For a plausible explanation of how the nation's economy melted down in 2008, read "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis. The book not only boasts solid writing, but it's peppered with wisdom and insight into the workings of Wall Street.

The median family practitioner retires with a net worth of $2.5 million and the average cardiologist has $5.2 million. Although these numbers may qualify doctors as being “rich” among some people’s perceptions, most physicians would say they sure don’t feel or act rich.

More doctors, including yours truly, are avoiding Medicare patients, not just because of pay cuts but because you need to be a master coder to get fully reimbursed. And a crucial factor that isn't often mentioned in the debate over doctor pay is that senior patients take far more time per visit -- time that is not money.

Doctors need to start thinking seriously about insurance company ratings and rankings, as our incomes and status will increasingly become hostage to them. History shows that attempting to bring incentives to bear on physicians to reduce costs or improve care often carries a high risk of backfiring.

Although the negotiating aspect of selling a used car hasn't changed, the actual process is a whole different ballgame. It’s worth exploring how to approach a used-car sale, because those of you who figure the benefits of a dealer trade-in outweigh the hassles of selling a car yourself are paying dearly for the privilege.

Non-profit organizations often need money, marketing advice and managerial shoring up, but what they really require is more advice and training at the board level. Being a non-profit board member is a unique position -- and one many physicians should consider.

This week, the doctor mulls the many intersections of money, credit, debt, consumerism, the lending industry, stock prices, real-estate values, hedge funds, healthcare and horses. Buckle up.

What in the world does "macroeconomics" have to do with personal finance? Well, it turns out quite a bit. Many people believe we have no control over the big picture, just our response to it. But by understanding larger forces better, we can increase our control over the bits within our individual grasp.

Travel in Europe is still very expensive -- though it has little to do with the rate of exchange. The dollar has strengthened against the euro in recent months, but money-exchange costs, credit-card fees, and the American urge to shop often wipe out any financial gain.

Many people use debt for immediate gratification, or to plug a leak in a sudden financial hole. But used properly, debt can be a strategic financial-planning tool. Dr. Brown offers up two examples of how his own financial advisor saved him money by helping him to use credit wisely.