I help therapists navigate every element of their financial lives: from understanding your practice P&L and building a personal budget to managing student loan debt and investing for retirement... and everything in between. But don't let my love of the tax code and spreadsheets scare you off! You're just as likely to find me with my nose buried in one of Pema Chodron's books as reading up on the latest financial planning techniques.
Slam the Scam!
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Hello Reader, It wasn’t just a good day, it was a GREAT day. I was clear-headed, sharp, uber-productive. I was flying through my to-do list, and doing (IMHO) my best work, when I made a quick pivot to dispatch some emails. One email was from HR, announcing a change to the vacation policy. What? That’s interesting. Without hesitation, I click on the attached PDF to see if it was good news or bad. And just like that… I had been phished.I knew that clicking on a suspicious attachment could leave my computer vulnerable to malware and a host of other dangers. But the attachment WASN’T suspicious – it was from HR. But of course it wasn’t. Thankfully for me, this phishing scam was an educational trap laid by our IT department. I really didn’t think I would fall victim to a phishing attack. I was too smart, too clever, too skeptical, too sophisticated. Except for that time I wasn’t. The truth is we are all vulnerable to fraud and scams. We’re all human, so we all make mistakes, have vulnerable moments – and as I learned, it only takes a moment to let the fraudsters in. If you’re looking for a fascinating-horrifying story about how a smart person got pulled into an awful fraud, check out this story in New York Magazine… 👉 The Day I Put $50,000 in a Shoe Box and Handed It to a Stranger Slam the Scam! 👊Last Thursday, March 7th, was the Social Security Administration’s Slam the Scam Day. I find that branding a little silly, but it’s a good reminder to be prepared and think about your vulnerabilities. Here’s the SSA’s Slam the Scam handout – some good reminders. One of the most important things to do here is simply be aware. Remind yourself there are a LOT of bad actors out there, and be skeptical of ANYTHING unsolicited that seems even the slightest bit off. It’s like my dad likes to say… just because I’m not paranoid, doesn’t mean the whole world isn’t against me. Don’t be paranoid, but be cautious and skeptical! (And don’t put $50,000 in a shoe box and hand it to a stranger.) Best, PS: Here’s a New York Times follow-up article on the shoebox fraud and some ideas on how to protect yourself. |
Hi there! I'm a financial planner for therapists!
I help therapists navigate every element of their financial lives: from understanding your practice P&L and building a personal budget to managing student loan debt and investing for retirement... and everything in between. But don't let my love of the tax code and spreadsheets scare you off! You're just as likely to find me with my nose buried in one of Pema Chodron's books as reading up on the latest financial planning techniques.
Hello Reader, I hope this email finds you in the midst of preparing a legendary BBQ, or perhaps strategically placing your lawn chair for the best view of tonight’s fireworks. 🎇 Before your eyes glaze over at the mention of the word “budget”, hear me out. I promise not to drone on with the usual “save more, spend less” mantra. Instead, I’ll share a little secret with you. A budget is not a restriction on your spending, it’s a liberation from financial stress. Think of your budget as your own...
Hello Reader, We’re entering the summer season, which of course means a tax payment will soon be due! 🫤 Your second Estimated Tax Payment is due on June 17th. (Typically June 15th, but that’s a Saturday this year… so you get a few extra days.) Whether you receive part of your Private Practice earnings through a paycheck or not, you typically will need to make Estimated Tax Payments over the course of the year. These Estimated Tax Payments, when combined with any payroll tax withholding, help...
Hello Reader, I’ve been excitedly working on a rent versus buy calculator in my spare time. (I’m a numbers dork, yes this is the type of thing that I get excited about!) 🤓 But the other week I tossed my draft calculator in the garbage bin. 🗑️ Why, you ask? Because the New York Times just came out with a truly EXCELLENT rent versus buy calculator. It was fancier and more slick than anything I could put together and honestly… they’ve thought of everything. As soon as I saw it, I knew I needed...