20/20 MONEY: The Business of Optometry

Health insurance is one of the most confusing and frustrating decisions practice owners face. In this episode I sit down with Matt Allen, founder of Iconic Insurance, to break down the real options available to optometric practice owners and their teams. We walk through the three primary approaches to offering coverage including fully funded plans, self funded plans, and reimbursement strategies. Matt explains how each structure works, when they make sense, and why understanding the risk profile of your team can dramatically impact cost and plan design. We also spend time discussing a second scenario many practice owners eventually face: the gap between selling a practice and becoming eligible for Medicare. Matt shares how the Affordable Care Act marketplace works, how income planning can impact premium subsidies, and why network design is one of the most overlooked risks when transitioning from employer coverage to individual plans. If you have ever felt overwhelmed trying to navigate health insurance decisions for yourself or your team, this episode will give you a clearer framework for evaluating your options. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice Iconic Insurance Connect with Matt Allen on LinkedIn

Many optometrists are either leaving money on the table with their tax strategy—or unknowingly pushing the boundaries of tax law. Today's episode is my guest appearance on Dr. Steve Vargo's Eye Own a Business Podcast. Steve invited me onto his show to talk about tax planning for optometrists—specifically the strategies practice owners should be embracing right now, the ones they should avoid, and where costly mistakes often show up on tax returns. In our conversation, we walk through several examples of where optometric practice owners tend to be either too conservative or too aggressive with their tax strategies, the difference between proactive tax strategy and reactive tax preparation, and a practical case study highlighting an error that occurred on an OD's tax return—and what correcting that mistake will mean for them going forward. If you've ever wondered whether you might be leaving money on the table when it comes to taxes—or potentially putting yourself on the wrong side of tax law—this episode should help you think a little differently about where to look and what questions to ask. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Vicki Weiss, president of VOSH International, to talk about how optometrists can use their clinical skills to create impact far beyond their own practices. We discuss how VOSH has evolved from the traditional short term clinic model into a global organization focused on education, partnership, and strengthening optometric care in low and middle income countries. Dr. Weiss shares how she became involved, what the organization looks like today, and the many ways ODs can contribute through time, talent, and treasure. If you have ever wondered how your work as an optometrist could make a broader difference in the world, this conversation offers a practical and inspiring place to start. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice VOSH Website Video of a VOSH Mission ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM

Recording live from IDOC Connection in Orlando, I sit down with Dr. Todd Cohan, Sadie Blair, and Polly Stearns from Forsight Vision and Midwest Dry Eye Center to talk about the relationship between vision and execution inside a growing private practice. We go into the dynamic between the owner (visionary) and the operations lead (integrator), and why that chemistry matters more than most doctors realize. We discuss leadership cadence, how they structure weekly meetings, how goals are set and tracked, and what it looks like to invest in developing internal talent. We also unpack the real risk and reward of moving a top producer into a leadership role, how they think about KPIs and staff engagement, and the systems they use to keep everyone aligned. If you're thinking about growth, delegation, or strengthening your leadership bench, this episode will give you a practical framework to consider. Resources: Harnessing the power and momentum from optometry meetings with your operations manager: a conversation with Dr. Todd Cohan & Sadie Blair Ted Lasso: "Be curious, not judgemental" Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice Midwest Dry Eye Center Forsight Vision ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM

In this episode, we share how to confidently give patients clear choices in the exam lane without creating confusion or pushback around vision and medical care. We explain how setting expectations early and taking ownership of clear communication builds trust and increases acceptance of follow up visits. We also touch on how to structure your schedule to support shorter, more frequent visits and why giving patients ownership of their decisions improves both the patient experience and practice profitability. Hosted By Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO Have a question? Submit it here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk The Optometry Success Podcast, hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Dr. Chad Fleming, OD—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday. Please be sure to subscribe to The Optometry Success Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify now to check out the next two episodes right now! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Eugene joins me to talk about how artificial intelligence is showing up in optometry and why there's a growing gap between how patients use AI in their daily lives and how most practices are adopting it. We discuss how this shift is changing patient expectations, what it means for the patient journey, and where practices can use AI to improve engagement, communication, and efficiency—without losing the human element of care. We wrap up with a look at where AI in healthcare is headed and how practice owners can use it intentionally to enhance both patient experience and practice operations. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form National Strategic Group ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM

In this episode, we dive into the critical concept of schedule health and how it drives strategic growth, especially when adding associates. We explore how data-driven insights help us make confident, informed decisions that support sustainable scaling for our practices. Hosted By Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO Have a question? Submit it here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/Fq1Ro Subscribe on Spotify: https://shorturl.at/jCtsk The Optometry Success Podcast, hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Dr. Chad Fleming, OD—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday. Please be sure to subscribe to The Optometry Success Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify now to check out the next two episodes right now! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Mandy Brown, an operations and leadership specialist who helps practice owners streamline systems and delegate effectively. She explores the operator mindset versus ownership, how to turn tasks into clear roles, hiring leaders who run initiatives, using simple tools to track progress, and practical steps to get unstuck from daily grind.

In this episode, we explore how we can shift from traditional scopes of practice to a more intentional, patient-centric approach. We dive into embracing managed vision care plans, redefining our billing practices, and using strategic communication to better serve our patients. Along the way, we share actionable insights to improve practice efficiency and patient outcomes as optometry continues to evolve. Hosted By Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO Have a question? Submit it here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM The Optometry Success Podcast, hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP and Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO helps private-practice optometrists build profitable, sustainable businesses with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Adam Cmejla, CFP—a financial planner and CFO to ODs nationwide—and Dr. Chad Fleming, OD—a multi-location practice owner with decades of hands-on experience—each 20-minute episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights you can apply right away. From leadership and financials to team culture, operations, and growth, this is your weekly dose of real-world advice for real-world practice owners. New episodes every Wednesday. Please be sure to subscribe to The Optometry Success Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify now to check out the next two episodes right now! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass OD Mastermind Interest Form ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Bill Gerber, founder and CEO of the Optical Marketing Group, shares practical design guidance for optical practices. He talks about how layout, merchandising, and flow boost capture rates. He explains recognizing when a refresh is needed, using patient lifestyle data for targeted events, and where technology fits into a modern, revenue-driving space.