Smarter Vet Financial Podcast

Recent Episodes

1. Episode 211 - Who Protects the Practice When the Owner Can’t Work?

   Sep 18, 2026

   Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, co-founders of Florida Veterinary Advisors, discuss three critical types of disability insurance protection for veterinary practice owners: Individual Disability Insurance (IDI), Business Overhead Expense (BOE) Insurance, and Business Buyout (BBO) Insurance. They explain how each coverage works, common gaps in existing policies, and why practice owners often overlook these protections despite significant personal and business financial risks. The episode emphasizes that disability planning extends beyond personal income replacement to protecting practice operations, employee retention, and business valuation.

2. Episode 210 - Your Income Went Up. Why Doesn’t It Feel Like It?

   Sep 11, 2026

   CJ Burnett and Tom Seeko, co-hosts and owners of Florida Veterinary Advisors, discuss why veterinarians earning significantly more income over the past decade still feel financially stuck. They explore the 'Gross Income Trap,' explaining the difference between gross and spendable income, the impact of lifestyle creep, and how to be intentional with cash flow. The episode covers multiple income streams available to veterinarians (base salary, production bonuses, signing bonuses, relief work, and practice distributions) and provides actionable strategies for creating financial flexibility.

3. Episode 209 - When Is It Actually Okay to Spend More Money?

   Sep 4, 2026

   Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, co-founders of Florida Veterinary Advisors, discuss lifestyle creep, spending intentionality, and when it makes sense for veterinarians to spend more money despite earning good income. The episode explores the hidden costs of convenience, the emotional relationship with money, and provides a framework for balancing protection, savings, debt management, and long-term goals before increasing discretionary spending.

4. Dr. Ivan Zak on The Burnout Triggers Every Vet Should Know

   Aug 28, 2026

   Dr. Ivan Zak, veterinarian, entrepreneur, and founder of Galaxy Vets, discusses burnout in veterinary medicine with host Tom Seeko. Drawing from his MBA thesis and personal experience with burnout, Dr. Zak outlines six organizational triggers of burnout—lack of control, community breakdown, insufficient reward, unfairness, conflict of values, and work overload—and shares how implementing these frameworks in his urgent care hospital network has reduced burnout and improved culture. The conversation covers leadership philosophy, the importance of an ownership mindset among team members, and how AI and operational optimization will reshape veterinary practices.

5. Episode 208 - What Is a Veterinary Job Really Worth?

   Aug 21, 2026

   Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, owners of Florida Veterinary Advisors, discuss how veterinary associates and practice owners can evaluate total compensation beyond salary. The episode covers benefits, retirement plans, PTO, workplace culture, education, and long-term career opportunities, emphasizing the distinction between price and value when making hiring or employment decisions.

6. Episode 207 - Financial Independence Isn't a Number; It's Adaptability

   Aug 14, 2026

   Tom Seco, co-founder of Florida Veterinary Advisors, explores why financial independence for veterinarians is about adaptability rather than hitting a specific retirement number. He discusses how life events—income changes, family situations, health issues, market shifts, and evolving priorities—require flexible financial plans. Seco outlines three key pillars for adaptable financial strategy: protecting income and business assets through proper insurance and risk management, building consistent saving habits (targeting 20% of gross income), and balancing assets across different tax buckets and risk profiles.

7. Episode 206 - Student Loans, Savings & Financial Balance: What Veterinarians Need to Know

   Aug 7, 2026

   Tom Seeko and CJ Burnett, co-founders of Florida Veterinary Advisors, discuss how veterinarians can balance student loan repayment with building financial stability. The episode covers recent student loan repayment changes, emergency savings strategies, retirement planning considerations, and a six-step framework for prioritizing debt and long-term financial goals without letting debt dominate financial decision-making.

8. Always Be Hiring: Trends + Retention Lessons for Vet Practices with Stacy Pursell

   Jul 31, 2026

   Stacy Pursell, founder and CEO of The Vet Recruiter, discusses hiring trends and retention strategies for veterinary practices. The episode covers candidate-driven market dynamics, the shift toward quality of life and workplace culture priorities, employer branding importance, and critical retention mistakes including poor onboarding, inadequate communication, and lack of career pathing. Pursell emphasizes the 'Always Be Hiring' philosophy and leadership skills essential for retaining talent in the veterinary profession.

9. SVP Rewind: Rethinking Mental Health and Personal Growth with Dr. William Anton

   Jul 24, 2026

   Dr. William Anton, founder of CEO Effectiveness and licensed psychologist, discusses mental health stigma and psychological development with Tom Seco and CJ Burnett of Florida Veterinary Advisors. The conversation reframes therapy and coaching as emotional education—the equivalent of graduate school for emotional development—rather than treatment for illness. Dr. Anton explores how childhood beliefs shape adult behavior, the role of emotional maturity in leadership, and how high-functioning professionals can access greater potential through psychological work.

10. SVP Rewind: Dr. Ernie Ward on Leadership, Imposter Syndrome & Becoming Your Best Self

    Jul 17, 2026

    Dr. Ernie Ward, a 33-year veteran veterinarian, author, speaker, and entrepreneur, joins Tom Seco to discuss leadership, imposter syndrome, and personal development within veterinary medicine. The conversation covers persistent challenges veterinarians face—including self-doubt, pricing anxiety, and burnout—and emphasizes that leadership begins with leading oneself rather than managing others. Ward shares his philosophy on continuous self-improvement, the importance of mental and physical health, and overcoming self-limiting beliefs.