Business | Business & Personal Finance

Yes, credit cards make it easier for clients to pay. But the costs add up. Use these tips to balance the fees and turn credit card use to your benefit.

What are my options for saving for retirement?

I've been with the same clinic for seven years. There's a lot of turnover, and my boss hires new graduates. Depending on my day, I'm stuck playing teacher with up to three new veterinarians. My boss isn't around much and says I'm not pulling my weight given what I'm being paid. How can I explain the situation to him?

Maintaining some semblance of your current lifestyle in retirement doesn't have to be a "pie in the sky" idea-if you plan ahead. (Hey, 30-somethings: We're talking to you!)

Are there programs that offer recent grads loan forgiveness?

Does a moment with your credit card statement feel like a moment in hell? Quit cowering and put out the flames for good.

A successful financial plan should offer you the choice of allocating profits back to the practice or into a more diversified portfolio.

Projected increases in mortgage rates will likely lead to a drop in home sales in 2006, the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts.

Starting this month, 401(k) plans can offer a Roth 401(k) provision?which could be a better option for your retirement savings.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) says that enhanced offerings, such as CD-ROMs and other instructional supplements, are driving up college textbook prices.

Use these benchmarks set by Well Managed Practices to see how your expenses measure up.

More than 88 percent of this year's new veterinarians graduated with educational debt averaging $88,077. Now working, they're taking home less than $44,000 a year.

How do I know how much I need to save for retirement?

Practitioners charge too little because they cannot keep up with the literature.

I'm a full-time veterinarian, and my employer pays for my health insurance, which costs about $4,000 a year. I recently got married, and my husband's insurance is better. If I join my husband's policy, should I get that $4,000 benefit somewhere else in my package? Is it fair to ask my boss to add it to my salary or to add more paid vacation days in equivalent to the benefit money?

A good negotiator earns up to $31,000 more a year. But pay heed; bad negotiations can cost you big. Are you letting too much money trot off?

Use these strategies to harness your team members' power to drive client compliance and revenue—and improve your patients' health.

According to Gallup's annual Personal Finance poll, American's top financial worry is retirement.

I will be receiving a retirement plan distribution when I change jobs. I intend to roll it over to my new employer's plan and have been told that such a rollover will avoid a 20 percent withholding tax.

Three-quarters of people still paying off their student loans say the payments are large enough to keep them from buying a car or a house, says the Cambridge Consumer Credit Index.

Student loan rates are at historic lows, says Veterinary Economics Personal Finance Editor Fritz Wood, CPA, CFP, but not for long. Wood says recent and soon-to-be graduates should act now to consolidate their student loans.

Think you know where your personal finances stand? If you're married, your spouse likely sees family earnings and expenses differently.

Financial planning early in your career is perhaps the most important thing you can do to make sure you accomplish your personal and professional goals. In fact, the day you leave school would be a great time to start planning. But regardless of your age or career stage, it's never too late to gain value from a hard look at your financial situation and advice from a financial advisor who can help you identify and implement your financial plan. Here are the essential components of a financial plan:

Small business owners are particularly vulnerable to the risks of a prolonged illness or disability, because they're often the business's main asset. In other words, the business's success often depends on the owner's ability to earn income. As a business owner, you need to protect both your personal and business income. And the right insurance provides that protection.

Cleveland-Though many veterinarians fret about student loans prohibiting them from buying a practice, the real killer is revolving credit, such as credit cards and car loans.

How much am I expected to contribute to my associates' retirement plans? Does this count as part of the compensation my associate earned based on production?

My partner recently received information about her Social Security benefits. Should I have received a statement too?

If students begin curbing all unhealthy spending habits while in school, academic leaders say they can trim the size of their pending student loan repayment substantially upon graduation.

I left the exam room for just a few minutes to get a shot of penicillin for her dog. By the time I got back, Mrs. Quibble was hopping mad.