4 essential personal financial tools for optometrists

September 27, 2023
Learn how AOAExcel® endorsed business partner Laurel Road can help maximize your finances.
Optometry finances graphic

Hundreds of AOA members have trusted Laurel Road, AOAExcel®’s student loan refinancing partner, to help manage their student loan debt. Now, members have access to four personal financial products designed specifically for doctors to improve their personal financial health: High Yield Savings, the Student Loan Cashback Credit Card, Linked Checking, and the Financial Insight Dashboard.

Laurel Road High Yield Savings® Account

Financial planning is critical for doctors of optometry, and a competitive savings account is a great place to start. Plan for your future with a Laurel Road High Yield Savings® account and earn a 5.00% APY (Annual Percentage Yield). [1] AOA members can open an account for free—no minimum balance required or monthly maintenance fee.

The High Yield Savings account is also a great way to start and grow an emergency fund. Having funds set aside for unexpected expenses like home repair or medical bills is a good idea, even for doctors with steady income streams.

Laurel Road Student Loan Cashback® Card

Chip away at student loans with everyday purchases using Laurel Road’s Student Loan Cashback card. The Cashback Card is a personal credit card that lets you redeem 2% cashback [2] toward your student loan balance on purchases—even if your loans aren’t serviced by Laurel Road. [3] AOA members qualify for a $100 cash sign-up bonus [4] and can earn $300 in introductory cash back rewards after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days after signing up. [5]

Laurel Road Linked Checking

If you’re looking for additional ways to lower your student loan rate, consider a Linked Checking account. When AOA members refinance with Laurel Road, they have the opportunity to open a Linked Checking account to qualify for additional rate reductions. AOA members automatically qualify for a 0.25% reduction on their interest rate for the first 3 months—and that’s on top of their AOA discount. After 3 months with a funded account, rate discounts vary based on monthly deposits, with a possibility of up to 0.80% off when combined with autopay discount. [6]

Monthly Deposit Amount

3-month Intro Discount

Post-Intro Discount*

$0–$2,499

0.25%

0.00%

$2,500–$7,499

0.25%

0.25%

$7,500+

0.25%

0.55%

*Potential discount after three months and qualifying monthly direct deposit

Financial Insights Dashboard

Through the Financial Insights Dashboard, Laurel Road customers have access to an array of powerful financial tools and educational materials. Use peer financial insights to benchmark your salary, loan balance, and credit score with industry averages. Set goals with the financial action planning tool and receive customized recommendations based on career stage, location and more. Explore educational materials relevant to your profession with curated financial literacy content.



Disclaimers:

All credit products are subject to credit approval.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Please note that if you refinance qualifying federal student loans with Laurel Road, you may no longer be eligible for certain federal benefits or programs and waive your right to future benefits or programs offered on those loans. Please carefully consider your options when refinancing federal student loans and consult Federal Student Aid for the most current information.

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  1. The variable Annual Percentage Yield (APY) indicated is accurate as of today and is subject to change at any time. No minimum balance is required to earn the APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. For current rates visit laurelroad.com/high-yield-savings-account/#rates-fees-jump
  2. You will earn 2.0% in Cashback Rewards for each $1 spent on eligible Purchases if you redeem your Cashback Rewards towards your Student Loan with an eligible servicer. This equates to $0.02 in Cashback Rewards, for each $1 spent. For example, if you spend $100, you will earn $2.00 in Student Loan Credit. You will earn 1.0% in Cashback Rewards for each $1 spent on eligible Purchases if redeemed for a statement credit. This equates to $0.01 in Cashback Rewards, for each $1 spent. For example, if you spend $100, you will earn $1.00 in Cashback Rewards. For more information visit https://www.laurelroad.com/cash-back-credit-card/#disclaimer.
  3. For Terms & Conditions and a full list of eligible loan servicers, visit laurelroad.com/faq/which-student-loan-servicers-do-you-work-with-for-the-laurel-road-student-loan-cashback-card/
  4. A $100 cash bonus offer is available to current non-college student AOA members who apply and are approved for a Laurel Road Student Loan Cashback Credit Card. The $100 cash bonus will be paid within 45 days of the member's activating the credit card. Existing credit card customers are not eligible. If you were the primary owner on a Laurel Road Student Loan Cashback Credit Card within the prior 24 months, you are not eligible. The value of the bonus may be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-INT.
  5. Introductory offer: For a limited time earn a cashback reward after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. Offer is subject to change at any time. The cashback reward amount will be $300 if redeemed towards student loans with an eligible servicer. The cashback reward amount will be $150 if redeemed for statement credit. Cashback is awarded based on eligible credit card purchases. For more information, visit https://www.laurelroad.com/faq/how-do-i-get-the-introductory-offer-for-the-laurel-road-student-loan-cashback-card/
  6. 80% discount includes a 0.55% discount for monthly qualifying direct deposits of $7500 or more credited to a Laurel Road Linked Checking account, and a 0.25% discount for AutoPay. The Laurel Road Linked Checking discount is available to borrowers who open a Laurel Road Linked Checking account simultaneously while refinancing their student loans with Laurel Road. You may also be able to utilize a checking account opened simultaneously with a prior Laurel Road student loan refinance to obtain a discount on your new Laurel Road student loan refinance. Borrowers will receive a 0.25% rate discount for their first three monthly billing cycles. Starting with the fourth billing cycle and continuing with each billing cycle thereafter, the rate discount applied to each billing cycle will be based on the amount deposited via qualifying Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions into the Laurel Road Linked Checking account during the preceding calendar month; 0.25% for deposits between $2,500 and $7,499 per month and 0.55% for deposits $7,500 or greater per month. Qualifying ACH direct deposit transactions include most payroll, Social Security, pension and government benefits deposits. To continue to receive the discount for the fourth billing cycle, you must begin making qualifying ACH deposits to your Laurel Road Linked Checking account during the second month after your loan funds. Note that the discount is only available to the primary checking account owner and is not available to a joint checking account owner. If the primary account owner is no longer an owner on the checking account or the account is closed, the discount on their student loan will cease. Discounts subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with the Laurel Road Linked Savings discount. For more information on the Laurel Road Checking Account visit (laurelroad.com/refinance-student-loans/checking/#rates-fees-jump. If you choose to make monthly payments automatically by electronic fund transfer (EFT) from a bank account, the rate will decrease by 0.25% and will increase back if you stop making monthly payments (or we stop accepting) automatically by EFT from your bank account. The 0.25% AutoPay/EFT Discount will not reduce the monthly payment; instead, the discount is applied to the principal to help pay the loan down faster.

Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank N.A. All products are offered by KeyBank N.A. Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, and credit cards ARE NOT FDIC INSURED OR GUARANTEED. Member FDIC. ©2023 KeyCorp® All Rights Reserved.

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