Financially Free Dentists

If you're a dentist with a packed schedule, tired of the grind but not ready to quit — and especially if you have kids under 18 — there are two new realities you need to know about. The Treasury just auto-enrolled 60 million children into TRUMP accounts, setting up retirement savings by default. Plus, most dentists who picture financial freedom don’t actually dream of quitting, just working less. We get into what it really takes to coast into a more flexible work life way sooner, and explain exactly how to claim the new seed money for your kids. You'll leave knowing when it makes sense to slow down, what Coast FI looks like, and whether you should open (or claim) a TRUMP account for your family.

Key moments:

(01:43) TRUMP account auto-enrollment for kids: who’s covered and what you have to do

(06:05) New ability to donate individual stocks to these accounts, and the five-year rule

(10:16) 529s still beat TRUMP accounts for college, and what the new accounts are good for

(13:04) Coast FI and sunset retirement, and how dentists can scale back years earlier

(20:01) The math on dropping to fewer clinical days, and what shifts in your long-term plan

Links mentioned in this episode:

• TRUMP Accounts
• Open a 529 Plan

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If you’re a dentist seeing your profit margins shrink because insurance companies just will not raise reimbursement rates, you’re not alone. Nearly 900 dentists in our community named this the single biggest concern for 2026. I know it feels out of your control, but that’s only partly true.

You’ll learn where you actually have power to move the needle, how to break the cycle of stress over rates, and which practice changes make a measurable difference for your income and team.

Key moments:

(03:34) Rising insurance squeeze, and what is and isn’t in your control

(12:37) Renegotiating insurance contracts, and when hiring help makes sense

(14:24) How to decide which insurance panels to cut, and why it matters

(17:34) Shifting more chair time to higher-margin procedures without overtreating

(19:51) Improving collections rates, and when outsourcing collections actually works

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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How does your financial life compare to other dentists? We surveyed over 800 dentists and dental specialists about income, investing, debt, and how confident they feel about reaching their financial goals. We compare income by specialty, show how much practice ownership pays, and look at why some dentists have more invested wealth at the same income.

You’ll also hear what worries dentists most, from insurance reimbursement cuts to DSOs, and which financial habits make the biggest difference.

Key moments:

(03:48) Comparing income by dental specialty and the wide gap for owners

(06:51) Confidence hitting financial goals, and why owners feel more secure

(12:32) Dentists with more debt often worry less — here’s why that happens

(13:09) Insurance reimbursement cuts top the list of profession-wide concerns

(36:27) Dentists with the same income, but more invested wealth — what’s different

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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If you locked in a 3% mortgage back in 2020 or 2021, you’re likely staring down a tough choice: stay put in a cramped house to keep that rate, or move to a better fit and face today’s 7% mortgages. This is the dilemma for a lot of mid-career dentists whose families are outgrowing their starter homes. Everyone told you never to give up your ultra-low mortgage — but what if holding on to it is actually costing you more in ways that don’t show up on a spreadsheet? Learn how to run the numbers and make a lifestyle call that fits both your finances and your family.

Key moments:

(03:07) Why the 3% mortgage feels sacred, and what it’s really costing you

(06:35) Using a HELOC or home equity loan for renovations, and the cash limitations you’ll hit

(11:48) How home appreciation and equity impact your ability to add on or move up

(14:08) Non-financial reasons to move: school districts, safety, and family space

(19:01) What happens to your financial independence timeline if you buy the bigger house

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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Cash builds in your business account every month. How much of it is actually yours to take home, save, or invest? Most practice owners and 1099 associates can’t answer that with confidence. Learn exactly how to pin down your real take-home income and set up a system that makes your finances predictable and automated, even as your practice and profit grow.

Key moments:

(06:07) How 401(k) loans really work, and the real cost you might not see

(10:13) Why S corps make practice owner income so confusing (and what to do)

(13:09) How much cash to keep in your business, and when to take distributions

(20:32) Measuring practice income over time and knowing when to increase your pay

(22:54) Signs your system needs a tweak, from tax bills to business expansions

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Fidelity Investments® retirement analysis
• IRS Form 1120-S

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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If you're a dentist deciding between Roth and pre-tax retirement contributions, the answer you get on social media is usually “Roth is always better.” The reality is, choosing the wrong account could cost you tens of thousands in lost tax savings, especially if you’re in a high tax bracket or on an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan. Learn when Roth makes sense, when it doesn’t, and how to know which contribution type fits your income, your loan plan, and your retirement timeline.

Key moments:

(08:46) How Roth vs. pre-tax contributions actually work for dentists

(13:04) Why pretax can be valuable for dentists with student loans

(20:03) When Roth still makes sense

(23:51) Early retirement creates another advantage for pretax

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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There’s a lot of noise about inflation, government spending, and passive income “tricks”—but none of that matters as much as the fundamentals. This conversation is for dentists who want to know which everyday financial decisions genuinely push you closer to financial independence and which ones just distract you. You’ll walk away able to prioritize what matters most so you don’t waste years chasing small wins or getting stuck on the wrong risks.

Key moments:

(05:57) Why inflation isn’t the existential threat for dentists that headlines claim

(13:34) The “fantasy draft” for dentist financial moves, and what actually matters

(18:00) Why working three clinical days a week is more achievable than you think

(24:24) Long-term disability coverage: the underrated risk most dentists skip

(29:38) Rental properties versus doubling down on your practice income

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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Most dentists know the playbook for their 401(k) and Roth IRA. But what should you do after you’ve checked those boxes, have extra cash building up, and want to use your money flexibly before retirement? This week, I break down why taxable brokerage accounts fill that gap, how they work, and the mistakes I see most often when dentists open one.

You’ll learn where the line falls between investing and gambling (including the rise of sports betting as a “strategy”), when you actually need a brokerage account, and how taxes, account titling, and estate planning should shape your decisions.

Key moments:

(02:12) The line between gambling and investing is becoming blurred

(10:47) What a brokerage account is, and why it matters after maxing your 401(k) and Roth

(13:13) Five reasons dentists use brokerage accounts, and which apply to you

(19:34) How taxes work in brokerage accounts, and the phantom tax bill to avoid

(29:01) Two common brokerage account mistakes dentists make, and how to dodge them

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Betterment 2026 Retail Investor Survey
• Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

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• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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Financial freedom for dentists looks very different in 2026, especially with the new student loan borrowing caps just rolled out. I sat down with Dr. Paul Goodman, founder of Dental Nachos and Dentist Job Connect, to explore how these changes affect access to dental school, practice ownership, and what it actually takes to build a fulfilling career as a dentist.

We get into how capped federal borrowing might shift the dental pipeline, why most practices succeed or stall in those first six months of ownership, and the real-world differences between practice startups and buy-ins.

Key moments:

(04:44) Student loan limits for dental students

(12:52) Is dentistry still worth it?

(17:57) Why dentists suffer

(22:50) Common mistakes new practice owners make

(25:28) Metrics that show you’re ready to hire your first associate

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Dental Nachos Facebook group
• Dentist Job Connect
• Dental Success Institute
• “To Sell Is Human” by Daniel Pink
• “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber
• Dental Amigos podcast

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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If you're a dentist weighing whether to buy your first home or your first practice, you know there are big stakes—and it's rarely as simple as "just do both." We get into what really matters when you’re deciding which to buy first, the hidden costs of getting the order wrong, and how current interest rate moves actually impact your timing.

You'll learn how things like community ties, mortgage qualification, student loan balances, and even your future commute should factor into the decision, and what to know about working with doctor-specific lenders.

Key moments:

(01:05) The timing dilemma: house vs. practice and why it matters long-term

(09:47) Why buying a home is an emotional decision, but the practice is your anchor

(12:38) Real-life mortgage qualification issues after buying a practice

(19:29) Building your down payment and practice liquidity at the same time

(23:45) The often-overlooked costs and pain points if you buy the house before the practice

Managing your finances doesn’t need to be painful. Book a free intro call today. Just browsing? Learn more about us at SLP Wealth.

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
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• Follow us on YouTube at Financially Free Dentists