20/20 MONEY

20/20 MONEY, hosted by Certified Financial Planner and experienced Wealth Adviser Adam Cmejla, aims to bring clarity to financial concepts and strategies that impact optometrists. For more information on the show and on Adam, please visit https://www.integratedpwm.com/

A simple strategy to make the pain of quarterly estimates less (emotionally) stressful for optometry practice owners 08/18/2025

Lessons from the (former) President of TSO: cooperative strategies to counter PE disruption and empower private practice ownership with John Marvin 08/11/2025

Lessons from the (former) President of TSO: cooperative strategies to counter PE disruption and empower private practice ownership with John Marvin 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 conversation by visiting our website at and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with John Marvin. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37600305

2024 Books & Benchmarks Report Discussion with Nathan Hayes 08/04/2025

2024 Books & Benchmarks Report Discussion with Nathan Hayes 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, 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Nathan Hayes. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37535830

Are Opportunity Zones really an opportunity or is the tax tail wagging the investment dog with Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP® 07/28/2025

Are Opportunity Zones really an opportunity or is the tax tail wagging the investment dog with Peter Lazaroff, CFA, CFP® 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 conversation by visiting our website at and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, be sure to subscribe to our monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Peter Lazaroff. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37511395

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 07/21/2025

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 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 understanding financial metrics, and the evolving landscape of patient experience in the context of technological advancements. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Dodge Perry, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37471820

What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for optometry private practice owners & their financial planning 07/14/2025

What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for optometry private practice owners & their financial planning 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 cap increase to $40,000 through 2029, with phase-down for high earners QBI deduction made permanent, with higher income thresholds Return of personal exemptions and new senior standard deduction Expanded Child and Dependent Care Credit: up to $7,500 Introduction of Trump Accounts: tax-advantaged savings accounts for minors Increased EV tax credit with potential application to business purchases 🧾 Business Tax Planning 100% bonus depreciation made permanent Section 179 deduction limit increased to $3 million Updated QBI deduction strategies for S-corp owners and those near the new thresholds ⚠️ Watch-Outs and Questionable Strategies Can you use 529 plan funds for CE expenses? (Short answer: only if they’re required for credentialing) New car loan interest deduction—but don’t overbuy just for the tax break Overtime and tip income exclusions for employees—opportunities for staff retention, but not game-changers for owners 🧮 Interesting Items Tucked into the Bill 1099 reporting threshold increased from $600 → $2,000 (finally!) No unemployment benefits for individuals earning > $1 million/year Debt ceiling raised by $5 trillion—and why that doesn’t mean the Fed is buying debt 📌 Key Takeaway: This legislation reshapes both personal and business tax planning for optometric practice owners. It’s a great time to revisit your compensation strategy, equipment financing, gifting plans, and entity structure—especially before year-end 2025 when many provisions take effect. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37395360

5 common decisions that prevent ODs from achieving financial independence 07/07/2025

5 common decisions that prevent ODs from achieving financial independence 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 to evaluate which of these areas might be holding you back—and take steps now to build a more intentional path toward true independence. Topics covered include: – The hidden cost of overleveraging in life and business – How time and money intersect in your practice profitability – Why your balance sheet matters more than your income – The danger of relying solely on your practice sale for retirement – The importance of creating an integrated personal and professional plan Next Best Step: Take 10 minutes this week to identify which of these five decisions may be showing up in your life—and commit to course-correcting just one of them before year-end. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37301440

ANOTHER 20/20 Takeover: Your favorite KPIs (and why?!) w/ Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Jeremy Ciano, OD 06/30/2025

ANOTHER 20/20 Takeover: Your favorite KPIs (and why?!) w/ Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Jeremy Ciano, OD 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 monthly “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy this take over episode with Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD and Jeremy Ciano, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37212285

The delegation journey...and why every practice owner should be on it! with Dr. Michael Neal, OD 06/23/2025

The delegation journey...and why every practice owner should be on it! with Dr. Michael Neal, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today’s show is Dr. Michael Neal, OD. Mike joins me on the show to talk about the evolution of delegation as a practice owner—specifically, the journey of learning to trust your team with everything outside of your core revenue-producing activities. We share our own experiences with delegation, what it looked like early on, how our thinking evolved, and the impact it’s had on our ability to focus on our Unique Abilities™ and lead more effectively. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Mike Neal, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37106855

Using data to determine the best location for your practice with Mike Jorgenson from Carr Healthcare Realty 06/16/2025

Using data to determine the best location for your practice with Mike Jorgenson from Carr Healthcare Realty Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Mike Jorgenson from Mike joins me back on the show to talk about what goes into a demographics search when evaluating the location of a practice—and he does it from both a cold start as well as existing practice's point of view. We talk about the minimum OD:population ratio that's generally advisable when setting up or buying a practice and other details as it pertains to the factors that influence the demographics of a practice's location. Our conversation then transitions into, well...practice transitions! Whether a selling doctor leases or owns the real estate that the practice is located in, Mike shares important real estate considerations that both sides—buyer and seller alike—should be thinking about and and proactively planning. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mike Jorgenson. Resources: . ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/37017440

The power of community, stopping the "race to the bottom," educating ODs on practice affordability, discussing the Associate OD shortage, and more with Dr. Mick Kling, OD 06/09/2025

The power of community, stopping the "race to the bottom," educating ODs on practice affordability, discussing the Associate OD shortage, and more with Dr. Mick Kling, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Mick Kling, OD. Mick joins me back on the show to talk about the power of community within the profession and how optometrists can avoid the “race to the bottom” when it comes to pricing by focusing on delivering and communicating value to their patients. We also discuss how to evaluate the affordability of a practice, the tools available to help aspiring owners make informed decisions, the current shortage of associate ODs, and the importance of building strategic partnerships throughout a practice owner’s career. Be sure to check out the show notes for a number of helpful resources we reference throughout our conversation. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Mick Kling, OD Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36908180

From blank to bank: How a $35 lens becomes a $525 sale by finishing in-house with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD 06/02/2025

From blank to bank: How a $35 lens becomes a $525 sale by finishing in-house with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today's show is Dr. Mike Satryan, OD, a partner with in Altoona, PA. Mike is a long-time practice owner who brings over 25 years of experience running an in-house optical lab within their practice. We dive into the substantial cost savings his practice has realized by finishing lenses on-site and how that margin improvement supports a compensation model tied to gross revenue growth. We explore how having an in-house lab not only boosts profitability but also enhances second-pair and annual contact lens supply conversions, thanks in part to a more efficient optical experience. He also shares his buying criteria when evaluating edgers, what ultimately influenced his choice of supplier, and whether the edger is patient-facing or kept behind the scenes. Whether you’re a solo OD or managing a multi-doctor practice, this conversation offers valuable insight into the operational and financial upside of bringing lens finishing in-house. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Mike Satryan, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36808675

The home loan balancing act: smart mortgage moves for optometry practice owners with Lee Raykovicz, OD 05/26/2025

The home loan balancing act: smart mortgage moves for optometry practice owners with Lee Raykovicz, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Lee Raykovicz, OD, a mortgage broker with Go Rascal Mortgages. On today's episode we dive into what goes into the mortgage underwriting process, how practice owners can get creative when it comes to purchasing their homes, the details on what Physician loans actually are and how they work, how to think about the total DTI ratio when thinking about your mortgage & student loans, and ARM strategy ideas in today's rate environment. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lee Raykovicz. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36706760

REWIND: 3 financial lessons learned from my grandpa and grandma that can shape your relationship with money 05/19/2025

REWIND: 3 financial lessons learned from my grandpa and grandma that can shape your relationship with money Welcome to this REWIND episode of 20/20 Money! Given that my grandpa just recently celebrated his 96th birthday, I wanted to bring back this episode and share it again for new and long-time listeners alike. It's also a subtle reminder about the importance of understanding longevity risk in one's financial plan. I can only imagine the unfortunate situation my grandpa would be in had he and my grandma not had a sound investment strategy that has allowed them to build up a portfolio that has lasted the entirety of his retirement. On this episode, I wanted to share a bit of a personal story about 3 lessons that I learned from my grandparents that have in large part shaped the money story and lessons that have guided my financial journey and how I view and use money money in my life. I hope this conversations gives you a benchmark and different viewpoint to compare your own money values and purpose. If you feel like you don’t have a grasp on your own money story and purpose, my hope is that it inspires you to start thinking intentionally about how you make spending and investing decisions with your dollars. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36616005

Schedule management, pre-appointing, & the importance of listening to your practice w/ Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD 05/12/2025

Schedule management, pre-appointing, & the importance of listening to your practice w/ Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD. Chris joins me back on the show to talk about why it's important to be intentional about the business decisions you make in your practice and make those decisions based on data and a plan. We talk about this concept through the lens of schedule management and how to think about pre-appointing your patients within a practice, and it's in part based off some listener feedback that I received almost a year ago. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Chris Wolfe, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36524925

Increasing optical sales using influential communication with Kayla Ashlee (live on location from BCDO) 05/05/2025

Increasing optical sales using influential communication with Kayla Ashlee (live on location from BCDO) Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is . Kayla joins me on the show to discuss how the communication cues (or miscues) that unknowingly are happening in your office can be both positively or negatively impacting your patient experience and thus influencing the buying decisions of your patients. She shared examples of good and not-so-good cues that can be happening across the patient journey—from the moment the patient comes into your office all the way through their optical buying experience. This was a very enjoyable and timely conversation given the relative proximity to the Frankenstein episode I did a couple of weeks ago, because as I said in that episode, one of the investments I would make in both myself and my team as early as possible is good sales and communication training...and this confirmation was an example of why it's so important. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kayla Ashlee. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36428510

Let's RAGE!!! (a Rant Against Growth Excuses) with Nathan Hayes 04/28/2025

Let's RAGE!!! (a Rant Against Growth Excuses) with Nathan Hayes Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Nathan Hayes with On this show, Nathan and I RAGE!! That's right, we Rant Against Growth Excuses. We talk about the common headwinds, obstacles, and challenges that we both hear when talking with practice owners...and how to think about solving those issues by thinking differently about the challenges. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Nathan Hayes. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36322500

Live from NSUOCO: Top 10 Tips for (Financial) Success for Optometrists 04/21/2025

Live from NSUOCO: Top 10 Tips for (Financial) Success for Optometrists Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! This week's episode is the recording of my presentation at NSUOCO, titled "Top 10 Tips for (Financial) Success for Optometrists." Over the course of the year, I'm privileged to present in front of a variety of optometry schools' private practice clubs and classes. The purpose of the presentation is to help ODs understand the ABCs and 123s of personal finance and how to better understand the business of optometry so that, upon graduation, they are able to make educated and informed decisions about their money. Given that the content and lessons are pretty evergreen, I thought this would be a good "refresher" episode for listeners of the show—young and "seasoned" alike. Even though you won't have the Powerpoint deck to follow along, I tried to present the content in a way that would transfer well to the podcast. Special shout out to my producer Kyle for working his magic with the audio as well as Corbin Lill, a student at NSUOCO, for having me. If you are either in school or connected to a school and would like me to do a similar presentation, please email me at . 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” or are interested in learning more about how OD Masterminds creates space for real conversations, real accountability, and real growth, please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my live presentation from NSUOCO. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36238710

My Frankenstein practice: how I would assemble the perfect optometry practice 04/14/2025

My Frankenstein practice: how I would assemble the perfect optometry practice Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! What would I do if I were starting an optometric practice from the ground up? A listener posed the question—and I went deep. In this episode, I walk through everything from choosing the right location (hint: geography is everything) to building the skills that matter most when you’re just getting started. We cover: Why defining your Ideal Patient Avatar (IPA) is mission-critical The underrated value of sales coaching and communication training Why I’d buy a small-town practice instead of cold-starting in suburbia The non-negotiables when assembling your professional advisory team Whether you’re dreaming about opening your own practice or wondering how you’d do it differently if you had a do-over, this episode is full of real-world insight and practical advice. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36116905

Can we PLEASE agree on some numbers (and the KPIs that influence them)?? 04/07/2025

Can we PLEASE agree on some numbers (and the KPIs that influence them)?? Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! In this episode, we tackle the confusion around key financial numbers in your optometric practice and why it’s critical to have a common understanding of their definitions. From gross COLLECTED revenue, cost of goods sold, and net operating income, we explore the most important KPIs that influence your bottom line. Whether you’re looking to grow, improve efficiency, or just understand your business better, this conversation will help you create a clearer, more actionable financial dashboard. We dive into: Why “collections” and “gross revenue” are not the same thing The 3-5 core numbers every practice owner should track consistently How to think about net income in your practice as both the clinician and the owner Stop guessing. Start tracking what actually matters. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/36025195

An update on Taxes 101: Understanding tax brackets, deductions, and credits for optometric practice owners 03/31/2025

An update on Taxes 101: Understanding tax brackets, deductions, and credits for optometric practice owners Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the details of your tax return—beyond just whether you got a refund. We’ll break down the difference between deductions and credits, how our tax brackets work, why you should focus on Line 24—your total tax paid—instead of Lines 34 or 37, and what Line 38 might be telling you about penalties and interest. We’ll also highlight common areas for errors, clarify how the QBI deduction applies depending on your income level, and walk through important forms like Form 8960 for NIIT cancelation, Form 8889 for HSAs, and the health insurance deduction. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35930665

The Art of Delegation from a practice owner's perspective with Dr. Ted McElroy, OD 03/24/2025

The difference between saving vs deferring taxes 03/17/2025

How practices can benefit using fractional services like a CMO with Daniel Palmer 03/10/2025

How practices can benefit using fractional services like a CMO with Daniel Palmer Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Daniel Palmer. Daniel joins me back on the show to talk through a growing service and role in small businesses (optometry included), which is the Fractional C*O service. I use the * to depict the fact that this role could be Chief Operating, Marketing, Information/Technology, and yes Financial Officer. We talk about the differences between a consultant and a fractional C*O and how to think about each of those roles in your organization, how a practice can think about if & when they're ready to add that relationship to their leadership team, and the value that this role should be providing in an organization. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Daniel Palmer. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35592940

Making good decisions (and avoiding costly mistakes) when purchasing optometry equipment w/ Rick Norwood 03/03/2025

Making good decisions (and avoiding costly mistakes) when purchasing optometry equipment w/ Rick Norwood Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Rick Norwood, founder & President of Norwood Device & Diagnostics. Rick joins me on the show to talk through an often-discussed topic in practice ownership, and that is the responsible purchasing of equipment. We talk through how practice owners should evaluate various suppliers, the cadence and frequency of replacing and upgrading your equipment, and how to avoid purchasing "buyer's remorse" through the process. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Rick Norwood. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35503520

Edging in-house vs outsourcing: the economics, trade-offs, and data an optometric practice needs to measure with Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Sam Hornberger, OD 02/24/2025

Edging in-house vs outsourcing: the economics, trade-offs, and data an optometric practice needs to measure with Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Sam Hornberger, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guests on today’s show are Drs. Jennifer Stewart & Sam Hornberger, both private practice owners in their respective practices. Sam and Jennifer join me on the show to talk about a topic that admittedly, in over 300 episodes of 20/20 Money, I haven't talked about yet: edging and the decisions around whether to bring edging in-house or continue to outsource it to your lab. We talk through how each of them made the decision to bring edging in-house—Sam making the decision after years of outsourcing it to a lab and Jennifer making the decision within the first year of launching her cold start practice. They give a peek behind the curtains on how vision plans influence the decision, the specific edgers each of them have in their practice, the economic benefits they've experienced, and how they use it as a unique differentiator and value-add to their respective patient bases. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Drs. Sam Hornberger & Jennifer Stewart, OD. Resources: Episode #256: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35397235

Providing vision therapy profitably and passionately with Dr. Leigha Nielsen, OD 02/17/2025

Providing vision therapy profitably and passionately with Dr. Leigha Nielsen, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Leigha Nielson, OD FOVDR, founder of in New Braunfels, TX. Leigha joins me on the show to talk about how she's created both a successful practice and a life she loves—personally and professionally—through a vision-therapy focused practice. She talks about her journey as a practice owner under the TSO (Texas State Optical) brand and how she transitioned to her own stand-alone practice and why she made the commitment to to change. She also shares the details about the operations of her practice—from the pricing discount she provides to patients that pay all in full to how she thinks about leverage and return-on-investment with the team that supports the care provided to patients, Leigha is very transparent about how she's made her practice profitable while also not compromising her passion for vision therapy. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. If you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Leigha Nielsen, OD, FOVDR. Resources: Episode #256: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35306775

Think differently about "admin days" in your practice --my guest appearance on "Eye Own a Business" with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD 02/10/2025

Think differently about "admin days" in your practice --my guest appearance on "Eye Own a Business" with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! This week's episode is my guest appearance on Dr. Steve Vargo's show "Eye Own a Business," produced by IDOC. Steve had me on the show to talk about something that I've been thinking about for some time, and I used his show to "stake my claim"—I don't like term "admin day" and want to see the profession start embracing a different way of thinking about the work that owners do ON the business. I share my beliefs and reasoning behind this and why I feel it behooves owners to start thinking differently about their role in their practice. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Steve Vargo. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35213385

Ideas & strategies on ways to pay your team more without compromising profit with Jackson Pace, CPA 02/03/2025

Ideas & strategies on ways to pay your team more without compromising profit with Jackson Pace, CPA Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Jackson Pace, CPA. Jackson joins me on the show to talk about ways owners can maximize the ROI on their team, specifically non-OD team members. He shares examples of ways in which practice owners have brought focus and intention to different areas of the practice, how practice owners can empower their team to take ownership of an incentive program, and examples of a couple of different "dark corners" of the practice that can benefit from some attention. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jackson Pace, CPA. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35110795

Stop Jonesin’…measure your success against your own purpose, not someone else’s with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD 01/27/2025

Stop Jonesin’…measure your success against your own purpose, not someone else’s with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today’s show is Dr. Steve Vargo, OD. In addition to being a practice management consultant with , Steve is also the host of the podcast "" a show with episodes aimed to help independent ODs grow a thriving practice while wearing the hats of both OD and business owner. In this episode Steve and I talk about the importance of staying true to your vision and passion in practice ownership. We talk about how easily owners can get distracted by what other owners are doing and think that they have to compare and keep up to what others are doing instead of staying true to the vision and mission they set out on when they got into ownership. 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 “planning life on purpose” newsletter that’s filled with tips and ideas to help you plan your best life, on purpose. You can also to learn a little bit more about how we serve in the capacity of a personal and professional CFO: helping OD practice owners around the country reduce their tax bill, proactively manage cash flow, and make prudent investment decisions both in and out of their practice to ultimately help them live their best life on purpose. Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about the 20/20 Money Financial Success Masterclass, a course & platform that we created to help ODs become “brilliant at the financial basics,” please check out the link in the show notes of this episode to learn more. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Steve Vargo, OD. Resources: ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our /episode/index/show/adoseoffinancialcents/id/35019610

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