Starting up and maintaining a website/blog is a lot of hard work as I quickly found out.
Although this has been a labor of love, to paraphrase Jim Dahle of the White Coat Investor, “If there is an opportunity to monetize an endeavor, you would be a fool not to take it.”
If you can get paid for what you are doing anyway, why not take advantage of it?
From the beginning I have had some attempts at monetizing my blog that I did not care for, namely using Google AdSense (which should more appropriately be called Google AdCents because, unless you are a big time website, it pays out pennies a day).
As a radiologist I am a very visual person and it pained me to see my content get visually disrupted by sporadic ads (often having nothing to do with the topic at hand) inserted in places I had no control of.
As my readership grew (thank you by the way), I was able to make some meaningful connections with sponsors who have graciously agreed to support this blog in exchange for promoting their services (in the form of banner ads you see on the right side panel and occasional guest or sponsored posts).
I am quite selective with which companies I allow advertising on my site and do not just go for the bottom line dollar amounts.
Although I may or may not use some of their services, after great interactions, as well as seeing their advertisements on other well respected websites, I feel comfortable that these sponsors are indeed part of the “good guys” and really look out for their client’s best interests.
[If you do use these services and find this to be contrary, please let me know and I will look into it further and end that relationship if still not satisfied with the explanations.]
If you are looking for experts in a particular field that is served by one of the XRAYVSN advertisers, I ask a favor that you do give them the opportunity to serve you and if so please mention that you were directed to their company because of XRAYVSN (which will allow them to feel the impact of their advertising dollars on this site and hopefully wish to continue this relationship with me).
Hopefully I will never have to resort back to Google AdSense and keep my website visually the way I intended it to be.
Sincerely,
-Xrayvsn
THE SPONSOR HONOR ROLL:
DISABILITY/LIFE INSURANCE
Lawrence B. Keller, CFP
Lawrence B. Keller, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, LUTCF has been in the insurance and financial services industry since 1990.
Unlike medicine, which has a standardized path that physicians must take to gain the education, training and experience requirements necessary to obtain board certification, the insurance and financial services industry does not.
Working with an agent that is familiar with the underwriting of both disability and life insurance policies for physicians can all but guarantee a smooth underwriting process in which the desired outcome is likely.
While he might not be a doctor’s first phone call regarding their insurance needs, he is often their last.
Set For Life Insurance
Set for Life is first and foremost a client centric company.
They listen carefully to the needs of clients and shop around to find the best products available at the best rate.
Their vast level of experience allows them to help clients solve difficult problems.
Because of the volume and exceptional reputation of Set for Life Insurance as well as the relationships they have developed over the years, Set for Life clients have access to special services not available elsewhere in the industry.
This includes special discounts, priority underwriting handling and on some occasions exceptions in the underwriting process.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS:
Contract Diagnostics
Contract Diagnostics is the country’s only firm 100% dedicated to Physician Contract Reviews.
Their proprietary review process focuses around educating their Physician clients on how to negotiate and ask for things, what specifically to ask for, and an overall view of the ‘deal’.
The database they keep around compensation is invaluable to you as you review your offers.
Not a law firm, they provide overall ‘deal’ advice in a much more comprehensive manner than a traditional lawyer would.
While attorney’s review every contract, it is presented in a much different way based on your specific situation.
Private Practice vs Hospital employed? Hospitalist vs Trauma Surgeon? California vs Florida…they are familiar with all the nuances of each specific situation and would love to help with yours.
REAL ESTATE SYNDICATION:
37th Parallel Properties
37th Parallel Properties is a private real estate syndication company that allows accredited investors to gain access to large commercial grade class B multifamily apartments.
In 2018, 37th Parallel was named for the 3rd consecutive year in the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies.
One of the main principals of the company is a physician himself, Dennis Bethel, M.D. who was kind enough to place himself under the X-ray Beam and give great insight and many resources for those considering investing in real estate.
I have invested in 37th Parallel Properties since May, 2017 and have had wonderful experience with this company and I continue to be involved in ongoing deals (currently 6 separate offerings).
STUDENT LOAN REFINANCING:
CommonBond
With college and medical school tuition skyrocketing, it is no wonder that recent graduates are being burdened with large amounts of student loan debt.
Although we have had a decade of a low interest rate environment, the recent trend of the Feds hiking interest rates up incrementally is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
It is therefore wise to lock in low interest rates while they are still available (especially if any of your student loans have a variable rate term).
By lowering your interest rate you can save thousands of dollars as more of your money goes towards the principal.
CommonBond has partnered with XRAYVSN to offer a $200 cash bonus if you refinance through them.
Save money and feel good about yourself in the process as CommonBond has a social mission, Pencils of Promise, donating a percentage of proceeds to support 3rd world schools.
Splash Financial
The mission of Splash Financial is simple:
Provide hardworking graduates like you with more financial freedom, so you can move forward and make a splash in the world.
Splash Financial is an online student loan refinancing platform that helps lower the interest rates on your student loans.
By offering rates as low as 3.75%, refinancing can help you save tens of thousands.
Checking your rates is free, takes two minutes, and will not hurt your credit score.
Refinance more than $30,000 with Splash and you will receive a $500 cash bonus.
Splash was specifically founded to help medical professionals before expanding to all professions in early 2018.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
PHYSICIAN FAMILY FINANCIAL ADVISORS INC.
If you’re not an M.D. or D.O. and you don’t have kids, don’t even consider Physician Family Financial Advisors.
Ben Utley and his team believe children are more likely to realize their full potential when raised in a financially secure household, so they only accept physician families as clients. (They define a physician family as a household with at least one child and one medical doctor.)
Utley also believes financial security should not cost a fortune, so his firm charges a level monthly subscription fee based on the depth of each client relationship, not the depth of your pocket.
As a Certified Financial Planner with more than 20 years experience serving physicians, Ben leads a team of in-house specialists who can address the many financial issues physicians face including budgeting, cash flow, student loans, insurance planning (they don’t sell insurance), retirement planning and college, and of course, investing.
Physician Family may be the most transparent firm in this space. Their prices and services are clearly posted on their website. To learn more, visit physicianfamily.com.
NET WORTH TRACKING/WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Personal Capital
I am a huge fan of Personal Capital and take advantage of their very free generous online tools to help me analyze my portfolio and make sure my asset allocations are where they are supposed to be.
I was so moved by the many features I had at my disposal using the Personal Capital website that I created two posts detailing the benefits that everyone has available completely for free:
- It’s Your Capital. Make It Personal
- It’s Your Capital. Make It Personal Part II
- Step by step guide how to unlock all the benefits of Personal Capital
[There is also a separate paid service offered by Personal Capital where they have professional management of your portfolio for those who want a more hands off investing experience.]
TAX PREPARATION:
2017 was the first year I gave it a go filing my taxes via tax preparation software.
Prior to this I had been paying a local CPA $600/year to file my taxes (remember 2018 tax laws no longer allow this fee to be deducted).
Given that I had a fully paid off home, I later found out that I was getting nothing more than the standard allowable deduction despite paying a premium.
I used the H&R Block software and found it very intuitive with a very easy user interface.
It was helpful to have the prior year’s professionally completed tax return on hand and I was able to quickly input the necessary information.
I have already purchased the 2018 tax software program and it should be an even easier preparation this year as it populates last years return automatically.
NOTE:
If you are a company that would like to sponsor XRAYVSN and consider yourself “one of the good guys and gals” in the financial field with a philosophy that aligns with that of this website and its readers, please contact me for further details on how to add your name to the above illustrious list.
Personal Capital
