As a 20+ year Kaiser physician family, my wife (the doctor) and I have often wondered, "are we making the most of her generous benefits from The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG)?" To be honest, not always. Sometimes these were benefits we didn't know about. Other times it was the busyness of two careers and kids.

I'm a financial advisor, and I'm also the spouse who's lived this for over 20 years, mistakes included. I empathize with TPMG physicians and their families navigating not just the benefits, but the financial side of career decisions, like what it means to scale back from a 10/10ths schedule or taking on more leadership responsibility versus staying fully clinical.

If you feel like your career doesn't leave time to sort through benefits, or wonder if you're making the most of them, stay tuned. I'm starting a regular series of articles 1-2 times a month focused on TPMG benefits and personal finance considerations for Kaiser physician families called the "Kaiser Corner." Topics will include areas such as the pension, 401(k), and even legal insurance.

For example, we used the Bright Horizons benefit for backup childcare and summer camp. Yes, summer camp coverage is a thing. It saved our family over $1,000 a year, money we wouldn't have thought to look for if my wife hadn't dug into the details.

The right decisions for our family may not be what's right for yours. It depends on your career stage, family situation, and life goals. I'll share what we've learned over the past 20 years, the considerations behind our decisions, and how you might think through the same ones for your own situation. Along the way, I'll point out financial planning resources available through your benefits that are easy to miss.

If you'd like to follow along, check back regularly, follow me on LinkedIn, or subscribe to my email newsletter. The newsletter goes out 2-3 times a month with education, insights, and a Kaiser Corner update.