SPEAKING TOPICS

Tenets of Personal Financial Success
Personal finance is a critical life skill, yet few gain those skills at home or in school. Those with a basic understanding of personal finance have a lifetime advantage over those who do not. As a “Fee-Only” Certified Financial Planner, I don’t sell any products whatsoever, allowing me to be truly objective.

Subject matter includes:

• Having a plan, developing specific financial goals
• Building an emergency fund
• Living below your means, and other healthy financial habits
• Credit management
  • Focus on credit cards, establishing credit, your credit history, and what to do if “you’re in over your head”
• Debt management
  • Focus on all facets of student loans, “good” debt versus “bad” debt, “norms” for buying a home and buying into a practice
• Insuring against catastrophic risks
  • Including a brief discussion of health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, property/casualty insurance, and professional liability insurance
• Estate planning documents you need
• START NOW! The time value of money – the “eighth wonder of the world” according to Einstein
• Paying yourself first
• Paying yourself regularly – like every time you get paid! (dollar cost averaging)
• Financial Independence. What is it? How much does it cost? When does work become optional, and money no concern?
• Historical performance of various asset classes
  • Focus on stocks, bonds, and cash
• Minimizing investment expenses
  • Focus on no-load mutual funds, and very low annual operating expenses
• The critical importance of broad diversification
• Buy-and-hold versus market timing
• Active versus passive investment management
• Most common financial mistakes veterinarians make
• Benefits of deferring taxes
  • Discussion of employer retirement plans, Roth IRAs, and traditional IRAs
• What Now? – Making Crucial Decisions in this Economy