Veterinary Financial Podcast

Your perfectionist mindset (the one that makes you an amazing doctor) might not be doing your finances any favors. Here’s what we mean: You’re making countless decisions every single day — from complex medical calls to juggling client conversations to managing your packed schedule. By the time you get to your finances, your brain is fried. So you either overthink everything or just avoid money decisions completely. Learn how perfectionism can show up in your financial life and explore practical strategies to make financial decisions when you're already dealing with decision fatigue.

Key moments:

(04:41) Overcoming analysis paralysis with the “dart method”

(07:09) Set up your 401(k) now — the “worst” investment choice beats waiting for the perfect option later

(11:01) Perfectionism about investing for your student loan tax bomb is actually costing you thousands

(14:39) You're smart enough to do anything, but that doesn't mean you should do everything yourself

(17:08) The one mindset shift that will dramatically improve your finances as a veterinarian

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

Veterinarians are no strangers to financial stress, especially when it comes to student loans. But what happens when those forgiven loans turn into a massive tax bill? Discover what you need to know about the looming tax bomb with student loan forgiveness and how to avoid the costly mistakes vets make when trying to save for it.

Key moments:

(03:20) Using retirement accounts for the tax bomb isn’t the best idea

(04:36) The Roth IRA’s “break glass” option lets you withdraw contributions penalty-free, but there’s a catch

(09:27) Declaring insolvency as a last resort

(17:48) How much should you actually save for the tax bomb?

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

Recent court rulings and policy shifts have created confusion, leaving borrowers wondering what to do next. Should you stay on SAVE, switch plans, or wait it out? We break down what’s happening, why PAYE and ICR are back in the spotlight, and whether sticking with SAVE or switching plans is the smarter strategy.

We’ll also cover key financial factors that could affect your repayment plan, like credit card debt, maternity leave, and tax filing choices. If you’re unsure what this means for you, tune in for insights and next steps to keep your student loan strategy on track.

Key moments:

(03:38) When sticking with SAVE is the smartest financial move

(06:19) Ditching SAVE could fast-track PSLF loan forgiveness

(10:24) Your tax filing status could be the key to lowering your student loan payments

(16:09) If you borrowed federal loans between October 2007 and July 2014, PAYE might be a golden opportunity

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

Veterinarian pay structures can be surprisingly complex — and sometimes, just plain weird. We’re breaking down the most common ways vets get paid, the misconceptions many have about their own compensation, and the hidden pitfalls in different pay structures. Learn about ProSal, production-based pay, and other models and how each impacts your income. If you’re navigating a new contract or trying to make sense of your paycheck, this conversation will give you fresh insights and might even help you earn more.

Key moments:

(02:05) The three ways vets get paid, and why ProSal isn’t as straightforward as it seems

(09:48) Vet pay structures leave plenty of room for errors (and lost income)

(14:26) Salary plus production sounds stable until you realize you’re actually working on commission

(22:01) Emergency vets: Shift pay makes compensation even more complicated

Links mentioned in this episode:

• A Prescription for Change

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

Sign-on bonuses are more common than ever in veterinary medicine, but not every use of that bonus sets you up for financial success. We’re breaking down the top three mistakes we see veterinarians make with their sign-on bonuses, how to avoid them, and what to do instead.

Key moments:

(05:07) Don’t use your sign-on bonus to pay student loans if you’re going for forgiveness — it’s wasted money

(05:56) Using your bonus for a more expensive car can jeopardize your ability to buy the right home

(08:29) Avoid “YOLO investing” in trends like crypto or single stocks

(11:29) Sign-on bonuses can come with strings, here’s how to handle the money to avoid feeling stuck in your job

(16:17) Use this checklist to turn your sign-on bonus into a fast track to wealth

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

Non-compete agreements are creating waves in the veterinary profession, thanks to the FTC’s recent ruling. Financial planner Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, joins us to discuss how these agreements shape your career, why the AVMA is weighing in, and what the potential ban on non-competes could mean for veterinarians everywhere. You’ll learn which states have already banned non-competes, what alternatives employers might use, and how veterinarians can advocate for contracts that work in their favor.

Key moments:

(01:14) What’s inside a typical non-compete agreement for veterinarians

(06:16) How the AVMA is responding to the FTC’s recent ruling on non-competes

(08:33) A firsthand look at how non-competes limit career options

(15:32) States that have banned non-compete agreements — and what it means for vets

(16:38) Practical ways veterinarians can advocate against restrictive contracts

Link mentioned in this episode:

• FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

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 financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

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:

1. AVMA Veterinary Business and Economic Forum
2. 2024 AVMA Economic State of the Profession

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

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 financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com

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

Interested in financial planning built for veterinarians?

Learn more or book a free intro call at allvetfinancial.com