Cash-only Doctors Abandon the Insurance System

Presented by Mark Phillips

There is an interesting trend captured by this CNNMoney article. A small but growing number of doctors are opting out of the insurance system completely and accepting cash only for services. The business proposition offered by insurance companies to doctors is becoming so difficult that this seems to be a growing trend. This is a move that the majority of dentists have already made.

While I have a concern for the impact of high cost Concierge offices, some of the more modest flat fee programs (as reflected in the fees charged by Dr. Nunamaker), when combined with a high deductible insurance plan and an HAS account, may prove much more cost effective and conducive to a healthy doctor/patient relationship.

Please consider this trend and how this might be an opportunity, rather than a threat, to you.

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Preparing to Care for Aging Parents

Presented by: Mark Phillips

Aging can be a tough topic for everyone - both the one going through it and their families. Are bills getting missed and is memory loss starting to show up daily? Although a sensitive topic, there are ways to approach the conversations, one of which is to learn about your parents’ needs and wishes. Please read on to learn more what kinds of questions to ask to yield the best result for everyone involved.

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The Diploma’s Vanishing Value

Presented by Tracy Chiu

What should the decision-making process be when it comes to choosing a 4 year college versus a community college? This Wall Street Journal article brings up some good points. Although difficult, it implies that the best approach for a good end result would be to balance picking a major soley based on post-graduation salaries with one’s passion for a field. To help with calculations, there are several websites that allow easy comparisons of the return on college tuition, such as Collegerealitycheck.com

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Stay at Home, with Care

Presented by Tracy Chiu

Nearly 90% of people over the age of 65 said they prefer to live at home as long as possible. You may be wondering what the reasons are. Well, comfort in one’s home is probably a big reason. But there is another driving factor behind this preference- the overall savings is much greater when one chooses to stay at home versus moving to a nursing facility (average cost nursing home ~$80,000/yr.). Thus, this trend will most definitely drive up the demand for aides. Read this article from Money Magazine to learn the three steps to finding the right care at home.

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The King of Human Error

Presented by: Tracy Chiu

As this article from Vanity Fair points out, Nobel Prize-winning writer and psychologist Daneil Kahneman reveals the kinks of the human mind when it comes to reasoning and making rational decisions. In his new book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, he uses himself as Exhibit A and looks at the psychology and reasoning behind why people who buy lottery tickets also buy insurance and why people are less likely to sell their houses and their stock portfolios in falling markets, as a few examples. Knowing how the mind works (or not) is a great start to hopefully making better decisions in our daily lives.

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Covered? Don’t be so sure

Presented by Mark Phillips

Have you noticed a jump in premiums on your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy? Well it’s true- there has been an increase of 69% over the past decade.  What you need to be on the lookout for are the hidden costs when a disaster strikes- mainly the higher deductibles, scaling back of basic coverage, and new restrictions. Don’t miss this and read further to learn more about the reasons behind the increases and what preventative steps you can take to limit your exposure and forgo any big surprises.

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