The First in a Series of Seminars Offers Doctors Free Financial Check-Ups In Face Of Rising Malpractice Insurance Rates PR Newswire -- March 3, 2003 Doctors Advised to 'Get Inoculated Against Financial Loss' BOCA RATON, Fla., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctors facing escalating medical malpractice insurance rates can get a prescription for their financial ills in a series of free seminars beginning in March at the Boca Raton Marriott. Kristina Sommerkamp, certified financial planner and former medical malpractice defense investigator, will provide treatment plans for doctors that lay out a number of strategies for asset protection and wealth creation as the U.S. health care crisis broadens. Sommerkamp teams up with an asset protection attorney to help doctors "Get Inoculated Against Financial Loss." "Physicians in Florida have been hit hard by malpractice premiums that have doubled and even tripled for some in the past two years," Sommerkamp said. "These skyrocketing premiums have increased doctors' overheads, while at the same time, their revenues have decreased because of lower reimbursements from private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare. As a result, doctors are in a serious financial crunch." Sommerkamp added that medical professionals might have to stop performing certain services or procedures, retire early or leave the state. As this malpractice crisis continues, doctors can't wait for state and federal governments to fix the problem, she said. "Doctors should be asking themselves now: Are my assets adequately protected? What's my buy-out strategy? How is my property titled? Do my partners have adequate malpractice insurance?" Sommerkamp said. "There is a minefield of options that physicians have to pick through in order to take charge of their finances. And they should do that when their finances have the sniffles rather than pneumonia." Sommerkamp's first financial seminar for doctors will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 5 with dinner served at the Boca Raton Marriott, 5150 Town Center Circle. Physicians can RSVP by calling (561) 750-9800 ext. 15. Sommerkamp, ChFC, CFP, a registered investment advisor affiliate, has been successfully providing sound financial advice and insurance services for more than 20 years to medical professionals, high net-worth investors, business owners and retirees. Owner of Sommerkamp Insurance and Financial Services based in Boca Raton, Sommerkamp focuses on estate and retirement planning, business life insurance, group and individual health insurance, employee benefits and pension planning. CONTACT: Angel Streeter of TransMedia Group, +1-561-750-9800, ext. 21, or AStreeter@transmediagroup.com