(if you are only interested in medical literature links, go to the bottom) Wow. COVID-19.  Life Changes all around.  I am sure this is not how you imagined your past week would go. I have friends and family members that are physicians on the frontlines of this in New York and California. I know their worries and fears… the lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), potentially bringing it back from work to spread to their families, their own mortality and life at risk to save others (yes doctors are dying), and their concerns on the ethic ..read more

3 February 2020 was the 4th annual National Female Physicians’ Day. It is celebrated on the birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree. A degree earned in 1849. However, if not for the one post from a female physician friend crossing my Facebook newsfeed, I would have been none the wiser, and I work as a female physician in a medical clinic every workday. So today’s post is dedicated to talking about being a woman in the workforce, a woman physician, and the physician gender salary ..read more

 We are Exploration FIRE MD. FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. In 2015, we joined this explorative journey when ExplorerMIL came home from work telling me about his Lieutenant colonel’s FI story and insisting that we start reading online material related to Financial Independence. Unbeknownst to him my residency program director already shared his FI journey with me. We had no idea at that time how much this spark would ignite an unexpected journey in our lives. During these years, knowledge gained by reading various int ..read more

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, MLA, and SCRA. Before staring the 12 Day Hawaii Series, I am going to introduce a few cards to provide a reference point. I am also going to discuss the amazing benefits available to active duty service members thanks the The Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Each credit card company interprets these acts in their own way. Both American Express and Chase have very generous interpretations. The Result:  American Express and Chase waive annual credit card fees on all the ..read more

The American Express Platinum Card, MLA, and SCRA. Before staring the 12 Day Hawaii Series, I am going to introduce a few cards to provide a reference point. I am also going to discuss the amazing benefits available to active duty service members thanks the The Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Each credit card company interprets these acts in their own way. Both American Express and Chase have very generous interpretations. The Result:  American Express and Chase waive annual credit card fees on all ..read more

 We previously explored the exponential power of change from both a monetary and financial behavioral aspect. We know change is not easy. And instant gratification is rewarding. What can we add to our toolkit to perpetuate change? A financial mission/vision statement, a budget, team (spouse) meetings, the behavioral model of your brain (a guy named Skinner), self-awareness… The Budget: Imagine sitting in an auditorium and asking, “Who here actually likes having a budget?” Up goes the hands of the people with the number-crunching data-drive ..read more

At work, nearly every day, people come to me because they want something in their life to change. Often though, this something is not them. They want someone or something external to change. Well, as we think about money and financial freedom, I have bad news… if you fall into this category and don’t want to do any of the work yourself… Good Luck. But for everyone else, let’s talk about what can happen with change… So how exactly do you save a million dollars? Let’s take Joe and his wife, Jane. Both Joe and Jane love coffee. (does this soun ..read more

Today’s guest post is by Kyle Gray MD, a real life mother, physician, and all around badass Wonder Woman. Residency is hard enough without kids. If you’re a new or expecting mom, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to make this all work. As a barely-keeping-it together mother of a two-year-old and recent residency grad, I have all the answers. Well, here are the most important lessons I learned anyway. 1. Learn to ask for help. It was 7PM on a Friday, and I just hit highway traffic on my way home from a relentless clinic day. All of a ..read more

Think of the words “Financial Independence” now look at the photograph. What was the first/automatic thought that came to mind? What part of the photograph best relates to how you view money, savings, and finance? Are you drawn to the jagged fierce mountains covered in snow caps? Do you relate to the trees growing? How about the calm of the water that displays a glimmer of a mirror of the above world? What emotions does it provoke? If you could choose, what part would you want to feel connected to? Do you think it is possible to get to th ..read more