Inside the Mindset and Methods of a Multi-Million dollar, single OD practice w/ Dr. Jeremy Ciano
Release Date: 01/21/2019
How OD practice owners should think about long term care insurance with Bryan Langdon, CLU
20/20 MONEY
Long term care (LTC) is a complicated, misunderstood, and emotional topic for any family to discuss. Even if you're a younger listener and think "Oh, this episode isn't applicable to me," I'd still encourage you to give it a listen as the topic of LTC is generational. On today's episode, Bryan and I discuss the basics of what LTC is and what it's not, the difference between LTC planning and LTC insurance, at what age a practice owner should consider evaluating options, and a tax-deductible way that practice owners can pay for the premium. As a reminder, you can get all the information...
info_outline
Hidden gems in retirement planning: what practice owners might be missing after the sale with Taylor Schulte, CFP®
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Taylor Schulte, CFP®, host of the Stay Wealthy Retirement Show Podcast. In this episode, we discuss the often-overlooked aspects of retirement planning, focusing on the importance of understanding blind spots, the need for purpose in retirement, and the role of community. We explore cash management strategies, the limitations of the 4% rule, and the benefits of flexible withdrawal strategies to ensure a successful transition into retirement. Our conversation emphasizes the need for intentional planning and the...
info_outline
A simple strategy to make the pain of quarterly estimates less (emotionally) stressful for optometry practice owners
20/20 MONEY
If you’ve ever wondered how to take some of the emotional sting out of estimated tax payments, this episode is for you. I share a simple yet impactful way to manage your cash flow, a simple formula to help you better estimate your estimated payments, and how to segregate your savings to give you a clearer picture of your cash-on-hand to make your quarterly estimated payments. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s conversation by visiting our website at and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly...
info_outline
Lessons from the (former) President of TSO: cooperative strategies to counter PE disruption and empower private practice ownership with John Marvin
20/20 MONEY
My guest today is John Marvin, former President of TSO (Texas State Optical). John joins me to talk about two intertwined issues reshaping private-practice optometry: the accelerating influence of private equity and the growing challenge of recruiting—and retaining—enough ODs to meet patient demand. We explore the cultural and financial trade-offs of PE consolidation, the shifting career aspirations of new graduates, and practical ways independent practices can protect their culture, stay competitive, and thrive. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s...
info_outline
2024 Books & Benchmarks Report Discussion with Nathan Hayes
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Nathan Hayes. Nathan joins me on the show to do a deep dive into 2024's Books & Benchmark's annual report. He shares ranges of the numbers that practice owners should really care about and should be tracking: COGS, non-OD staff expense, Associate OD comp ranges, occupancy costs, and G&A (general & administrative). We also talk about some of the lessons that practice owners can learn from these numbers and walk through a number of examples that both he and I have seen in our work with owners. As a reminder,...
info_outline
Are Opportunity Zones really an opportunity or is the tax tail wagging the investment dog with Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP®
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is . Peter joins me to examine whether the much-touted tax benefits of opportunity zones (OZs) justify the risks required, or if investors are letting the “tax tail” wag the investment dog. We cover how OZs work, what the new One BBB Act means for the program’s future, and practical ways optometric practice owners can decide whether rolling a large capital gain into an OZ—or into something else—really serves their overall financial plan. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s...
info_outline
Building my ideal "Frankenstein" practice discourse, 3 important practice metric numbers to focus on, and examples of AI use in practice with Dr. Dodge Perry, OD
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Dodge Perry, OD. Dodge joins me on the show to have an open discussion after listening to my "Frankenstein" episode, which was inspired by him asking me the question "If I could create an ideal private practice, what would go into that decision making process?" We discuss the intricacies of setting up an optometry practice, emphasizing the importance of location, financial planning, and the role of AI in practice management. We explore how personal and professional lives intersect in decision-making, the significance of...
info_outline
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for optometry private practice owners & their financial planning
20/20 MONEY
In this episode of 20/20 Money, I break down some of the most impactful tax and planning changes introduced in the recently passed Big Beautiful Bill Act—Congress’s sweeping update to the tax code that makes many TCJA provisions permanent while adding new wrinkles that matter to private practice owners. Whether you’re thinking about how to reduce your taxable income, maximize deductions, or just stay ahead of legislative changes that affect your financial life, this episode is designed to help you take stock and plan strategically. 🏡 Individual Tax Provisions SALT...
info_outline
5 common decisions that prevent ODs from achieving financial independence
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. In the spirit of Independence Day, today’s episode explores a different kind of freedom—financial independence—and the common decisions that often stand in the way of achieving it. I walk through five recurring mistakes I see optometric practice owners make that limit their long-term financial freedom, both personally and professionally. From overleveraging and ignoring balance sheets to misjudging the impact of time and delaying planning altogether, these decisions can quietly undermine your goals. My hope is that this episode prompts you...
info_outline
ANOTHER 20/20 Takeover: Your favorite KPIs (and why?!) w/ Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Jeremy Ciano, OD
20/20 MONEY
Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guests on today's show are my two good friends—and successful practice owners—Drs. Jeremy Ciano and Jennifer Stewart, OD. This is another takeover episode, so I'm honestly not sure where they'll take the conversation. The only direction I gave them was the title of the episode, so I'm just as curious as you are as to where the conversation will lead! As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today’s conversation by visiting our website at and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our...
info_outlineWelcome to another episode of The Dose. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jeremy Ciano, an optometrist located in Carmel, IN (where my office is located). What’s unique about Jeremy is that he has one of the best business minds and ways of thinking about an optometry business that I’ve ever met, and we leave no stone unturned during this episode. We talk about his journey in optometry and the state of his practice, how he started building his patient base, why he closes his office down for an entire day once per month, and the two criteria he uses for empowering his team to make decisions.
We also discuss:
- How he started from day one of wanting to be “the 1%” of practices that delivered a world class patient experience
- Why he starts off by thanking patients when they bring in a problem or complaint
- Pieces of technology he’s using to deliver a great patient experience, including the importance of investing in a great practice website.
- Time management and the stepping stones that Jeremy’s taken in life to get to where he is now: running a $2.4MM practice w/ one FTE OD schedule, while he works about 2.5 pt facing days per week.
And be sure to stick around to the end, where we talk about where Jeremy is speaking and how you might be able to learn more from him in the future, including a “tease” on the next topic we’ll discuss in a future episode.
We also reference no less than 7 books that have been very influential on both of us in our businesses.
Never Eat Alone – Keith Ferrazzi
Killing Sacred Cows – Garrett B. Gunderson
The Everything Store – Jeff Bezos
Good to Great – James C. Collins
Failure is Not an Option – Gene Kranz
The One Thing – Gary Keller
Small Giants – Bo Burlingham
4 Hour Work Week – Tim Ferriss
Technology: National Recalls http://www.nationalrecalls.com/index.html Solution Reach (https://www.solutionreach.com/)
Please rate and subscribe to The Dose on these platforms
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
Stitcher
—————————————————————————————————
For past episodes of The Dose with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!