Claim OwnershipSmarter Vet Financial Podcast
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Want to feel more confident and in control of your finances? The Smarter Vet Financial Podcast is your go-to resource for fresh, energizing perspectives on money—created just for veterinarians. Hosts Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, founders of Florida Veterinary Advisors, break down personal and business financial topics in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to explore. With inspiring interviews and practical advice, you’ll gain the clarity you need to stress less and enjoy more of what you love in life and work.
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Send us Fan Mail Veterinary medicine isn’t about the money—but avoiding finances can quietly create stress, burnout, and long-term consequences. In this episode of the SmarterVet Financial Podcast, CJ Burnett and Tom Seeko unpack the hidden cost of financial avoidance in veterinary medicine. From subscription creep and pricing hesitation to discomfort around money conversations, they explore why so many veterinarians sidestep finances—and how that avoidance compounds over time. You’ll hear re...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the SmarterVet Financial Podcast, Tom sits down with Anthony LaPolla, Founder & CEO of Empower Business Strategies, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing veterinary practices today: retention and HR structure. Anthony shares why so many clinics struggle to keep good people, the hidden causes behind turnover, what strong onboarding and training should look like, and why compliance is almost always the first place to start. They also discuss the...
Send us Fan Mail Imposter syndrome affects veterinarians at every stage of their careers—from new graduates to long‑time practice owners. Even when life looks stable on the outside, many still feel behind, exposed, or uncertain if they truly belong. In this episode, CJ and Tom explore: Why imposter syndrome is so common in veterinary medicine How perfection training and comparison culture amplify self‑doubt The hidden emotional roots behind financial fear Why success does...
Send us Fan Mail Veterinary medicine is full of passion, purpose, and pressure—but how do you build a career and a life that feel sustainable? In this episode, Tom sits down with Dr. Andy Roark to explore the mindset shifts and financial habits that help veterinary professionals create long‑term stability while staying connected to the work they love. Andy shares his winding path into veterinary medicine, how the profession is changing, why affordability conversations must include support sta...
Send us Fan Mail Many veterinarians build wealth using mutual funds, but once a portfolio grows into the seven‑figure range, the hidden challenges begin. Taxes you didn’t expect. Overlapping holdings you didn’t realize you owned. Lack of customization. And far less control than your financial life now requires. In this episode, CJ and Tom break down why mutual funds are often great when you’re just getting started—but may cause major hurdles once your portfolio exceeds $1M. You'll learn how t...
Send us Fan Mail Most veterinarians assume that more risk equals more return—but that’s rarely how real financial life works. In this episode, Tom and CJ break down the hidden risks veterinarians carry mid‑career, how concentration risk shows up in both income and practice ownership, and why chasing high returns can actually set you back. You’ll hear stories from real conversations, practical examples, and three powerful questions to help you evaluate whether the risks you're taking truly ali...
Send us Fan Mail Many veterinarians say they don’t make enough, can’t change jobs, can’t reduce hours, or will “never be able to retire.” But is that really about income… or about options? In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, CJ Burnett and Tom Seeko break down why financial freedom isn’t defined by net worth or a big salary—it’s defined by flexibility. Whether it’s taking time off, changing clinics, relocating, starting a family, walking away from a toxic workplace, or even ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, Tom Seeko welcomes back Andrea Crabtree of Furpaws Consulting for a candid conversation about leadership, communication, and accountability in veterinary practices. Andrea shares insights from her journey from practice manager to consultant and explains why communication breakdowns—not skill gaps—are often the root of practice challenges. Together, they explore simple but powerful ways teams can improve culture, rete...
Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, co-founders of Florida Veterinary Advisors, walk through a clear framework for answering one of the most common questions vets ask: “Am I financially on track?” They break your journey into four phases—25–30, 30–40, 40–55, and 55+—so you can see what typically matters most at each. You’ll hear practical context around student loans, changing pay scales, the rise (and shifts) in relief work, when o...
Send us Fan Mail Is a “no‑fail” retirement plan actually possible? In this episode, Tom and CJ break down why the traditional approach to retirement often falls short — and what it really takes to build income that lasts through every market cycle, tax change, and stage of life. They walk through how to think beyond account balances, how timing risk affects retirement security, why tax diversification matters, and how to create predictable income instead of relying solely on market performanc...
Send us Fan Mail How do you actually build wealth — not just in theory, but in real life? In this episode, CJ and Tom walk through a simple, practical framework veterinarians can use to make smarter financial decisions with less stress and more clarity. They break down how to assign a time horizon to each dollar, how to make sure money is accessible for real‑life needs, how to think about taxes in a strategic way, and how to evaluate risk beyond just investment volatility. Whether you'r...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the SmarterVet Financial Podcast, Tom Seeko sits down with Lindsay McMakin to explore the real-world challenges and opportunities in veterinary practice management. Lindsay shares her inspiring journey from receptionist to practice manager and consultant, offering actionable strategies for hiring with culture in mind, boosting financial literacy, and using technology to enhance — not replace — the human side of veterinary care. Tune in to learn how al...
Send us Fan Mail Saving money isn’t exciting, flashy, or fun — but it is the one habit that consistently builds real wealth. In this episode, the third of five in the series, CJ and Tom break down why aiming for 20% of your gross income is a game changer, why most people struggle to save, and how their Wealth Coordination Account creates control, clarity, and confidence in your financial life. With a few clicks, you'll be on your way to matching your career goals with your life's passio...
Send us Fan Mail Most financial plans don’t fail because of markets—they fail because of unplanned life events. In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, CJ Burnett and Tom Seeko explain why risk is the silent plan killer for veterinarians and practice owners. They break down the real-world risks that can derail a plan, including disability, lawsuits, outdated legal documents, insurance gaps, and business-owner exposure. This conversation reframes risk management as resilien...
Send us Fan Mail If your finances feel more like a junk drawer than neatly folded laundry, this episode is for you. Tom and We kick off a five-part series by focusing on Step 1: getting financially organized so you can reduce stress, decision fatigue, and the “head-in-the-sand” feeling. You’ll hear a simple way to build a snapshot of your money—assets, debts, protection items, and cash flow—plus ideas for storing everything in one secure, easy-to-find place. Check the show notes for a d...
Send us Fan Mail Going into a new year can bring a lot of financial stress—especially when you’re trying to control things you simply can’t. In this episode, we break down the big categories you can’t control (markets, inflation/interest rates, and unexpected life events) and the areas you can control (savings rate, spending decisions, risk/insurance, debt strategy, and your investing approach). You’ll hear practical ways to reduce anxiety, avoid lifestyle creep, and build a financial “wall” ...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, Tom sits down with Dr. Jennifer Bruns, Senior Director of Veterinary Relationships at PetSmart Veterinary Services, to explore the many paths a veterinary career can take. Dr. Bruns shares her journey from cleaning kennels and chasing E. coli and salmonella as an epidemiologist to mentoring independent owners inside PetSmart locations. Together, they dive into strategic thinking, financial literacy, and the people sk...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, Tom sits down with Baxtr founder Mark Hines to talk about how subscription-based wellness plans can transform access to care, client loyalty, and practice revenue. Mark shares his unconventional journey from audio geek and home theater entrepreneur to building simple, powerful membership tools for dental and veterinary practices. They dig into why practices tend to overcomplicate wellness plans, how Baxtr remov...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Smarter Vet Financial Podcast, Tom sits down with Dr. Bob Murtaugh—founding dean of Rocky Vista University College of Veterinary Medicine, boarded internist and criticalist, and long-time leader in both academia and corporate practice. Dr. Murtaugh shares how saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities—from running a teaching hospital in his 20s to helping scale a hospital group from 15 to 350 locations—shaped his career and impact on vet med. They d...
Send us Fan Mail The Smarter Vet Financial Podcast welcomes Dr. Brent Mayabb, Global Chief Medical Officer at Royal Canin, for a candid conversation on purpose, communication, and leading across cultures. Brent shares how transparency and psychological safety help teams navigate hard cases, rising client expectations, and burnout risk. He offers a hopeful outlook for a new wave of private practice ownership and the leadership habits that make it work. Listen for practical takeaways and resour...
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