My Goals for 2025
After the corks have been popped and the champagne drunk, after Auld Lang Syne has been mumbled and the confetti has landed, after the hangovers have abated and the good luck beans have been eaten, it’s a new year and time for my 2025 goals article. But first, let’s review how I did with my 2024 goals.
2024 Reading List
In the article 10 Non-Fiction Books I Want to Read in 2024, I revealed my plan to read the following 10 books and review each of them on this blog.
Die With Zero – Bill Perkins
Buy Not Build – Walker Diebel
Shoe Dog – Phil Knight
Your Next 5 Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy – Patrick Bet-David
The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve – Edward Griffin
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It – Chris Voss
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions – Dan Ariely
Private Practice MBA: A Step-By-Step Guide To Put Your Practice On Autopilot – Dr. Jeremy Pyle & Robbie Poe
The Laws of Human Nature – Robert Greene
The Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke The World – Liaquat Ahamed
First of all, I’m detecting a trend regarding business book titles. Catchy Phrase, colon, explanation of what the book is about. It must work since 60% of the books on my list share this format. Anyway, how did I perform? I read 7 of the 10 books (pretty good) but only reviewed two of them (pretty bad). I failed to read The Creature from Jekyll Island, Private Practice MBA, and The Laws of Human Nature.
Why didn’t I accomplish this goal? Well, I couldn’t find The Creature from Jekyll Island at the library or the used bookstore, and I have already read The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson (there’s that format again), which I believe touches on similar topics. I planned to buy the book when I was ready to read it, but that time never came. I still want to read it, so I guess I’ll just have to bite the bullet and buy it on Amazon—Ditto for The Private Practice MBA.
I’ve already read two of Robert Greene’s books, and I’m not sure his laws helped me become better at seduction or gaining power, so his title was the last on my priorities, and I just never got to it. I read several other books not on the list, giving me 12 or 13 for the year. I try to read about 1 book a month, so I hit the target in volume but not selection.
While I did release reviews of Die With Zero and Shoe Dog, I discovered that writing them felt a little too much like homework, which hurt my enthusiasm for the project. I did start writing reviews for Buy Not Build and Never Split the Difference, but since I was actively negotiating an acquisition, I felt it wasn’t wise to write publicly about the tips I learned until after the deal closed in November. I may or may not finish and publish them in 2025. I plan on writing about Your N
Capital Gains Harvesting: A Useful Tool for APPs?
Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) can take advantage of capital gains harvesting to reduce future tax burdens and optimize investments. This strategy allows you to reset the cost basis of your taxable assets while staying within the 0% capital gains tax bracket, making it particularly valuable for married APPs or those with lower taxable incomes. In this article, we break down how capital gains harvesting works, why it’s beneficial, and provide real-life examples to illustrate how you can use it to achieve long-term financial freedom.
5 Micro-Habits to Improve Your Financial Health in 2025
As the year comes to a close, it’s time to evaluate financial habits and prepare for a stronger 2025. This article outlines five easy micro-habits that can make a big impact on your financial health. From tracking expenses and packing lunch to automating savings, implementing a 24-hour purchase rule, and listening to financial podcasts, these small adjustments can help you stay accountable, reduce unnecessary spending, and increase your financial literacy. Start the new year in control of your finances with these actionable tips.
A Very FI Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving often feels overshadowed by other holidays, but it remains a time to reflect on gratitude. As an ER doctor and father, I cherish the chance to pause and appreciate family, health, and the little luxuries that life and financial independence afford. This year, despite a hectic schedule, I’m bucking the trend to openly celebrate Thanksgiving and everything for which I am thankful, from sentimental family traditions to the peace of mind that comes with financial security.
Why Financial Independence Matters to Me
In a world where debt and consumer spending are the norm, I’ve chosen a different path: financial independence. From rising housing costs to the trap of car payments, the stats I encounter remind me why I’m so driven to teach my children financial literacy and secure a stable future. Financial independence isn’t just a personal goal—it’s a legacy I’m building for my family, one that will allow us the freedom to live life on our terms. By breaking the cycle of debt and focusing on smart financial choices, I’m creating a path that empowers both my family and the next generation of medical professionals to make values-based decisions and prioritize financial security.
Top 5 Personal Finance Books
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”] I have already released my top 10 business book recommendations and could have easily added another ten. Regarding personal finance, I could only come up with five, and two could be considered just […]
One Year of Business is the Best Medicine
As Business is the Best Medicine quietly turned one year old in September 2024, we were too busy to celebrate. Heather was deep in preparation for our second annual education conference, and I was balancing ER shifts while finalizing my lectures. The event was a success, and now that things have settled, I have time to reflect on the past year. It’s been filled with highlights, growth, and more positives than negatives. From starting the blog after years of contemplation to consistently publishing over 100 articles, we’ve made strides in sharing insights and learning along the way.
New Podcast Appearance
Dr. Slater plugs his most recent podcast appearance “The Perfect Scam”.
The World Benefits from FI
In this article, Dr. Slater reflects on how reducing consumption serves both personal financial goals and the well-being of the environment. Sharing a personal experience of cleaning up beach trash with his family, he highlights the scale of plastic pollution and draws a parallel between that effort and achieving financial independence. Dr. Slater emphasizes that consuming less not only lowers retirement savings needs but also helps reduce the waste damaging our oceans and landfills. By making small changes, like cutting down on single-use plastics and being mindful of purchases, we can positively impact both our finances and the environment.
Outwitting the Devil
I wrote this review of Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill because this book provided me with valuable insights into overcoming fear and doubt, something I’ve faced on my journey as both an entrepreneur and a medical professional. Sharon Lechter brought this long-unpublished manuscript to modern readers, and it couldn’t be more relevant today. Hill explores how fear, doubt, and indecision lead us to drift through life, a concept that deeply resonated with me. He distinguishes between drifters—those who lack purpose and are easily influenced by external fears—and non-drifters, who set clear goals and take charge of their lives. One key takeaway for me was Hill’s emphasis on mindset over strategy. He argues that focusing on abundance and taking action, even if imperfect, is crucial to success. Hill also reframes failure as a necessary step toward growth, highlighting examples like Bill Gates and Michael Jordan, who turned setbacks into opportunities for success. His advice on avoiding drifting—through financial literacy, teaching our kids self-motivation, building strong habits, and staying true to our vision—struck a chord with me. This review aims to share these powerful insights with fellow entrepreneurs and medical professionals who, like me, are navigating the challenges of balancing ambition, focus, and continuous growth.
