20/20 MONEY: The Business of Optometry

Hello, and welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Gina Wesley. Gina joins the show to discuss various ways in which scheduling has impacted the profitability of her practice. We talk about the direct and indirect benefits of having a scheduling philosophy and why empowering your team is an important component to helping you manage an efficient practice. We also discuss the importance of communicating and setting expectations with patients is important regardless of the type of exam or the journey that they went through (normal exam vs emergency vs walk-in) and examples of language that you can use to communicate to patients that you understand that their time is valuable as well. We also discuss one of the biggest culprits that exists in an office which can throw off the schedule (hint: it may or may not be who you think it is) and how you can fix that problem and we wrap up the conversation with her pre-appointing process and how online scheduling now plays an integral role in her recall process (including the strategic placement of her "Schedule Now" button based off the Z-pattern of how website visitors consume content). As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm, how we serve ODs around the country, or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Gina Wesley. Start with Why by Simon Sinek Don Miller Story Brand Complete Eye Care of Medina ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Welcome to another episode of 20/20 Money. My guest on today's show is Matt Howard. Matt is a CPA and CVA, which is a Certified Valuations Analyst, with Blue and Co here in Indianapolis. I've known Matt for a number of years and have always appreciated and valued his opinion. Today's conversation is a bit unorthodox as there really wasn't a whole lot of planning behind the content. What started out as a simple question on the phone between two friends and colleagues turned into I feel a very timely episode: how should buyers and sellers of practices be thinking about valuations in the midst of COVID-19? In our conversation, we talk about what sellers should be focused on in their financials even more as practices look to come out and reopen. We talk about the timeline of transactions, the impact of a practice's financials in 2020 on overall valuations, and how 2020 financials could be factored into transactions that are closed in 2021 and beyond. We wrap up the conversation by again emphasizing how important it is that optometrists have a plan for how they're going to exit their practice and ensuring that they know what their personal financial plan "needs" from their practice in order to live their best life, on purpose. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm, how we serve ODs around the country, or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Matt Howard. Matt's LinkedIn profile Blue & Co Transaction Advisory Services ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Hello, and welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guests on today's show are Drs. Jeremy Ciano and Jennifer Stewart. Longtime listeners of the show will recognize those names as I've had them both on a number of times in both 1-1 interviews as well as a three-way discussion. I respect both of their opinions and perspective as they both run highly successful practices, and that success does not come by accident. Jennifer and Jeremy join me in today's conversation to discuss accountability as a business owner. As practice owners, it can be sometimes be hard to set and maintain goals that we set for ourselves. Because there's no one other than ourselves truly holding us accountable to our goals, it can be easy to slip into a sense of complacency or lose focus on where one needs to "move the needle" in their practice. Jennifer and Jeremy talk about where to find an accountability partner and how to make accountability work for everyone involved, some of the areas of their practice that they hold each other accountable, the frequency with which they check in and how they tie their frequent accountability check-ins to their long-term goals. I'm a firm believer in having an accountability partner and I hope you enjoy this episode and that it empowers you to find someone or a small group to collective help everyone achieve more. Progress, growth, and thus profitability happen when you stay focused on your KPIs in your practice. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm, how we serve ODs around the country, or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jeremy Ciano and Jennifer Stewart. ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Hello, and welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dave Goetsch. Dave is the Executive Producer and writer for the hit TV show "The Big Bang Theory" and he joins me to talk about his journey not as a TV writer but as an investor. He shares his journey as an investor, lessons he's learned along the way (one of them almost being a really expensive lesson), the investment philosophy he's implemented and how he's been able to go from feeling anxious and nervous to calm and resilient as an investor. We also talk about why having an advisor is so important for him, even though his portfolio is already "constructed" and he's not necessarily taking any explicit action on his investments. We also discuss why it's so important to have your financial plan complementing your investment portfolio and we wrap up the conversation with Dave sharing with us which Big Bang Theory character he'd want to have as his financial advisor. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about how we serve ODs around the country & what it means to work with our firm or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dave Goetsch. Dave Goetsch Dimensional Fund Advisors The Evolution of Indexing A Transformed Investor's View on Market Volatility ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

On today's episode, I start out with an update on the Paycheck Protection Program and what we've learned through the first round of applications as well as an update (as of now) as to what the next round of stimulus funding might look like and when that might come to fruition. I then share details on another aspect of the CARES Act that hasn't been as talked about but can still be an important planning consideration and that's the Employee Retention Credit. I share the details on how the ERC works and an example of a practice where the ERC may actually be more advantageous than the PPP, which is partially dependent on the timing of the PPP loan as well as the number of employees the practice has when the office reopens. I wrap up the show talking about a couple of other planning strategies to consider along with a message to encourage you to "think about what you think about." How CARES Impacts Optometrists ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Hello, and welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Matt Geller. Matt joins me back on the show today to talk about a variety of topics as it relates to staffing an office in the wake of the COVID-19. We talk about areas that practice owners should be focusing on now as well as some of the top items (personally and professionally, financially and otherwise) that ODs should be maximizing in this time of uncertainty. We emphasize the importance of cash, what someone looking for an associate position should do to stand out from the crowd, especially given the influx of talent that the marketplace is going to experience in the wake of all the temporary practice shutdowns. We also discuss the opportunity that telehealth will present to ODs in the future, even after we get back to a "new normal" after the temporary shutdowns. We wrap up the conversation talking about how to opportunistically look at this time as being a good time to "cautiously proceed" with either a cold open or purchase of a practice and also sharing more details on the upcoming virtual career fair that Matt and the rest of the team at Covalent Careers are holding in April. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Matt Geller. Covalent Career Fair ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Hello, and welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! Today's show is a unique one in many ways, starting out with a longer-than-normal introduction. This episode is actually a replay of the 75 minute Q&A session I did with the ODs on Finance Facebook group on all things related to the CARES Act and how it impacts optometrists. It's important to understand that, at the time of the live Q&A session, both the IRS and Small Business Administration (SBA) had not yet released additional guidance on aspects of the CARES Act. By far the most popular topic in this discussion was on the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP. Quite literally later that afternoon, the Treasury Department came out with guidance and interpretation of CARES and then the SBA released more additional, in-depth guidance two days later. Because (a) this was the most popular subject and (b) there are certain items of the PPP that have been clarified, I wanted to address those up front here in the introduction. Here are the main points that have changed with regards to PPP: The amount of payroll includes wages, state and local taxes, costs paid to maintain group health insurance including premiums, and retirement plan contributions including profit sharing contributions if those contributions have already been made for 2019. The amount for payroll does NOT include federal taxes paid by employee and all employment taxes paid by employer and employee (SS and Medicare). When determining the amount of your loan (based on your average monthly payroll over the previous year), do NOT include independent contractors that you issued 1099 payments. ODs that worked in your practice as 1099 independent contractors will be eligible to apply for their own PPP, so do not include payments made to them in your calculations. The date to apply for small businesses and sole proprietors was April 3rd. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply on April 10th. You need to apply directly with a bank. Start with your existing banking relationship; every bank is rolling this program out differently and with a different process. The 8 week window for loan forgiveness begins after the loan is made. You have until June 30, 2020 to restore your full-time employment and salary levels for any changes made between February 15th and April 26, 2020. The terms of the note have changed from 10 years at 4% to 2 years at 1%. Any amount that was received as a $10,000 grant through an EIDL loan and was used to pay payroll costs will REDUCE the amount of PPP funds eligible for forgiveness. Keep this information in mind as you're listening to today's episode. We've all been trying to figure out which way gravity is working these days, and the only thing that seems to be constant is change: change in regulations, change in laws, change in practice management. Please know that I'll continue to do everything that I can to provide timely, correct, and relevant guidance to you as a listener of 20/20 Money. We've also been actively publishing information on our blog, so be sure to head to www.integratedpwm.com and click on the Learning Center to subscribe to our blog. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by viewing the show notes or by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy this episode of 20/20 Money! ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Hey there 20/20 Community. Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! My guest on today's show is Dr. Justin Manning. I know ODs around the country are going through a lot right now as we all grapple with the disruption caused by COVID-19. I wanted to have Justin back on the show because I thought he'd bring a unique perspective to the show, as he's the only OD I know that also has their MPH (Masters Degree in Public Health). During our conversation we talk about various examples and ways in which we've both witnessed ODs making the best out of a bad set of circumstances. We talk about what he's experienced in his role as an Executive Vice President with Healthy Eyes Advantage and the conversations he's had with ODs around the country, how this disruption is forcing innovation in practices, including the implementation of telemedicine services, and how ODs can take an important role in the healthcare network by educating as many people as possible about all the different medical-based ways in which ODs can serve patients, thus diverting a would-be ER or PCP visit with a call to an OD. We wrap up the conversation talking about the importance of fear setting when dealing with moments of change and discomfort in life and ways in which ODs can work ON their professional self and/or practice during this setback. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also subscribe to our newsletter, set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm, or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Justin Manning. Fear setting with Tim Ferriss Seing Your Practice Through Your Patient's Eyes – RoB Article Health Eyes Advantage Justin's LinkedIn profile Eyecarelive ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money! Every practice owner around the country is trying to figure out which way gravity is working right now and figuring out how to make unprecedented decisions in their practice as it pertains to their cash flow and their team management. With that being the case, we wanted to provide some thoughts and ideas that practice owners can take during these time to better prepare themselves and their practices for the foreseeable future. In this episode we talk about the importance of being proactive in a number of different areas in your practice and I also spend time going through some details on the new Coronavirus-related Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act that was passed late on Wednesday night and which goes into effect April 2nd. I wrap it up with, for lack of a better word, a plea to every practice owner on how important it is for you to "protect the asset" and being aware of your mindset and emotional state through everything as we go through these times. As a reminder, you can get all the information discussed in today's conversation by visiting our website at integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. While there, you can also set up a 20-30min Discovery conversation to learn a little bit more about what it means to work with our firm or check out any number of additional free resources like our eBooks and on-demand webinars. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy this episode of 20/20 Money. Department of Labor Summary of Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act Eyecarelive SBA Disaster Relief Loan Application How Families First Coronavirus Relief Act affects optometrists www.asana.com www.useloom.com www.slack.com ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!

Welcome back 20/20 Money Community to another episode. Well, unconventional times call for unconventional strategies. Some of you may have financial-related questions about what's going on right now in the markets. Whether you're a new investor and this is your first "taste" of volatility or you're a seasoned investor on the brink of or in retirement, it's times like these that questions, concerns, or doubt can creep into our psyche and mindset. I wanted to let you know that we're going to be hosting a "town hall" type meeting/webinar on Wed, March 18th at 8pm EST to talk through some investing-related perspectives of what's been happening in the financial markets. This is what it will NOT be: I will not pretend to know when the fluctuations in the market will end, I will not hold myself out as an epidemiologist or infection dx specialist—I'll be coming at this purely through the lens of how to think about the recent events of the market, try and put some context around is based on what history has told us the way markets react to these events, and we'll also open it up for questions as well with the ability to anonymously submit questions. If you'd like to submit a question beforehand, please do so by emailing podcast@integratedpwm.com. All questions will be read aloud anonymously on the recording and I'll answer them as best I can. With that being said, let's move on to today's episode. My guest on today's show is Dr. Ryan Gustus. Ryan is a partner in Eyecare Associates of Bluffton, IN and also a co-founder of Lensquote, a resource that helps ODs and their team increase contact lens annual supply sales in their practice. In our conversation we spend time talking about Ryan's path to partnership in the practice and the genesis of Lensquote. Ryan shares how the software evolved from a simple Excel spreadsheet with a few macros into a visually appealing web-based platform that helps patients and ODs understand the total net cost breakdown of contact lens options. We also take a few related digressions down the path of leadership, task delegation, why the idea of selling as an optometrist is a perfectly normal and necessary mindset to master (instead of thinking of it as sleazy or "sales-y" in the traditional sense). As a reminder you can get links to all the resources discussed in this conversation by heading to our website at www.integratedpwm.com and clicking on the Learning Center. And with that introduction, I hope you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Ryan Gustus. Registration for IPWM Webinar Lensquote To Sell is Human Ryan's LinkedIn profile Ryan's Practice Epsd 37: Buying and Growing a Successful Rural Optometry Practice ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play Stitcher ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here!