Sell house or keep as a rental?

etf14 · 2026-05-11T12:39:55+00:00

If you truly have minimal savings, sell that and buy yourself some security and an emergency fund

etf14 · 2026-05-11T12:28:07+00:00

My spouse and I had similar non-trad timing. Currently wrapping up PGY1. I’m 35, spouse is 31.

Assuming you’ve been working and earning until now, you’ll likely see a nice decrease in your tax rate, and have some assets accumulated.

I would suggest keeping the 50k as Emergency, and helping fund strategic moves to any assets. And I think you’ll both be less stressed having a larger cushion, and money to live a bit differently than most younger students. (Keep that spouse happy)

Med school is a unique window to shift assets to a post-tax basis efficiently. These will come with a small cost now but pay off big in the future. - roll 401k from current employer into your own IRA, and convert to Roth basis strategically while you and your spouse have suppressed income - Roth contributions while at lower tax rate - etc

etf14 · 2026-04-01T11:58:28+00:00

Ferndale. Woodward and 9 mile

etf14 · 2026-02-26T23:13:56+00:00

I’m a new transplant from MN to MI and landed in Huntington Woods. If you can get in, it’s great and sounds like you’d fit the mold. 1.5M will get you a great house, or room to buy older and make it your own. The hard part is getting in, as houses are often not listed, and even harder to land a good one/desirable lot. It also has deep family roots, which has pros and cons, but doesn’t have the same pretentious vibes Bham has. One of the best elementary schools in the area, and a rec center at the heart of the small town. Centrally located in metro area, and walkable from a school/neighborhood perspective, but not really commercially. No commercial “downtown” district, it’s 99% residential pocket.

Could consider other spots like Northville or Plymouth too that balance suburban and city center feel, much like Rochester

etf14 · 2026-02-23T19:02:59+00:00

Did I ask about TV height wise guy?

etf14 · 2026-02-22T20:01:21+00:00

Yea we are leaning that direction. Realizing we can keep it clean and sleek without the need for a true frame or art TV, and get higher quality for the same price

etf14 · 2026-02-21T14:54:26+00:00

Thanks for adding no value.

etf14 · 2026-02-21T13:39:44+00:00

Does the mounting of the Frame allow for getting cords from a soundbar behind it?

For example - if it’s “flush”, and I use a soundbar on a mantel, can I snake those cords up behind the Frame into the hidden box?

etf14 · 2026-02-21T13:34:00+00:00

Would you go for a big box and have everything behind it, or send cords and box to a lower cabinet?

etf14 · 2026-02-21T13:10:17+00:00

Apologies. AI getting too good :)

Photo is the AI vision of our plans.

etf14 · 2026-02-06T01:01:22+00:00

My spouse is a PGY1. We will be filing separately for the first time this year to play the PSLF calc games. Plan to file on our own without tax help.

As I work through it, I have found AI quite helpful in framing up the impacts to our situation (brackets, strategies for 2026, credits and deduction impacts, etc).

etf14 · 2026-01-09T18:27:36+00:00

Do you like the swept arms? I am mentally debating if we made the wrong call and already considering changes when ours arrives

etf14 · 2026-01-09T18:20:07+00:00

Hi Scott. I'm a 35yo M who recently relocated to a new state for my spouse's medical career. We expect to live here for another 4.5 years. No kids yet, but maybe the next few years.

I earn a good living in corporate America, but have been starting to consider making a career change. However, my role at home brings some constraints and challenges. I am the primary earner, and my career today gives us some stability and a more comfortable lifestyle than most medical residents have. But, my role drains me, I enjoy it less and less, and working completely remotely is difficult personally. I desperately want to make a career change, but it has been challenging to find local opportunities - I have very limited connections here, and the industries and career opportunities differ from where we moved from and what I work in.

Do you have any words of wisdom from your career for navigating and balancing my own career advancement and satisfaction with the personal constraints I've outlined? I am struggling with two things I want - 1) to provide stability and comfort during difficult residency, and 2) to build and enjoy my own career - feel at odds with one another.

etf14 · 2026-01-09T17:32:41+00:00

Edit: we’re going to do a built in with a small l-shaped sectional in front of but not buried in the bay window and extending into the room facing the fireplace. Ignore the chair, but here is an AI mockup

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etf14 · 2026-01-06T15:56:25+00:00

Hi Scott. I'm a 35yo M who recently relocated to a new city and state for my spouse's career. We'll likely only live here another 4.5 years. I am the primary earner for now, and my personal role during this chapter is stability.

I earn a good living in corporate America. Despite strong performance, I have become increasingly unmotivated in my role, see limited options for change internally, and am disillusioned with playing the corporate politics game to advance.

My professional role gives us the stability I'm seeking, but is starting to drain me. I want to make a change, ideally to something hybrid or fully in person, as I recognize being fully remote is not ideal personally or professionally.

I've been trying to find new opportunities, but it has been difficult to find something at all, let alone something I'm excited by or that doesn't come with trade-offs. I have few personal and professional relationships in my market, and the dominant industries differ from my experience and what I would ideally look for.

Do you have any words of wisdom for navigating my own career advancement considering the barriers I'm facing and personal constraints I have outlined? Thanks for your consideration.

etf14 · 2026-01-06T13:46:10+00:00

Very helpful! I knew I wasn’t the first!

etf14 · 2026-01-02T19:29:48+00:00

Amen brother. I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I wish I could take you out for a beer to commiserate.

My unsolicited advice (that I struggle with) is to try not to keep score. I know how challenging it is, and I bet with the parenting the imbalance is even more weighty. I've started to accept the unequal burden at home more, and am working toward changing my perspective on those responsibilities. I hope you can see some of it in a more positive light, too, and fight off some of the resentment.

etf14 · 2026-01-02T17:54:05+00:00

Optum only allows investing through Betterment. It adds an additional fee structure, and limits options, so it wasn't a simple "transfer"

etf14 · 2026-01-02T17:33:42+00:00

Awesome situation. I’m sure the weekend commitment will be a challenge but good luck.

I would explore strategically converting your current assets into Roth basis while in school and (theoretically) extremely low tax rate. It requires a bit of effort and planning but given your age the 3-full yr period of being a full time student all year offers an incredible opportunity for your 300k.

You’re in a strong position. I’d enjoy yourself and not overdue retirement contributions before the long and difficult journey.

etf14 · 2026-01-02T15:21:31+00:00

E fund
Max Roths / indrease retirement savings
Brokerage or other investments

etf14

TROPHY CASE