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CONSUMER SPENDING: Holidays

Posted on December 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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🎄 Introduction

The holiday season has long been synonymous with heightened consumer spending, as families allocate budgets for gifts, travel, food, and entertainment. In 2025, however, this tradition is unfolding against a backdrop of inflation, rising living costs, and shifting consumer priorities. While spending remains robust in certain segments, the overall picture reveals a more complex and cautious approach to holiday consumption.

📊 Spending Trends

Overall increase in spending: According to KPMG, consumers expect to spend 4.6% more than last year, though this rise is largely attributed to higher prices rather than stronger financial positions.
Income disparities: Higher‑income households are driving most of the gains, while lower‑income families anticipate cutting back.
Decline in discretionary spending: Growth in discretionary purchases is minimal, with real buying power declining.
Generational differences: Younger generations, especially Gen Z, plan to reduce holiday spending, reflecting financial strain and shifting values.
Gift spending contraction: Average gift spending is expected to drop, signaling a move toward more practical or meaningful purchases.

🛍️ Shopping Behavior

Timing of purchases: Many consumers are delaying shopping, avoiding the traditional early‑season surge.
Digital vs. physical stores: Online shopping continues to grow, but physical stores remain critical for driving results.
Technology in discovery: Tools powered by artificial intelligence are reshaping holiday shopping, helping consumers find deals and products more efficiently.
Concentration of spending: A large share of gift purchases occurs between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, reflecting the importance of promotional events.

🎁 Shifts in Priorities

Focus on essentials: Consumers are prioritizing tangible goods and essentials over luxury or experiential items.
Value‑driven choices: Shoppers are seeking value and meaning, often opting for fewer but more thoughtful gifts.
Travel and self‑spending: Many households are allocating more budget for travel and personal indulgence, even as they cut back on gifts.

🌍 Broader Implications

Holiday spending trends highlight the tension between tradition and economic reality. Retailers face challenges in predicting demand, as consumer sentiment remains cautious. Marketing strategies are shifting toward digital platforms, social media, and personalized promotions. For policymakers and economists, these spending patterns serve as indicators of household confidence and broader economic health.

🎯 Conclusion

In summary, consumer spending during the holiday season is marked by uneven growth, generational shifts, and a stronger emphasis on essentials and value. While higher‑income households sustain overall spending levels, many others are scaling back, reflecting the pressures of inflation and rising costs. The season remains festive, but it is increasingly defined by careful budgeting, strategic shopping, and evolving consumer values.

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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

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FINANCIAL ADVISOR COMMISSIONS: Fee-Only VERSUS Fee-Based Awareness

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd

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When individuals seek financial advice, one of the most important considerations is how their advisor is compensated. The structure of payment not only influences the advisor’s incentives but also shapes the client’s trust in the relationship. Two common models dominate the financial services industry: fee‑only and fee‑based commissions. While they may sound similar, they represent distinct approaches with meaningful implications for both advisors and clients.

Fee‑only compensation means that an advisor is paid exclusively through fees charged directly to the client. These fees can take the form of hourly rates, flat fees, or a percentage of assets under management. The critical point is that the advisor does not earn commissions from selling financial products. This structure is designed to minimize conflicts of interest, as the advisor’s income is tied solely to the client’s willingness to pay for advice. In theory, this creates a purer advisory relationship, where recommendations are based on what is best for the client rather than what generates additional revenue for the advisor. Clients often perceive fee‑only advisors as more transparent, since the costs are clear and predictable.

On the other hand, fee‑based commissions combine two streams of compensation: fees paid by the client and commissions earned from selling financial products such as insurance policies, mutual funds, or annuities. This hybrid model allows advisors to charge for their time and expertise while also benefiting financially from product sales. Supporters of fee‑based structures argue that it provides flexibility, enabling advisors to offer a wider range of services and products. For example, an advisor might charge a planning fee while also earning a commission for placing a client in a suitable insurance policy. This can be convenient for clients who prefer a one‑stop shop for both advice and product implementation.

However, the fee‑based model raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Because advisors can earn commissions, there is a risk that recommendations may be influenced by the financial incentives tied to specific products. Even if the advisor genuinely believes the product is appropriate, the dual compensation structure can create doubt in the client’s mind. Transparency becomes more complicated, as clients must distinguish between the advisory fee and the embedded commissions within financial products. This complexity can erode trust if not managed carefully.

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The choice between fee‑only and fee‑based ultimately depends on the client’s priorities. Those who value independence, clarity, and a strictly advisory relationship may gravitate toward fee‑only advisors. They may feel reassured knowing that their advisor’s livelihood depends solely on the quality of advice provided. Conversely, clients who appreciate convenience and the ability to access both advice and product solutions in one place may find fee‑based arrangements appealing. For them, the potential conflict of interest is outweighed by the practicality of bundled services.

In conclusion, fee‑only and fee‑based commissions represent two distinct philosophies in financial advising. Fee‑only emphasizes transparency and independence, while fee‑based offers flexibility and product access. Understanding these differences empowers clients to make informed decisions about the kind of advisory relationship they want. Ultimately, the best choice is the one that aligns with the client’s values, comfort level, and financial goals.

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MUTUAL FUNDS: Closed End

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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FINANCIAL WARRANTS

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

BASIC DEFINITIONS

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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A financial warrant is similar to an option, but it is typically issued directly by a company rather than traded on an exchange. Warrants allow holders to purchase shares of the issuing company at a fixed price, known as the exercise price, within a specified time frame. Unlike options, which are standardized and traded on secondary markets, warrants are often attached to bonds or preferred stock as a “sweetener” to make those securities more attractive to investors.

🔑 Key Features of Warrants

Right, not obligation: Investors can choose whether to exercise the warrant depending on market conditions.
Longer maturity: Warrants often have longer lifespans than options, sometimes lasting several years.
Issued by companies: They are a direct financing tool, unlike exchange-traded options.
Dilution effect: When exercised, new shares are created, which can dilute existing shareholders’ equity.

📊 Types of Warrants

Equity warrants: Allow purchase of common stock at a set price.
Bond warrants: Sometimes attached to debt instruments, giving bondholders the right to buy equity.
Detachable vs. non-detachable: Detachable warrants can be traded separately from the bond or preferred share they were issued with, while non-detachable ones remain tied.
Exotic warrants: Some markets offer specialized versions, such as knock-out warrants or mini-futures, which add complexity and leverage.

💼 Uses in Corporate Finance

Companies issue warrants for several reasons:

Capital raising: Warrants encourage investors to buy bonds or preferred shares, providing immediate funding.
Employee incentives: Similar to stock options, warrants can reward employees with potential future equity.
Strategic deals: Warrants may be used in mergers or acquisitions to align interests between parties.

⚖️ Benefits and Risks

Benefits:

Provide leverage, allowing investors to control more shares with less capital.
Offer long-term exposure to a company’s growth potential.
Can enhance returns if the underlying stock price rises above the exercise price.

Risks:

Warrants may expire worthless if the stock price never exceeds the exercise price.
Dilution reduces the value of existing shares when warrants are exercised.
Higher volatility compared to traditional equity investments.

📌 Conclusion

Financial warrants occupy a unique space between corporate finance and speculative investing. They serve as capital-raising tools for companies and leveraged opportunities for investors, but they also carry risks of dilution and expiration without value. Understanding their mechanics, types, and strategic uses is essential for anyone navigating modern financial markets.

In essence, warrants are a bridge between debt and equity, offering flexibility to issuers and optionality to investors. Their role in corporate finance highlights the innovative ways companies structure securities to balance risk, reward, and capital needs.

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INFLATION: Impact on the Average Middle-Class Family

Posted on November 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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POSITION SIZING: How to Construct Portfolios That Protect You

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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FINANCING: Non-Recourse

Posted on November 23, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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An Overview

Introduction In the world of finance, the distinction between recourse and non-recourse loans is critical. Non-recourse financing refers to loans in which the lender’s rights are limited strictly to the collateral pledged for the loan. If the borrower defaults, the lender cannot pursue the borrower’s personal assets or income beyond the collateral. This structure makes non-recourse loans particularly attractive to borrowers who want to protect their broader financial portfolio, though it comes with trade-offs such as higher interest rates and stricter eligibility requirements.

Definition and Core Features

A non-recourse loan is secured by collateral, typically real estate or high-value assets. Unlike recourse loans, where lenders can seize collateral and pursue additional assets if the collateral does not cover the debt, non-recourse loans restrict recovery to the collateral alone.

Key features include:

Collateral-based repayment: Only the pledged asset can be seized.
Borrower protection: Other personal or business assets remain untouched.
Higher lender risk: Because recovery is limited, lenders face greater exposure.
Higher interest rates: To offset risk, lenders often charge more.

Applications in Real Estate and Project Financing

Non-recourse financing is most common in commercial real estate and large-scale projects. For example, developers building shopping centers or office towers often rely on non-recourse loans because repayment depends on future rental income once the project is complete. Similarly, infrastructure projects with long lead times—such as energy plants or toll roads—use non-recourse financing to align repayment with project revenues.

This structure allows borrowers to undertake ambitious projects without risking personal bankruptcy if the venture fails. It also encourages investment in sectors where upfront costs are high and returns are delayed.

Comparison with Recourse Loans

The difference between recourse and non-recourse loans lies in risk allocation:

Recourse loans: Lenders can seize collateral and pursue other assets. These loans are lower risk for lenders and typically carry lower interest rates.
Non-recourse loans: Lenders are limited to collateral. Borrowers gain protection, but lenders demand higher rates and stricter terms.

This trade-off means non-recourse loans are less common and usually reserved for borrowers with strong creditworthiness or projects with predictable revenue streams.

Advantages of Non-Recourse Financing

Risk limitation for borrowers: Protects personal wealth and other business assets.
Encourages investment: Makes large-scale, high-risk projects feasible.
Predictable liability: Borrowers know their maximum exposure is limited to collateral.

Disadvantages and Risks

Higher costs: Interest rates and fees are higher due to lender risk.
Strict eligibility: Only borrowers with strong financial standing or valuable collateral qualify.
Collateral dependency: If the collateral loses value, lenders face significant losses.
Bad boy carve-outs: Certain clauses allow lenders to pursue borrowers if fraud, misrepresentation, or intentional misconduct occurs.

Legal and Financial Implications

Non-recourse financing is shaped by legal frameworks that define lender rights. In many jurisdictions, lenders cannot pursue deficiency judgments beyond collateral. However, exceptions exist through “bad boy carve-outs,” which hold borrowers personally liable for misconduct such as misappropriation of funds or environmental violations.

Conclusion

Non-recourse financing is a powerful tool in modern finance, particularly for commercial real estate and infrastructure projects. By limiting borrower liability to collateral, it enables ambitious ventures while protecting personal assets. However, this protection comes at the cost of higher interest rates, stricter eligibility, and potential carve-outs that reintroduce personal liability. Ultimately, non-recourse loans represent a balance between borrower protection and lender risk, shaping the way large-scale projects are funded and developed.

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FINRA: Role and Importance

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is a cornerstone of the U.S. financial system, serving as a self-regulatory organization that oversees brokerage firms and their registered representatives. Established in 2007 through the consolidation of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the regulatory arm of the New York Stock Exchange, FINRA plays a critical role in maintaining market integrity, protecting investors, and ensuring that the securities industry operates fairly and transparently.

Origins and Mission

FINRA’s creation was driven by the need for a unified regulatory body that could streamline oversight of broker-dealers. Its mission is straightforward yet vital: to safeguard investors and promote market integrity. Unlike government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FINRA is a non-governmental organization, but it operates under the SEC’s supervision. This unique structure allows FINRA to act with agility while still being accountable to federal oversight.

Core Responsibilities

FINRA’s responsibilities are broad and multifaceted.

Licensing and Registration: FINRA ensures that brokers and brokerage firms meet professional standards before they can operate. This includes administering qualification exams such as the Series 7 and Series 63.
Rulemaking and Enforcement: FINRA develops rules that govern broker-dealer conduct and enforces them through disciplinary actions when violations occur.
Market Surveillance: FINRA monitors trading activity across U.S. markets to detect fraud, manipulation, or other irregularities.
Investor Education: Through initiatives like BrokerCheck, FINRA provides investors with tools to research brokers and firms, empowering them to make informed decisions.

Each of these functions contributes to a safer and more transparent marketplace.

Protecting Investors

Investor protection lies at the heart of FINRA’s mission. By enforcing ethical standards and monitoring trading practices, FINRA reduces the risk of misconduct such as insider trading, excessive risk-taking, or misleading investment advice. Its arbitration and mediation services also provide investors with avenues to resolve disputes with brokers outside of lengthy court proceedings. This combination of proactive regulation and accessible dispute resolution strengthens public trust in financial markets.

Challenges and Criticisms

Like any regulatory body, FINRA faces challenges. Critics argue that as a self-regulatory organization, it may be too close to the industry it oversees, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Others question whether its penalties are sufficient to deter misconduct. Additionally, the rapid evolution of financial technology, cryptocurrency markets, and complex trading algorithms presents new regulatory hurdles. FINRA must continually adapt its rules and surveillance systems to keep pace with innovation.

Impact on the Financial System

Despite these challenges, FINRA’s impact is undeniable. By maintaining standards of conduct and transparency, it helps ensure that capital markets remain efficient and trustworthy. Investors, from individuals saving for retirement to institutions managing billions, rely on FINRA’s oversight to protect their interests. Broker-dealers, meanwhile, benefit from clear rules that create a level playing field and reduce systemic risk.

Conclusion

In summary, FINRA is an essential pillar of the U.S. financial regulatory framework. Its blend of licensing, rulemaking, enforcement, and investor education fosters confidence in the securities industry. While it must continue to evolve in response to technological and market changes, its mission remains constant: protecting investors and promoting integrity. Without FINRA’s presence, the risk of misconduct and instability in financial markets would be far greater. As the financial landscape grows more complex, FINRA’s role will only become more critical in ensuring that markets remain fair, transparent, and resilient.

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RISK ADJUSTED RATE OF RETURN: In Finance

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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In the realm of finance and investment, the pursuit of profit is inseparable from the presence of risk. Every investor, whether an individual or an institution, must grapple with the reality that higher returns often come with greater uncertainty. To evaluate investments effectively, it is not enough to look at raw returns alone. Instead, one must consider how much risk was undertaken to achieve those returns. This balance is captured by the concept of the risk-adjusted rate of return, a cornerstone of modern portfolio theory and investment analysis.

The risk-adjusted rate of return measures the profitability of an investment relative to the risk assumed. Unlike simple return calculations, which only show the percentage gain or loss, risk-adjusted metrics incorporate volatility and other forms of uncertainty. For example, two investments may both yield a 10% annual return, but if one is highly volatile and the other is stable, the stable investment is more attractive when viewed through a risk-adjusted lens. This approach ensures that investors are not misled by high returns that are achieved through excessive risk-taking.

Several tools have been developed to calculate risk-adjusted returns. The Sharpe Ratio is among the most widely used. It measures excess return per unit of risk, with risk defined as the standard deviation of returns. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates that an investment is delivering better returns for the level of risk taken. Another measure, the Treynor Ratio, evaluates returns relative to systematic risk, using beta as the risk measure. The Sortino Ratio refines the Sharpe Ratio by focusing only on downside volatility, thereby distinguishing between harmful risk and general fluctuations. Each of these metrics provides a different perspective, but all share the same goal: to assess whether the reward justifies the risk.

The importance of risk-adjusted returns extends beyond individual securities to entire portfolios. Portfolio managers use these metrics to compare strategies, evaluate asset allocations, and determine whether their investment approach aligns with client objectives. For instance, a hedge fund may report impressive raw returns, but if those returns are accompanied by extreme volatility, its risk-adjusted performance may be inferior to that of a conservative mutual fund. By incorporating risk-adjusted measures, investors can make more informed decisions and build portfolios that reflect their risk tolerance and long-term goals.

Risk-adjusted returns also play a vital role in distinguishing skill from luck in investment management. A manager who consistently delivers high risk-adjusted returns demonstrates genuine expertise in navigating markets. Conversely, a manager who achieves high raw returns through excessive risk-taking may simply be gambling with investor capital. This distinction is critical for institutions and individuals alike, as it ensures that performance evaluations are grounded in sustainability rather than short-term speculation.

Of course, risk-adjusted metrics are not without limitations. They often rely on historical data, which may not accurately predict future outcomes. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past volatility may not reflect future risks. Additionally, different metrics may yield conflicting results, complicating the decision-making process. Despite these challenges, risk-adjusted returns remain indispensable because they encourage investors to look beyond superficial gains and consider the broader context of risk management.

In conclusion, the risk-adjusted rate of return is a fundamental concept in investment analysis. By integrating both risk and reward into a single measure, it empowers investors to evaluate opportunities more effectively, compare diverse assets, and build resilient portfolios. While no metric is flawless, the emphasis on risk-adjusted performance ensures that investment decisions are not driven solely by the pursuit of high returns but by the pursuit of sustainable, well-balanced growth. In a financial landscape defined by uncertainty, the ability to measure success in terms of both profit and prudence is what ultimately separates wise investing from reckless speculation.

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RISK ARBITRAGE: In Financial Markets

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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Risk arbitrage, often referred to as merger arbitrage, is a specialized investment strategy that seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies arising during corporate mergers, acquisitions, or other restructuring events. Unlike traditional arbitrage, which involves risk-free profit opportunities from price discrepancies across markets, risk arbitrage carries inherent uncertainty because it depends on the successful completion of corporate transactions. Despite its name, it is not risk-free; rather, it is a calculated approach to profiting from the probability of deal closure.

At its core, risk arbitrage involves buying the stock of a company being acquired and, in some cases, shorting the stock of the acquiring company. For example, if Company A announces it will acquire Company B at $50 per share, but Company B’s stock trades at $47, arbitrageurs may purchase shares of Company B, betting that the deal will close and the stock will rise to the agreed acquisition price. The $3 difference represents the potential arbitrage profit. However, this spread exists precisely because of uncertainty: regulatory approval, financing challenges, shareholder resistance, or unforeseen market conditions could derail the transaction, leaving arbitrageurs exposed to losses.

The practice of risk arbitrage has a long history in Wall Street. It gained prominence in the mid-20th century, particularly during the wave of conglomerate mergers in the 1960s and leveraged buyouts in the 1980s. Hedge funds and specialized arbitrage desks at investment banks became key players, using sophisticated models to assess the likelihood of deal completion. Today, risk arbitrage remains a central strategy for event-driven funds, which focus on corporate actions as catalysts for investment opportunities.

One of the defining features of risk arbitrage is its reliance on probability analysis. Investors must evaluate not only the financial terms of the deal but also the legal, regulatory, and political environment. For instance, antitrust regulators may block a merger if it reduces competition, or foreign investment committees may intervene in cross-border acquisitions. Arbitrageurs often assign probabilities to deal completion and calculate expected returns accordingly. A deal with high regulatory risk may offer a wider spread, but the probability of failure tempers the attractiveness of the trade.

Risk arbitrage also plays an important role in market efficiency. By narrowing the spread between target company stock prices and acquisition offers, arbitrageurs help align market prices with expected outcomes. Their activity provides liquidity to shareholders of target firms and signals market confidence—or skepticism—about deal success. In this sense, arbitrageurs act as informal referees of corporate transactions, reflecting collective judgment about feasibility.

Nevertheless, risk arbitrage is not without controversy. Critics argue that it can encourage speculative behavior and amplify volatility around merger announcements. Moreover, when deals collapse, arbitrageurs can suffer significant losses, as seen in high-profile failed mergers. The strategy requires not only financial acumen but also resilience in managing downside risk.

In conclusion, risk arbitrage is a sophisticated investment strategy that blends financial analysis with legal and regulatory insight. While it offers opportunities for profit, it demands careful risk management and a deep understanding of corporate dynamics. Far from being risk-free, it is a calculated gamble on the successful execution of complex transactions. For investors willing to navigate uncertainty, risk arbitrage remains a compelling, though challenging, avenue in modern financial markets.

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SPACs: Special Purpose Acquisition Companies

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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A Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) is a corporate entity created solely to raise capital through an initial public offering (IPO) with the intention of merging with or acquiring an existing private company. Unlike traditional firms, SPACs have no commercial operations at the time of their IPO. They exist as shell companies, holding investor funds in trust until a suitable target is identified. This unique structure has earned them the nickname “blank check companies.”

How SPACs Work

The lifecycle of a SPAC typically unfolds in three stages:

Formation and IPO: Sponsors—often experienced investors or industry executives—form the SPAC and take it public, raising funds from investors.
Target Search: The SPAC has a limited time frame, usually 18–24 months, to identify and negotiate with a private company to merge with.
De-SPAC Transaction: Once a merger is completed, the private company effectively becomes public, bypassing the traditional IPO process.

This process allows private firms to access public markets more quickly and with fewer regulatory hurdles compared to conventional IPOs.

Advantages of SPACs

SPACs gained traction because they offered several benefits:

Speed and Certainty: Traditional IPOs can be lengthy and uncertain, while SPACs provide a faster route to public markets.
Flexibility in Valuation: Unlike IPOs, SPACs can negotiate valuations directly with target companies.
Access to Expertise: Sponsors often bring industry knowledge and networks that can help the acquired company grow.
Investor Opportunity: Investors can participate early, with the option to redeem shares if they dislike the proposed merger.

Risks and Criticisms

Despite their appeal, SPACs are not without controversy:

Sponsor Incentives: Sponsors typically receive a significant stake (often 20%) at a low cost, which can misalign their interests with ordinary investors.
Uncertain Targets: Investors commit funds without knowing which company will be acquired, creating risk.
Performance Concerns: Studies show that many SPACs underperform after completing mergers, with share prices often declining.
Regulatory Scrutiny: Authorities have warned investors to carefully evaluate SPACs, especially regarding projections of future performance, which are less restricted than in IPOs.

Historical Context and Trends

SPACs first appeared in the 1990s but remained niche until the early 2020s, when they experienced a boom. In 2020 and 2021, hundreds of SPAC IPOs raised billions of dollars, fueled by market liquidity and investor enthusiasm. High-profile deals, such as DraftKings and Virgin Galactic, brought attention to the model. However, by the mid-2020s, enthusiasm cooled due to poor post-merger performance and tighter regulations.

Conclusion

SPACs represent a fascinating innovation in financial markets, offering an alternative to traditional IPOs. Their advantages in speed, flexibility, and access to capital made them attractive during periods of market optimism. Yet, their risks—misaligned incentives, uncertain outcomes, and regulatory challenges—have tempered investor enthusiasm. While SPACs are unlikely to disappear entirely, their future will depend on whether they can evolve into a more transparent and sustainable mechanism for taking companies public.

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STOCK MARKET CRASHES: More Likely in the Fall?

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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+ Plus / – Minus Two Weeks

Stock market crashes have long been associated with the fall season, particularly October, which has earned a reputation as a month of financial turmoil. While crashes can occur at any time, the clustering of several historic downturns in autumn has led many investors to believe that markets are more vulnerable during this period.

Historical Patterns of Fall Crashes

Some of the most devastating collapses in financial history have taken place in the fall. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 began in late October and marked the start of the Great Depression. In October 1987, markets experienced “Black Monday,” when the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged more than 20% in a single day. More recently, the global financial crisis of 2008 saw some of its steepest declines in September and October. These events have cemented autumn’s reputation as a season of heightened risk.

Why the Fall Is Riskier

Several factors contribute to the perception that fall is a dangerous time for markets:

Investor psychology: The memory of past crashes in October can heighten anxiety, making traders more prone to panic selling.
Fiscal cycles: Many institutional investors close their books at the end of September, leading to portfolio adjustments and sell-offs in October.
Economic data releases: Key reports on employment, corporate earnings, and government budgets often arrive in the fall, influencing sentiment.
Global events: Political and economic developments frequently coincide with autumn months, adding uncertainty.

Statistical Evidence and Skepticism

Despite the historical examples, statistical studies suggest that crashes are not inherently more likely in October than in other months. Market downturns are rare events, and their clustering in autumn may be more coincidence than causation. Crashes have also occurred outside the fall, such as the bursting of the dot-com bubble in spring 2000 and the COVID-19 crash in March 2020. This suggests that the so-called “October Effect” may be more psychological than empirical.

Lessons for Investors

Whether or not fall crashes are statistically more likely, the historical record offers important lessons:

Diversify investments to reduce vulnerability to sudden downturns.
Avoid panic selling, since many crashes are followed by rapid recoveries.
Prepare for volatility, as autumn often brings heightened uncertainty.

Conclusion

Stock market crashes are not guaranteed to happen in the fall, but history has made October synonymous with financial turmoil. The clustering of major downturns during this season has created a psychological bias that influences investor behavior. Whether coincidence or pattern, the lesson is clear: autumn is a time when vigilance, discipline, and preparation are especially important for market participants.

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BUTTERFLY SPREAD INVESTING

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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Investing in Butterfly Spreads

Options trading provides investors with a wide range of strategies to suit different market conditions. One of the more refined approaches is the butterfly spread, a strategy designed to profit from stability in the price of an underlying asset. It combines multiple option contracts at different strike prices to create a position with limited risk and limited reward. The name comes from the shape of its profit-and-loss diagram, which resembles the wings of a butterfly.

Structure of the Strategy

A typical butterfly spread involves four options contracts with three strike prices. In a long call butterfly spread, the investor buys one call at a lower strike, sells two calls at a middle strike, and buys one call at a higher strike. This creates a payoff that peaks if the underlying asset closes at the middle strike price. Losses are capped at the initial premium paid, while profits are capped at the difference between the strikes minus the premium.

Variations of Butterfly Spreads

Butterfly spreads can be built with calls, puts, or a mix of both:

Long Call Butterfly: Profits if the asset stays near the middle strike.
Long Put Butterfly: Similar structure but using puts.
Iron Butterfly: Combines calls and puts, selling an at-the-money straddle and buying protective wings.
Reverse Iron Butterfly: Designed to benefit from sharp price movements and volatility.

Each variation adapts to different market expectations, but all share the principle of balancing risk and reward.

Benefits of Butterfly Spreads

Defined Risk: The maximum loss is known upfront.
Cost Efficiency: Requires less capital than outright buying options.
Neutral Outlook: Works best when the investor expects little price movement.
Flexibility: Can be tailored to different market conditions with calls, puts, or combinations.

Drawbacks and Risks

Limited Profit Potential: Gains are capped, which may not appeal to aggressive traders.
Dependence on Timing: The strategy works only if the asset closes near the middle strike at expiration.
Complexity: Requires careful planning of strike prices and expiration dates.

Example in Practice

Suppose a stock trades at $100, and the investor expects it to remain near that level. They could set up a butterfly spread with strikes at $95, $100, and $105. If the stock closes at $100, the strategy delivers maximum profit. If the stock moves significantly away from $100, the investor’s loss is limited to the premium paid. This makes the butterfly spread particularly useful in calm, low-volatility markets.

Conclusion

The butterfly spread is a disciplined options strategy that thrives in stable markets. It offers a balance between risk control and profit potential, making it attractive to traders who prefer structured outcomes. While the rewards are capped, the defined risk and cost efficiency make butterfly spreads a valuable tool for investors who anticipate minimal price movement and want to manage their exposure carefully.

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CASH BALANCE PLANS: Hybrid Retirement Savings for Physicians

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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Retirement planning has evolved significantly over the past several decades, with employers and employees seeking solutions that balance security, flexibility, and predictability. Among the various retirement plan options available today, cash balance plans stand out as a hybrid design that combines features of both traditional defined benefit pensions and defined contribution plans. Their unique structure makes them an attractive choice for employers aiming to provide meaningful retirement benefits while maintaining financial predictability.

At their core, cash balance plans are a type of defined benefit plan. Unlike traditional pensions, which promise retirees a monthly income based on years of service and final salary, cash balance plans define the benefit in terms of a hypothetical account balance. Each participant’s account grows annually through two components: a “pay credit” and an “interest credit.” The pay credit is typically a percentage of the employee’s salary or a flat dollar amount, while the interest credit is either a fixed rate or tied to an index such as U.S. Treasury yields. Although the account is hypothetical—meaning the funds are not actually segregated for each employee—the structure provides participants with a clear, understandable statement of their retirement benefit.

One of the primary advantages of cash balance plans is their transparency. Employees can easily track the growth of their account balance, much like they would with a 401(k). This clarity helps workers better understand the value of their retirement benefits and fosters a sense of ownership. Additionally, cash balance plans are portable: when employees leave a company, they can roll over the vested balance into an IRA or another qualified plan, ensuring continuity in retirement savings.

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From the employer’s perspective, cash balance plans offer several benefits as well. Traditional pensions often create unpredictable liabilities, as they depend on factors such as longevity and investment performance. Cash balance plans, by contrast, provide more predictable costs because the employer commits to specific pay and interest credits. This predictability makes them easier to manage and budget for, particularly in industries where workforce mobility is high. Moreover, cash balance plans can be designed to reward long-term employees while still appealing to younger workers who value portability.

Despite these advantages, cash balance plans are not without challenges. Because they are defined benefit plans, employers bear the investment risk and must ensure the plan is adequately funded. Regulatory requirements, including nondiscrimination testing and funding rules, add complexity and administrative costs. Additionally, while cash balance plans are generally more equitable across generations of workers, transitions from traditional pensions to cash balance designs have sometimes sparked controversy, particularly among older employees who may perceive a reduction in benefits.

In recent years, cash balance plans have gained popularity among professional firms, such as law practices and medical groups, as well as small businesses seeking tax-efficient retirement solutions. These plans allow owners and highly compensated employees to accumulate larger retirement savings than would be possible under defined contribution limits, while still providing benefits to rank-and-file workers. As such, they serve as a valuable tool for both talent retention and financial planning.

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SILVER: Role in a Diversified Investment Portfolio

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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Silver occupies a distinctive position within the realm of investment assets, functioning simultaneously as a precious metal and an industrial commodity. This dual nature imbues silver with characteristics that make it a valuable component of a diversified portfolio, offering both defensive qualities and growth potential. While its volatility necessitates careful consideration, silver’s unique attributes warrant attention from investors seeking balance between risk mitigation and opportunity.

Silver as a Hybrid Asset

Unlike gold, which is primarily regarded as a store of value, silver derives a substantial portion of its demand from industrial applications. It is indispensable in sectors such as electronics, renewable energy, and medical technology, with photovoltaic cells in solar panels representing a particularly significant driver of consumption. This industrial utility ensures that silver’s price is influenced not only by macroeconomic uncertainty but also by technological innovation and global manufacturing trends. Consequently, silver provides investors with exposure to both traditional safe-haven dynamics and cyclical industrial growth.

Accessibility and Cost Efficiency

Silver’s affordability relative to gold enhances its appeal to a broad spectrum of investors. Physical silver, in the form of coins and bars, allows individuals with modest capital to participate in the precious metals market. Moreover, financial instruments such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mining equities provide liquid and scalable avenues for investment. This accessibility ensures that silver can serve as an entry point into alternative assets, particularly for those seeking to hedge against inflation without committing substantial resources.

Inflation Hedge and Currency Protection

Historically, silver has demonstrated resilience during periods of inflation and currency depreciation. As fiat currencies lose purchasing power, tangible assets such as silver tend to appreciate, preserving wealth for investors. Although gold is often considered the primary hedge, silver’s similar properties, combined with its lower cost, render it a practical complement. In times of geopolitical instability or monetary expansion, silver can function as a safeguard against systemic risks.

Volatility and Associated Risks

Despite its advantages, silver is characterized by pronounced price volatility. Its smaller market size relative to gold renders it more susceptible to speculative trading and abrupt shifts in investor sentiment. Furthermore, fluctuations in industrial demand can amplify short-term price movements. While this volatility can generate significant returns, it also exposes investors to heightened risk. Accordingly, silver is best employed as a long-term holding within a diversified portfolio rather than as a vehicle for short-term speculation.

Portfolio Diversification and Investment Vehicles

Incorporating silver into a portfolio enhances diversification by introducing an asset class with low correlation to equities and fixed income securities. This non-correlation reduces overall portfolio risk and provides stability during market downturns. Investors may access silver through several channels: physical bullion for tangible ownership, ETFs for liquidity, mining stocks for leveraged exposure, and futures contracts for advanced strategies. Each vehicle entails distinct risk-reward profiles, enabling investors to tailor their approach according to objectives and tolerance.

Conclusion

Silver’s dual identity as both a precious metal and an industrial commodity distinguishes it from other investment assets. Its affordability, inflation-hedging capacity, and diversification benefits make it a compelling addition to portfolios. While volatility requires prudent management, silver’s potential to balance defensive and growth-oriented strategies underscores its enduring relevance in contemporary investment practice.

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REAL-WORLD FINANCE: How Some RNs Can Retire Richer Than Physicians

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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For generations, the prevailing belief in healthcare has been that physicians [MD, DO and DPM], with their high salaries and prestige, inevitably retire wealthier than nurses. Yet this assumption overlooks the financial realities of different nursing specialties and the long‑term impact of debt, lifestyle, and retirement planning. In fact, some Registered Nurses (RNs)—particularly Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), visiting nurses, and those who participate in structured pay programs like the Baylor plan—can retire richer than physicians. The reasons lie in the interplay of education costs, career flexibility, income potential, and disciplined financial planning.

Education Costs and Debt Burden

One of the most decisive factors shaping retirement wealth is the cost of education. Physicians often spend over a decade in training, including undergraduate studies, medical school, and residency. This path not only delays their earning years but also saddles them with substantial student debt. The median medical school debt in the United States exceeds $200,000, and many physicians spend years paying it down.

By contrast, RNs typically complete their training in two to four years, with advanced practice nurses such as CRNAs requiring graduate‑level education. Even so, their debt burden is far lighter, often less than half of what physicians carry. This difference means nurses can begin earning earlier, save for retirement sooner, and avoid the crushing interest payments that erode physicians’ wealth. A CRNA who starts practicing in their late twenties may already be investing in retirement accounts while a physician is still in residency earning a modest stipend.

Income Potential of Specialized Nurses

While physicians generally earn more annually than nurses, the gap is narrower in certain specialties. CRNAs, for example, are among the highest‑paid nursing professionals, with average salaries often exceeding $200,000 per year. This places them in direct competition with some physician specialties, especially primary care doctors, who may earn similar or even lower salaries.

Visiting nurses also benefit from unique financial advantages. Many work on flexible schedules, contract arrangements, or per‑visit compensation models. This allows them to maximize income while minimizing burnout. By avoiding the overhead costs of private practice and the administrative burdens physicians face, visiting nurses can channel more of their earnings directly into savings and investments.

When combined with lower debt and earlier career starts, these income streams can compound into significant retirement wealth.

💰 Highest-Paying Nursing Careers (2025)

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) – ~$212,000 annually
Nurse Practitioner (NP) – $120,000–$140,000+ depending on specialty (Family, Acute Care, Psychiatric)
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – $120,000–$135,000
Nurse Midwife – ~$115,000
Nurse Manager/Administrator – $110,000–$120,000
Informatics Nurse Specialist – ~$115,000
Neonatal ICU Nurse (NICU) – $110,000+
ICU Nurse – $105,000+
Pain Management Nurse – ~$104,000
Oncology Nurse – ~$100,000

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The Baylor Pay Plan Advantage

The Baylor plan, a structured pay program used by some hospitals, allows nurses to work full‑time hours compressed into fewer days—often weekends—while still receiving full‑time pay and benefits. This arrangement provides several financial advantages. First, it enables nurses to earn competitive wages while freeing up weekdays for additional work, education, or entrepreneurial ventures. Second, it reduces commuting and childcare costs, allowing more income to be saved. Third, the plan often includes robust retirement benefits, such as employer‑matched contributions to 401(k) or pension programs.

Nurses who consistently participate in such structured pay plans can accumulate substantial nest eggs, often surpassing physicians who delay retirement savings due to debt repayment or lifestyle inflation. The Baylor plan highlights the importance of systematic investing: by automating contributions and focusing on long‑term growth, nurses can harness the power of compound interest. A nurse who invests steadily for 35 years may accumulate more wealth than a physician who begins saving late and inconsistently, despite earning a higher salary.

Lifestyle and Work‑Life Balance

Another overlooked factor is lifestyle. Physicians often face grueling schedules, high stress, and the temptation to maintain expensive lifestyles commensurate with their social status. Luxury homes, cars, and vacations can erode their financial base. Nurses, while not immune to lifestyle inflation, often maintain more modest spending habits.

Visiting nurses, in particular, enjoy flexibility that allows them to balance work with personal life. This reduces burnout and healthcare costs while enabling consistent employment into later years. By living within their means and prioritizing savings, nurses can accumulate wealth steadily without the financial pitfalls that sometimes accompany physician lifestyles.

Retirement Wealth Beyond Salary

Retirement wealth is not solely determined by annual income. It is shaped by debt management, savings discipline, investment strategies, and lifestyle choices. Nurses who leverage high‑paying specialties like anesthesia, flexible arrangements like visiting nursing, and structured programs like the Baylor plan can outperform physicians in these areas.

Consider two professionals: a physician earning $250,000 annually but burdened by $200,000 in debt and high living expenses, and a CRNA earning $200,000 with minimal debt and disciplined savings. Over decades, the CRNA may accumulate more net wealth, retire earlier, and enjoy greater financial security.

Conclusion

The assumption that physicians always retire richer than nurses is outdated. While physicians command higher salaries, their delayed earnings, heavy debt, and lifestyle pressures often undermine long‑term wealth. Nurses, particularly CRNAs, visiting nurses, and those who participate in structured pay programs like the Baylor plan, can retire wealthier by combining lower debt, earlier savings, competitive incomes, and disciplined financial planning.

Ultimately, retirement wealth is not about prestige but about strategy. Nurses who recognize this truth and act accordingly may find themselves enjoying more financial freedom than the very physicians they once assisted.

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BAD MONEY MOVES of Physicians!

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Money is a powerful tool. It can provide security, open opportunities, and help build a fulfilling life. Yet, when mismanaged, it can quickly become a source of stress and regret. Understanding the worst ways to use money is essential for anyone who wants to avoid financial pitfalls and build lasting stability.

1. Impulse Spending

One of the most damaging habits is spending without thought. Buying items on impulse—whether it’s clothes, gadgets, or luxury goods—often leads to regret and wasted resources. These purchases rarely align with long‑term goals and can drain savings meant for emergencies or investments.

2. High‑Interest Debt

Credit cards and payday loans can trap people in cycles of debt. Paying 20% or more in interest means that even small purchases balloon into massive financial burdens. Using debt irresponsibly is one of the fastest ways to erode wealth.

3. Ignoring Savings and Investments

Failing to save for the future is another critical mistake. Without an emergency fund, unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs can derail financial stability. Similarly, neglecting investments means missing out on compound growth that builds wealth over time.

4. Chasing Get‑Rich‑Quick Schemes

From pyramid schemes to speculative “hot tips,” chasing unrealistic returns is a recipe for disaster. These schemes prey on greed and impatience, often leaving participants with nothing but losses. Sustainable wealth comes from patience and discipline, not shortcuts.

5. Overspending on Status

Many people waste money trying to impress others—buying luxury cars, designer clothes, or extravagant experiences they cannot afford. This pursuit of status often leads to debt and financial insecurity, while providing only fleeting satisfaction.

6. Neglecting Insurance

Skipping health, auto, or home insurance to save money may seem smart in the short term, but it can be catastrophic when disaster strikes. Without protection, one accident or emergency can wipe out years of savings.

7. Failing to Budget

Living without a plan is like sailing without a map. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend, miss bills, or fail to allocate money toward goals. Budgeting is not restrictive—it’s empowering, because it ensures money is used intentionally.

8. Ignoring Education and Skills

Spending money without investing in personal growth is another hidden mistake. Education, training, and skill development often yield lifelong returns. Neglecting these opportunities can limit earning potential and financial independence.

Conclusion

The worst things to do with money often stem from short‑term thinking, lack of discipline, or the desire for instant gratification. Impulse spending, high‑interest debt, chasing schemes, and neglecting savings all undermine financial health. By avoiding these traps and focusing on budgeting, investing wisely, and protecting against risks, money can serve as a foundation for security and freedom rather than a source of stress.

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DI-WORSIFICATION: Stock Portfolio Pitfalls

Posted on November 8, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Diworsification is a term coined by Peter Lynch to describe when investors over‑diversify their portfolios, adding too many holdings and ultimately reducing returns instead of improving them.

Diversification has long been heralded as one of the cornerstones of sound investing. By spreading capital across different asset classes, industries, and geographies, investors can reduce risk and protect themselves against the volatility of individual securities. Yet, as with many strategies, there exists a point where the benefits diminish and the practice becomes counterproductive. This phenomenon, known as diworsification, was popularized by legendary investor Peter Lynch to describe the tendency of investors and corporations to dilute their strengths by expanding too broadly.

At its core, diworsification occurs when the pursuit of safety leads to excessive complexity. For individual investors, this often manifests in portfolios bloated with dozens or even hundreds of stocks, mutual funds, or exchange‑traded funds. While the intention is to minimize risk, the result is frequently a portfolio that mirrors the market index but with higher costs and less focus. Instead of achieving superior returns, the investor ends up with average performance weighed down by management fees, trading expenses, and the difficulty of monitoring so many positions. In essence, the investor has sacrificed the potential for meaningful gains in exchange for a false sense of security.

Corporations are not immune to this trap. In the corporate world, diworsification describes the tendency of firms to expand into unrelated businesses, diluting their competitive advantage. A company that excels in consumer electronics, for example, may attempt to branch into unrelated industries such as food services or real estate. Without the expertise, synergies, or strategic fit, these ventures often fail to deliver value, distracting management and eroding shareholder wealth. History is replete with examples of conglomerates that grew too large, too fast, only to later divest their non‑core businesses in recognition of the inefficiencies created.

The dangers of diworsification are not merely theoretical. They highlight the importance of discipline in both investing and corporate strategy. For investors, the lesson is clear: diversification should be purposeful, not indiscriminate. A well‑constructed portfolio might include a mix of equities, bonds, and alternative assets, but each holding should serve a specific role—whether it is growth, income, or risk mitigation. Beyond a certain point, adding more securities does not reduce risk meaningfully; instead, it complicates decision‑making and reduces the chance of outperforming the market.

Similarly, for corporations, strategic focus is paramount. Expansion should be guided by core competencies and long‑term vision rather than the allure of short‑term growth. Firms that resist the temptation to chase every opportunity are better positioned to strengthen their brand, innovate within their domain, and deliver sustainable value to shareholders.

In conclusion, diworsification serves as a cautionary tale against the excesses of diversification. While spreading risk is essential, overdoing it can undermine performance and clarity. Both investors and corporations must strike a balance between breadth and focus, ensuring that every addition to a portfolio or business strategy enhances rather than dilutes overall strength. In other words, “diversification means you will always have to say you’re sorry.”

True wisdom lies not in owning everything, but in owning the right things.

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RULE 3-5-7: Investor Trading Strategy

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The 3-5-7 Rule is a trading strategy that helps investors manage risk and maximize gains by setting clear limits on losses and targets for profits. It’s a simple yet powerful framework for disciplined decision-making.

In the volatile world of trading, success often hinges not just on identifying opportunities but on managing risk with precision. The 3-5-7 Rule is a widely respected risk management strategy designed to help traders protect their capital while pursuing consistent returns. This rule provides a structured approach to trading by setting specific thresholds for risk exposure and profit expectations.

At its core, the 3-5-7 Rule breaks down into three key components:

3% Risk Per Trade: Traders should never risk more than 3% of their total account value on a single trade. This limit ensures that even if a trade goes against them, the loss is manageable and doesn’t jeopardize their overall portfolio.
5% Total Exposure Across All Positions: The rule advises that total exposure across all open positions should not exceed 5% of the account value. This prevents over-leveraging and reduces the impact of correlated losses during market downturns.
7% Profit Target: For every trade, the goal is to achieve a profit that is at least 7% greater than the potential loss. This risk-to-reward ratio helps ensure that even with a lower win rate, traders can remain profitable over time.

The beauty of the 3-5-7 Rule lies in its simplicity and adaptability. It can be applied across various asset classes—stocks, forex, crypto—and suits both beginners and seasoned traders. By enforcing discipline, it helps traders avoid emotional decisions, such as chasing losses or holding onto losing positions too long. Moreover, this rule encourages thoughtful position sizing. Traders must calculate their entry and exit points carefully, factoring in stop-loss levels and account size. This analytical approach fosters better trade planning and reduces impulsive behavior.

Another advantage is its scalability. As a trader’s account grows, the percentages remain constant, but the dollar amounts adjust accordingly. This keeps the strategy relevant and effective regardless of portfolio size. In practice, the 3-5-7 Rule acts as a safety net. It doesn’t guarantee profits, but it significantly reduces the likelihood of catastrophic losses. It also promotes consistency, which is crucial for long-term success in trading.

In conclusion, the 3-5-7 Rule is more than just a guideline—it’s a mindset. It teaches traders to respect risk, plan strategically, and aim for favorable outcomes.

By adhering to this rule, traders can navigate the unpredictable markets with greater confidence and control.

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THEORY: Short Interest Investing

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Short Interest Theory suggests that high levels of short interest in a stock may actually signal a potential price increase, contrary to traditional bearish interpretations.

Short Interest Theory is a contrarian investment concept that challenges conventional wisdom in financial markets. Traditionally, a high short interest—meaning a large percentage of a company’s shares are being sold short—is seen as a bearish signal, indicating that many investors expect the stock’s price to decline. However, Short Interest Theory flips this assumption, proposing that a high short interest can actually be a bullish indicator, suggesting a potential upward price movement due to a phenomenon known as a “short squeeze.”

To understand this theory, it’s important to grasp the mechanics of short selling. When investors short a stock, they borrow shares and sell them on the open market, hoping to repurchase them later at a lower price and pocket the difference. However, if the stock price rises instead of falling, short sellers face mounting losses. To limit these losses, they may be forced to buy back the stock at higher prices, which increases demand and drives the price up even further. This chain reaction is what’s known as a short squeeze.

Short Interest Theory posits that when short interest reaches unusually high levels, the stock becomes a prime candidate for a short squeeze. Investors who follow this theory look for stocks with high short interest ratios—often measured as the number of shares sold short divided by the stock’s average daily trading volume. A high ratio suggests that it would take many days for all short sellers to cover their positions, increasing the likelihood of a rapid price surge if positive news or buying pressure emerges.

This theory gained widespread attention during the GameStop (GME) saga in early 2021. Retail investors noticed that GME had an extremely high short interest—more than 100% of its float—and began buying shares en masse. This triggered a historic short squeeze, sending the stock price soaring and forcing institutional short sellers to cover their positions at massive losses. The event served as a real-world validation of Short Interest Theory and highlighted the power of collective investor behavior in modern markets.

Despite its appeal, Short Interest Theory is not without risks. Betting on a short squeeze can be speculative and volatile. Not all heavily shorted stocks experience upward momentum; some may continue to decline if the negative sentiment is justified by poor fundamentals or weak earnings. Moreover, timing a short squeeze is notoriously difficult, and investors can suffer significant losses if the anticipated rebound fails to materialize.

In conclusion, Short Interest Theory offers a compelling contrarian perspective on market sentiment. By interpreting high short interest as a potential bullish signal, it encourages investors to look beyond surface-level indicators and consider the dynamics of market psychology and trading behavior. While it can lead to lucrative opportunities, especially in the context of short squeezes, it also demands careful analysis and risk management. As with any investment strategy, understanding the underlying fundamentals and market context is essential for making informed decisions.

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LIFE CYCLE HYPOTHESIS: A Framework for Financial Behavior

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The Life Cycle Hypothesis (LCH) is a foundational theory in economics and personal finance that explains how individuals plan their consumption and savings behavior over the course of their lives. Developed in the 1950s by economists Franco Modigliani and Richard Brumberg, the LCH posits that people aim to smooth their consumption throughout their lifetime, regardless of fluctuations in income. This theory has had a profound impact on how economists, financial planners, and policymakers understand saving patterns, retirement planning, and fiscal policy.

At its core, the LCH assumes that individuals are forward-looking and rational. They anticipate changes in income—such as those caused by retirement, unemployment, or career progression—and adjust their saving and spending accordingly. During high-income periods, typically in mid-career, individuals save more to prepare for low-income phases, such as retirement. Conversely, in early adulthood and old age, when income is lower, individuals are expected to dissave, or spend from their accumulated savings.

One of the key insights of the LCH is that consumption is not directly tied to current income but rather to expected lifetime income. This means that temporary changes in income should not significantly affect consumption patterns, as individuals base their spending decisions on long-term expectations. For example, a young professional may take out a loan to buy a car, anticipating higher future earnings that will allow them to repay the debt without drastically altering their lifestyle.

The LCH also provides a framework for understanding the role of pensions, social security, and other retirement savings mechanisms. By recognizing that individuals need to save during their working years to maintain consumption levels in retirement, the theory supports the development of policies that encourage long-term savings and financial literacy. It also helps explain why some people may under-save or over-consume if they misjudge their future income or lack access to financial planning resources.

Despite its elegance, the Life Cycle Hypothesis has faced criticism and refinement. Behavioral economists argue that individuals are not always rational and may struggle with self-control, procrastination, or lack of financial knowledge. These limitations have led to the development of the Behavioral Life Cycle Hypothesis, which incorporates psychological factors such as mental accounting and framing effects. Moreover, empirical studies have shown that many people do not smooth consumption as predicted, often due to liquidity constraints, uncertainty, or cultural influences.

Nevertheless, the LCH remains a powerful tool for analyzing financial behavior across different stages of life. It has influenced retirement planning strategies, tax policy, and the design of financial products. By emphasizing the importance of long-term planning and the intertemporal nature of financial decisions, the Life Cycle Hypothesis continues to shape how individuals and institutions approach economic well-being.

In conclusion, the Life Cycle Hypothesis offers a compelling lens through which to view personal finance. While it may not capture every nuance of human behavior, its emphasis on lifetime income and consumption smoothing provides a valuable foundation for understanding and improving financial decision-making.

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", economics, Ethics, finance, Marcinko Associates | Tagged: budgeting, david marcinko, economic behavior, economists, finance, financial behavior, financial planners, Franco Modigliani, Investing, Life CYcle Hypothesis, money, personal-finance, Richard Brumberg | Leave a comment »

NEPO BABIES: Broke Too Often!

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Nepo babies often go broke due to a mix of financial mismanagement, lack of resilience, and the illusion of inherited success. Their privileged upbringing can mask the need for discipline, adaptability, and long-term planning—traits essential for sustaining wealth.

The term nepo baby—short for nepotism baby—refers to children of celebrities or influential figures who benefit from family connections to launch careers, especially in entertainment, fashion, or media. While these individuals often start with significant advantages, including wealth, fame, and access, many struggle to maintain financial stability over time. The reasons are complex and rooted in both personal and systemic factors.

First, many nepo babies lack financial literacy. Growing up in environments where money flows freely, they may never learn budgeting, investing, or the value of money. Without these skills, they’re prone to overspending, poor investments, and unsustainable lifestyles. Lavish purchases—designer clothes, luxury cars, expensive homes—can quickly drain even sizable inheritances if not managed wisely.

Second, the illusion of guaranteed success can be dangerous. Nepo babies often enter industries where their family name opens doors, but that doesn’t guarantee longevity. Fame is fickle, and public interest can fade. If they don’t develop their own talents or work ethic, they may find themselves unemployable once the novelty wears off. This overreliance on family reputation can lead to complacency, making it harder to adapt when challenges arise.

Third, many nepo babies face identity crises and public scrutiny. Constant comparisons to their successful parents can erode confidence and create pressure to live up to unrealistic expectations. Some rebel by distancing themselves from their family’s legacy, while others try to prove themselves in unrelated fields. Either way, this struggle can lead to erratic career choices and unstable income streams.

Fourth, fame without privacy can fuel destructive habits. The entertainment world is rife with stories of young stars—many of them nepo babies—falling into substance abuse, reckless behavior, or toxic relationships. These issues not only affect mental health but also lead to legal troubles and financial loss. Without strong support systems or accountability, it’s easy to spiral.

Finally, inherited wealth can disappear quickly without proper estate planning. Trust funds and inheritances may be mismanaged or depleted by taxes, lawsuits, or poor financial advisors. Some nepo babies assume the money will last forever and fail to plan for long-term sustainability. Others are exploited by opportunistic friends or partners who take advantage of their naivety.

In contrast, those who succeed often do so by acknowledging their privilege, developing their own skills, and surrounding themselves with trustworthy mentors. They treat their inherited platform as a launchpad—not a safety net—and work to build something lasting.

In short, nepo babies go broke not because they lack opportunity, but because opportunity without discipline is a recipe for downfall. Wealth and fame are fleeting without the grit to sustain them. The lesson here isn’t just about celebrity—it’s a universal truth: success inherited must still be earned.

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How a Broke 50-Year-Old Doctor Can Still Retire at 65?

Posted on October 29, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Turning 50 with little to no savings can be daunting, especially for a doctor who has spent decades in a demanding profession. Yet, all is not lost. With strategic planning, discipline, and a willingness to adapt, a broke 50-year-old physician can still build a solid retirement foundation by age 65.

First, it’s essential to confront the financial reality. This means calculating current income, expenses, debts, and any assets, however small. A clear picture allows for realistic goal-setting. The target should be to save aggressively—ideally 30–50% of income—over the next 15 years. While this may seem steep, doctors often have above-average earning potential, even in their later years, which can be leveraged.

Next, lifestyle adjustments are crucial. Downsizing housing, eliminating unnecessary expenses, and avoiding new debt can free up significant cash flow. If possible, relocating to a lower-cost area or refinancing existing loans can also help. Every dollar saved should be redirected into retirement accounts such as a 401(k), IRA, or a solo 401(k) if self-employed. Catch-up contributions for those over 50 allow for higher annual deposits, which can accelerate growth.

Investing wisely is non-negotiable. A diversified portfolio with a mix of stocks, bonds, and alternative assets can provide both growth and stability. Working with a fiduciary financial advisor ensures that investments align with retirement goals and risk tolerance. Time is limited, so the focus should be on maximizing returns without taking reckless risks.

DYING BROKE: Frugality OR Freedom

Increasing income is another powerful lever. Many doctors can boost earnings through side gigs like telemedicine, consulting, teaching, or locum tenens work. These flexible options can add tens of thousands annually without requiring a full career shift. Additionally, monetizing expertise—writing, speaking, or creating online courses—can generate passive income streams.

Debt reduction must be prioritized. High-interest loans, especially credit card debt, can erode savings potential. Paying off these balances aggressively while avoiding new liabilities is key. For student loans, exploring forgiveness programs or refinancing options may offer relief.

Finally, mindset matters. Retirement at 65 doesn’t have to mean complete cessation of work. It can mean transitioning to part-time roles, passion projects, or advisory positions that provide income and fulfillment. The goal is financial independence, not necessarily total inactivity.

In conclusion, while starting late is challenging, a broke 50-year-old doctor can still retire comfortably at 65. It requires a blend of financial discipline, income optimization, smart investing, and lifestyle changes. With focus and determination, the next 15 years can be transformative—turning a precarious situation into a secure and dignified retirement.

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MEDICAL SCHOOLS: What They Do Not Teach About Money!

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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WARNING! WARNING! All DOCTORS

What Medical School Didn’t Teach Doctors About Money

Medical school is designed to mold students into competent, compassionate physicians. It teaches anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and clinical skills with precision and rigor. Yet, despite the depth of medical knowledge imparted, one critical area is often overlooked: financial literacy. For many doctors, the transition from student to professional comes with a steep learning curve—not in medicine, but in money. From managing debt to understanding taxes, investing, and retirement planning, medical school leaves a financial education gap that can have long-term consequences.

The Debt Dilemma

One of the most glaring omissions in medical education is how to manage student loan debt. The average medical student graduates with over $200,000 in debt, yet few are taught how to navigate repayment options, interest accrual, or loan forgiveness programs. Many doctors enter residency with little understanding of income-driven repayment plans or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), missing opportunities to reduce their financial burden. Without guidance, some make costly mistakes—such as refinancing federal loans prematurely or choosing repayment plans that don’t align with their career trajectory.

Income ≠ Wealth

Medical students often assume that a high salary will automatically lead to financial security. While physicians do earn more than most professionals, income alone doesn’t guarantee wealth. Medical school rarely addresses the importance of budgeting, saving, and investing. As a result, many doctors fall into the “HENRY” trap—High Earner, Not Rich Yet. They spend lavishly, assuming their income will always cover expenses, only to find themselves living paycheck to paycheck. Without a solid financial foundation, even high earners can struggle to build net worth.

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Taxes and Business Skills

Doctors are also unprepared for the complexities of taxes. Whether employed by a hospital or running a private practice, physicians face unique tax challenges. Medical school doesn’t teach how to track deductible expenses, optimize retirement contributions, or navigate self-employment taxes. For those who open their own clinics, the lack of business education is even more pronounced. Understanding profit margins, payroll, insurance billing, and compliance regulations is essential—but rarely covered in medical training.

Investing and Retirement Planning

Another blind spot is investing. Medical students are rarely taught the basics of compound interest, asset allocation, or retirement accounts. Many don’t know the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional 401(k), or how to evaluate mutual funds and index funds. This lack of knowledge delays retirement planning and can lead to missed opportunities for long-term growth. Some doctors rely on financial advisors without understanding the fees or conflicts of interest involved, putting their wealth at risk.

Insurance and Risk Management

Medical school also fails to educate students on insurance—life, disability, malpractice, and health. Doctors need robust coverage to protect their income and assets, but many don’t know how to evaluate policies or understand terms like “own occupation” or “elimination period.” Inadequate coverage can leave physicians vulnerable to financial disaster in the event of illness, injury, or litigation.

Emotional and Behavioral Finance

Beyond technical knowledge, medical school overlooks the emotional side of money. Physicians often face pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle, especially after years of sacrifice. The desire to “catch up” can lead to impulsive spending, luxury purchases, and financial stress. Without tools to manage money mindset and behavioral habits, doctors may struggle with guilt, anxiety, or burnout related to finances.

The Case for Financial Education

Fortunately, awareness of this gap is growing. Organizations like Medics’ Money and podcasts such as “Docs Outside the Box” are working to fill the void by offering financial education tailored to physicians.

These resources cover everything from budgeting and debt management to investing and entrepreneurship. Some medical schools are beginning to incorporate financial literacy into their curricula, but progress is slow and inconsistent.

Conclusion

Medical school equips doctors to save lives, but it doesn’t prepare them to secure their own financial future. The lack of financial education leaves many physicians vulnerable to debt, poor investment decisions, and lifestyle inflation. To thrive both professionally and personally, doctors must seek out financial knowledge beyond the classroom. Whether through self-study, mentorship, or professional guidance, understanding money is as essential as understanding medicine. After all, financial health is a cornerstone of overall well-being—and every doctor deserves to master both.

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RE-IMAGINING RETIREMENT: A Path Forward for a Broke 65-Year-Old Doctor

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Turning 65 is often seen as the gateway to retirement—a time to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the fruits of decades of labor. But for some, including doctors who may have faced financial setbacks, poor planning, or unexpected life events, reaching this milestone without financial security can be deeply unsettling. The image of a broke 65-year-old doctor may seem paradoxical, given the profession’s reputation for high earnings. Yet, reality paints a more nuanced picture. Fortunately, even in the face of financial hardship, retirement is not a closed door—it’s a challenge that can be met with creativity, resilience, and strategic planning.

Understanding the Situation

Before exploring solutions, it’s important to understand how a physician might arrive at retirement age without adequate savings. Medical school debt, late career starts, divorce, health issues, poor investment decisions, or supporting family members can all contribute. Some doctors work in lower-paying specialties or underserved areas, sacrificing income for impact. Others may have lived beyond their means, assuming their high salary would always be enough. Regardless of the cause, the key is to shift focus from regret to action.

DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/09/09/doctors-early-investing-needed-for-retirement/

Redefining Retirement

Traditional retirement—ceasing work entirely—is not the only option. For a broke 65-year-old doctor, retirement may mean transitioning to a less demanding role, reducing hours, or shifting to a new field. The goal is to create a sustainable lifestyle that balances income, purpose, and well-being.

Leveraging Medical Expertise

Even if full-time clinical practice is no longer viable, a physician’s knowledge remains valuable. Here are several ways to continue earning while easing into retirement:

Telemedicine: Remote consultations are in high demand, especially in primary care, psychiatry, and chronic disease management. Telemedicine offers flexibility, reduced overhead, and the ability to work from home.
Locum Tenens: Temporary assignments can fill staffing gaps in hospitals and clinics. These roles often pay well and allow for travel or seasonal work.
Medical Writing and Reviewing: Physicians can write for journals, websites, or pharmaceutical companies. Peer reviewing, editing, and content creation are viable options.
Teaching and Mentoring: Medical schools, nursing programs, and residency programs need experienced educators. Adjunct teaching or mentoring can be fulfilling and financially helpful.
Consulting: Doctors can advise healthcare startups, legal teams, or insurance companies. Their insights are valuable in product development, litigation, and policy.

Exploring Non-Clinical Opportunities

Some physicians may wish to pivot entirely. Transferable skills—critical thinking, communication, leadership—open doors in other industries:

Health Coaching or Life Coaching: With certification, doctors can guide clients in wellness, stress management, or career transitions.
Entrepreneurship: Starting a small business, such as a tutoring service, online course, or specialty clinic, can generate income and autonomy.
Real Estate or Investing: With careful planning, investing in rental properties or learning about the stock market can create passive income.

Maximizing Government and Community Resources

At 65, individuals become eligible for Medicare, which can significantly reduce healthcare costs. Additionally, Social Security benefits may be available, depending on work history. While delaying benefits until age 70 increases monthly payments, some may need to claim earlier to meet immediate needs.

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Other resources include:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): For those with limited income and assets.
SNAP (food assistance) and LIHEAP (energy assistance): These programs help cover basic living expenses.
Community Organizations: Nonprofits and religious groups often provide support with housing, transportation, and social engagement.

Downsizing and Budgeting

Reducing expenses is a powerful way to stretch limited resources. Consider:

Relocating: Moving to a lower-cost area or state with favorable tax policies can reduce housing and living expenses.
Selling Assets: A large home, unused vehicle, or collectibles may be converted into cash.
Shared Housing: Living with family, roommates, or in co-housing communities can cut costs and reduce isolation.
Minimalist Living: Prioritizing needs over wants and embracing simplicity can lead to financial and emotional freedom.

Creating a realistic budget is essential. Track income and expenses, eliminate unnecessary costs, and prioritize essentials. Free budgeting tools and financial counseling services can help.

INVESTING: Rules of Thumb

Emotional and Mental Well-Being

Financial stress can take a toll on mental health. It’s important to cultivate resilience and maintain a sense of purpose. Strategies include:

Staying Active: Physical activity improves mood and health. Walking, yoga, or swimming are low-cost options.
Volunteering: Giving back can provide structure, community, and fulfillment.
Learning New Skills: Online courses, hobbies, or certifications can reignite passion and open new doors.
Building a Support Network: Friends, family, and peer groups offer emotional support and practical advice.

Planning for the Future

Even at 65, it’s not too late to plan. Consider:

Debt Management: Negotiate payment plans, consolidate loans, or seek professional help.
Estate Planning: Create a will, designate healthcare proxies, and organize important documents.
Insurance Review: Ensure adequate coverage for health, life, and long-term care.
Financial Advising: A fee-only advisor can help create a sustainable plan without selling products.

Embracing a New Chapter

Retirement is not a destination—it’s a transition. For a broke 65-year-old doctor, it may not look like the glossy brochures, but it can still be rich in meaning. By leveraging experience, reducing expenses, accessing resources, and nurturing well-being, retirement becomes a journey of reinvention.In many ways, doctors are uniquely equipped for this challenge. They’ve faced long hours, high stakes, and complex problems. That same grit and adaptability can guide them through financial hardship and into a fulfilling retirement.

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INVESTING: Rules of Thumb

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Portfolio Allocation & Risk Management

🏦 100 Minus Age Rule: Subtract your age from 100 to estimate the percentage of your portfolio to invest in stocks. The rest goes to bonds or safer assets.

Rule of 110 or 120: A modern twist—subtract your age from 110 or 120 to allow for more stock exposure in a low-interest environment.
Diversify, Don’t Speculate: Spread investments across asset classes to reduce risk.
Don’t Invest What You Can’t Afford to Lose: Especially for speculative assets like crypto or startups.

📈 Growth & Returns

Rule of 72: Divide 72 by your annual return rate to estimate how many years it takes to double your money.
Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market: Staying invested long-term usually outperforms trying to predict short-term moves.
Start Early, Compound Often: The earlier you invest, the more compound interest works in your favor.

🧾 Budgeting & Saving

50/30/20 Rule: Allocate 50% of income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings/investments.
Emergency Fund Rule: Save 3–6 months of living expenses before investing aggressively.
Pay Yourself First: Automatically invest a portion of your income before spending.

🧠 Behavioral & Strategy Tips

Buy What You Understand: Don’t invest in companies or assets you don’t comprehend.
Avoid Emotional Decisions: Fear and greed are the enemies of smart investing.
Rebalance Annually: Adjust your portfolio to maintain your target asset allocation.
Don’t Chase Past Performance: What worked last year may not work this year.

🏦 Retirement & Withdrawal

The 4% Rule: Withdraw 4% of your retirement savings annually to make it last ~30 years.
Save 15% of Income for Retirement: A common target for long-term financial security.
Max Out Tax-Advantaged Accounts First: Prioritize 401(k), IRA, or Roth IRA before taxable accounts.

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Essential Investing Tips for New Physicians

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

HOW TO COMMENCE THE FINE ART OF MONEY

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By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Investing may seem complicated, but today there are many ways for the newly minted physician [MD, DO, DPM, DMD or DDS] to begin, even with minimal knowledge and only a small amount to invest. Starting as soon as possible will help you get closer to the retirement you deserve.

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Why is investing important?

Investing often feels like a luxury reserved for the already wealthy physician. Many of us find it difficult to think about investing for the future when there are so many things we need that money for right now; medical school loans, auto, home and children; etc. But, at some point, we’re going to want to stop working and enjoy retirement. And simply put, retirement is expensive.

Most calculations advise that you aim for enough savings to give you 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income for 20 years or more. Depending on your goals for retirement, that means you could need between $500,000 and $1 million in savings by the time you retire. That may not sound attainable, but with the power of compounding growth, it’s not as hard to achieve as you think. The key is starting as soon as possible and making smart choices.

INVESTMENT TYPES: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/08/26/

When should you start investing?

The short answer is “now,” no matter what your age. Due to the way the gains in investments can compound, the earlier you start the better. Money invested in your 20s could very easily grow over 20 times before you retire, without you having to do much.That is powerful. Even if you’re in your 50s or older, you can still make significant progress toward meeting your goals in retirement.

How much should you invest per month?

Most financial experts say you should invest 10% to 15% of your annual income for retirement. That’s the goal, but you don’t have to get there immediately. Whatever you can start investing today is going to help you down the road.

So, if 10% to 15% is too much right now, start small and build toward that goal over time. You can actually start investing with $5 if you want. And you should. Some investment products require a minimum investment, but there are plenty that don’t, and a lot of online brokerage accounts can be started for free.

BROKE DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/08/02/doctors-going-broke-and-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/

Good beginner investments.

The best investments for you are going to depend on your age, goals, and strategy. The important thing is to get started. You’ll learn as you go. If you have questions, a dedicated DIYer or investment advisor can help give you the guidance and options you need.

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/06/risk-aversion-and-investment-alternatives/

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What is the S&P 500 Stock Index?

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By A.I. and Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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The S&P 500, short for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, is one of the most widely followed stock market indices in the world. It tracks the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States, offering a broad snapshot of the overall health and direction of the U.S. economy. Created in 1957 by the financial services company Standard & Poor’s, the index has become a benchmark for investors, analysts, and economists alike.

Composition and Criteria The S&P 500 includes companies from a wide range of industries, such as technology, healthcare, finance, energy, and consumer goods. To be included in the index, a company must meet specific criteria: it must be based in the U.S., have a market capitalization of at least $14.5 billion (as of 2025), be highly liquid, and have a public float of at least 50% of its shares. Additionally, the company must have positive earnings in the most recent quarter and over the sum of its most recent four quarters.

Some of the most recognizable names in the S&P 500 include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and ExxonMobil. These companies are selected by a committee that reviews eligibility and ensures the index remains representative of the broader market.

How It Works The S&P 500 is a market-capitalization-weighted index, meaning that companies with larger market values have a greater influence on the index’s performance. For example, a significant movement in Apple’s stock price will affect the index more than a similar movement in a smaller company’s stock. This weighting system helps reflect the real impact of large corporations on the economy.

The index is updated in real time during trading hours and is used by investors to gauge market trends. It also serves as the basis for many investment products, such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which aim to replicate its performance.

VIX: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/10/12/vix-the-stock-market-fear-gauge/

Why It Matters The S&P 500 is considered a leading indicator of U.S. equity markets and the economy as a whole. When the index rises, it often signals investor confidence and economic growth. Conversely, a decline may indicate uncertainty or economic slowdown. Because it includes companies from diverse sectors, the S&P 500 provides a more balanced view than narrower indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which only tracks 30 companies.

Investment and Strategy Many investors use the S&P 500 as a benchmark to measure the performance of their portfolios. Passive investment strategies, such as index funds, aim to match the returns of the S&P 500 rather than beat it. This approach has gained popularity due to its low fees and consistent long-term performance.

In summary, the S&P 500 is more than just a number—it’s a powerful tool that reflects the pulse of the American economy. By tracking the performance of 500 major companies, it offers insights into market trends, investor sentiment, and economic health. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting out, understanding the S&P 500 is essential to navigating the world of finance.

VIX Today: 20.81USD▲ +1.78 (+9.35%) today

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Understanding Behavioral Finance Paradoxes

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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“THE INVESTOR’S CHIEF problem—even his worst enemy—is likely to be himself.” So wrote Benjamin Graham, the father of modern investment analysis.

With these words, written in 1949, Graham acknowledged the reality that investors are human. Though he had written an 800 page book on techniques to analyze stocks and bonds, Graham understood that investing is as much about human psychology as it is about numerical analysis.

In the decades since Graham’s passing, an entire field has emerged at the intersection of psychology and finance. Known as behavioral finance, its pioneers include Daniel Kahneman, Amos Tversky and Richard Thaler. Together, they and their peers have identified countless human foibles that interfere with our ability to make good financial decisions. These include hindsight bias, recency bias and overconfidence, among others. On my bookshelf, I have at least as many volumes on behavioral finance as I do on pure financial analysis, so I certainly put stock in these ideas.

At the same time, I think we’re being too hard on ourselves when we lay all of these biases at our feet. We shouldn’t conclude that we’re deficient because we’re so susceptible to biases. Rather, the problem is that finance isn’t a scientific field like math or physics. At best, it’s like chaos theory. Yes, there is some underlying logic, but it’s usually so hard to observe and understand that it might as well be random. The world of personal finance is bedeviled by paradoxes, so no individual—no matter how rational—can always make optimal decisions.

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 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 last year.
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.

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.

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Understanding Hedge Funds: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

QUESTION: What is a Hedge Fund?

A hedge fund is a limited partnership of private investors whose money is pooled and managed by professional fund managers. These managers use a wide range of strategies, including leverage (borrowed money) and the trading of nontraditional assets, to earn above-average investment returns. A hedge fund investment is often considered a risky, alternative investment choice and usually requires a high minimum investment or net worth. Hedge funds typically target wealthy investors.

MANAGERS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/05/23/hedge-fund-hiring-separate-managers/

The hedge fund manager I am considering also runs an offshore fund under a “master feeder” arrangement.

A PHYSICIAN’S QUESTION: What does this mean? In which fund should I invest?

The master feeder arrangement is a two-tiered investment structure whereby investors invest in the feeder fund. The feeder fund in turn invests in the master fund. The master fund is therefore the one that is actually investing in securities. There may be multiple feeder funds under one master fund. Feeder funds under the same master can differ drastically in terms of fees charged, minimums required, types of investors, and many other features – but the investment style will be the same because only the master actually invests in the market.

A master feeder structure is a very popular arrangement because it allows a portfolio manager to pool both onshore and offshore assets into one investment vehicle (the master fund) that allocates gains and losses in an asset-based, proportional manner back to the onshore and offshore investors. All investors, both offshore and onshore, get the same return. In this manner, the portfolio manager, despite offering more than one fund with different characteristics to different populations, is not faced with the dilemma of which fund to favor with the best investment ideas.

PENSION PLANS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/05/18/medical-practice-pension-plan-hedge-fund-difficulties/

A manager may offer an offshore fund because there is demand for that manager’s skill either abroad, where investors may wish to preserve anonymity, or more commonly where investors simply do not wish to become entangled with the United States tax code. American citizens should generally avoid the offshore fund, since American citizens are taxed on their allocated share of offshore corporation profits whether or not a distribution occurs. Therefore, there is no benefit for most American taxpayers investing in an offshore fund.

Tax-exempt institutions, such as medical foundations, in the United States may have reason to consider an offshore hedge fund, however. Domestic tax-exempt organizations are generally not subject to unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) – the portion of hedge fund income that comes about as a result of the use of leverage – when investing with an offshore corporation. If the same tax-exempt organization were to invest in a domestic fund, and if UBTI was generated, then the organization would have to pay taxes on that UBTI. Most domestic hedge funds generate UBTI.

FEES: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/05/hedge-fund-wrap-fees/

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EDUCATION: Books

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Using Debt Wisely to Build Wealth

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Sometimes debt is a necessary tool in building wealth

Using debt to build wealth might seem counterintuitive. After all, when you calculate your wealth, you look at what you own (assets) and subtract what you owe (debts and liabilities) to determine what your net worth (wealth) is.

It’s easy to oversimplify that debt is bad and is harmful to your wealth. Because some debt is really harmful, like credit cards, automobile, debt gets lumped into the category of “bad.”

But some types of debt can be useful and sometimes necessary to create wealth; home, education, business, etc. For folks that don’t readily have access to large sums of cash or capital, debt may be the tool that allows them to expand.

Borrow Carefully * Invest Wisely!

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Filed under: Accounting, Financial Advisor Listings, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Investing, Marcinko Associates | Tagged: assets, auto, bad debt, budgeting, debt, debts, education, finance, good debt, home, liabilities, Marcinko, net worth, personal-finance, Wealth | Leave a comment »

Financial Planning for Physicians: Achieve Your Goals

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Your medical practice. Your personal goals. Your financial plan. Our experienced confirmation guide.

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When you know exactly where you are today, have a vision of where you want to be tomorrow, and have trusted counsel at your side, you have already achieved so much success. Marcinko Associates works to keep you at that level of confidence every day. We use a comprehensive economic process to uncover what’s most important to you and then develop a financial strategy that gives you the highest probability of achieving your monetary goals.

We assess, plan, and opine for your success

To accurately see where you are today, chart a strategic path to your goals and help you make the most informed decisions to keep you on financial track, our key services for physicians and high net worth medical clients include:

Investment Portfolio Review
Fee, Charge and Cost Review
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Insurance Reviews
Estate Planning
Investment and Asset Management Second Opinions

We take a deep dive into your financial retirement plans

Physicians and dental employers now have options for how to design and deliver retirement benefits and we can help you make the best choice for your healthcare business. Our services for retirement plans include:

Fee, Charges & Fiduciary Review
Portfolio Analysis
Single Employer Retirement Plan Advisory
Retirement Plans Risk Analysis
Capital Funding and Financing
Business Planning and Practice Valuations
Career Development
and more!

We take a broad and balanced look at your financial life life

We coordinate our recommendations with your other advisors, including attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals and others, to ensure each decision is consistent with your goals and overall strategy. For example, through our partnerships we offer physician colleagues deeper expanded advisory services, like:

Estate, Gift, and Trust Planning
Tax Planning and Compliance
Medical or Dental Practice Worth
Business Succession Planning
Practice Exit Planning
Transaction Advisory Services
and more!

EDUCATION: Books

CONTACT US TODAY: Ann Miller RN MHA at: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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Fiduciary Financial Colleagues Advising Medical Colleagues … in Turbulent Times!

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Accounting, Career Development, Estate Planning, Ethics, Experts Invited, Financial Advisor Listings, Financial Planning, iMBA, Inc., Insurance Matters, Investing, Managed Care, Marcinko Associates, Practice Management, Practice Worth | Tagged: capital funding, costs, DDS, DMD, DO, DPM, estate, exit planning, FEES, fiduciary review, finance, Financial Planning, financial plans, financing, gift tax, Investing, Marcinko, MD, personal-finance, portfolio, portfolio analysis, practice valuation, retirement planning, retirement plans, second opinions, succession planning, tax | Leave a comment »

Overcoming Financial Psychological Traps

Posted on September 27, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Psychological Traps

As human beings, our brains are booby-trapped with psychological barriers that stand between making smart financial decisions and making dumb ones. The good news is that once you realize your own mental weaknesses, it’s not impossible to overcome them.

PARADOX: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/01/05/maurice-allais-behavioral-finance-paradox/

In fact, Mandi Woodruff, a financial reporter whose work has appeared in Yahoo! Finance, Daily Finance, The Wall Street Journal, The Fiscal Times and the Financial Times among others; related the following mind-traps in a September 2013 essay for the finance vertical Business Insider; as these impediments are now entering the lay-public zeitgeist:

Anchoring happens when we place too much emphasis on the first piece of information we receive regarding a given subject. For instance, when shopping for a wedding ring a salesman might tell us to spend three months’ salary. After hearing this, we may feel like we are doing something wrong if we stray from this advice, even though the guideline provided may cause us to spend more than we can afford.
Myopia makes it hard for us to imagine what our lives might be like in the future. For example, because we are young, healthy, and in our prime earning years now, it may be hard for us to picture what life will be like when our health depletes and we know longer have the earnings necessary to support our standard of living. This short-sightedness makes it hard to save adequately when we are young, when saving does the most good.
Gambler’s fallacy occurs when we subconsciously believe we can use past events to predict the future. It is common for the hottest sector during one calendar year to attract the most investors the following year. Of course, just because an investment did well last year doesn’t mean it will continue to do well this year. In fact, it is more likely to lag the market.
Avoidance is simply procrastination. Even though you may only have the opportunity to adjust your health care plan through your employer once per year, researching alternative health plans is too much work and too boring for us to get around to it. Consequently, we stick with a plan that may not be best for us.
Loss aversion affected many investors during the stock market crash of 2008. During the crash, many people decided they couldn’t afford to lose more and sold their investments. Of course, this caused the investors to sell at market troughs and miss the quick, dramatic recovery.
Overconfident investing happens when we believe we can out-smart other investors via market timing or through quick, frequent trading. Data convincingly shows that people who trade most often under perform the market by a significant margin over time.
Mental accounting takes place when we assign different values to money depending on where we get it from. For instance, even though we may have an aggressive saving goal for the year, it is likely easier for us to save money that we worked for than money that was given to us as a gift.
Herd mentality makes it very hard for humans to not take action when everyone around us does. For example, we may hear stories of people making significant profits buying, fixing up, and flipping homes and have the desire to get in on the action, even though we have no experience in real estate.

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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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Ethics, Experts Invited, Financial Advisor Listings, Glossary Terms, Investing, mental health | Tagged: Anchoring, aversion, avoidance, behavioral finance, finance, gambler, herd, Investing, Mandi Woodruff, Marcinko, mental health, mind traps, myopia, over confidence, personal-finance, psychiatry, psychology, psychology traps, stock market, WSJ, Yahoo | Leave a comment »

Financial Self-Discovery for Medical Professionals

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP™

PHYSICIAN COACHING: https://marcinkoassociates.com/process-what-we-do/

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SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

A Financial Self Discovery Questionnaire for Medical Professionals

For understanding your relationship with money, it is important to be aware of yourself in the contexts of culture, family, value systems and experience. These questions will help you. This is a process of self-discovery. To fully benefit from this exploration, please address them in writing. You will simply not get the full value from it if you just breeze through and give mental answers. While it is recommended that you first answer these questions by yourself, many people relate that they have enjoyed the experience of sharing them with others who are important to them.

As you answer these questions, be conscious of your feelings, actually describing them in writing as part of your process.

Childhood

What is your first memory of money?
What is your happiest moment with Money? Your most unhappy?
Name the miscellaneous money messages you received as a child.
How were you confronted with the knowledge of differing economic circumstances among people, that there were people “richer” than you and people “poorer” than you?

Cultural heritage

What is your cultural heritage and how has it interfaced with money?
To the best of your knowledge, how has it been impacted by the money forces? Be specific.
To the best of your knowledge, does this circumstance have any motive related to Money?
Speculate about the manners in which your forebears’ money decisions continue to affect you today?

Family

How is/was the subject of money addressed by your church or the religious traditions of your forebears?
What happened to your parents or grandparents during the Depression?
How did your family communicate about money?
How? Be as specific as you can be, but remember that we are more concerned about impacts upon you than historical veracity.
When did your family migrate to America (or its current location)?
What else do you know about your family’s economic circumstances historically?

Your parents

How did your mother and father address money?
How did they differ in their money attitudes?
How did they address money in their relationship?
Did they argue or maintain strict silence?
How do you feel about that today?

Please do your best to answer the same questions regarding your life or business partner(s) and their parents.

Childhood: Revisited

How did you relate to money as a child? Did you feel “poor” or “rich”?
Relatively? Or, absolutely? Why?
Were you anxious about money?
Did you receive an allowance? If so, describe amounts and responsibilities.
Did you have household responsibilities?
Did you get paid regardless of performance?
Did you work for money?

If not, please describe your thoughts and feelings about that.

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Same questions, as a teenager, young adult, older adult.

Credit

When did you first acquire something on credit?
When did you first acquire a credit card?
What did it represent to you when you first held it in your hands?
Describe your feelings about credit.
Do you have trouble living within your means?
Do you have debt?

Adulthood

Have your attitudes shifted during your adult life? Describe.

Why did you choose your personal path?
a) Would you do it again?
b) Describe your feelings about credit.

Adult attitudes

Are you money motivated?
If so, please explain why? If not, why not?
How do you feel about your present financial situation?
Are you financially fearful or resentful? How do you feel about that?
Will you inherit money? How does that make you feel?
If you are well off today, how do you feel about the money situations of others?
If you feel poor, same question.
How do you feel about begging? Welfare?
If you are well off today, why are you working?
Do you worry about your financial future?
Are you generous or stingy? Do you treat? Do you tip?
Do you give more than you receive or the reverse? Would others agree?
Could you ask a close relative for a business loan? For rent/grocery money?
Could you subsidize a non-related friend? How would you feel if that friend bought something you deemed frivolous?
Do you judge others by how you perceive they deal with their Money?
Do you feel guilty about your prosperity?
Are your siblings prosperous?
What part does money play in your spiritual life?
Do you “live” your Money values?

Conclusion

There may be other questions that would be useful to you. Others may occur to you as you progress in your life’s journey. The point is to know your personal money issues and their ramifications for your life, work, and personal mission.

This will be a “work-in-process” with answers both complex and incomplete. Don’t worry.

Just incorporate fine-tuning into your life’s process.

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, CMP Program, Ethics, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Investing, mental health, Portfolio Management, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: behavioral finance, budgeting, business, certified medical planner, CMP, credit, credit cards, DDS, debit, DO, doctors, DPM, economics, employment, finance, great depression, grocery money, Marcinko, MD, mental health, money, money scripts, money values, nurses, personal-finance, physician coaching, physicians, poor, psychology of money, rent, richer, self discovery, work | Leave a comment »

3 Behavioral Biases Hurting Your Finances

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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The study of behavioral economics has revealed much about how different biases can affect our finances—often for the worse.

Take loss aversion: Because we feel a financial setback more acutely than a commensurate gain, we often cling to failed investments to avoid realizing the loss. Another potential hazard is present bias, or the tendency to prefer instant gratification over long-term reward, even if the latter gain is greater.

When it comes to money, sometimes it’s difficult to make rational decisions. Here, are three behavioral financial biases that could be impeding financial goals.

ANCHORING BIAS

Anchoring Bias happens when we place too much emphasis on the first piece of information we receive regarding a given subject. Anchoring is the mental trick your brain plays when it latches onto the first piece of information it gets, no matter how irrelevant. You might know this as a ‘first impression’ when someone relies on their own first idea of a person or situation.

Example: When shopping for a wedding ring a salesman might tell us to spend three months’ salary. After hearing this, we may feel like we are doing something wrong if we stray from this financial advice, even though the guideline provided may cause us to spend more than we can afford.

Example: Imagine you’re buying a car, and the salesperson starts with a high price. That number sticks in your mind and influences all your subsequent negotiations. Anchoring can skew our decisions and perceptions, making us think the first offer is more important than it is. Or, subsequent offers lower than they really are.

Example: Imagine an investor named Jane who purchased 100 shares of XYZ Corporation at $100 per share several years ago. Over time, the stock price declined to $60 per share. Jane is anchored to her initial price of $100 and is reluctant to sell at a loss because she keeps hoping the stock will return to her original purchase price. She continues to hold onto the stock, even as it declines, due to her anchoring bias. Eventually, the stock price drops to $40 per share, resulting in significant losses for Jane.

In this example, Jane’s nchoring bias to the original purchase price of $100 prevents her from rationalizing to sell the stock and cut her losses, even though market conditions have changed. So, the next time you’re haggling for your self, a potential customer or client, or making another big financial decision, be aware of that initial anchor dragging you down.

HERD MENTALITY BIAS

Herd Mentality Bias makes it very hard for humans to not take action when everyone around us does.

Example: We may hear stories of people making significant monetary profits buying, fixing up, and flipping homes and have the desire to get in on the action, even though we have no experience in real estate.

Example: During the dotcom bubble of the late 1990’s many investors exhibited a herd mentality. As technology stocks soared to astronomical valuations, investors rushed to buy these stocks driven by the fear of missing out on the gains others were enjoying. Even though some of these stocks had questionable fundamentals, the herd mentality led investors to follow the crowd.

In this example, the herd mentality contributed to the overvaluation of technology stocks. Eventually, it led to the dot-com bubble’s burst, causing significant losses for those who had unthinkingly followed the crowd without conducting proper research or analysis.

OVERCONFIDENT INVESTING BIAS

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).

ASSESSMENT

Finally, questions remain after consuming this cognitive bias review.

Question: Can behavioral cognitive biases be eliminated by financial advisors in prospecting and client sales endeavors?

A: Indeed they can significantly reduce their impact by appreciating and understanding the above and following a disciplined and rational decision-making sales process.

Question: What is the role of financial advisors in helping clients and prospects address behavioral biases?

A: Financial advisors can provide an objective perspective and help investors recognize and address their biases. They can assist in creating well-structured investment and financial plans, setting realistic goals, and offering guidance to ensure investment decisions align with long-term objectives.

Question: How important is self-discipline in overcoming behavioral biases?

A; Self-discipline is crucial in overcoming behavioral biases. It helps investors and advisors adhere to their investment plans, avoid impulsive decisions, and stay focused on long-term goals reducing the influence of emotional and cognitive biases.

CONCLUSION

Remember, it is far more useful to listen to client beliefs, fears and goals, and to suggest options and offer encouragement to help them discover their own path toward financial well-being. Then, incentivize them with knowledge of the above psychological biases to your mutual success!

EDUCATION: Books

REFERENCES:

Marcinko, DE; Dictionary of Health Insurance and Managed Care. Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2007.
Marcinko, DE: Comprehensive Financial Planning Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™. Productivity Press, NY, 2016.
Marcinko, DE: Risk Management, Liability and Insurance Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners™. Productivity Press, NY, 2017.
Nofsinger, JR: The Psychology of Investing. Rutledge Publishing, 2022
Winters, Scott: The 10X Financial Advisor: Your Blueprint for Massive and Sustainable Growth. Absolute Author Publishing House, 2020.
Woodruff, Mandy: https://www.mandimoney.com

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Filed under: Ask a Doctor, Career Development, CMP Program, economics, Experts Invited, finance, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, mental health, Portfolio Management | Tagged: anchoring bias, behavioral economics, bias, CMP, economics, finance, financial advisors, herd bias, Investing, loss aversion, Marcinko, mental health, overconfidency, overconfident bias, personal-finance, present bias, psychology | Leave a comment »

INVESTING PARADOX: Flexibile and Dogmatic

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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A paradox is a statement or situation that seems contradictory but actually makes sense when you think about it more deeply. It challenges logic and often reveals a hidden truth.

FLEXIBLY DOGMATIC PARADOX

The Flexibly Dogmatic Paradox suggests that no matter how sensible your financial planning, investing or wealth management process is there will be uncomfortably long periods when it looks broken. And process is the best way of ensuring you keep standing for something because if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. This is why, when assessing an investment fund, focus 50% on the manager’s character and 50% on their process. Everything else is detail. There are few guarantees in investing, but the fact that markets will batter you emotionally is one of them.

FINANCIAL PARADOX: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/07/27/paradox-of-financial-health/

Example: During volatile times, the temptation to abandon the process is strong. But that’s why it’s there. Process is what forces one fund manager to keep buying unbroken companies when everyone else thinks they’re bust, and another to keep faith with a top-quality company when the mob says it’s too expensive The best fund managers dogmatically stick to their process when it’s out of favor. Then, when it returns to favor, the elastic pings back: they recapture lost ground surprisingly fast. However, every rule has an exception. And spotting the exceptions to their process is something the true greats have a knack for buying and selling.

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Example: In 2007, US value manager Bill Miller had the makings of an investment legend, but the financial crisis wrecked all that. His process told him to double down into falling share prices, which had worked well for years. But it doesn’t work if the companies go bust, which many of his financial stocks did in 2008.

ADVISORS PARADOX: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/06/20/paradoxical-contradictions-all-financial-advisors-must-know-to-win-clients/

Conclusion

The fact is that no matter how good it is, a process operated without human judgment is just an algorithm. The best fund managers and financial prospectors and sales men/women know this.

They stick dogmatically to their process but somehow remain flexible enough to spot the occasions when it’s about to drive them into a brick wall.

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Filed under: CMP Program, Ethics, Experts Invited, finance, Financial Planning, Glossary Terms, Marcinko Associates, mental health, Portfolio Management | Tagged: bill miller, brain, budgeting, CMP, dogmatic, dogmatic paradox, finance, financial planniing, flexibility paradox, flexible, Investing, investing paradox, marcinko david, mental health, money, paradox, personal-finance, US value, wealth management | Leave a comment »

FIXED INCOME SECURITY RISKS: All Physician Investors Should Know

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Here are some of the most common risks associated with fixed income securities.

Interest Rate Risk

The market value of the securities will be inversely affected by movements in interest rates. When rates rise, market prices of existing debt securities fall as these securities become less attractive to investors when compared to higher coupon new issues. As prices decline, bonds become cheaper so the overall return, when taking into account the discount, can compete with newly issued bonds at higher yields. When interest rates fall, market prices on existing fixed income securities tend to rise because these bonds become more attractive when compared to the newly issued bonds priced at lower rates.

Price Risk

Investors who need access to their principal prior to maturity have to rely on the secondary market to sell their securities. The price received may be more or less than the original purchase price and may depend, in general, on the level of interest rates, time to term, credit quality of the issuer and liquidity.

Among other reasons, prices may also be affected by current market conditions, or by the size of the trade (prices may be different for 10 bonds versus 1,000 bonds), etc. It is important to note that selling a security prior to maturity may affect actual yield received, which may be different than the yield at which the bond was originally purchased. This is because the initially quoted yield assumed holding the bond to term. As mentioned above, there is an inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices. Therefore, when interest rates decline, bond prices increase, and when interest rates increase, bond prices decline.

Generally, longer maturity bonds will be more sensitive to interest rate changes. Dollar for dollar, a long-term bond should go up or down in value more than a short-term bond for the same change in yield. Price risk can be determined through a statistic called duration, which is featured at the end of the fixed income section.

REVENUE BONDS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/12/20/bonds-revenue/

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Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that an investor will be unable to sell securities due to a lack of demand from potential buyers, sell them at a substantial loss and/or incur substantial transaction costs in the sale process. Broker/dealers, although not obligated to do so, may provide secondary markets.

Reinvestment Risk

Downward trends in interest rates also create reinvestment risk, or the risk that the income and/or principal repayments will have to be invested at lower rates. Reinvestment risk is an important consideration for investors in callable securities. Some bonds may be issued with a call feature that allows the issuer to call, or repay, bonds prior to maturity. This generally happens if the market rates fall low enough for the issuer to save money by repaying existing higher coupon bonds and issuing new ones at lower rates. Investors will stop receiving the coupon payments if the bonds are called. Generally, callable fixed income securities will not appreciate in value as much as comparable non-callable securities.

ZERO COUPON BONDS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/11/12/bonds-zero-coupon/

Prepayment Risk

Similar to call risk, prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer may repay bonds prior to maturity. This type of risk is generally associated with mortgage-backed securities. Homeowners tend to prepay their mortgages at times that are advantageous to their needs, which may be in conflict with the holders of the mortgage-backed securities. If the bonds are repaid early, investors face the risk of reinvesting at lower rates.

Purchasing Power Risk

Fixed income investors often focus on the real rate of return, or the actual return minus the rate of inflation. Rising inflation has a negative impact on real rates of return because inflation reduces the purchasing power of the investment income and principal.

GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/03/24/general-obligation-and-revenue-bonds/

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Experts Invited, finance, Financial Planning, Investing, Marcinko Associates, Portfolio Management | Tagged: bond risks, bonds, finance, fixed income risks, interest rate risks, Investing, liquidity risk, Marcinko, personal-finance, prepayment risks, price risks, purchasing power risk, reinvetment risks, stocks | Leave a comment »

INVESTMENT TYPES: Young Physicians and Medical Practitioners

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd

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Types of investments

Once a physician [MD, DO, DPM or DDS] has a brokerage account, the young doctior will need to decide what to invest in. There are lots of options, and each comes with different benefits and drawbacks. Here are some of the most common options for new physician investors.

BROKE DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/08/02/doctors-going-broke-and-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/

Individual stocks.

Stocks are the first thing most people think about when they are considering investing, but they are not the only option. The prices of stocks change daily, sometimes by large amounts, as the market adjusts to news and various cycles. For that reason, it’s important to do your research. If you’re just beginning with a retirement account, you could also consider the longer-term products listed below.

Index funds and mutual funds.

Index funds attempt to replicate the performance of an un-managed market index. The performance of mutual funds [open and closed] varies. You can often get involved for a lower initial investment, and they can provide good diversification,which makes your portfolio better equipped to handle market fluctuations [active and passive].

For that reason, many financial experts say they should form the core of your retirement portfolio. While they have many similar characteristics, there are important differences. Read more about some of the differences in index funds and mutual funds.

Why Some Career Doctors Still DO NOT Get Rich?

Annuities.

These technically aren’t investment products; they are a contract between you and an insurance company. However, they work to accomplish a similar goal. There are immediate annuities that convert some of your existing savings into lifetime payments, but if we’re talking about saving for retirement, a deferred income annuity is the closest comparison. You make premium payments into the deferred annuity on a regular or irregular basis depending on the contract terms, and when you reach retirement age, you annuitize those savings and receive payments for the rest of your life. They can make a valuable addition to a retirement savings strategy.

Other investments.

There are many other types of investments and financial vehicles: bonds [local, state or US], money market funds, certificates of deposit through a brokerage account or investment apps. Even the cash value of life insurance can play a part. They are all designed to address different needs and have benefits and drawbacks and may be important to your overall strategy.

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ALTERNATE INVESTMENTS: 401[k] Accounts

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Crypto-Currency.

Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency company based in Singapore that offers various financial services, including an app, exchange, and noncustodial DeFi wallet, NFT marketplace, and direct payment service in cryptocurrency. As of 2024, the company reportedly had more than 100 million customers and more than 4,000 employees.

CRYPTO CURRENCY: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/03/27/cryptocurrency-real-money-or-not/

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PHYSICIANS BEWARE: The APR Car Lease “Money Factor”

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By A.I. and Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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What is it?

The so-called money factor (abbreviated as MF on invoices) is a number in a decimal form that dealers use to calculate the APR of a car lease. It’s a major part of your monthly payment and dealers are known to jack up the money factor to pad their profits.

BROKE DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/08/02/doctors-going-broke-and-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/

How it works

Most doctors don’t ask to see it because they’re not aware of it or don’t know how to calculate it. Ask to see the money factor, then multiply it by 2,400.

For example, if the money factor is .00150, you multiply it by 2,400 to get 3.6%. If that’s higher than the prevailing rate, you have room to talk them down.

How to reduce it

So how do you get a good interest rate when you lease a vehicle? The same way you do when borrowing for any other reason, whether it’s buying a home or applying for a personal loan: by having good credit. This may reduce your interest rate because you’ll represent a lower risk to a lender.

A high residual value on the car could also help you get a better interest rate. A higher residual value means you’d have lower monthly payments because there would be less depreciation on the vehicle. Since interest is applied to your monthly payment, a lower monthly payment would equate to reduced interest charges.

MONEY DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/08/psychology-a-money-relationship-questionnaire-for-doctors/

Financial implications

The money factor is one of the many numbers you may want to learn about when leasing a car. It’s one of the transactional costs that come with leasing, and allows dealers and finance companies to make a profit on every lease they execute. As a consumer, it’s a smart idea to learn the financial implications of this number and how it’ll affect your overall costs over the course of a multi-year lease.

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If the interest rate is too high, you may need to shop around for a better rate, negotiate with the dealer or lender to lower the money factor, or consider leasing another vehicle that’s more in line with your budget. Either way, make sure you explore all your financial options before taking a car off the lot.

SALARY NEGOTIATIONS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2016/08/21/salary-negotiations-skills-for-doctors-hospitalists/

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PHYSICIANS: Determine Your Retirement Vision

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP™

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SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Determining Retirement Vision

There’s an aspect to retirement that many physicians do not plan for … the transition from work and practice to retirement. Your work has been an important part of your life. That’s why the emotional adjustments of retirement may be some of the most difficult ones.

For example, what would you like to do in retirement? Your retirement vision will be unique to you. You are retiring to something not from something that you envisioned. When you have more time, you would like to do more traveling, play golf or visit more often, family and friends. Would you relocate closer to your kids? Learn a new art or take a new class? Fund your grandchildren’s education? Do you have philanthropic goals? Perhaps you would like to help your church, school or favorite charity? If your net worth is above certain limits, it would be wise to take a serious look at these goals. With proper planning, there might be some tax benefits too. Then you have to figure how much each goal is going to cost you.

If you have a list of retirement goals, you need to prioritize which goal is most important. You can rate them on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 being the most important. Then, you can differentiate between wants and needs. Needs are things that are absolutely necessary for you to retire; while wants are things that still allow retirement but would just be nice to have.

RETIREMENT SCAMS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/04/15/online-scams-retirement-accounts/

Recent studies indicate there are three phases in retirement, each with a different spending pattern [Richard Greenberg CFP®, Gardena CA, personal communication]. The three phases are:

The Early Retirement Years. There is a pent-up demand to take advantage of all the free time retirement affords. You can travel to exotic places, buy an RV and explore forty-nine states, go on month-long sailing vacations. It’s possible during these years that after-tax expenses increase during these initial years, especially if the mortgage hasn’t been paid off yet. Usually the early years last about ten years until most retirees are in their 70’s.

Middle Years. People decide to slow down on the exploration. This is when people start simplifying their life. They may sell their house and downsize to a condo or townhouse. They may relocate to an area they discovered during their travels, or to an area close to family and friends, to an area with a warm climate or to an area with low or no state taxes. People also do their most important estate planning during these years. They are concerned about leaving a legacy, taking care of their children and grandchildren and fulfilling charitable intent. This a time when people spend more time in the local area. They may start taking extension or college classes. They spend more time volunteering at various non-profits and helping out older and less healthy retirees. People often spend less during these years. This period starts when a retiree is in his or her mid to late 70’s and can last up to 20 years, usually to mid to late-80’s.

Late Years. This is when you may need assistance in our daily activities. You may receive care at home, in a nursing home or an assisted care facility. Most of the care options are very expensive. It’s possible that these years might be more expensive than your pre-retirement expenses. This is especially true if both spouses need some sort of assisted care. This period usually starts when the retiree is their 80’s; however they can sometimes start in the middle to the late 70’s.

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[A] Planning issues – early career

Most retirement lifestyle issues do not have to be addressed at this point. Keeping a healthy, balanced lifestyle will help to ensure a more productive retirement. This is the time to focus on the financial aspects of retirement planning.

[B] Planning issues – mid career

If early retirement is a major objective, start thinking about activities that will fill up your time during retirement. Maintaining your health is more critical, since your health habits at this time will often dictate how healthy you will be in retirement

[C] Planning issues – late career

Three to five years before you retire, start making the transition from work to retirement.

Try out different hobbies;
Find activities that will give you a purpose in retirement;
Establish friendships outside of the office or hospital;
Discuss retirement plans with your spouse.
If you plan to relocate to a new place, it is important to rent a place in that area and stay for few months and see if you like it. Making a drastic change like relocating and then finding you don’t like the new town or state might be very costly mistake. The key is to gradually make the transition.

RETIREMENT INCOME: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/10/18/fast-facts-retirement-income-in-the-usa/

Conclusion

For physicians, like most folks, retirement is the stage in life when one chooses to leave the workforce and live off sources of income or savings that do not require active work. The age at which a person retires, their lifestyle during retirement, and the way they fund that lifestyle, will vary from one person to the next, depending on individual preferences and financial planning. Usually it is age 65.

Some doctors may opt for early retirement to enjoy their hobbies and travel, while others may continue working part-time to stay engaged and supplement their income. Effective retirement planning often involves a combination of savings, investments, and possibly pension benefits to ensure a comfortable and secure post-work life.

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DIRECT TO PHYSICIAN [D-2-P] INVESTOR ADVISORY PLATFORMS

Posted on August 3, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Enter Artificial Intelligence and the “Robo-Advisors”

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MED CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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DIRECT TO INVESTOR ONLINE ADVISORY PLATFORMS

Since the financial crisis in 2008, several start-up companies from Silicon Valley and Boston [Learn Vest, Betterment, Financial Guard, Quovo, WealthFront, Nest Egg Wealth. Wealth-Front and Personal Capital] have emerged with the mantra that individual investors, younger and informed clients will receive portfolio strategies, financial advice and performance metrics directly from various internet and online advisory platforms. Termed “robo-advisors” by some, their existence heralds the doom of financial advisors; or at least drives down the value of Financial Advisory guidance; reduces fees and holds them more accountable to clients.

STOCK MARKET HELL: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/01/30/escaping-stock-market-double-hell/

On the other hand, detractors say the financial advice may not be as good because the personalization will not be there; but pricing fees will be more competitive, at least initially. Going forward price will get even lower and service better. And ultimately, as consumers get more information on line, product and service will improve and be delivered to them faster than thru traditional human channels of distribution. The era of quarterly client meetings with TAMPs is fading. Clients will have access to their portfolios; in real time, all the time.

Turnkey Asset Management Program (TAMP) Defined

A turnkey asset management program offers a fee-account technology platform that financial advisers, broker-dealers, insurance companies, banks, law firms, and CPA firms can use to oversee their clients’ investment accounts.

Turnkey asset management programs are designed to help financial professionals save time and allow them to focus on providing clients with service in their areas of expertise, which may not include asset management tasks like investment research and portfolio allocation. In other words, TAMPs let financial professionals and firms delegate asset management and research responsibilities to another party that specializes in those areas.

PHYSICIANS: Do You Use A Financial Advisor?

Conclusion

The growth of more traditional direct to investment platforms like E-Trade and Schwab has outpaced Financial Advisors and recently human advisors must have the technology and niche space specificity to survive in the future. Realistically, robo-advisors, Artificial Intelligence and traditional flesh-and-blood FAs will seamlessly merge into a hybrid platform indistinguishable to most all.

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PHYSICIAN INVESTING: Understanding Risk and Return

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko; MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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Investment Risk and Return

One of the major concepts that most investors should be aware of is the relationship between the risk and the return of a financial asset. It is common knowledge that there is a positive relationship between the risk and the expected return of a financial asset. In other words, when the risk of an asset increases, so does its expected return. What this means is that if an investor is taking on more risk, he/she is expected to be compensated for doing so with a higher return. Similarly, if the investor wants to boost the expected return of the investment, he/she needs to be prepared to take on more risk.

PORTFOLIO ALPHA: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/07/02/managing-for-endowment-portfolio-alpha/

Harry Max Markowitz (August 24, 1927 – June 22, 2023) was an American economist who was a professor of finance at the Rady School of Management at UCSD. He is best known for his pioneering work in modern portfolio theory, studying the effects of asset risk, return, correlation and diversification on probable investment portfolio returns.

One important thing to understand about Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is Markowitz’s calculations treat volatility and risk as the same thing. In layman’s terms, Dr. Markowitz uses risk as a measurement of the likelihood that an investment will go up and down in value – and how often and by how much. The theory assumes that investors prefer to minimize risk. The theory assumes that given the choice of two portfolios with equal returns, investors will choose the one with the least risk. If investors take on additional risk, they will expect to be compensated with additional return.

MARKOWITZ: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2011/01/19/the-living-legacy-of-dr-harry-markowitz/

According to MPT, risk comes in two major categories:

Systematic risk – the possibility that the entire market and economy will show losses negatively affecting nearly every investment; also called market risk

Unsystematic risk – the possibility that an investment or a category of investments will decline in value without having a major impact upon the entire market.

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Diversification generally does not protect against systematic risk because a drop in the entire market and economy typically affects all investments. However, diversification is designed to decrease unsystematic risk. Since unsystematic risk is the possibility that one single thing will decline in value, having a portfolio invested in a variety of stocks, a variety of asset classes and a variety of sectors will lower the risk of losing much money when one investment type declines in value. Thus putting together assets with low correlations can reduce unsystematic risks.

DIVERSIFICATION: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2024/08/13/the-negative-short-term-implications-of-diversification/

a. Understanding the Risk

Although broad risks can be quickly summarized as “the failure to achieve spending and inflation-adjusted growth goals,” individual assets may face any number of other subsidiary risks:

Call risk – The risk, faced by a holder of a callable bond that a bond issuer will take advantage of the callable bond feature and redeem the issue prior to maturity. This means the bondholder will receive payment on the value of the bond and, in most cases, will be reinvesting in a less favorable environment (one with a lower interest rate)
Capital risk – The risk an investor faces that he or she may lose all or part of the principal amount invested.
Commodity risk – The threat that a change in the price of a production input will adversely impact a producer who uses that input.
Company risk – The risk that certain factors affecting a specific company may cause its stock to change in price in a different way from stocks as a whole.
Concentration risk – Probability of loss arising from heavily lopsided exposure to a particular group of counterparties
Counterparty risk – The risk that the other party to an agreement will default.
Credit risk – The risk of loss of principal or loss of a financial reward stemming from a borrower’s failure to repay a loan or otherwise meet a contractual obligation.
Currency risk – A form of risk that arises from the change in price of one currency against another.
Deflation risk – A general decline in prices, often caused by a reduction in the supply of money or credit.
Economic risk – the likelihood that an investment will be affected by macroeconomic conditions such as government regulation, exchange rates, or political stability.
Hedging risk – Making an investment to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in an asset.
Inflation risk – The uncertainty over the future real value (after inflation) of your investment.
Interest rate risk – Risk to the earnings or market value of a portfolio due to uncertain future interest rates.
Legal risk – risk from uncertainty due to legal actions or uncertainty in the applicability or interpretation of contracts, laws or regulations.
Liquidity risk – The risks stemming from the lack of marketability of an investment that cannot be bought or sold quickly enough to prevent or minimize a loss.

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INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT CONSTRUCTION: For Physicians and Medical Professionals

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

THE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENT

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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In order to create and monitor an investment portfolio for personal or institutional use, the physician executive, financial advisor, wealth manager, or healthcare institutional endowment fund manager, should ask three questions:

How much do we have invested?
How much did we make on our investments?
How much risk did we take to get that rate of return?

Introduction to the IPS

Most doctors, and hospital endowment fund executives, know how much money they have invested. If they don’t, they can add a few statements together to obtain a total. But, few can answers the questions above or actually know the rate of return achieved last year; or so far this year. Everyone can get this number by simply subtracting the ending balance from the beginning balance and dividing the difference. But, few take the time to do it. Why? A typical response to the question is, “We’re doing fine.”

POOR DOCTORS: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2025/07/29/why-too-many-physician-colleagues-dont-get-rich/

Now, ask how much risk is in the portfolio and help is needed [risk adjusted rate of return]. In fact, Nobel laureate Harry Markowitz, Ph.D. said, “If you take more risk, you deserve more return.” Using standard deviation, he referred to the “variability of returns;” in other words, how much the portfolio goes up and down, its volatility [Markowitz, H: Portfolio Selection. Journal of Finance, March, 1952].

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IPS Construction(1)Download

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Beware of Borrowing That Helps Your Advisor – Not You

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Rick Kahler MSFP CFP™

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When Maria needed $400,000 for a down payment on a new home, her broker at a large Wall Street firm offered a solution: “Don’t sell investments and trigger capital gains. Just take out a margin loan.”

A margin loan is a line of credit from a brokerage firm, secured by the client’s investment portfolio. It offers quick access to cash with no immediate tax consequences and minimal paperwork. But the convenience comes at a cost. As of mid-2025, margin loan interest rates range from 6.25% to over 11%.

Margin loan recommendations are often presented by brokers as tax-savvy strategies that allow clients to access “tax-free” cash while keeping their portfolios intact. In many cases, however, the math benefits the advisor more than the investor. The cost of borrowing often exceeds what an investor is likely to earn by holding on.

For example, let’s assume an interest rate of 7.5% on Maria’s $400,000 margin loan. While borrowing delayed the payment of $20,000 in capital gains tax, she will eventually have to pay that tax anyway unless she holds the investments until her death. Two years later, with portfolio returns of 4% annually, she had earned around $32,000 from the $400,000 in investments she might have sold. Meanwhile, she had paid $60,000 in interest—leaving her some $28,000 worse off. That’s without factoring in ongoing interest payments, or the risks of a margin call if the investments securing the loan drop in value.

Why do advisors keep recommending margin loans? Because selling investments reduces the portfolio size and the advisor’s fee. Borrowing keeps the portfolio intact and the compensation unchanged—while the firm receives additional income from interest on the loan. In some cases, advisors suggest using margin loans to buy more investments, increasing both the portfolio and the fee they collect.

None of this is illegal. But when the borrowing cost is higher than expected returns and the advisor benefits financially, the ethics are questionable. The client takes the risk, while the advisor keeps the revenue.

This kind of conflict appears more often in portfolios where compensation is tied to asset volume and the company’s primary culture rewards gathering assets over delivering unbiased advice. By contrast, fee-only financial planning and investment advisors typically operate on simpler hourly, flat, or tiered fee structures. Their compensation doesn’t depend on whether a client borrows, sells, or holds. The culture of the firm focuses on conflict-free advice aligned with the client’s best interest.

Wall Street brokers are often held to a fiduciary standard, but structure still matters. In 2024 the SEC reported their examinations of brokers would continue to focus on advisor recommendations unduly influenced by the company’s compensation and incentives.

There are rare situations where a margin loan may be appropriate. A client with large unrealized gains might use a short-term margin loan to minimize taxes. An elderly investor might borrow tax-free rather than sell assets that will receive a step-up in basis at their death. Even in those cases, the math must be exact and the client must clearly understand the risks, including the possibility of a margin call.

If your advisor recommends a margin loan, especially to buy more investments, ask strong questions. What’s the interest rate? What return is realistic? What are the tax consequences of selling? How does this affect the advisor’s income?

If you don’t get direct answers, that’s a warning sign.

In a high-rate, low-return environment, margin loans rarely favor the client. The exceptions are narrow. The risks are significant. And the conflict of interest is measurable.

Sometimes the smartest move is the simplest: sell what you need, pay the tax, and leave leverage out of your plan.

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PARADOXES: Beware Financial and Investing Contradictions

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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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.

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Do Political Biases Shape Your Financial Planner’s Advice?

Posted on July 19, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Can You Contribute to Both a Roth IRA & 401(k)?

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters, AI and the Linqto Team

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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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.

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HSA: Avoid Investments in Low-Yield Options

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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FINANCIAL COACHING: For Physicians

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

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DEAR COLLEAGUES

If you are just starting out managing your finances and don’t know where to begin, a financial coach may be a good option for you. They are helpful for someone who wants to become proficient in the basics of finance, from learning how to budget or save money to building an emergency fund or creating a plan for paying off debt. If you have short-term money goals, like saving for a big purchase or just practicing better money habits, a financial coach can help you reach them by working with you to create a plan and holding you accountable. Even more for physicians and most all medical professionals.

Pros and Cons of Working with a Financial Coach
A financial coach can have a positive impact on your financial well–being and your life in a number of ways:

Financial coaches see the bigger picture of how you relate to money. They can help you develop better habits, resulting in positive personal growth.
By providing education and encouragement, they can reduce financial stress, confusion, and what it is about money that overwhelms you.
Through accountability and support, they can help you accomplish your goals and help you feel more confident in your finances.
Available 24/7/365.
Modest fees.

At you service.
Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP

CONTACT: MarcinkoAdvisors@outlook.com

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DAILY UPDATE: Health Insurance Options as Bull Market Edges Upward

Posted on June 28, 2025 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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

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

A June 11th report from global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) predicts that more beneficiaries might soon ditch insurance coverage for options like short-term, limited duration plans or healthcare sharing ministries (HCSMs), which aren’t regulated like health insurance and aren’t required to comply with ACA protections like covering maternity care or pre-existing conditions.

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/2h47urt5

🟢 What’s up

Nvidia extended its winning streak to five days, rising another 1.73% as the AI trade continues to recover.
EchoStar climbed 13.16% after the parent company of Dish TV disclosed that President Trump did in fact prod the FCC to make a deal.
Cyngn soared another 20.07% following a big day of gains after the company that makes self-driving tech for industrial vehicles announced a partnership with Nvidia.
Strong earnings from Nike (more on that later) propelled sporting goods stocks higher today. ON Holdings rose 1.74%, while Dick’s Sporting Goods climbed 3.59%.
Domestic power producers popped on reports that Trump is planning to issue an executive order increasing energy production to meet AI demand. Vistra gained 2.44%, GE Vernova climbed 2.54%, and Vertiv added 2.71%.

What’s down

Coinbase Global ended its winning streak, tumbling 5.77% after GENIUS Act hype propelled the crypto stock skyward all week long. Traders took profits in Circle as well, pushing the stablecoin stock down 15.54%.
Chinese EV maker Li Auto fell 1.93% on its weaker-than-expected deliveries forecast for the second quarter.
Fellow Chinese EV maker Xiaomi stunned markets with reports that it received 240,000 orders for its new SUV within 18 hours of its debut, but shares still sank 4%.
Pony.ai lost 6.31% on a report that Uber is considering helping its founder Travis Kalanick fund his acquisition of the US subsidiary of the Chinese autonomous vehicle company.
Gold miners tumbled while the price of the precious metal fell as investors took a risk-on stance. Newmont lost 4.11%, Barrick Mining fell 3.44%, and Kinross Gold shed 6.18%.
Today’s trade deal reopens the door for Chinese rare earth imports, bad news for US producers like MP Materials (down 8.59%) and USA Rare Earth (down 12.14%).

CITE: https://tinyurl.com/tj8smmes

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

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