The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Dr. Addison Killeen takes the stage at the recent DSI Mastermind in October to explain why core values should be the first system a practice owner puts in place. He breaks down the differences between mission, vision, and core values, showing how clear behavioral expectations help teams make decisions without constantly turning to the owner. Drawing from his own practice, he shares how those values shape patient experiences, continuing education, teamwork, and hiring and firing decisions.

Addison also guides members through an exercise to uncover their own values and turn them into actionable statements. His message is simple: values become meaningful when leaders invest in them, hold people accountable to them, and use them consistently in everyday decisions.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Micah Brown, founder of Legacy Financial Solutions and author of Owner's Blind Spot, to discuss why selling your practice shouldn't be your entire retirement strategy. Micah shares his three-part approach to protecting your income, keeping more of what you earn, and converting your assets into retirement income.

They explore gaps in disability coverage, how cash balance plans can fit into retirement planning, and why buy-sell agreements need regular attention. From understanding your spending to looking beyond a practice's sale price, this conversation highlights the planning decisions owners often put off until retirement gets close.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.legacyfinancialsolutions.co
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Dr. Bill Keith share the story behind Dental Success Partners and their nearly three-year search for the right partnership. They explain why DSP was created to help successful practice owners explore transition options and reflect on two deals that fell apart along the way. Mark and Bill discuss the lessons they learned about financial backing, deal structure, due diligence, and choosing a partner whose strengths complement their own.

They also outline their planned partnership with MB2 Dental and what attracted them to its infrastructure, retained ownership model, and approach to practice autonomy. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that building a strong, profitable practice creates more options, whether an owner chooses to remain independent or eventually partner.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes and the DSI coaching team recap day-one hot seats at the recent Mastermind in October, highlighting difficult conversations, team development, and underused coaching resources. They discuss how recorded training, structured onboarding, and clearer financial reporting can help owners support their teams more effectively. The conversation then turns to two members navigating employee performance and behavior issues that are affecting patient experiences and practice culture. Through these examples, Mark and the coaches explore how to set specific expectations, document conversations, establish follow-up timelines, and balance empathy with accountability. They also encourage owners to bring possible solutions to coaching calls and recognize how delaying a difficult decision can affect the entire team.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes wealth advisor and author Lyndon Davis to discuss why high earners can still struggle to build financial security. Lyndon shares how two major income setbacks and more than $600,000 in personal debt changed his approach to money and shaped his work with medical professionals. Drawing from his book, Air Supply: How to Financially Breathe Easier, he explains how spending habits, delayed gratification, and intentional saving influence long-term wealth.

They also explore his framework for directing money toward everyday expenses, depreciating purchases, appreciating assets, and charitable giving. The conversation closes with a discussion of the tax-planning challenges facing W-2 earners and the importance of planning beyond the next paycheck.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://nayhifewm.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Dr. Beau Sparkman, a DSI Black Belt coach, to share his journey from a small hometown startup to two thriving dental practices. Beau reflects on a demanding period of relocation, acquisition, and mentoring new associates, including the lessons he learned about expanding too quickly. He explains how team autonomy, clear expectations, and consistent leadership meetings have helped him reduce his clinical schedule while supporting continued growth. They also discuss coaching associates on patient communication, strengthening culture across locations, and developing leaders within the team. Beau closes by sharing how he's using AI to build software for dental practices, including tools for social media, reputation management, and insurance verification.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes talks with Dr. Addison Killeen about his new book, Simple Rules, Extraordinary Results, and why core values and a clear vision matter to practice success. Addison shares an exercise for creating meaningful values with your team and explains how to turn them into everyday behaviors, from supporting coworkers to delivering a fantastic guest experience. They also discuss how good intentions can create unhealthy expectations when values aren't clearly defined. The conversation closes with a vision exercise to help owners decide what they want their business to make possible and build toward their own definition of success.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Gale Northrop, a senior vice president at Fidelity and Dr. Mark Costes' sister, challenges members at the recent DSI Mastermind in October to rethink what success means as their lives evolve. Drawing from her corporate career and client stories, she explores the gap between achieving financial goals and feeling satisfied with the life those achievements create.

Gale introduces a "success portfolio" spanning personal growth, connection, professional achievement, freedom, purpose, and impact. Through reflection exercises, she encourages members to identify what deserves protection, what they can release, and where they want to invest more time and energy. She also shares how small, intentional shifts can create room for health, relationships, and a meaningful legacy while continuing to build a successful practice.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Kyle Francis of Professional Transition Strategies to discuss how practice owners can evaluate a sale or DSO partnership with their long-term goals in mind. Kyle shares his path into dental transitions and explains why building a larger practice group doesn't always lead to a better outcome once debt, risk, and management demands are considered.

They explore unsolicited offers, the information gap between buyers and sellers, and how a competitive sale process can strengthen negotiating leverage. Kyle also discusses delayed recapitalizations and what younger dentists should weigh before selling a profitable practice. They close with why EBITDA calculations differ and why the earnings behind an offer matter as much as the headline multiple.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://professionaltransition.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes continues his live workshop with a practical look at hiring and onboarding. He explains why asking a new employee to shadow someone for a couple of days rarely prepares them for the job. Mark breaks training into two stages: an introduction to the practice, its people, and its values, followed by training for the specific role. He shares how clear expectations, capable trainers, and 30, 60, and 90-day benchmarks help new hires see what success looks like and help leaders spot where more support is needed.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast