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 Much Money? Steveark with Slightly Early Retirement is surprised by just how little money it takes for a retiree to happy in retirement, according to survey data.

 

Would you rather be rich or happy? The Monevator suggests you choose your inner circle wisely. Rich Friends, Poor Friends.

 

Giving money away makes me feel happy and rich. Thanks to the generosity of readers, we still have some additional $100 grants to give — make your requests ASAP while you still can! Ask and You Shall Receive: Giving Tuesday 2022.

 

The Physician in Numbers is grateful for many things, including money because it makes life easier and more enjoyable. Giving: Thanks and Money.

 

Some couples keep their finances separate, but for the Prudent Plastic Surgeon, that’s not gonna happen (wouldn’t be prudent). Should Physician Couples Share Finances?

 

When  you combine the income of a pediatrician with that of a software engineer, you get a couple that can retire to share a life of adventure in their early 50s. Post FI Notes 20: Newly Retired and Traveling Like Mad!

 

This academic anesthesiologist thought she’d be working for many years to come. Six months into retirement, Dr. Karen Sibert with A Penned Point explains what led to a change of heart. How Do You Know When it’s Time to Retire?

 

Having enough retirement savings is a part of that equation. The White Coat Investor describes the Best Retirement Savings Plans for the Self-Employed.

 

Fritz Gilbert with Retirement Manifesto shows us how he managed his nest egg during a difficult 2022. The Bucket Strategy In A Bear Market.

 

A bucket strategy is one way to manage sequence of returns risk in retirement. The Finance Buff shows us another and compares the strategy to simply owning a bond fund. Two Types of Bond Ladders: When to Replace a Bond Fund or ETF.

 

To win in a zero-sum game* (or worse when you factor in fees), you’ve got to have a unique advantage. Menard with Millionaire Before 50 explains Why You Probably Don’t Want to Trade Options even though he has. *Options may or may not be a zero-sum game, depending upon who you ask.

 

Real estate can be a better game to play, a game of wealth creation. Dr. Peter Kim shares 6 Simple Rules For Successful Real Estate Investing in the latest Passive Income MD podcast.

 

On the topic of real estate investing, two of our site sponsors, both of whom I’ve invested with, would like to share their perspectives with you. See below for more details on upcoming educational webinars with DLP and EquityMultiple.

 

DLP in Bethlehem

 

With the holidays approaching, December’s DLP Capital Dinner will be held in Bethlehem, which seems perfectly appropriate. Note this is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania which happens to be where DLP Capital got started, so they’re home for the holidays.

CEO Don Wenner will go over successes from the past year and give you his outlook and vision for real estate investing in 2023 and beyond. If you’re unable to make it in person, DLP offers a virtual option that will begin at 7pm EST / 4pm PST.

 

 

If you’d like to join them virtually or in-person at no cost and learn more about DLP’s five passive real estate funds, you can register here.

 

• Now through Dec. 5th is the best time to promote and will bring the biggest return, as Dec. 5th is the last day for virtual & in person registrants to get a swag bag with registration.

Register for The Physician Wellness and Financial Literacy Hybrid Conference by Dec. 5th and get $200 off. Use code: LastWeek$200.

 

Diversification for the Busy Professional

 

Mark your calendars for this coming Wednesday, 12/7 at 7 pm EST / 6 pm CST / 5pm MST / 4pm PST.

I will be joining Soren Godberson, CGO of EquityMultiple for a webinar where we’ll discuss all things financial independence, “alternative” investments, asset allocation, and where passive real estate investments can fit in with all of this.

Please register ahead of time (now would be good!) and if for whatever reason, you’re unable to join us live, a video replay will be made available. I hope to see you there!

If you choose to invest with EquityMultiple, you’ll get an additional 1% return on your first investment by using our Physician on FIRE referral link.

Register with a quick click here.

 

 

Down They Fall

 

BlockFI

The FTX contagion continues to claim victims as BlockFI filed for bankruptcy this week. I had heard BlockFI CEO Zac Prince several times on the Animal Spirits podcast, and he talked a good game, but ultimately, between the Terra Luna fiasco and subsequent “rescue” by FTX, their business fell apart.

For now, Digital Currency Group (DCG), which has fingerprints all over the crytpo space, is alive but they’ve owned up to being $2 Billion in debt. This puts Genesis, Gemini and the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ($GBTC) at risk, as they’re all seemingly intertwined. It’s too bad the “House of Cards” name is already taken because that seems a fitting name for a docuseries on cryptoassets in 2022.

 

U.S. Mutant Ninja Turtles

The USMNT fell 3-1 to Netherlands yesterday and were officially knocked out of the World Cup after what I guess was considered a decent run. Three goals in four games sounds like a pretty weak output, but they didn’t give up many goals until their final game, either.

I get that much of the world gets amped up for these soccer games, but I find a football game with a final score of 23-16 to be a lot more compelling than a fútbol game that ends 0-0.

 

 

USC and TCU

In a win-and-you’re-in rematch Friday night against 3-loss Utah, the University of Southern California footballers fell flat and failed to make the 4-team College Football Playoff (CFP) in what could have been their first appearance. On Saturday, Texas Christain University was usurped by 3-loss Kansas State University. As a one-loss team, they still have a chance to make the CFP, but now it’s up to the committee.

Thankfully, an expanded 12-team playoff is officially coming the season after next (2024-5) after the Rose Bowl gave its blessing to the plan. That would give nearly half of the Top 25 a shot at the championship and will give many more conference champions a chance as compared to now when the SEC and B1G Ten can occupy half of the four slots in the CFP.

 

The WCI Swag Bag

If you fail to register today or tomorrow for the 17-CME conference officially known as the Physician Wellness & Financial Literacy Hybrid Conference and unofficially known as WCICON23, you won’t get the well-stocked “swag bag” with numerous books on investing and personal finance, WCI merchandise, and more.

I’ll be there with my family — the Phoenix JW Marriott is an awesome family resort with a lazy river and everything — and I’ll be joined by hundreds of like-minded professionals March 1-4, 2023. You don’t have to be a doctor to attend, but continuing education credits are only available to medical doctors and dentists.  Use code WCIPhoenix200 for $200 off in-person attendance and register by end-of-day on Monday 12/5 to secure your swag bag!

PoF referral link: https://www.physicianonfire.com/wcicon23

 

 

 

 

Have an outstanding week!

-Physician on FIRE