Personal financial health: Index investing 101 for veterinary professionalsAugust 28, 2018Index investing can be a great tool for veterinarians to utilize. Index investing refers to buying an "index," such as the broad stock market, using a single investment. For example, buying the "market" is a popular way in which index investing can be achieved. By purchasing shares of a market-based index fund, just like purchasing a stock, you get access to the entire S&P 500 (the largest 500 companies listed in the U.S.). This can act as a great diversifier for someone who does not want to pick individual stocks but would rather have returns that closely mirror the market as a whole. Index funds can come in a variety of flavors that track different indexes. Investors cannot invest directly into indexes themselves, so index funds, which are offered in the forms of mutual funds or exchange traded funds, are particularly useful for a busy veterinarian who wants to invest in the markets, but doesn't want to get into the granularity of researching particular stocks. An additional benefit of index investing is that companies that offer these products have done so at very low-fee levels—theoretically making the returns of the actual index and the fund similar. A popular approach …
SPONSORED CONTENTThe Case for Year-Round Heartworm Prevention and Affordable OptionsVeterinarians are often more than just clinicians - they’re advisors, educators, and, increasingly, financial counselors. In today’s economy, pet owners may hesitate to invest in year-round prevention due to budget constraints; but, skipping even a few months of heartworm protection can have serious consequences. + Learn More
AVMA VetVance video series teaches financial savvy to recent gradsApril 13, 2018 The American Veterinary Medical Association has developed a series of financial education videos to help new and recent veterinary grads gain a deeper understanding of finance management and advance financial literacy and overall well-being within the veterinary community. "Managing Your Finances" videos are available at VetVance.com. The VetVance video series is comprised of five learning modules: Debt-to-Income Ratio – Debt-to-income ratio calculator Managing My Debt – Debt management and budget optimization Investment Value of My DVM Degree – Veterinary degree return on investment calculator Planning for My Starting Salary – Answers to common salary and expectation questions Improving My Starting Salary – Tactics to help ensure salary growth The video series features Bridgette Bain, Ph.D., AVMA associate director of analytics and Charlotte Hansen, AVMA statistical analyst. VetVance, a project of Zoetis, is a free, web-based learning resource for the entire veterinary community. The VetVance modules are among many financial resources already developed by the AVMA. Other resources include: Personal Financial Planning Tool Salary Calculator Student Financial Resources Individualized Insurance Plans
