Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA

Dr. Tony Bartels graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN) and a VIN Foundation Board member. He and his wife have more than $400,000 in veterinary-school debt that they manage using federal income-driven repayment plans. By necessity (and now obsession), his professional activities include researching and speaking on veterinary-student debt, providing guidance to colleagues on loan-repayment strategies and contributing to VIN Foundation initiatives.

Comments to the Department of Education on proposed IDR changes

Changes are coming to income-driven repayment: Updates to REPAYE, PAYE and ICR phased out Below is a the comment I plan to submit to the Department of Education on the proposed changes to income-driven repayment.  I encourage you to review the changes that we have detailed here. Consider how the propsed changes will impact your …

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December 2022 Student Loan Update

What a crazy busy year in the world of student debt! It appears some of these changes and opportunities to possibly diminish your debt and shorten your repayment period will continue into 2023. As you’ve probably heard by now, on November 22nd the Department of Education announced another extension of the pandemic forbearance benefits for federal …

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VIN Foundation | veterinary resources | Blog | Class of 2020, 2021, 2022 Student Loan Renewal Note

Class of 2020, 2021, 2022 Income-Driven Repayment Renewal Note

Attention 2020, 2021, and 2022 veterinary graduates with student loans! You have some special homework to maximize all of the recently announced benefits. If you have federal student loans and you graduated into the pandemic forbearance period, here are the things your graduating classes need to know and perhaps DO soon to ensure you take …

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VIN Foundation | veterinary resources | Blog | Limited PSLF Waiver Veterinary Student Debt help

Have you ever worked for a nonprofit? Act fast to benefit from the Limited PSLF Waiver

Special time-limited expansions to PSLF Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is a compelling student loan repayment benefit for many veterinarians, but understanding the rules for this program can be a challenge. Borrowers must be an employee of a federal, state, tribal entity or 501c3 nonprofit while using an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan to repay their federal …

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Got Federal Student Debt? You’re Now Closer to Forgiveness Than You Think

Don’t miss out on this special one-time forgiveness count adjustment opportunity. There is a natural temptation to tune out all of the complex rules and regulations around federal student loans and repayment. With confusing repayment plan qualifications and ever-changing, time-limited expansions for existing borrowers, no one would blame you for ignoring the latest and greatest …

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VIN Foundation | Supporting veterinarians to cultivate a healthy animal community | Blog | Veterinary School Student Loan Interest Rates Increasing Again for 2023-2024

Student Loan Interest Rates Increase (again) for 2023-2024 Academic Year

Highest graduate school rates seen under fixed-rate structure Each spring, we closely monitor the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield.  Student loan interest rates for the following academic year are adjusted based on where auctions for this note lands in May.  For the 2023-24 academic year, the result is a continued trend of increasing student loan interest …

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VIN Foundation | Supporting veterinarians to cultivate a healthy animal community | free resources veterinary students veterinarians | Blog | VIN Foundation Student Loan Repayment Simulator - Forgiveness Planning Module Capital Gains Tax

Student Loan Forgiveness Planning: Capital Gains Taxes

Over the last couple of years, a common question has come up regarding capital gains taxes on student loan forgiveness planning investments. Capital gains on forgiveness planning is an excellent observation and a great thought experiment for anyone using an income-driven plan and anticipating forgiveness. I’m glad people are turning their wheels on how all …

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Federal Student Loan Repayment Pause Extended Again! Here is What You Need to Know…

Maximize the pandemic forbearance benefits by understanding your income-driven plan recertification dates. Updates at a glance: Federal student loan pandemic forbearance benefits are extended through Aug 31st, 2022. The earliest you could be required to recertify your income for an income-driven plan is March 2023. If you are married and have been filing your taxes …

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