I'm delighted to welcome back my friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Fralick, MD, PhD. Mike is a creative spirit and has a knack for finding opportunities to positively impact others through his knowledge & expertise. He is a clinician scientist, runs the Fralick lab (which covers the intersection of AI & patient care), and last year published his first book & launched his internal medicine review course. I hope you enjoy this conversation which covers creativity, productivity & ti...
Feb 20, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 85
This is a big one - what happens when we receive a malpractice claim? Medicine is a challenging field with high stakes. We all know colleagues who have been in this situation. I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Todd Watkins , associate CEO of the CMPA (Canadian Medical Protective Association) for a 101 on what to do & what to expect if we get sued. Discussion Points: Dr. Watkins' intro (2:18) What is the CMPA (3:05) How would you hear about a case against you? (6:02) What information is on a statem...
Feb 06, 2025•46 min•Season 1Ep. 84
Today I welcome back Sasha Cucuz, CEO of Greybrook Securities. The focus today is to understand the variables impacting the margins (& expected returns) on investments in real estate development. Discussion points: - Greybrook's high rise model (2:19) - understanding the value of land (3:30) - what variables are controllable? (9:25) - the outlook for pre-construction condos (15:25) - how are margins impacted for condo projects? (24:25) - has the southern Ontario investment thesis changed? (3...
Jan 23, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 83
I've become fascinated with productivity over the last 2 years because it's another tool in our kit to effectively increase the time we have in our lives, so that we can live life on our own terms. I share my experiences over the years & key learnings from 4 of my favourite productivity books (see below). Discussion Points: - why I'm fascinated by productivity (0:40) - hack #1: set your goals & write them down (1:55) - hack #2: figure out your next action step (4:18) - hack #3: plan &...
Jan 09, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Hey gang - this is a re-release of one of the most popular episodes ever. Not out of laziness, but because several listeners have reached out to ask about which credit cards will allow them to elevate their travel game. There's no better time than the start of the new year to talk travel :) I interviewed my guest, Ricky Zhang (founder of Prince of Travel), in the summer of 2023. Most of what's discussed here is still very relevant today. CRITICAL: In the conclusion I summarize key changes you wi...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Today I welcome Aravind Sithamparapillai (MBA), who is an associate at Ironwood Wealth Management. Aravind is becoming known as a tax ninja - he breaks down complex topics nicely for listeners of all levels. While the focus of this episode is meant to be CPP (Canada Pension Plan) & its relevance to business owners, we cover a lot of ground that includes salary vs dividends & tax basics. Discussion Points: Aravind's background (4:18) The basics of tax integration (5:00) Tax integration by...
Dec 12, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Today I'm thrilled to host Dr. Neel Chadha . Neel is a family physician who made the bold decision to go all in on developing retirement residences for seniors. This is a story of embracing new opportunities, taking calculated risks, & pursuing a focused life to find success. Discussion Points: Introduction (1:35) From family medicine & geriatrics to developing senior homes (5:15) Neel's decision to leave the hospital & go all in on senior living (6:55) Neel's retirement residence co...
Nov 14, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 79
The idea for today's pod was born after a riveting conversation on a flight to Florida. I'm happy to host Matthew Lee & Ming Lim from Volition Properties to learn how they've built wealth through investing in multifamily properties in the Toronto core. Discussion Points: - Introductions - worth it, I promise (1:30) - Introduction to Volition (8:15) - The investment thesis for multifamily in Toronto (10:35) - Investment locations (19:50) - Why tenants are so critical to the business model (23...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 78
Today is a little different on beyond MD. My incredible wife, Sima Acharya , interviews me to uncover money & life lessons I've learned over time. Plus, we talk about lessons we've learned as a couple. Discussion points: Sima's introduction (2:00) Starting an idea - how & why beyond MD came to be (6:15) Your spouse doesn't have to be a sounding board for everything (11:45) The biggest lessons learned over time (13:50) What concepts from the pod have I put into practice? (21:40) What podc...
Oct 03, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Today I host my friend & colleague, Dr. Matt Poyner . Matt breaks down the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) & other ways to optimize finances when it comes to our kids' education. Matt is a long time blogger at dividendstrategy.ca , physician, & is now passionate about offering flat fee financial planning. Discussion Points: - Matt's journey & foray into financial planning (2:34) - Basic RESP overview (14:15) - RESP set up - family vs specified (21:05) - Optimal RESP cont...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Mark Halpern (CFP, TEP, MFA-P) is one of the top voices in tax efficient philanthropy in Canada. Earlier this year, Mark interviewed me on the reasons to give, and I came up with 4 reasons important to me that I hope you will find useful. Discussion Points: - my background & journey (3:00) - the journey of beyond MD (6:02) - how my interest in philanthropy evolved (11:20) - reason #1 to give: giving makes is happier - what is the evidence? (13:10) - reason #2 to give: imparting valuable less...
Aug 22, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 75
I'm thrilled to host my friend & colleague, Arjun Saraf (CPA, CA, EMD). We focus on Mortgage Investment Corporations , with a focus on understanding the challenges in the current environment & key considerations when navigating this investment strategy. Discussion points: - Arjun's professional background (5:33) - Quick overview on New Haven's MIC (6:57) - Understanding equity based lending (8:50) - How does a high interest interest rate environment impact a MIC? (12:00) - The MIC busine...
Aug 01, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Today I'm excited to host Justin Manning , a licensed life & health insurance broker from BC, to talk about a topic I've been getting many questions on lately: Health Spending Accounts, HSAs. Discussion Points: - Justin's background (4:05) - What is an HSA/PHSP (4:45) - HSA eligibility (5:42) - Who could benefit from an HSA? (9:45) - What services are covered by an HSA? (11:20) - Can travel insurance be covered by an HSA? (13:29) - Specific services covered/not covered by an HSA (14:20) - Th...
Jul 11, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Today I'm thrilled to welcome Jason Pereira , award winning financial planner to the show to re-explore pension plans for professionals. The focus is on the IPP, the individual pension plan. Discussion Points: - Individual Pension Plan (IPP) overview (2:40) - Jason's background (5:25) - key definitions - defined benefit (DB) & defined contribution (DC) pensions (6:10) - how is the DB of an IPP calculated? (7:18) - When to start an IPP? Thoughts on waiting longer & reducing fees (11:20) -...
Jun 20, 2024•59 min•Season 1Ep. 72
I am delighted to host international best selling author, Andrew Hallam , on today's episode. We have a wide ranging discussion on the pillars of a successful life, the relationships between money & home ownership & happiness, spending money to enhance life satisfaction, evidence-based investing for success & simplicity, relationships, purpose, & lessons learned living abroad. Discussion Points/Chapters: - Andrew's background (1:40) - The requisites of a balanced & successful...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Welcome back to beyond MD! Do you have an idea you want to bring to the world? If so, this episode is for you. Today I sit down with Matija Kamikovski, CEO of Precision Finance . Matija has more than a decade of experience leading finance teams at start ups. Discussion Points: Matija's background in guiding startups (4:10) Coming up with a sustainable business idea (7:50) How to get data on the usefulness of your idea (10:25) How do you know people will pay for your idea? (13:05) Attributes lead...
May 09, 2024•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 70
I'm thrilled to host Ali Spinner, one of Canada's most trusted voices in tax, on the implications of the proposed hike in the capital gains inclusion rate. Discussion Points: - Tax 101 & What happened to the capital gains inclusion rate (0:55) - Numerical example with 100K capital gains (5:51) - Has tax integration been violated? Where should we hold certain assets like rental properties? (6:25) - Is it still worthwhile incorporating? (13:30) - A brief history of the capital gains inclusion ...
Apr 20, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 69
I'm happy to have Dr. Kevin Mailo back on the show to discuss what he's learned from investing in real estate (RE) over the last 15 years. We talk about winners and laggards in the portfolio, property managers, challenges with direct ownership in RE, the importance of due diligence in private equity, & how critical it is to understand your "why" in investing. Physician Empowerment's Toronto conference occurs May 25-26 this year and you can save $100 using the discount code YATIN24 at: https:...
Apr 11, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this episode I sit down with Parish Bhumgara from Gardiner Roberts LLP to discuss corporate shareholder agreements (CSA). Discussion points: - Parish's background (2:05) - Corporate shareholder agreements/CSAs: what & when? (2:40) - CSAs: who should consider this? (3:45) - CSA structure (6:20) - CSA share types (8:05) - Key details to be outlined on a CSA (11:03) - Unanimous shareholder agreements (16:33) - Scenarios where CSAs really help (17:33) - Separate corporation to invest in Real ...
Mar 21, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Today I discuss some of my investments. There have been wins along with some subpar performances. I've also caught myself occasionally falling into common investing traps. Today I address it all and what I've learned from my experiences. Discussion points: - #1: focusing too much on price (4:46) - #2: the importance of understanding what you are investing in (9:48) - #3: sometimes it pays to take less drastic action (17:35) - #4: investing in the market at all time highs (25:54) Companies discus...
Feb 29, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Today I welcome Kim GC Moody, one of our country's top tax experts, to discuss AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) changes for 2024 & beyond and the potential implications for high income earners in Canada. The podcast has 3 segments: 1) AMT history & mechanics 2) AMT changes 3) AMT Scenarios Discussion Points: AMT basics (0:47) Table of contents (2:07) Kim Moody's bio (2:41) Intro (3:58) AMT intro, history, & mechanics (6:33) How are tax decisions made in Canada? (12:12) How has AMT chang...
Feb 15, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 65
I'm thrilled to host Dimitre Ranev, MD. Dimitre is a savvy mind when it comes to DIY investing. I've benefitted from his wisdom over the years & I'm excited to pick his brain on his investing approach today. This episode features Arya EHR - https://www.aryaehr.com/ **I endorse only products/services I personally use or would use. I can get commissions that will be used to offset the costs of running this podcast :) Discussion Points: Guest Introduction (3:13) An overview of Dimitre's portfol...
Feb 01, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 64
I'm thrilled to welcome back our colleague, Dr. Ketan Kulkarni, who is a pediatrician, coach, author, & entrepreneur. This is a fun and wide ranging interview. We discuss Ketan’s new book, Soar: A Soul's Quest (link below), what a rich & successful life means to us, how to stick to our core values, time management, financial needle movers, bringing out the best in our kids, & more. Discussion Points: Ketan’s new book, Soar (2:48) Lessons learned after writing 2 books (9:45) Tips for ...
Jan 11, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Thanks for tuning in to part 2 of multiple streams of income with Dr. Stephanie Zhou. One thing I hope people can take away from these interviews is that it's possible for many of us build a diverse and rewarding career....the multiple streams of income is the cherry on top. Discussion Points: Getting paid to offer advice in your area of expertise (0:37) Steph's approach to venture capital (6:08) Income through traditional investments (12:52) Income potential through social media (16:05) Explori...
Dec 15, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Join Dr. Stephanie Zhou in today's episode as she dives into her diverse career and the streams of income that come with it. Dr. Steph specializes in addictions medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital, leads the Financial Literacy Curriculum at the University of Toronto, started the annual Physician Financial Wellness Conference, and was recognized among Canada's 100 most influential women in 2022. Tune in for an insightful conversation on multiple streams of income! Discussion Points: The different typ...
Dec 08, 2023•32 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Hello all! We decided to add a few details to Part 4 on Permanent Life Insurance with Jeff Bernstein (CLU, MFA-P). While some may elect to cancel policies, there are also options for navigating policies without fully exiting, which are covered here in a quick summary: 1. APL (Automatic Premium Loan) 2. RPU (Reduced Paid-Up Option) 3. Premium Offset beyondmdpodcast@gmail.com jeffbernstein@seligman.ca
Dec 06, 2023•4 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Thank you for joining me on the final segment of permanent life insurance with Jeff Bernstein, CLU, MFA-P , owner & managing partner of Seligman Insurance. Discussion Points: - The White Coat Investor & permanent life insurance (1:26) - Who can benefit from permanent life insurance? (3:44) - Commissions on permanent life insurance (8:14) - How do commissions impact your policy? (19:18) - Exit strategies, Canceling a policy (22:15) - Closing remarks (25:51) This episode features Arya EHR ...
Nov 17, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Welcome to Part 3 of Permanent Life Insurance with Jeff Bernstein, CLU, MFA-P, owner & managing partner of Seligman Insurance. Discussion Points: Summary of the death benefit (0:58) Permanent life policies for the kids? (2:58) Corporate Insurance Retirement Plan (6:10) Infinite banking/being your own banker (beware) (18:50) Immediate Financing Arrangement (IFA) (29:17) Jeff Bernstein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreymbernstein/ jeffbernstein@seligman.ca https://seligman.ca/ My links: http...
Nov 16, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Welcome to Part 2 of Permanent Life Insurance with Jeff Bernstein, CLU, MFA-P, owner & managing partner of Seligman Insurance. Discussion points: PAR Whole life investments (2:05) PAR fund performance, dividend scales (5:51) PAR fund actuarial assumptions (9:45) Performance headwinds/tailwinds, dividend smoothing (14:55) Open and closed policy blocks (19:08) Illustrations: what we need to know (23:45) Permanent life insurance as an asset class (31:10) Universal life investments and costs (35...
Nov 10, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 58
It's finally time to tackle permanent life insurance with a series of episodes. I'm thrilled to host Jeff Bernstein, CLU, MFA-P, owner & managing partner of Seligman Insurance as we do a deep dive on this topic. Discussion points: Jeff's background (5:57) What is permanent insurance? (9:30) Considerations for permanent life (12:30) Core concepts: adjusted cost basis & capital dividend account/CDA (16:35) Types of permanent life insurance: Universal Life (UL), Whole-life (WL) (24:35) Part...
Nov 09, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 57
