20/20 MONEY: The Business of Optometry

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 Chad Fleming, OD, FAAO—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 Reducing business risk when adding associate ODs in an established practice Adding associate ODs in an established practice feels risky. Let's go from risky to empowering! In this episode, we explore the mindset shifts, financial considerations, and key performance indicators necessary for successful expansion. We'll discuss how to proactively determine when your practice is ready for an associate and how to break down the investment of hiring an associate into your practice. Have a question? Submit it here 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!

If you wait until you're ready to sell to start planning, you're already late. My guest on today's show is Tom Turmell, founder of TMT Capital. Tom joins me to talk about practice ownership, succession planning, and what optometrists need to understand long before they ever think about selling their practice. We discuss why creating value ahead of a transition matters, the importance of having the right advisory team in place, and how personal goals should drive exit decisions—not the other way around. Tom also shares why checking out during the sale process can be costly and why starting the planning conversation years in advance is one of the best moves a practice owner can make. 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 TMT Capital Current State & Business Plan Handout ————————————————————————————— 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!

If you've ever felt chained to your practice and the thought of stepping away for an extended period of time felt impossible, I PROMISE you do not want to miss this inspiring and yet very pragmatic conversation. Dr. Jeremy Ciano joins me back on the show to share his journey of taking a recent sabbatical and what it taught him about business and life. We talk about the challenges of stepping away from a practice, the importance of intentional planning, and building a team that can operate without the owner being involved day to day. Jeremy also reflects on the personal growth that came from taking time off and why being intentional with both your business and your life matters more than most practice owners realize. 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 Tim Ferriss's Fear Setting Die With Zero (book by Bill Perkins) I'VE BEEN HACKED!!! A 20/20 Money TAKEOVER by Drs. Jennifer Stewart and Jeremy Ciano Cold Start & Satellite Expansion Edition w/ Drs. Jeremy Ciano & Jennifer Stewart ANOTHER 20/20 Takeover: Your favorite KPIs (and why?!) w/ Drs. Jennifer Stewart, OD & Jeremy Ciano, OD How to Think About Vision Plans and Profitability in Your Practice with Drs. Jennifer Stewart & Jeremy Ciano The How and Why of Having an Accountability Partner as an Optometrist with Drs. Jennifer Stewart and Jeremy Ciano The "how" behind what made 2020 the best year ever for one high-producing practice owner with Dr. Jeremy Ciano The Dose Episode 11 – Inside the Mindset and Methods of a Multi-Million dollar, single OD practice w/ Dr. Jeremy Ciano The Dose Episode 14 – Financial Decision-Making for Optometrists with Dr. Jeremy Ciano ————————————————————————————— 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!

In this derivative of a show takeover, Dr. Brianna Rue interviews me to explore my journey in podcasting and the insights I've has gained about the optometry profession. We discuss the challenges optometrists face, the importance of financial literacy, and many other lessons I've learned through and because of the conversations I've had on this show. We cover a lot in this dialogue and—among many topics—our conversation emphasizes the need for clarity in goals, the significance of delegation, and the value of building relationships in practice ownership. Towards the end of the conversation , we also touch on the future of the show and the significance of continuous learning and adaptation in the profession. 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 Episodes Referenced: Lessons from the (former) President of TSO: cooperative strategies to counter PE disruption and empower private practice ownership with John Marvin Thoughts and opinions on the state & future of private practice optometry from the president of a $110 million optometry organization: a conversation with John Marvin, President of Texas State Optical A deep dive into practice transitions with Dr. Mick Kling, OD (Part 1) A deep dive into practice transitions with Dr. Mick Kling, OD (Part 2) Dr. Jennifer Stewart's "tepid" start optometry practice: the power of vision & intentionality, the importance of an ideal patient avatar, and reconciling business risk with a conservative personality Increasing optical revenue by rethinking--from buying to selling--your frame management with Kayla Ashlee of Spexy Rethinking the perception of sales in your office with Kayla Ashlee, Founder of Spexy ————————————————————————————— 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!

Nathan Hayes, optometry practice operations and benchmarking expert who leads Books & Benchmarks/IDOC work. He breaks down which KPIs matter and which are vanity metrics. Shortlists simple, actionable measures like schedule fill, revenue per patient, and space utilization. Explains benchmarking, staffing trade-offs, and how to align metrics with daily responsibilities.

Arguably the biggest ongoing challenge practice owners face can be lumped into staff—both OD and non-OD alike. This challenge can be amplified for owners in small town/rural practices. Hear from successful practice owner Dr. Andy Yaryan on the approach he's taken to recruit and retain ODs in his small town practice, how he's making the intentional decisions to become a better leader and owner, and the significant results those decisions have had on his life—personally and professionally. 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 A Better Way to Pay ODs (Dr. Chad Fleming article from Review OB) 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!

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. 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!

Welcome to this episode rewind of 20/20 Money! In keeping with tradition of years past, I'm bringing back this episode yet again. If you are a long-time listener of the show, I still think it's worth listening to these episodes and other repeat episodes, whether it's on my podcast or other podcasts, for two reasons. Number one, the host of the show valued the episode and thought it to be worthy enough for a repeat listen. Second, you are not the same person that you are when you first listen to the episode. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from the philosopher Heraclitus, who said "No person stands in the same stream twice, for they are not the same person and the stream is not the same." The same thing can be said for podcast episodes, books that we read or listen to, coaching programs that we're involved in, or any other content we're consuming with the goal of personal and/or professional improvement. If it was valuable at some point in the past, there's a good chance that it will be valuable in the future. Listening to things again at a different place in your life can allow you to pick up different pearls of knowledge from the same lesson. Given the time of year, this is usually when we are thinking about goal setting, and everyone's schedule is anything but normal around this time. I wanted to bring back the conversation that I had with my friend, business collaborator, and advisor coach Stephanie Bogan from early 2022. I'll share some info about Steph here shortly in the intro and then close out this introduction with some personal thoughts and reflections. While Stephanie has built and sold a number of businesses in her career, most recently she is the founder of Limitless Adviser, a coaching program where she empowers financial advisors to create and build wildly successful practices and a life that they love. This was a special conversation for me when I originally had it as I've been privileged to be involved in that program in a couple of different ways—first as an advisor that was being coached by Stephanie (from 2018-2020) and then serving as an advisor coach, where I help coach and empower other advisors to work intentionally on their practices by applying the mindset and methods that Stephanie teaches in the curriculum and that I've learned over the years as well. I exited that coaching business at the end of 2024 and I'd be lying if there was a part of me that doesn't miss what I was doing in that program, but my other businesses were asking a bit more of me and it was time to pass the torch to another group of advisors. In this conversation we talk about something that tends to be popular around this time of year: goal setting. However, we talk about it from a bit of a different angle, which is first spending time focusing on your purpose and intention for building what you're building and how money plays a role in that plan. We talk about it from two angles: the first being the practice owner that's at the tail end of their career and facing an inevitable transition from their practice and also from the lens of a younger practice owner that has many years in front of them. Now hundreds of episodes into 20/20 Money, this show has continued to grow and develop into something bigger than I thought it would have and I'm eternally grateful for everyone that's been involved in the show. To all my guests that have given their time to come on the show and share their perspective, experience, and expertise—thank you. To my producer Kyle— yet another thank you for all your help with the show. From getting it initially set up in 2018 to handling everything with the show after I've finished recording an episode…I appreciate all that you do for the show. And lastly, to you, the listener of the show. Whether this is your first episode, or you've listened to dozens (or even hundreds!) of them, I'm sincerely grateful for the intimate, albeit asynchronous relationship that we've been able to have. My goal is to have positive impact at scale in the optometric community and help practice owners make educated and informed decisions in their business and with their money and this podcast has allowed me to have a platform to share not only my knowledge and experience but also the experience of the guests that I've had on the show. I have always tried to keep the show as objective and unbiased as possible. I've never taking a dollar of sponsorship money, no guest has ever paid to be on the show, nor have I ever paid a guest to be on the show. This podcast is organic and authentic, and your continued support through listening and sharing the show is something that I'm both humbled and grateful for and I look forward to another great year. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy this rewind episode of 20/20 Money: The business of optometry. Here's to your continued success. Links 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!

In this reflective episode, we'll explore the most impactful books I've read in 2025. From exploring personal growth and professional evolution to sharing insights on leadership and success, I'll share the themes that shaped my year. I'll discusses the challenges and triumphs of balancing identity and ambition, hopefully offering valuable takeaways for optometry professionals and beyond. Book List: Driven: Understanding and Harnessing the Genetic Gifts Shared by Entrepreneurs, Navy SEALs, Pro Athletes, and Maybe YOU – Doug Brackmann ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Understanding-Harnessing-Entrepreneurs-Athletes/dp/1619616939 Amazon From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life – Arthur C. Brooks ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Finding-Success-Happiness-Purpose/dp/059319148X Amazon Wanting What You Want – Dan Sullivan ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-What-You-Want-Sullivan/dp/1897239394 Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It – Chris Voss (with Tahl Raz) ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended/dp/0062407805 Perennial books I've revisited: Turning the Flywheel: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great – Jim Collins ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Flywheel-Monograph-Accompany-Good/dp/006291268X Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones – James Clear ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 Wikipedia Be Your Future Self Now: The Science of Intentional Transformation – Benjamin Hardy ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Be-Your-Future-Self-Now/dp/1401967571 To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others – Daniel H. Pink ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/To-Sell-Is-Human-Surprising/dp/1594631905 Fun Books: Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Project-Hail-Mary-Andy-Weir/dp/0593135202 The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America – Erik Larson ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Devil-White-City-Madness-Changed/dp/0375725601 Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike – Phil Knight ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike/dp/1501135910 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!

Almost every business owner knows they need to spend time working ON and not just IN their business. But what does it mean to take that concept to a whole new level by traveling and spending time outdoors with colleagues and strategic partners? Whether you choose to take time out of your business to work on your business and do it across town or across the country, this conversation with Drs. Julie Helmus, OD and Paul Mormon, OD talk about what it takes and means to truly invest in yourself by finding your tribe and community. This is also a perfect time to remind you, the listener, that in addition to sharing what Paul has created with GRT, the concepts and benefits we're discussing in today's episode are what we are striving to accomplish with OD Masterminds (link in the show notes). The important NBS for you: find your tribe and structure that fits you best—and helps you make progress. 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 GRT Summit PERC IDOC ————————————————————————————— 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!