156: Is Practice Ownership The Only Way To Build Wealth? The Vet’s Guide To Student Debt, Saving, And Financial Sanity. With Eric Miller — The Vet Vault: Veterinary Career, Clinical Skills & Wellbeing

Ever check your payslip… your student debt… your mortgage… and wonder if you’re just treading water?

You’re not alone, and you’re not stuck.

In this episode we revisit one of the most neglected topics in the profession: money.

Hubert sits down with US-based financial adviser Eric Miller to break down the decisions that can actually move the money-needle for employed vets: from budgeting and debt to investing, insurance, and increasing your income. (We do global principles with US specifics)

No jargon. No guilt. Just a clear starting point for vets who know they should have a plan… but haven’t begun yet.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why practice ownership isn’t the only route to financial security
The one habit that underpins every solid financial plan
A simple 70/20/10 framework for spending, investing, and enjoying your money
How to handle student debt without letting it control your life
Whether to prioritise debt repayment, investing- or both
The difference between good debt and bad debt (and why it matters)
How automation quietly builds wealth in the background
What young vets need to know about insurance, income growth, and lifestyle creep

And perhaps most importantly:

A more grounded, reassuring view of the profession itself.

Yes, financial pressure is real.
But Eric will convince you that veterinary medicine is still a strong, high-potential career - IF you do it right.

⁠ ⁠thevetvault.com⁠ for show notes, access to our clinical continuing education content and to sign up for our weekly 'best of the Vet Vault' newsletter, or join us in person at one of our phenomenal Vets On Tour conferences.

Topics and Time Stamps

04:24 Biggest Financial Mistakes

05:42 Budgeting & The 70/20/10 Rule

14:41 Retirement Planning & 401k

24:09 Student Debt & How to Tackle It

26:22 Loan Forgiveness

28:58 Pay Off Debt vs. Invest

31:53 The Debt Snowball Method (it's a good thing!)

33:55 Increasing Your Income

37:44 Constructive vs. Destructive Debt

41:35 Insurance & Health Coverage

44:06 Looking Ahead: The Veterinary Industry

49:45 One Financial Habit for Ne w Grads

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