The Sunday Best is a collection of articles I’ve curated from the furthest reaches of the internet for your reading pleasure.

Every week, I scan hundreds of headlines, read dozens of posts, and bring you the best of the best to save you time and mental energy.

Financial Independence (FI) is a primary focus, but it’s an awfully broad topic. I tend to approach FI and early retirement from a fatFIRE perspective and through the lens of a physician, so expect to see those biases in the selected articles.

Related topics that have become recurrent themes include early retirement, selective frugality, tax issues, travel, physician issues, and of course, investing.

For more great articles, take a peek at The Sunday Best Archives. Now let’s get to the best… The Sunday Best!

 

 

Stubborn inflation, banking crises, rising interest rates, and widespread layoffs– these are just some of the warnings we’ve heard this year calling for impending economic doom. However, history tells us that when there is chaos there is also opportunity. In this bear market, should you steer clear and avoid the risks? Or should you dive in and reap the rewards?

In this week’s The Sunday’s Best, I’ve listed some of the articles I’ve read on the topic to help you decide.

 

Despite the widespread concerns about an impending economic disaster this year, it’s safe to say that the markets have been resilient so far. If you’re wondering why, Brian Lesko from Ten Factorial Rocks explains Why has the Stock Market Been So Resilient in 2023?

 

This year’s economic volatility has left many investors disheartened. But, investing doesn’t have to be frightening during a recession– as long as you understand what to look for. A Wealth of Common Sense talks about where to invest in The Biggest No-Brainer Investment Right Now and Financial Samurai teaches How to Invest $250,000 Cash In Today’s Bear Market.

 

We all know markets are cyclical. Yet, we can’t help but be emotional when it comes to our financial choices– especially during a bear market. If you’re struggling to stay strong in this down economy, this post from Clipping Chains will help you persevere: The Great Comfort of Longevity in the Stock Market.

 

Inflation has cooled, but it’s too early to declare victory. As prices continue to rise, many of us are anxious about our investments and financial future. If you’re wondering when inflation will come down, here’s a good read on Short-Term & Long-Term Inflation Trends from A Wealth of Common Sense.

 

The current economic downturn has everyone on edge, even those who have saved up enough money to retire. Passive income MD talks about ways you can mitigate the risks of running out of money in retirement: How to Never Run Out of Money in Retirement.

 

Real estate investing can be scary, especially during a bear market. In the podcast episode Real Estate Strategies for 2023, Coach Carson talks about how to make progress as a rental property investor in this bear market. 

 

With the market being unpredictable, it might be a smart move to consider umbrella liability insurance as part of your risk management toolkit. Our friends at Forme Financial dives into why physicians should get additional coverage beyond other insurance policies in this article: Umbrella Insurance 101: Understanding Your Coverage Options. 

 

Having money saved up could be a lifesaver in a recession. But for many, saving money is boring and hard. Radical Fire talks about How To Make Saving Money Fun And Exciting to help you save and get ahead in the game.

 

Have you been wondering which cities have the highest and lowest inflation? WalletHub has done an interesting analysis showing us that the different cities have had different experiences with inflation. Cities Where Inflation is Rising the Most.

 

Looks like my penchant for sunny cities alongside millions of others means higher-than-average inflation. If you’d like to see the primary data the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains charts with Consumer Price Index (CPI) by Region: BLS CPI By Region 

 

Financial literacy is perhaps the best weapon we have in today’s economic climate. If you’d like to increase your confidence in managing your money and investments, especially during a crisis, The Motivated MD wrote a great article on Building Financial Literacy for Physicians: The Ultimate Guide.

 

 

An Exercise in Restraint

 

First, I’d like to thank my partners for doing the heavy lifting in this weekend’s Sunday Best!

You’re now hearing from Leif for the first time today, who is currently floating comfortably along in the South Pacific while uncomfortably referring to himself in the third person.

Let’s switch over to first person. I like that much better!

One of the more fun discoveries in our four years of FIRE are these repositioning cruises. I always knew they existed, but with the time freedom we currently have and the fact that one-way flights can often be had for half the price of a round trip ticket, they appeal to me more than I thought they might.

Years ago when I went on my first cruise during residency, I was blown away by the abundance of tasty food, and I took full advantage. The first two or three cruises I went on, I gained about a pound a day. No joke.

If I were to gain a pound a day on the 13, 16, and 18 day cruises we’ve been on in the last 13 months (including this one), I’d be up 47 pounds or about 30% of my beginning body weight! Obviously, that’s not a good plan, and with Grandma’s Half Marathon on my schedule 6 weeks after we get back, I have to be reasonable with my diet despite the ever-presence of scrumptious delights.

What does restraint look like on a multi-week cruise? Including fruits and veggies with every meal. Choosing fish over beef more often than I otherwise would. Only ordering one dessert. Not getting the drink package and having numerous no-beer evenings. Hitting the gym most mornings.

I’ve often said that we don’t vacation anymore. Travel is a part of our lives, and this is just life. A good life, without a doubt, but we can’t treat every day like it’s a vacation. There’s no need to go overboard (figuratively or literally) just because we can!

 

 

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80,000 Reasons to Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

This weekend, our friends at Chase increased the welcome bonus on one of the most popular travel reward cards out there, the Chase Sapphire Preferred. For a limited time, you can earn an 80,000 point welcome bonus when you spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months. That’s an increase of 33.3% from the normal bonus.

When booking travel on the Chase portal, you can pay for $1,000 worth of travel with those 80,000 points! For more on this card and it’s bougie cousin, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, see our updated post comparing the two.

 

 

Learn more about DLP Capital’s Lending Fund on May 4th

 

A few words from our sponsor, DLP Capital: Spring lovers, listen up! It’s time to mark your calendars because DLP Capital has plenty of amazing events lined up, including an exclusive Lending Fund webinar on May 4th.

Lending Fund: A senior secured mortgage pool fund focusing on workforce housing assets.

• Benefits for 1099 tax reporting.
• Monthly income distributions.
• Liquidity.

 

Click here to register for this exclusive webinar now!

REMINDER: Introductory investment minimums lowered to $100,000 for a limited time for PoF Readers!

DLP Capital is still offering reduced investment minimums of $100,000 for Physicians on Fire members, so don’t wait! Now is the time to invest and start taking advantage of above-market returns. With these reduced minimums, you can create a diversified portfolio with less risk than ever before. Email invest@dlpcapital.com to get started.

 

Upcoming Capital Dinners

DLP Capital is also hosting two capital dinners this summer.

On May 22, they’ll be in beautiful Asheville, NC, at the Omni Grove Park Inn to present their latest fund reports and updates.

Then, on June 22, they’ll be in their hometown of Allentown, PA, for another incredible night of food, fun, and networking. If you’re in the area for either, you’re invited to join!

They also have virtual options for both dinners, so don’t miss these opportunities to learn more about how DLP Capital can impact your financial future for the better! Click here to register for the May dinner, and here to register for the June dinner.

For all of DLP Capital’s upcoming events, visit dlpcapital.com/events.

 

 

Have an outstanding week!

-Physician on FIRE