Veterinary Financial Podcast

Meredith sits down with veterinarian, integrative health and life coach Amelia Knight Pinkston, founder of Life Boost with Amelia, to discuss burnout, nervous system regulation, boundaries, and redefining success in veterinary medicine. Together, they explore hustle culture, burnout, and the pressure many veterinarians feel to postpone happiness until “someday” - along with practical ways to build...

Meredith and Joe discuss the Department of Education’s newly finalized student loan repayment regulations set to take effect July 1, 2026, including the new RAP repayment plan, the tiered standard plan, and several important issues vets should understand before making changes to their loans. Key Topics: How the new RAP repayment plan works Why consolidating loans after July 1, 2026 could be a cost...

Meredith and Joe talk through major student loan rule changes that significantly impact 2026 veterinary graduates, along with advice to help set yourself up for success with student loan repayment. Why consolidation used to make sense for some borrowers The new rule limiting loans disbursed after July 1, 2026 to RAP or Standard repayment Why 2026 graduates should avoid consolidating What new gradu...

Meredith talks about three financial patterns she commonly sees with veterinarians: perfectionism around money, letting student loans drive career decisions, and evaluating compensation too narrowly. These are often decisions that feel reasonable in the moment, but over time can quietly contribute to stress, burnout, and financial stagnation. Key Topics: Why perfectionism can delay financial progr...

It’s easy to get stuck thinking your debt is limiting your options, but your career decisions can still be built around the life and work you want. Meredith and Joe talk about how veterinarians can make career choices that align with their goals and values rather than feeling trapped by student loans. Why the highest-paying job is not always the best fit How income-driven repayment plans can creat...

Relief work has grown quickly in veterinary medicine, and this episode dives into why more vets are choosing it, where burnout can show up, and how to build a sustainable path if relief is on your radar. Meredith and Joe talk with Dr. Andrew Ciccolini of Colorado State University and Serenity Vet. More veterinarians are choosing relief work than in years past Why vets are drawn to relief: flexibil...

Quick update for SAVE borrowers. Meredith and Joe break down what the end of SAVE means and how to plan your next steps. Notices start July 1 with a 90-day window to choose a new plan If no plan is selected, loans may move to Standard repayment You can switch now. PAYE and IBR are available and forgiveness progress carries over Make sure your contact info is up to date so you don’t miss your notic...

Meredith and Joe talk with Dr. Jason Szumski about how mentorship, business ownership, and AI are shaping modern veterinary careers. What new grads should look for in mentorship and how to evaluate a first job How practice owners can better support and recruit early-career veterinarians Jason’s path into business ownership and how he found mentors along the way Balancing clinical work with buildin...

Self-care gets talked about a lot in veterinary medicine, but what does it actually look like for veterinarians in real life? Meredith shares results from a Debt-Free Vets poll about what vets actually spend money on to make this career more sustainable. Poll results: time off and experiences, physical care, therapy, and more What vets are actually spending money on (horses, massages, hobbies, tra...

If you’re trying to lower your taxes and your income-driven student loan payment, your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is the number that drives both. Joe and Meredith walk through the most common ways vets can bring that number down. Key Topics: Making pre-tax retirement contributions and why Roth doesn’t lower AGI Using a Solo 401k with 1099 relief income Contributing to an HSA if you’re on a qualif...

Relief work offers flexibility and higher earning potential, but it comes with unique financial considerations. In this episode, Meredith covers the core money basics relief vets and techs should have in place. Organizing your finances as a relief vet or tech Planning for quarterly taxes for 1099 income Retirement options for self-employed relief vets and techs (Solo 401k, SEP IRA) Using relief wo...

Student loan forgiveness can come with a tax bill, and recent changes to repayment plans have prompted many veterinarians to revisit how they’re preparing for it. Meredith walks through the most common questions we get about the student loan tax bomb, how it works, what’s changed, and what to review as part of a long-term plan. Key topics: When student loan forgiveness is taxable and when it isn’t...

Dr. Meredith Jones and Joe Warner share a practical look at financial resolutions veterinarians can focus on in the new year, with an emphasis on clarity, strategy, and aligning money decisions with what matters most. Topics covered: Building a realistic budget and understanding cash flow Optimizing student loan strategies, including what SAVE borrowers should know Increasing retirement contributi...

Veterinary medicine is demanding in ways most financial advice ignores. Schedules change, cases run long, and emotional fatigue is common. Financial plans that assume unlimited energy and perfect follow-through often don’t hold up. In this episode, we talk about how to burnout-proof your finances so your money supports you through real life, not just on good weeks. Key Topics: Why emergency funds...

The Dept of Ed has announced an agreement to officially end the SAVE plan. If you’re in the SAVE forbearance, this episode walks through planning your next move. Key Topics: What the end of the SAVE plan means and what we know so far What happens if you’re currently on the SAVE forbearance Which repayment plans borrowers are likely to switch to Why planning now matters, even without set deadlines...

Dr. Meredith Jones and Joe Warner, both Certified Student Loan Professionals, talk about what actually happens during a student loan consult for veterinarians. If you’ve ever wondered how we sort through repayment rules, forgiveness options, and tax implications, this episode walks you through it step by step. Highlights: Why veterinarians seek student loan guidance: overwhelm, confusing regulatio...

Meredith sits down with Dr. Marie Holowaychuk, emergency and critical care specialist veterinarian and mental health advocate, to talk about her new book A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian. Key Topics: Marie’s path through specialty training, academia, burnout, and wellbeing advocacy What inspired A Compassionate Calling and the misconceptions it aims to clear up Re...

Meredith shares practical grocery hacks that make life easier, save money, and help you waste less. Inspired by conversations at home and with clients, she walks through simple strategies to plan smarter, shop intentionally, and enjoy cooking again - without feeling deprived. If you’ve ever stood in front of your fridge wondering how you spent $150 and still don’t have a dinner plan, this one’s fo...

Dr. Anna Foster is an emergency veterinarian and co-founder of The Evolved Vets, which helps veterinarians grow personally and professionally through coaching, education, and community. She also writes Dr. Anna Foster – Travel Vet on Substack, where she shares reflections on self-development, travel, and her recent three-month sabbatical. Anna joins Meredith to talk about what inspired her career...

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...

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 T...

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 w...

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 reco...

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...

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...