Making These Merchandising Mistakes is Costing You Tens of Thousands of Dollars: An Optical Conversation with Kayla Ashlee

Are you building wealth...or just feeding the machine?? A conversation with Nathan Hayes on investing capital in your practice

What if one of the biggest financial mistakes practice owners make is confusing "spending money in the practice" with actually investing in it? In this episode, I'm joined once again by Nathan Hayes for a thoughtful and nuanced conversation around reinvesting in your practice, opportunity cost, and the hidden tradeoffs owners often overlook when deciding what to do with excess cash flow. We explore the mindset many owners have that every dollar spent on equipment, technology, or expansion automatically creates enterprise value — and why that assumption can quietly create long-term financial consequences if it's never challenged. Nathan and I unpack the difference between true investment versus simply adding expense, how owners should think about ROI inside the practice compared to investing outside the practice, and why many of the highest-value drivers in a business have nothing to do with buying another piece of equipment. We also discuss: 1. Why more equipment does not automatically mean a more valuable practice 2. The hidden opportunity cost of continually reinvesting back into the business 3. How enterprise value is actually created in an optometry practice 4. The difference between spending, investing, and simply staying operational 5. Why patient flow and schedule utilization matter more than most owners realize 6. The role marketing can play in growing enterprise value versus buying more technology 7. How practice owners should think about free cash flow after taxes, debt service, and reserves 8. The dangerous feedback loop created by depreciation-driven purchasing decisions 9. Why many owners underestimate the value of investing outside the practice As always, we close the conversation with practical NBSs (Next Best Steps) to help owners think more intentionally about capital allocation decisions both inside and outside their practice. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam [https://integratedpwm.as.me/schedule/bc0791cb/appointment/1713824/calendar/706316?appointmentTypeIds[]=1713824] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Four Levers in Retirement [https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/10105897] IDOC [https://idoc.net/] Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! [https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Numbers-Straight-Talk-Profits/dp/1608320561] Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits with Greg Crabtree [https://integratedpwm.com/197] ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose-podcast/id1438352481?mt=2] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/44jE3DxOjZQPok0H9D2jw3?si=7fhsalltRqGlwEbVqYnAQA] ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! [https://integratedpwm.com/learningcenter/?cat=podcast] Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 [https://bit.ly/4tttng6] Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM [https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM]

Making These Merchandising Mistakes is Costing You Tens of Thousands of Dollars: An Optical Conversation with Kayla Ashlee

Most optometric practice owners have no idea how much money they're quietly losing in their optical simply because of merchandising, layout, and the conversations happening—or not happening—between staff and patients. Welcome to this episode of 20/20 Money: The Business of Optometry. My guest on today's show is Kayla Ashlee. Kayla joins me on the show to talk about the subtle but incredibly powerful levers that influence buying behavior inside the dispensary and why the difference between a thriving optical and an average one often has less to do with pricing and more to do with psychology, presentation, and process. In our conversation, we discuss the difference between optician-led versus patient-led frame selections, why many owners underestimate the power of suggestion in the optical, and how practices may be unintentionally leaving revenue on the table simply through the way eyeware is presented.. We also talk about practical merchandising strategies that can materially influence capture rate and optical performance without adding more patients to the schedule. Resources: MassGeneral cafeteria experiment [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2737840] "You will read this first" image [https://www.reddit.com/r/oddlysatisfying/comments/v64wmu/how_this_demonstration_of_graphic_design_rules/] Book a Triage call with Adam [https://integratedpwm.as.me/schedule/bc0791cb/appointment/1713824/calendar/706316?appointmentTypeIds[]=1713824] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] Checkout all the benefits of becoming a Spexy Member at www.spexy.co [http://www.spexy.co/] Use code 2020money to get your first month of Spexy+ Premium for $1 at checkout. ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose-podcast/id1438352481?mt=2] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/44jE3DxOjZQPok0H9D2jw3?si=7fhsalltRqGlwEbVqYnAQA] ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! [https://integratedpwm.com/learningcenter/?cat=podcast] Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 [https://bit.ly/4tttng6] Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM [https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM]

Practice financing decoded: what owners need to know now about how banks think about deals

Thinking about buying or expanding a practice, but nervous about debt, banks, or making an expensive mistake? In today's episode, I'm joined by Mike Smith of Bank of America to demystify the lending process for optometrists. We break down what banks actually look for in a borrower, how student loans and cash reserves really factor in, why tax returns matter more than stories, and the common traps buyers and sellers fall into when financing a deal. If utilizing OPM, other peoples' money like a bank's, is on your radar (now or in the future), this conversation can save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam [https://integratedpwm.as.me/schedule/bc0791cb/appointment/1713824/calendar/706316?appointmentTypeIds[]=1713824] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose-podcast/id1438352481?mt=2] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/44jE3DxOjZQPok0H9D2jw3?si=7fhsalltRqGlwEbVqYnAQA] ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! [https://integratedpwm.com/learningcenter/?cat=podcast] Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 [https://bit.ly/4tttng6] Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM [https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM]

How great practice owners build teams that stay and perform

What if the biggest threat to your practice isn't reimbursement, competition, or overhead—but the way you hire, lead, and retain people? In today's episode, I'm joined by Mike Dixon, president of Hoops, for a conversation every practice owner needs to hear. We unpack why staffing issues feel so hard, why most owners were never trained to lead, and how the right systems can turn your team from your biggest headache into your greatest competitive advantage. If you've ever said, "I just can't find good people," this episode may challenge the way you think about the real problem—and the real opportunity. Resources: FEAR Setting Exercise from Tim Ferriss [https://tim.blog/2017/05/15/fear-setting/] HoopsHr.com [https://HoopsHr.com] Book a Triage call with Adam [https://integratedpwm.as.me/schedule/bc0791cb/appointment/1713824/calendar/706316?appointmentTypeIds[]=1713824] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose-podcast/id1438352481?mt=2] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/44jE3DxOjZQPok0H9D2jw3?si=7fhsalltRqGlwEbVqYnAQA] ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! [https://integratedpwm.com/learningcenter/?cat=podcast] Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 [https://bit.ly/4tttng6] Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM [https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM]

Don't make these financial and business mistakes! (the talk I give at every optometry school's private practice club)

The financial decisions you make early in your career can shape the next several decades—and most people don't realize it until much later. On this episode, I'm sharing a presentation I recently gave to students at the Indiana University School of Optometry on the timeless financial and business lessons every optometrist should understand. I discuss the power of compounding, how to think about saving priorities, student loans, disability and life insurance, and why your income is your greatest wealth-building tool. I also cover important concepts on the business side of optometry, including ownership, practice valuation, buying in, cold starts, and why some of the best opportunities in the profession are often overlooked because of geography. Whether you're a student, recent grad, or experienced provider, this episode is about making intentional decisions with your money so you can create more confidence, options, and freedom over time. Resources: Book a Triage call with Adam [https://integratedpwm.as.me/schedule/bc0791cb/appointment/1713824/calendar/706316?appointmentTypeIds[]=1713824] Download the Practice Owner's Financial Toolkit [https://integratedpwm.com/toolkit] 20/20 Money Ultimate Financial Success Masterclass [https://www.2020membership.com/] OD Mastermind Interest Form [https://www.jotform.com/form/250467795073062] Check out Adam's new book: How to Buy an Optometry Practice [https://a.co/d/0wv5uLn] ————————————————————————————— Please rate and subscribe to 20/20 Money on these platforms Apple Podcasts [https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dose-podcast/id1438352481?mt=2] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/44jE3DxOjZQPok0H9D2jw3?si=7fhsalltRqGlwEbVqYnAQA] ————————————————————————————— For past episodes of 20/20 Money with full companion show notes, please check out our episode archive here! [https://integratedpwm.com/learningcenter/?cat=podcast] Check out Adam's other podcast! The Optometry Success Podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4tttng6 [https://bit.ly/4tttng6] Subscribe on Spotify: https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM [https://bit.ly/4tuf0YM]