Veterinarians take on jaw-dropping levels of student debt, often pay longer than other professions, and face repayment rules that seem anything but fair. Travis Hornsby, founder and CEO of Student Loan Planner and SLP Wealth, joins us in unpacking why veterinarians are often left with the short end of the stick under current student loan rules. He shares how he uncovered this systemic issue and the viral article that started a conversation in the vet world. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by student loans or wondered how to navigate them as a vet, this episode gives you actionable insights and a dose of real talk about what’s broken — and what vets can do to get their own loans on track.

Key moments:

(04:19) Limited lobbying power leaves veterinary medicine at a disadvantage compared to human health care when it comes to student loans

(10:50) Pandemic pet adoptions and retirements have boosted salaries in veterinary medicine

(15:27) New vet schools could flood the labor market, potentially driving incomes down due to increased competition

(20:29) Pet owners are treating animals more like family, increasing demand for high-quality care

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Veterinarians Are Treated Horribly Under Student Loan Rules

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 

New grad veterinarians are clocking in far more hours than they expected — 5 extra hours a week, to be exact. It may not sound like much, but it adds up to six full weeks of additional work. That’s six weeks of your year gone. Financial planners Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC®, and David Aizuss, CSLP®, unpack surprising findings from the AVMA Business and Economic Forum and explore what’s driving the gap between expectations and reality. They dig into the data, break down the post-pandemic shifts shaping the industry, and ask the big questions about what it means for the future of veterinary medicine.

Key moments:

(03:27) The 40-hour workweek doesn’t line up with today’s veterinary realities

(06:45) Burnout isn’t new, but it’s evolved for vets since 2019

(13:05) A bold take on why most vets can say “yes” to working less

(18:49) Systemic solutions we’re seeing that could reshape veterinary medicine

Links mentioned in this episode:

• AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum
• 2024 AVMA Economic State of the Profession

Roth IRAs are powerful tools, but they can be tricky to navigate. Financial planners Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC®, and David Aizuss, CSLP®, share the top mistakes they’ve seen veterinarians make when it comes to Roth IRAs. From earning limits to backdoor Roths and knowing when a Roth IRA isn’t the best fit, you’ll get clear, practical advice to feel confident about your financial future.

Key moments:

03:31 Roth IRA earning limits and how they impact your ability to contribute

11:21 The biggest mistake vets need to avoid with backdoor Roth IRAs

16:04 The downsides of contributing post-tax money to a traditional IRA

23:30 Filing taxes as married filing separately can block Roth IRA eligibility

28:28 Situations where a Roth IRA isn’t the best fit and better alternatives to consider

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 

Curious about the top investing questions veterinarians are asking? We turned to the Debt Free Vets Facebook group to find out what’s on their minds. From saving for retirement without an employer plan to tackling the student loan tax bomb, these are the biggest concerns vets are discussing. Financial planners Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC®, and David Aizuss, CSLP®, break it down with clear answers and actionable advice.

Key moments:

[01:35] What to know about saving for retirement without an employer plan

[05:15] Smart strategies to invest and prepare for the student loan tax bomb

[13:50] Deciding between pretax and Roth contributions for your financial goals

[17:49] How to approach bonds in your portfolio if retirement is still far away

[24:19] Retiring without maxing out your accounts is possible, but if you do, here’s what comes next

DVMs deserve financial experts who speak their language. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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 

Tired of financial advice that doesn't account for ProSal, production bonuses, or your mountain of student debt? Financial planners Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC®, and David Aizuss, CSLP®, reveal insider strategies that have helped over 200 veterinarians build wealth. You deserve more than one-size-fits-all financial advice — discover how to fast-track your path to financial success with strategies made for DVMs. 

Key moments:

• 07:05 Fluctuating income? How to make the most of every paycheck
• 10:04 Plan ahead for career transitions with a solid financial game plan
• 14:13 Vet med career paths, from practice ownership to exploring new directions
• 14:53 DVM mortgage vs. a conventional loan, plus strategies to save more on taxes

DVMs deserve financial experts who speak their language. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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 

We welcomed David Aizuss back to the podcast with a special announcement about the future of the Veterinary Financial Podcast. Willie talks about the projects he’s been working on with his non-profit and pursuing practice ownership. We also discussed financial freedom for veterinarians, working with financial planners, and student loans. 

• A transition with the Veterinary Financial Podcast
• What projects has Willie been busy with?
• Why did David choose to work with veterinarians?
• What is it like working with Student Loan Planner?
• Why is it important to work with a financial planner who understands student loans?
• What is one of the biggest concerns for vets who first start working with a financial planner?

Get $100 off your consultation with Student Loan Planner: https://bit.ly/4eH4SUw

Ways to connect with Veterinary Financial Summit: 

https://VetFinancialSummit.com

Instagram: @vetfinancialsummit

Willie's Instagram: @willieb

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetFinancialSummit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetfinancialsummit

Email: [email protected]

Meredith: [email protected]

David: [email protected]

We asked Chris Kelly, Managing Partner for Antelligence and Editor-in-Chief for Veterinary Advantage Magazine about trends in veterinary practices over the last few years, the Fountain Report, pet ownership trends, and the future of veterinary medicine.

- What trends has Chris seen in veterinary medicine over the last few years?

- What is the focus of the Veterinary Advantage Magazine?

- What is the Fountain Report?

- What are the most recent pet ownership trends?

- How do these trends impact independent practices and how can they compete with corporate groups?

- What does the future have in store for veterinary medicine?

Download the Veterinary Enterprise Practice Report: https://epr.antelligence.com

Subscribe to the Fountain Report: https://antelligence.com/the-fountain-report/

Ways to connect with Chris: 

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-kelly-7221a2/

Ways to connect with Veterinary Financial Summit: 

VetFinancialSummit.com

Instagram: @vetfinancialsummit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetFinancialSummit

Email: [email protected]

We asked David Aizuss, financial planner at SLP Wealth, student loan consultant with Student Loan Planner, and mortgage loan officer, about special mortgage strategies for vets, how to plan ahead for closing, and how home-buying fits in with financial planning. 

- What are some special mortgage considerations and strategies for veterinarians?

- What else should vets consider when home buying that’s unique to the veterinary profession?

- How do you plan for how much cash you will need at closing?

- What is a typical down payment?

- How does home-buying fit into financial planning?

Work with Student Loan Planner / SLP Wealth: https://www.studentloanplanner.com/webinar-discounts/?utm_source=Debtfreevets&utm_medium=Fb

Ways to connect with David:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-aizuss-912bb9113/

Ways to connect with Veterinary Financial Summit: 

https://VetFinancialSummit.com

Instagram: @vetfinancialsummit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetFinancialSummit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetfinancialsummit

Email: [email protected]

We asked David Aizuss, financial planner at SLP Wealth, student loan consultant with Student Loan Planner, and mortgage loan officer, about how to set yourself up for success when buying a home, how to find a good mortgage loan, and some pitfalls to watch out for.

- Why did David switch to financial planning and decide to work with veterinarians?

- How do you set yourself up for success when buying a home?

- How do you find a good mortgage loan?

- What is pre-approval and what are some of the pitfalls to watch out for?

- How is debt-to-income considered when buying a home?

Work with Student Loan Planner / SLP Wealth: https://www.studentloanplanner.com/webinar-discounts/?utm_source=Debtfreevets&utm_medium=Fb

Ways to connect with David:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-aizuss-912bb9113/

Ways to connect with Veterinary Financial Summit: 

https://VetFinancialSummit.com

Instagram: @vetfinancialsummit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetFinancialSummit

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetfinancialsummit

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss budgeting in-depth. We discuss why creating a cash flow plan is important, share budgeting resources, and talk about discovering what is important to you to determine where your money is best spent.

- Why is it important to budget?

- What are some apps that can help with budgeting?

- What are our best tips for creating a budget and sticking to it?

- How do you pick up on trends in your budget to plan for the future?

- What are some tips for reducing expenses and increasing income?

Ways to connect with Veterinary Financial Summit: 

VetFinancialSummit.com

Instagram: @vetfinancialsummit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetFinancialSummit

Email: [email protected]