What is the “New Grad Student Loan Playbook” webinar about? The “New Grad Student Loan Playbook” is an annual webinar by VIN and VIN Foundation aimed at providing information and guidance to graduating veterinarians regarding their student loans and repayment options. With the rapidly changing student loan landscape, each graduating class faces new and different […]
Listen in with student debt experts and Board Member Drs. Tony Bartels and Rebecca Mears in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. In this episode we have three major topics we’re addressing: 1) a new challenge for the almost new grads 2) New Grad Playbook webinar and 3) the latest student loan updates.
As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.
GUEST BIOS:
Dr. Tony Bartels
Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, 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 resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, daughter, Lucy, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.
Dr. Rebecca Mears
Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, and a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Rebecca started her career as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member, currently serving as a member of the AAEP DEI Committee. Her interest in student debt education began with keeping her own education costs lower and grew from there. This was supported by her involvement in the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), which she now gives back to as a National Advisor. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found obsessing over plants and hosting impromptu dance parties. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details — VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
Loan Repayment Simulator: https://vinfoundation.org/loansim
VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
VIN Foundation get updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
VIN Foundation GIVE page to support these programs & tools: https://vinfoundation.org/give
Debt Repayment Prep Challenge: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-student-debt/debt-repayment-prep-challenge/
May 7th webinar – New Graduate Student Loan Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/
VIN Foundation Blog, Related Student Debt Blog posts:
Application for Federal Income-Driven Repayment Plans Reactivated: https://vinfoundation.org/application-for-income-driven-repayment-plans-reactivated/
Personalized student loan Help from VIN and VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-debt-help/
Income-Driven Repayment Plan Discretionary income calculations, WikiDebt: https://www.vin.com/studentdebtcenter/default.aspx?pid=14352&catId=74141&id=7249857
New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/
Borrow Better: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/borrow-better-veterinary-school-loan-debt/
Federal Student Aid Data, Consolidation, and Repayment Applications: https://studentaid.gov/
One-time Forgiveness Count Adjustment https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Have a veterinary story you want to share? https://share.hsforms.com/1e6QkQvg2RI-wpDv59Byqkwcos60
Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
Email VIN Foundation: [email protected]
Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
On December 18, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the reopening of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) student loan repayment plans. These Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, which were temporarily closed due to the introduction of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, offer additional monthly payment options that
PAYE and ICR income-driven repayment plans temporarily reactivated Read More »
Listen in as student debt experts and Board Member Drs. Tony Bartels and Rebecca Mears in this next installment of our Student Debt Series. In this episode we’re covering three major topics: 1) Updates and how they impact new grads and not to new grads 2) PAYE and ICR phase outs 3) Bonus mention for a new proposal to cancel up to $20k. Now is the time to learn what you need to know going into the summer.
As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.
GUEST BIOS:
Dr. Tony Bartels
Tony Bartels, DVM, MBA graduated in 2012 from the Colorado State University combined MBA/DVM program and is a VIN Foundation Board Member and Student Debt Expert, and an employee of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). He and his wife, a small-animal internal medicine specialist practicing in Denver, 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 resources. Beyond debt, his professional interests include small- and exotic-animal practice. When he’s not staring holes into his colleagues’ student-loan data, Tony enjoys fly fishing, ice hockey, camping and exploring Colorado with his wife, Audra, daughter, Lucy, and their two rescued canines, Addi and Maggie.
Dr. Rebecca Mears
Rebecca Mears, DVM is from Lexington, KY, and a graduate of University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Rebecca started her career as an equine general practitioner and is an active AAEP member, currently serving as a member of the AAEP DEI Committee. Her interest in student debt education began with keeping her own education costs lower and grew from there. This was supported by her involvement in the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA), which she now gives back to as a National Advisor. In her time away from veterinary medicine, she can be found obsessing over plants and hosting impromptu dance parties. She is passionate about giving back to the profession and improving the lives of veterinarians, pre-vet and vet students.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
VIN Foundation Student Debt Center: https://vinfoundation.org/studentdebtcenter
Check your current student loan servicers and other loan details — VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: http://www.vinfoundation.org/mystudentloans
Loan Repayment Simulator: https://vinfoundation.org/loansim
VIN Foundation WikiDebt: https://vinfoundation.org/wikidebt
VIN Foundation Webinars: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/webinars/
VIN Foundation get updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
VIN Foundation GIVE page to support these programs & tools: https://vinfoundation.org/give
May 29th webinar – Repay Wiser: Interns & Residents: https://VIN.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917165695129/WN_4VaSKzkBQrqgqotb50G8cA
VIN Foundation Blog, Related Student Debt Blog posts:
Identifying Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) using VIN Foundation My Student Loans tool: https://vinfoundation.org/fed-student-loan-consolidation-faqs-questions-answers-considerations/
2024 Graduating Veterinarians: Special Student Loan Timing Considerations: https://vinfoundation.org/2024-graduating-veterinarians-special-student-loan-timing-consideration-are-you-in-pickle/
Choosing between PAYE and SAVE income-driven plans: Are you in The Pickle?: https://vinfoundation.org/choosing-between-paye-and-save-income-driven-plans-are-you-in-the-pickle/
Veterinary student loan repayment: trends from the trenches: https://vinfoundation.org/youre-running-out-of-time-to-consolidate-your-loans/
A ‘new’ income-driven repayment plan? https://vinfoundation.org/a-new-income-driven-repayment-plan/
Student Loan FAQs: The one-time forgiveness count adjustment: https://vinfoundation.org/faq-one-time-forgiveness-count-adjustment/
Income-Driven Repayment: recertify, Switch plans, or Wait?: https://vinfoundation.org/income-driven-repayment-recertify-no-switch-plans-or-wait/
Got Federal Student Debt? You’re Now Closer to Forgiveness Than You Think: https://vinfoundation.org/got-federal-student-debt-youre-now-closer-to-forgiveness-than-you-think/
Student Loan FAQs: The one-time forgiveness count adjustment
https://vinfoundation.org/faq-one-time-forgiveness-count-adjustment/
Personalized student loan Help from VIN and VIN Foundation: https://vinfoundation.org/veterinary-student-loan-debt-help/
Infographic ONE-TIME FORGIVENESS COUNT ADJUSTMENT:
https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-student-debt/student-debt-one-time-forgiveness-count-adjustment/
One-Time Forgiveness Count Adjustment Video Case Study, 1999 DVM may save more than $65,000 in student loan costs:
https://youtu.be/6gp7cXvEy8c
Income-Driven Repayment Plan Discretionary income calculations, WikiDebt: https://www.vin.com/studentdebtcenter/default.aspx?pid=14352&catId=74141&id=7249857
Repay Wiser:
https://vinfoundation.org/resources/repay-wiser-veterinary-school-debt-loan-repayment/
Borrow Better: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/borrow-better-veterinary-school-loan-debt/
New Grad Student Loan Repayment Playbook: https://vinfoundation.org/resources/veterinary-new-grad-student-loan-repayment-playbook/
Federal Student Aid Data, Consolidation, and Repayment Applications: https://studentaid.gov/
SAVE Repayment Plan Offers Lower Monthly Loan Payments
https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan
New Proposed Regulations Would Transform Income-Driven Repayment by Cutting Undergraduate Loan Payments in Half and Preventing Unpaid Interest Accumulation: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-proposed-regulations-would-transform-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-loan-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation
Payment Count Adjustments Toward Income-Driven Repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Programs:
https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
Department of Education press release (Nov 2022): https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-continues-fight-student-debt-relief-millions-borrowers-extends-student-loan-repayment-pause
Department of Education press release (April 2022): https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-announces-actions-fix-longstanding-failures-student-loan-programs
One-time Forgiveness Count Adjustment https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/idr-account-adjustment
Federal Student Loan Servicers: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Have a veterinary story you want to share? https://share.hsforms.com/1e6QkQvg2RI-wpDv59Byqkwcos60
Stay up to date with VIN Foundation updates: https://vinfoundation.org/updates/
Email VIN Foundation: [email protected]
Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!
Drs. Tony Bartels and Rebecca Mears on the current top three student debt topics Read More »
One of the most common questions recently asked by veterinarians in student loan repayment using any of the income-driven repayment plans (IBR, PAYE, REPAYE, ICR) is “When do I need to provide my income information again? Is it before the special pandemic forbearance benefits end? Is it after? How do I know?”
I have federal student loans. When do I need to recertify my income? Read More »
On February 5th, 2025, VIN and VIN Foundation provided a Climbing Mt. Debt webinar: What’s Next for Your Student Loans? There was excellent engagement with over 1,000 registered, 600 attendees, and 250 great questions about student loan repayment. This post summarizes some of the questions asked during the webinar, including additional details and links to
February 2025 Q&A from Climbing Mt. Debt Webinar: What’s Next for your Student Loans? Read More »
Story originally published on AVMA. AVMA – VIN Foundation survey explored attitudes about profession, educational debt levels, and financial literacy To say the federal educational loan repayment landscape has changed recently is an understatement. Amid this turmoil, veterinarians still need to make repayment plan decisions. One of the most impacted groups are recently graduated veterinarians,
How do new veterinary graduates really feel about their student debt? Read More »
The long-awaited national election results are nearly all tallied, and we know one thing for sure: changes will be coming to student loan repayment. Changes were due to occur no matter the election outcome with the fate of at least one repayment plan and certain student loan forgiveness options tied up in the courts. With
The election is over. Change is on the horizon. What is next for your student loans? Read More »
On the VIN and VIN Foundation Student Debt Message Boards and during recent Climbing Mt. Debt webinars, hundreds of questions have been asked and answered. One of the most frequent questions is, “Should I switch to the new Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven repayment plan?” In most cases, the answer is yes, you
Choosing between PAYE and SAVE income-driven plans: Are you in The Pickle? Read More »
Listen in as we talk with VIN Foundation board member, Dr. Jan Bellows as he shares the story of his veterinary journey. From lessons learned in practice ownership, to a passion for improving his veterinary skills, this episode is full of relatable stories and great takeaways.
As always, we want to hear from YOU. Please share your thoughts by sending an email or joining the conversation.
GUEST BIO:
Jan Bellows, DVM, DIPL, AVDC, ABVP
Dr. Jan Bellows is a distinguished veterinary dentist with a remarkable career spanning several decades. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida and earned his DVM from Auburn University in 1975. After an internship at The Animal Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Bellows established ALL PETS DENTAL in Weston, Florida, specializing in companion animal medicine, surgery, and dentistry. Bellows is board-certified in Canine and Feline Medicine (ABVP) and Veterinary Dentistry (AVDC). His leadership roles include serving as president of the American Veterinary Dental College and the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry. He has authored five dental textbooks and frequently contributed to veterinary publications. As a respected expert, Dr. Bellows was instrumental in developing AAHA’s Small Animal Dental Guidelines. He has been a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network’s dental board since 1993. DVM360 announced Dr. Bellows as the national 2024 Dental Hero by DVM360 magazine. Outside of his professional life, Dr. Bellows is an avid marathon runner and enjoys spending time with his family and dogs in Florida and Colorado.
LINKS AND INFORMATION:
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/
Veterinary Information Network (VIN): https://www.vin.com
Paul Pion, DVM, DipACVIM: https://vinfoundation.org/team
VIN Foundation 2024 Year-End Giving, after a huge effort the $100k match was made, but we still need your help! https://vinfoundation.org/give
Have a story you want to share with our podcast audience? Reach out to share your interest: https://share.hsforms.com/1e6QkQvg2RI-wpDv59Byqkwcos60
Get updates to stay tuned for the VIN Foundation webinars on student debt.
You may learn more about the VIN Foundation, on the website, or join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
If you like this podcast, we would appreciate it if you follow and share. As always, we welcome feedback. If you have an idea for a podcast episode, we’d love to hear it!