If we were hoping for some kind of stability in our lives, 2025 has proven us wrong. This year has been pretty uneventful in terms of finances, which is a good thing overall, but doesn’t give much to write about for a financial blog. On the other hand, both in our personal and professional lives, things have been progressing positively.
Our finances
A few years back, we sold our home in Maine and used the profits to reach key financial and personal goals. Since that time, we’ve felt a level of financial security that neither of us had ever experienced before. While we’re not quite ready to retire just yet and are still maximizing our retirement contributions, our anxiety about money has eased a bit. I still prepare homemade lunches and thrift shop for clothes, but we did treat each other to new skis for Christmas. It feels good—almost extravagant.
Ironically, despite feeling financially comfortable, we weren’t the best at managing our finances in 2025. Fear can be a strong motivator, after all. I also stopped using Empower, the account aggregator I’d relied on, since its accuracy seemed off. Now, I’ve turned to spreadsheets, but, truth be told, I haven’t been very diligent in keeping them updated. That’s something I think we should work on for 2026. More diligent tracking of our finances.
This year, our net worth increased, largely thanks to the stock market. We adhered to our financial plan and chose to ignore the ups and downs of the market this year. This approach has benefited both our investment portfolio and our mental well-being. Definitely something to recommend.
We might not have the same geographic advantages as some Midwestern doctors, but living within our means is easier when the local style leans towards “Farmer’s Market Vendor.” I couldn’t control the costs of renovating our house, which ended up totaling around $500,000, far exceeding my initial estimate of $300,000. Watching our savings shrink was tough, yet we were fortunate to have the means to replenish it through work we truly enjoy. As my husband said, we’re set to stay in this house for the long haul, and we’ll likely never need to replace the roof again, which is oddly reassuring.
Portfolio performance in 2025 (including real estate!)
Crystal ball predictions for 2026
Profession
I found great satisfaction in my work at an academic medical center, guiding second-year medical students and overseeing first-years. I also stayed in hospitality for a bit, and spent about five weeks working in a pediatric outpatient clinic for a tribal health organization in Alaska. In August, I got a chance for a two-week rotation with a pediatric resident, which was a personal goal for me.
Meanwhile, my husband worked part-time (4-8 days a month) at a local hospital on a contract basis while building his own practice. Initially focusing on cash-only vasectomies, he soon realized the local demand just wasn’t there. He continued this aspect of care, but in November, he expanded to general urology patients and started accepting insurance.
Real estate investment
We acquired an investment property, and thankfully, the process went smoothly. Additionally, we own a small office building where my husband runs his urology practice and leases space to other practitioners—two nurse practitioners, a physical therapist, and a dietitian. We envision expanding this office to accommodate growing needs, but our main focus has shifted to a bigger project: establishing an outpatient surgery center.
This endeavor involves my husband, an orthopedic surgeon, and a neurosurgeon. It’s a significant project with numerous meetings involving architects and contractors. The learning experience has been extensive. As of now, we’ve submitted our Certificate of Requirement application, and our group has selected a consultant and a building. Clinicians will entirely own the business, and the surgery center plans to provide some medical care for uninsured patients.
So far, our personal investment has been $5,000 in initial funding since our partners have handled most of the groundwork. We’ve spent at least $100,000 on consulting fees up to this point, and as more staff come on board, the costs will understandably escalate. We’re aiming to kick off construction this year and start operations in 2027.
Future plans
My husband and I hope to continue working effectively in the coming years, but we do find ourselves discussing retirement and what we’ll leave our children.
We finalized our estate planning in 2024 and started transferring assets to the trust in 2025. It might be helpful to note that actually funding the trust you created is crucial.
While we don’t hand our kids cash, we do save for their college education—mostly through 529 plans—and we match what they earn in a Roth IRA. I believe this is an excellent way to pass on assets while we’re still here since they grow tax-free and can later be used for things like buying a home.
At home front
My eldest son graduated college and has now begun graduate studies in biochemistry. His ambition is to strike it rich in the pharmaceutical sector and retire by age 40—he’s definitely his father’s son. All three of our children are happy, diligent, and genuine, and I can’t ask for more.
This year, my husband produced about 40 gallons of maple syrup, most of which we gifted away while keeping some for ourselves. I also got involved with the Nordic ski program at a local elementary school. In a bid to be more social in 2025, I even hosted a book club once.
We started with one dog this year and now have three. Just some simple math.
For the future, I anticipate that 2026 will revolve around our major professional and financial project: launching our new ambulatory surgical center. My husband and his team have now brought a consultant on board, but they still face the challenge of renovating the premises and establishing the business. Concurrently, my husband and I need to navigate how to fund this venture. With retirement on the horizon and another six years of college tuition ahead, it’s definitely a puzzle—thankfully, I enjoy puzzles.
Heading into 2026:
- I plan to improve how I track our finances.
- I will continue my work in Alaska and enhance our resident rotation.
I didn’t attend Wishicon last year for nostalgic reasons, but I intend to return in 2026. If you’re there too, please find me; I’d love some company.
This marks my fourth year reflecting on the past year while setting intentions for the upcoming one. Some goals have been accomplished, while others have fallen by the wayside. Here’s to making this year one of self-growth and acceptance. Here’s to a happy 2026!
