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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!
How do the teaching of Seneca apply to modern day FIRE enthusiasts? The FIRE Shrink connects the dots between Stoicism and Financial Independence.
One of the perks of being on an FI path is the ability to cut back at work once you’ve made significant progress. Jonathan Ping with My Money Blog breaks down a WSJ article showing Examples and Stories of Working Less on Purpose (to Live More).
Most doctors work more than full-time and are compensated accordingly. Anesthesiologist Dr. Rohan Jotwani takes look at the monetary ups and downs of doctoring. Is Being a Doctor Worth It? The Financial Pros & Cons.
Dr. Daniel Shin found himself working less last year. In fact, the urologist went about five months without asking a single patient to drop his or her drawers. My Hiatus from Medicine: 3 Eye-Opening Revelations from The Darwinian Doctor.
The Wealthy Doc has also taken a lengthy and unanticipated hiatus from medicine due to health issues. While many of us drop disability coverage upon achieving financial independence, he’s glad he didn’t let his policies lapse. Disability Insurance Bought Me a New Car.
Buying a new car is one answer to the question posed by Drs. Jimmy Turner and Lisha Taylor with The Physician Philosopher. But it may not be the best one. What To Do With Unexpected Money.
Side hustles can also help you afford a new car, but there are some non-financial benefits to consider, as well. Dr. Jorge Sanchez describes 8 Physician Side Gigs to Increase Your Earning Potential.
If you’re not sure what to do with your cash, you can put it to work while you wait. Nafis Smith with Vanguard explains how Tried and True Money Markets Get Boost with Rising Rates. My cash has been earning 4.70% in VUSXX in recent weeks.
While these are rates we haven’t seen in many years, they still lag inflation, and leaving cash there long-term increases the risk of running out of money. Jim Wang with Wallet Hacks discusses risk and our misperceptions. What Most People Get Wrong About Their Risk Tolerance.
If you’re willing to invest in real estate when times are tough, the rewards can be worthwhile, says Vince DeCrow with site sponsor Origin Investments. Why It Can Pay to Invest in Private Real Estate Through a Recession.
I think the difference is one of semantics, but Nick Maggiulli with Of Dollars and Data sees a true disparity. Rich vs Wealthy: A Comprehensive Guide to Different Financial Lifestyles.
Net worth can make one wealthy, and a house can make one look rich. Accidentally Retired has an issue with The Mansion Next Door.
Most articles written about artificial intelligence (or by artificial intelligence) seem to be surface pieces with more sensationalism than substance. This one from One Useful Thing actually has some pragmatic advice. How To Use AI To Do Practical Stuff: A New Guide.
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Growing Pistachios in an Opportunity Zone
There’s still a benefit to making an opportunity zone, particularly if you’re realizing capital gains this year. Essentially, you can defer payment on those capital gains until 2027 (they’ll go on your 2026 tax return) dollar for dollar for QOZ investment you make. For example, if you invest $15,000 in a QOZ investment, you can defer the capital gains tax on $15,000 worth of gains.
Better yet, any gains realized from the new investment will be untaxed if you remain invested for ten years, and qualified opportunity zone investments are designed to be held long enough for you to capture those tax-free gains.
I don’t recall seeing a QOZ offering on AcreTrader previously, but they’ve got one opening up for investment this week. It’s a planned pistachio farm on a plot with multiple water sources and rights. You can read more about the Tranquility Orchard QOZ investment opportunity here or see all open and upcoming investments at AcreTrader.
AcreTrader is a referral partner of Physician on FIRE and this site may be compensated if you open an account with them. You can read our review of AcreTrader that’s been updated after being invested in a row crop farm for several years.
The Lake House Next Door
A week from today, we’ll be home for the first time in almost 10 weeks. It’s been an amazing trip, and we are blessed to have been able to spend this quality time as a family exploring parts of the globe I never knew I would see.
Soon, though, it’s back to reality. I’m excited to see the progress on our next “forever” home. We broke ground 11 months ago, hope to move in sometime this summer, and really do plan to make it our home for decades.
We’re in the process of designing the exterior of the home, and JamesHardie has a rendering service that shows you what their products could look like on your actual home. Sounds like a good job for AI, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been interacting with humans as we’ve gone back and forth.
I’d be curious to hear opinions about the two looks below. The white house with black windows and trim seems to be an immensely popular choice over the last 5 years or so. I’m tempted to mix it up a bit as I’ve done in the second renderings with some contemparary panel siding and cedar or teak accent walls. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Have an outstanding week!
-Physician on FIRE
11 thoughts on “The Sunday Best (04/30/2023)”
Hi Leif,
Your place is looking a lot like the new house we are building in Idaho. We went with white board and batten and added black/grey metal siding. I will send you pictures if you want.
Hi Leif,
Your place is looking a lot like the new house we are building in Idaho. We went with white board and batten and added black/grey metal siding. I will send you pictures if you want.
Glad to hear it, Mark. Sounds like we have similar tastes.
Cheers!
Looks like it’s unanimous – definitely prefer #2 with the gray (and the wood entry facade). It’s going to be a beautiful home.
The multiple-treatment exterior is going to look dated in less than ten years and you may be tempted to update. The black and white is classic and I don’t think you’ll ever regret the choice.
#2 rendering for sure!
I like the second look (more contrast). Also, consider brick for part of the exterior unless it’s very expensive in your area.
Love the second one! Thank you for the “Sunday Best” – it’s the best reading out there!
I like the addition of the gray and cedar. It makes the house more visually interesting than simple white with black trim.
I’d like a combination. All white vertical siding but add in the cedar accent wall and wood post.
Go with the middle picture. What about a patio or deck in the rear of the home?