With the recent student loan repayment changes, many veterinarians are facing a much bigger bill than before.

Whether you’re moving from SAVE to PAYE, preparing for Old IBR in a couple of years, or switching plans and suddenly seeing your payment double, the jump can feel overwhelming. You’re not alone in this — and you can prepare.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through five key steps to help you get ready for higher student loan payments:

• Know your next steps: Which plan are you eligible for, and what payment can you expect? If you’re married, could you save money by switching your tax filing status?

• Get clear on your budget: Use Monarch Money, a spreadsheet, or whatever works - awareness is key.

• Build breathing room: Practice your higher payment now to avoid a cash-flow shock later.

• Be intentional with your compensation: Negotiate for higher pay, stronger production, or better benefits. And if you’re picking up extra shifts, make sure they’re in alignment with your goals — not just a reaction to student loan stress.

• Shift your perspective: Remember, the COVID pause was unusual — higher payments are tough, but you can adapt.


If you’ve been feeling stressed or blindsided by your new payment, this episode will give you both the tools and perspective to move forward.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 67: What the new Student Loan Bill Means for Veterinarians
• Debt-Free Vets Facebook Group

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Christine Staten, DVM, MBA has been a veterinary practice owner for over 20 years, and in that time, has made lots of great decisions (and some she wouldn’t make again!) while growing her practice and her team. Dr. Christine joins Meredith to share her story and why she’s so passionate about helping other vets build veterinary practices that succeed so they can keep doing the work they love.

Key Topics:

• Christine shares how she started on the path to becoming a vet practice owner
• Christine gives practical advice for how to manage a team and utilize data and strategic team retreats to accelerate business growth
• The value of community for practice owners to combat isolation and being overburdened by your responsibilities
• How going back to school to get an MBA in her 50s further improved her veterinary practice
• Why work life balance is impossible, and what you should aim for instead
• Christine’s personal framework for managing stress, burnout, and day-to-day worries

Links and resources:

• Connect with Christine on Instagram @veterinary_mba 
• Find Christine Staten and her community of veterinary practice owners at veterinary-mba.com as well! 

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

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• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts 

Veterinary medicine and financial planning share a common framework: history-taking, diagnostics, treatment or action plans, and progress exams. Recognizing these parallels can help make money conversations less intimidating and much more familiar for veterinarians.

Key Topics:

• How financial planning and veterinary medicine share the same step-by-step process
• Working up a case in vet med mirrors working up a case in financial planning
• The role of history-taking and information gathering in both fields
• How treatment plans compare to financial action plans
• Why progress exams and financial check-ins serve the same purpose
• How my clinical background shapes my financial advice

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Medical records have historically been one of the biggest time drains and stressors in veterinary practice. AI notetakers, also called scribes or transcription tools, are changing that.

I share stories from my ER career and financial planning work, along with insights from veterinarians in the Debt-Free Vets Facebook group, on how these tools save time, improve accuracy, and reduce late-night record writing. You’ll also hear strategies that can help when AI isn’t an option.

Veterinarians describe how AI notetakers have transformed their daily workflow—helping them juggle multiple cases, keep up with busy shifts, and finally stop staying late just to finish records.

Highlights include:

• The challenges of managing medical records in busy clinical settings
• How AI notetakers can save time, reduce errors, and boost efficiency
• What veterinarians are saying about their favorite tools
• The cost of an AI notetaker - and why it may be worth paying for yourself if your hospital won’t
• Other efficiency tools, including human scribes and TextExpander

Whether you’re curious about AI notetakers, overwhelmed by incomplete records, or just looking for ways to reclaim your time, this conversation offers real-world insights into how these tools are changing veterinary practice.

Links and Resources:

• Debt-Free Vets Facebook group
• Thread in Debt-Free Vets on AI notetakers

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Perfectionism might have helped you get into vet school, but it could be holding you back financially. Dr. Jason Balara joins Meredith to talk about how an “all or nothing” mindset can sabotage your financial goals and delay meaningful progress. Jason is a board-certified veterinary surgeon and founder of Lark Capital, a real estate investment firm.

They explore:

• Why striving for excellence beats chasing perfection
• How perfectionism shows up in investing, budgeting, and student loan strategies
• Why it’s better to start small than wait for the “perfect” financial plan
• How Jason restructured his career to prioritize time and autonomy

Whether you’re working toward loan forgiveness, thinking about launching a side business, or feeling stuck because you don’t have all the answers—this episode will help you take action without waiting for perfect conditions.

Links and Resources:

• Contact Jason Balara at [email protected] or on LinkedIn
• Check out the Know Your Why Podcast with Dr. Jason Balara

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or check out allvetfinancial.com

In this episode, I walk through what the student loan changes in the Big Beautiful Bill mean for current and future veterinary students.

If you’re already in repayment, be sure to check out the previous episode, which covers what these changes mean for veterinarians who have already graduated.

Most of the updates won’t take effect until July 1, 2026, but they’re important to understand now—whether you’re a student or someone who mentors future vet students.

Key topics include:

• Who is and isn’t affected by the new $200k federal student loan cap
• When the changes take effect and which class years are impacted
• Grad PLUS loans are going away—and what that means for vet students
• What we know about the new RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan) so far
• How consolidation strategy may shift next year
• How this bill may affect access to the profession going forward

I also share practical advice for current students, future students, and anyone advising future applicants—as well as my thoughts on how these changes could reshape the veterinary profession.

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

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• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts 

In early July, the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law, bringing sweeping changes to student loans. In this episode of the Veterinary Financial Podcast, I’m breaking down what the bill means for veterinarians who have already graduated and are already in repayment.

Key topics include:

• What happens if you're on IBR, PAYE, or SAVE
• A closer look at the new 30-year RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan)
• What happens if you don’t make a new plan selection by 2028
• Important tax and spousal income considerations
• A couple of bright spots—like employer benefits and servicer funding

I also answer top questions from the Debt-Free Vets Facebook group and share what vets should be thinking about now to stay ahead of the changes.

Stay tuned for the next episode where I’ll focus on how the bill impacts current and future vet students.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Debt-Free Vets Facebook Group

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts 

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Allvet Financial - a virtual, fee-only financial planning firm serving veterinarians and their partners nationwide.

In this episode, I share the story behind starting my own firm, my path from ER vet to financial planner, and why I believe vet-specific financial planning matters.

You’ll hear about:

• Why I launched a firm built just for veterinarians

• My transition from ER vet to financial planner

• How I help clients navigate student loans, income shifts, and big decisions

• The challenges vets face that most planners don’t understand

• What it’s like to work with me at Allvet Financial


If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to connect!

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts 

Are you working relief shifts as a self-employed vet—or thinking about it? In this Q&A episode, I answer some of the most common questions that came up when I recently asked the Debt-Free Vets Facebook group: “Self-employed relief vets—what financial questions do you have?” From choosing the right business structure to navigating taxes, retirement savings, and health insurance, we cover the essentials (and the often-overlooked details) that can make or break your financial confidence as a relief vet.

• Do you need an LLC or PLLC to do relief work?
• Why getting an EIN can protect your privacy
• How to separate business and personal finances (and why it matters)
• Pros and cons of a Solo 401(k) vs. SEP IRA
• Navigating quarterly taxes
• Common tax write-offs for relief vets

• Contact Meredith: [email protected]
• Debt-Free Vets Facebook Group
• Episode 59: Perfectionist Traps That Are Costing You Money

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts 

Student loans are still in a state of chaos, and Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC® is here to help you make sense of it all. From court rulings to sweeping legislative proposals, borrowers are facing a confusing and rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you're pursuing forgiveness, considering switching repayment plans, or just trying to keep your head above water, this episode helps you understand what’s happening now, what could be coming, and what actions (if any) veterinarians and vet students should take.

Key topics:

• The status of the SAVE plan and what borrowers should consider if switching to IBR

• What’s actually in the House reconciliation bill—aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

• How the proposed RAP plan could impact veterinarians specifically

• What changes might be coming to PSLF, Grad PLUS, and borrowing limits for future vet students

• Why panicking (or refinancing) is not the move right now

• One overlooked benefit in the bill that could help borrowers long term

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Debt-Free Vets Facebook Group
• Adam Minsky – Student Loan Updates on Forbes

Interested in vet-specific financial planning?

Schedule a free intro call or email [email protected]

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts