Financial Considerations II: Loans, Debt Management, Saving, and Investing

Abstract

The financial considerations of becoming a physician are often not fully understood or appreciated until after residency and fellowship training. Once training is complete, physicians face a combination of increased financial rewards mixed with significant, and seemingly overwhelming, financial responsibilities, often with limited financial knowledge or understanding. Appropriately managing debt obligations, living expenses, saving for retirement, children's education, and establishing financial safety nets through savings, investments, and insurance are critical. This article is a starting point to provide the new physician with an introduction into some of those financial considerations, to both encourage further learning and promote successful financial decisions.

Keywords: Debt; Financial planning; Income; Insurance; Investment; Loans; Refinancing; Savings.