Personal Finance for PhDs

How This Non-Budgeting PhD Accomplishes Major Financial Goals

Aug 30, 2021

In this episode, Emily interviews Dr. Alana Rister, a PhD in chemistry and the founder of the Science Grad School Coach. Alana and Emily discuss two major aspects of Alana's finances from grad school and her postdoc: student loans and a condo purchase. Alana's main financial goal during grad school was paying down her...

This Start-Up Centers Graduate Students and Pays Them Handsomely

Aug 23, 2021

In this episode, Emily interviews Jin Chow, a graduate student at Stanford, and Stephen Weber, a graduate student at the University of Georgia. Jin is the co-founder of Polygence, a start-up that facilitates graduate students and PhDs remotely mentoring high school students one-on-one through well-defined research...

What to Do at the Start of the Academic Year to Make Next Tax Season Easier

Aug 16, 2021

In this episode, Emily teaches what various types of PhD trainees can do at the start of the academic year to make next tax season go more smoothly. She covers tracking qualified education expenses, quarterly estimated tax, the Kiddie Tax, and state residency. Please consider sharing this episode on social media or with...

How This Grad Student Plans to Contribute to His Roth IRA Using 529 Money

Aug 9, 2021

In this episode, Emily interviews Ben Wills, who is starting a master's of science at Georgia Tech at age 29. They discuss the interesting jobs and experiences that Ben had in his 20s and why he is now pursuing a graduate degree. Ben's main financial goals for graduate school are to not accumulate any debt and to max...