net profit divided by the number of outstanding common shares.
Mutual fund. A collection of investments — stocks, bonds, commodities, and more — bundled together and held in common by a group of investors.
Asset. Something you own that could generate a return in the form of more assets.
Asset allocation. Your investment strategy, essentially — the mix of assets you choose to put your money into, whether that be cash, bonds, stocks, commodities, real estate or something else.
Broker. A person or firm — or robot — that arranges transactions between buyers and sellers in exchange for a commission (that is, a fee).
Capital gain (or capital loss). The money you make (or lose) on the sale of an asset.
Diversification. Investing in a variety of sectors, such as health care, energy and IT as well as across different geographic locations.
Dow Jones Industrial Average. A price-weighted list of 30 blue-chip stocks. It’s often used to help get a sense of the overall health of the stock market, even though it only reflects a small portion of the players.
Index fund. A type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that allows you to invest in a portfolio that mimics a market index, which is basically a list that tracks the performance of a group of investments either for a specific sector or the overall market.
Hedge fund. A type of investment partnership. Partners pool money from investors and try out a few different investing strategies. Generally, hedge funds will make riskier investments than your typical investor. They’ll also often use leverage (that is, borrowed money) or place bets against the market to get bigger returns. They make their money by charging their investors management fees based on a percentage of their profits.
Expense ratio. The percentage-based fee that mutual fund managers charge you to manage your investments.
Market price. How much it would cost right now to buy or sell an asset or service.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). An independent government body that was created to protect investors and the national banking system. The SEC enforces laws that maintain orderly, fair and efficient markets.
Short selling. A tactic available to investors who predict a stock’s price is about to drop. An investor borrows a quantity of shares through a broker and then sells them, intending to repurchase them later, at a lower price, and return them to the lender.
Stock exchange. A place buyers and sellers come together to buy, sell and trade stock during set business hours. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the most important stock exchange in the world, but there are a total of 16 exchanges around the world.
Stock market. Refers in general to the collection of markets and exchanges where the buying, selling and trading of investment vehicles takes place.
Price per share. A simple way of calculating a company’s market value at a given moment. To find the price per share, you take a company’s most recent share price and multiply it by its total number of outstanding shares.
Prospectus. A legal document that contains in-depth information about anything you might be planning to invest in: stocks, bonds or mutual funds.
Posted on June 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
MEDICAL EXECUTIVE-POST–TODAY’SNEWSLETTERBRIEFING
***
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.
SPACs, or special purpose acquisition companies, are shell companies that are created just to acquire or merge with an existing company, allowing that company to enter public markets without going through an IPO. The catch, however, is the SPAC sponsors have a small window of time—usually within two years—to find a suitable company to acquire.
Carnival popped 6.91% after the cruise line reported impressive earnings and reiterated its healthy financial guidance.
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em: Mastercard rose 2.80% on the news that it will integrate Fiserv’s new stablecoin into its products. Fiserv gained 1.24%.
Lyft gained 6.09% after TD Cowen analysts upgraded the stock, calling the ride-sharing company their “Best SMIDcap Idea for 2025.”
Falling oil prices helped airline stocks soar today: Frontier Group jumped 7.56%, JetBlue Airways rose 4.15%, and American Airlines added 4.31%.
Ambarella soared 20.61% on reports that the chip designer may be exploring a sale.
Nektar Therapeutics exploded 156.29% thanks to strong results in the Phase 2 trial of its new eczema treatment.
Crypto miners rose as investors took on more risk following a ceasefire in the Middle East: CleanSpark climbed 13.45%, Riot Platforms rose 8.09%, and MARA Holdings gained 4.94%.
What’s down
Oil prices fell on news of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, pulling oil stocks down with them: Exxon Mobil lost 3.04%, Chevron dropped 2.25%, and Occidental Petroleum fell 3.34%.
The ceasefire also sent defense contractors tumbling: Lockheed Martin lost 2.59%, RTX dropped 2.72%, and Northrup Grumman fell 3.20%.
Krispy Kreme fell 0.76% on the news that its deal with McDonald’s has fallen apart due to rising costs.
Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By AI
***
***
Stocks: Markets rose tentatively to start the week after the US bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend. The rally gained steam in the afternoon after Iran launched a missile strike against a US airbase in Qatar, leaving no US casualties and keeping a path to de-escalation intact.
Safe havens: The US dollar rose to its highest level in nearly a month this morning, up from a three-year low last week, as investors sought safety. Meanwhile, gold inched higher despite pressure from a stronger dollar, a sure sign of investor tension.
Crypto: Bitcoin fell dangerously close to the key support level of $100,000 before recovering later in the day as traders took a risk-on stance.
Posted on June 23, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By A.I.
***
***
As economist Jason Furman pointed out, 250 years ago the Continental Congress created a brand-new currency and authorized the printing of $2 million worth to help George Washington pay his soldiers and procure weapons and supplies for the war effort.
Markets: Until now, Wall Street has mostly shrugged off the Israel–Iran conflict in the Middle East, with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ closing just a hair lower for the week on Friday. But, investors’ thinking might—or might not—change this coming week, after the US entered the war on Saturday with strikes on key Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
And, eyes are on oil prices, which, due to the war, are having their most volatile stretch since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Although many academics argue that value stocks outperform growth stocks, the returns for individuals investing through mutual funds demonstrate a near match.
Introduction
A 2005 study Do Investors Capture the Value Premium? written by Todd Houge at The University of Iowa and Tim Loughran at The University of Notre Dame found that large company mutual funds in both the value and growth styles returned just over 11 percent for the period of 1975 to 2002. This paper contradicted many studies that demonstrated owning value stocks offers better long-term performance than growth stocks.
The studies, led by Eugene Fama PhD and Kenneth French PhD, established the current consensus that the value style of investing does indeed offer a return premium. There are several theories as to why this has been the case, among the most persuasive being a series of behavioral arguments put forth by leading researchers. The studies suggest that the out performance of value stocks may result from investors’ tendency toward common behavioral traits, including the belief that the future will be similar to the past, overreaction to unexpected events, “herding” behavior which leads at times to overemphasis of a particular style or sector, overconfidence, and aversion to regret. All of these behaviors can cause price anomalies which create buying opportunities for value investors.
Another key ingredient argued for value out performance is lower business appraisals. Value stocks are plainly confined to a P/E range, whereas growth stocks have an upper limit that is infinite. When growth stocks reach a high plateau in regard to P/E ratios, the ensuing returns are generally much lower than the category average over time.
Moreover, growth stocks tend to lose more in bear markets. In the last two major bear markets, growth stocks fared far worse than value. From January 1973 until late 1974, large growth stocks lost 45 percent of their value, while large value stocks lost 26 percent. Similarly, from April 2000 to September 2002, large growth stocks lost 46 percent versus only 27 percent for large value stocks. These losses, academics insist, dramatically reduce the long-term investment returns of growth stocks.
***
***
However, the study by Houge and Loughran reasoned that although a premium may exist, investors have not been able to capture the excess return through mutual funds. The study also maintained that any potential value premium is generated outside the securities held by most mutual funds. Simply put, being growth or value had no material impact on a mutual fund’s performance.
Listed below in the table are the annualized returns and standard deviations for return data from January 1975 through December 2002.
Index Return SD
S&P 500 11.53% 14.88%
Large Growth Funds 11.30% 16.65%
Large Value Funds 11.41% 15.39%
Source: Hough/Loughran Study
The Hough/Loughran study also found that the returns by style also varied over time. From 1965-1983, a period widely known to favor the value style, large value funds averaged a 9.92 percent annual return, compared to 8.73 percent for large growth funds. This performance differential reverses over 1984-2001, as large growth funds generated a 14.1 percent average return compared to 12.9 percent for large value funds. Thus, one style can outperform in any time period.
However, although the long-term returns are nearly identical, large differences between value and growth returns happen over time. This is especially the case over the last ten years as growth and value have had extraordinary return differences – sometimes over 30 percentage points of under performance.
This table indicates the return differential between the value and growth styles since 1992.
YEARLY RETURNS OF GROWTH/VALUE STOCKS
Year
Growth
Value
1992
5.1%
10.5%
1993
1.7%
18.6%
1994
3.1%
-0.6%
1995
38.1%
37.1%
1996
24.0%
22.0%
1997
36.5%
30.6%
1998
42.2%
14.7%
1999
28.2%
3.2%
2000
-22.1%
6.1%
2001
-26.7%
7.1%
2002
-25.2%
-20.5%
2003
28.2%
27.7%
2004
6.3%
16.5%
2005
3.6%
6.1%
2006
10.8%
20.6%
2007
8.8%
1.5%
2008
-38.43%
-36.84%
2009
37.2%
19.69%
2010
16.71%
15.5%
2011
2.64%
0.39%
2012
15.25%
17.50%
Source: Ibbottson.
Between the third quarter of 1994 and the second quarter of 2000, the S&P Growth Index produced annualized total returns of 30 percent, versus only about 18 percent for the S&P Value Index. Since 2000, value has turned the tables and dramatically outperformed growth. Growth has only outperformed value in two of the past eight years. Since the two styles are successful at different times, combining them in one portfolio can create a buffer against dramatic swings, reducing volatility and the subsequent drag on returns.
Assessment
In our analysis, the surest way to maximize the benefits of style investing is to combine growth and value in a single portfolio, and maintain the proportions evenly in a 50/50 split through regular rebalancing. Research from Standard & Poor’s showed that since 1980, a 50/50 portfolio of value and growth stocks beats the market 75 percent of the time.
Conclusion
Due to the fact that both styles have near equal performance and either style can outperform for a significant time period, a medical professional might consider a blending of styles. Rather than attempt to second-guess the market by switching in and out of styles as they roll with the cycle, it might be prudent to maintain an equal balance your investment between the two.
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
Posted on June 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™
By AI
***
***
Stocks: Markets kicked off Friday trading on a high note thanks to comments from Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller that the central bank could lower interest rates as soon as next month.
Commodities: Oil prices tumbled at the open after President Trump pushed back his decision to involve the US in the conflict between Israel and Iran by two weeks.
Trade: Stocks gave up their early gains on reports that Japan has canceled high-level meetings with the US after President Trump told the country to spend more on defense.
Assets under management (AUM) is a significant parameter in the financial world. It answers financial questions like – how many investments does a company manage? What is the net value of the investments that the company manages? Finally, how many investors have trusted their assets with the company? The higher the answer to these three questions, the more glory to the company.
A wealthy investor who is not concerned by higher fees but wants maximum returns of their asset will probably choose an asset manager based on its AUM. Thus, the AUM indicates the financial performance of the firm. Also, based on the funds under management, the firm collects fees from other clients.
So, what are the investments which qualify as AUM? Any liquid asset of the investor they have entrusted the asset manager with monitoring and control. For example, bank deposits, cash balances, equity shares, bonds, mutual funds, and other investments.
What are the services an asset manager provides to their clients? The most important function is decision-making. With the constant fluctuations and rapid movements in the market, an asset manager has to make decisions about holding or selling an investment. The firm communicates with the investors and advises them about the necessary action.
Once the decision is taken, the firm acts on the decision, i.e., the investor does not have to enter the field. In addition, the asset management company will buy, sell, and make any other transactions on behalf of the investor. Finally, the firm also renders services like accounting, tax reporting, proxy voting (equity shares), client reporting, and other financial services.
What are Assets Under Advisement?
Assets under advisement refer to assets on which your firm provides advice or consultation but for which your firm does either does not have discretionary authority or does not arrange or effectuate the transaction. Such services would include financial planning or other consulting services where the assets are used for the informational purpose of gaining a full perspective of the client’s financial situation, but you are not actually placing the trade.
Assets under advisement could also be those which you monitor for a client on a non-discretionary basis, where you may make recommendations but where the client is the party responsible for arranging or effecting the purchase or sale. A common example of this scenario is when an adviser reviews a participant’s 401(k) allocations. If the adviser does not have the authority or ability to effect changes in the portfolio, these assets are likely considered assets under advisement rather than regulatory assets under management.
Assets under advisement are permitted to be disclosed on Form ADV Part 2A as a separate asset figure from the assets under management. There is no requirement to disclose the assets under advisement figure, but some advisers opt to include the figure to give prospective clients a more complete picture of the firm’s responsibilities. If you choose to report your assets under advisement, be sure to make a clear distinction between this figure and your regulatory assets under management.
Support our online development, and advance our onground research initiatives in free market economics, as we seek to showcase the brightest Next-Gen minds.
THE ME-P DISCLAIMER: Posts, comments and opinions do not necessarily represent iMBA, Inc., but become our property after submission. Copyright © 2006 to-date. iMBA, Inc allows colleges, universities, medical and financial professionals and related clinics, hospitals and non-profit healthcare organizations to distribute our proprietary essays, photos, videos, audios and other documents; etc. However, please review copyright and usage information for each individual asset before submission to us, and/or placement on your publication or web site. Attestation references, citations and/or back-links are required. All other assets are property of the individual copyright holder.
What’s down
The Leading Business Education Network for Doctors, Financial Advisors and Health Industry Consultants 