When I graduated from dental school in 2011, I remember thinking that my student loan debt of $180,000 seemed insurmountable. My wife also had law school loans of about $175,000. Between the two of us, that’s $355,000 of student debt we paid off in less than seven years. Believe me, I know there are circumstances that mathematically will not allow for “early” payoff of student loan debt.
What is a personal budget? It is a plan that allocates future income or cash (whether from working, loans, gifts, etc.) toward personal expenses, saving and loan repayment. To create a personal budget as a student, we focus on expenses, both fixed and variable.
Nowadays, the average dental school graduate could face over $300,000 worth of debt. That is a hefty amount for any student to take on, especially now when most of you are dealing with the stress of dental school. Before you start to panic take a deep breath and follow these tips to help you get on the right track if you find yourself beginning to struggle with dental school debt problems.
We all know the scenario. It’s Sunday. You wake up and think about whether or not you should check your bank account after your weekend’s activities. While we are all wary of our wallets, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice night out every now and then. Here are some tips to help you save a few dollars while still making the most of your weekends.
I talked to a student recently who graduated dental school a few years ago with $300,000 of student debt (a figure some of you would be happy to have!). For a variety of reasons, she hadn’t worked in the last three years and spent some time overseas before that. Her outstanding debt is now closer to $450,000. In just a few years her outstanding debt increased 50 percent. What happened?
How long do you plan on practicing dentistry? Although we haven’t officially started our careers as licensed dentists yet, it is never too early to plan ahead for retirement. Saving your hard-earned money as a dentist after graduation doesn’t seem as glamorous as treating yourself, but saving and investing will allow you to have more control and freedom later in life. The futures of Social Security, tax rates, inflation, and the economy are uncertain, but the one thing you can control is your savings.
A question that I often hear from new dentists is: Do I need a financial advisor in addition to an accountant/CPA? The answer depends on a lot of factors (including one’s personal financial wealth going into dental school), but the vast majority of starting dentists may not need a true financial advisor until they accumulate some substantial wealth. With that said, if you need particular help with personal investments or personal budgeting as you start to work, there are certain things that you should be prepared to ask any potential financial advisor upon an initial meeting. These questions are also great to keep in mind if you are meeting with a professional service provider for the first time, such as your accountant or attorney:
