The Dentist Freedom Blueprint Podcast

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 print:block print:[&_>_*_+_*]:mt-3 standard-markdown">

Brannon Moncrief has spent 15 years as a sell-side broker with McLerran & Associates, working exclusively on behalf of practice sellers. He and David unpack how the DSO gold rush of 2018–2023 cooled as interest rates rose, why timing a sale five years out changes everything, and why profitability — not revenue — is what actually drives valuation.

Brannon breaks down where the private buyer market pulls back and the DSO market kicks in, the real risks of "sunsetting" a practice unintentionally, and why staff should typically be told about a sale only two weeks before closing. He also shares a striking story about what happens emotionally when a seller realizes, often for the first time, that they no longer control the business they built.

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Are You Exit-Ready?

Complete this 2-min scorecard to reveal where you stand across the four pillars that determine if you control your exit—or are just waiting for one. You'll get a personalized plan to start building optionality immediately.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 print:block print:[&_>_*_+_*]:mt-3 standard-markdown">

Kevin Sullivan has spent nearly four decades as a wealth advisor and educator, working almost exclusively with physicians, and hosts the Physician Wealth Meds podcast. His practice was built on one idea: doctors need a different kind of financial partner — one available on their schedule, not the other way around.

Kevin and David dig into the disconnect between net worth and retirement readiness, why physicians often overvalue their ability to keep working and undervalue building a real income system, and why so many doctors discover — often too late — that they could have transitioned years sooner than they realized. They also explore identity after medicine: why retiring "to something" leads to far more satisfaction than retiring "from something."

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Are You Exit-Ready?

Complete this 2-min scorecard to reveal where you stand across the four pillars that determine if you control your exit—or are just waiting for one. You'll get a personalized plan to start building optionality immediately.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 gap-3 [&_>_*:last-child]:mb-0 print:block print:[&_>_*_+_*]:mt-3 standard-markdown">

Steven Anderson has spent decades coaching thousands of dental practice owners and teams on leadership, culture, and staffing. He and David dig into why "I can't find good people" is often the wrong diagnosis — and why the practices winning the talent war are the ones that treat culture as a deliberate strategy, not an accident.

Steven shares why hiring for people skills over technical skills changes everything on the admin side, why entitlement (not generational shift) is the real issue behind hiring struggles, and how a defined mentor system turns new hires into long-term team members. They also cover red flags in interviews, why "hire fast" has replaced "hire slow," and the biggest mistake associates make in the first years of their careers.

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Are You Exit-Ready?

Complete this 2-min scorecard to reveal where you stand across the four pillars that determine if you control your exit—or are just waiting for one. You'll get a personalized plan to start building optionality immediately.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

Today, I sit down with longtime friend, leadership strategist, and Army veteran Dr. Will Moreland. Growing up in Compton during the height of gang violence but being raised by a grandmother with strong faith and community leadership is why Will teaches that environment does not determine destiny—choices do.

Will's story is a masterclass in gratitude, generational impact, and designing a life around what truly matters. This episode will challenge you to rethink hustle culture and build a life centered on family, purpose, and optionality.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #576 - Disability Insurance: What It Actually Covers And Where It Fails – Ben Glass
2. Ep #365 - Where There is a "Will," There is a Way – Will Moreland

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Are You Exit-Ready?

Complete this 2-min scorecard to reveal where you stand across the four pillars that determine if you control your exit—or are just waiting for one. You'll get a personalized plan to start building optionality immediately.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

Dentists assume they're protected—until they actually need to file a claim.

Today, I sit down with disability attorney Ben Glass to unpack hidden traps inside professional disability policies. Misleading definitions, claims denied and progressive conditions vs catastrophic injuries prove preparation before filing is essential.

If you're a dentist or healthcare professional who depends on your hands, vision, and stamina to earn a living, this episode is a critical reminder: Bulletproofing your income requires more than paying premiums—it requires understanding what you actually bought.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #575 - Burn the Boats: How To Retire Without Slowing Down – Jim Palmer
2. Ep #508 - Time Management Principles and Strategies For Success and Enjoyment – Ben Glass

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Are You Exit-Ready?

Complete this 2-min scorecard to reveal where you stand across the four pillars that determine if you control your exit—or are just waiting for one. You'll get a personalized plan to start building optionality immediately.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

Successful but no longer fulfilled? Have you considered burning the boats?

Today, I sit down with longtime friend, coach, and full-throttle entrepreneur Jim Palmer.

Jim shares how to redefine work on your own terms and how to confront your fear, identity, and the temptation to stay busy instead of making progress.

This conversation offers a powerful framework for anyone approaching a transition—and wondering what's next.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #574 - From Grief to $23M: Building a Dental Legacy Without Selling Out – Dr. Kelly Brown
2. Ep #531 - Proactive Financial Planning and Embracing Life Transitions – Dr. Bill Jordan

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

This is real freedom after decades of building, grinding, and scaling.

Today, I sit down with dentist and entrepreneurial leader Dr. Kelly Brown, whose journey spans nearly five decades—from hanging a shingle in a small Oklahoma town to building a multi-state dental organization rooted in mentorship, partnership, and purpose.

Kelly shares the painful early lessons that forced him to stop blaming circumstances and start taking ownership, ultimately reshaping not just his business, but his entire life.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #573 - The Fourth Turning Is Here: Navigating Crisis With Community And Capital – Neil Howe
2. Ep #510 - Planning for Your Practice Exit – What You Need to Know – Brannon Moncrief

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

We are living through a historic turning point.

I sit down with generational historian and economist Neil Howe, co-author of The Fourth Turning, to unpack what's actually happening beneath the surface of today's economic, political, and cultural instability.

Rather than forecasting fear, Neil provides context—explaining why long periods of stability breed complacency, why trust in institutions breaks down, and why agency and community suddenly matter again during crisis eras.

From inflation as a policy tool to the return of community, authority, and shared purpose, this conversation challenges listeners to stop outsourcing responsibility and start preparing intentionally.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #572 - An Argument For DSOs – Compliance, Consolidation & the Future of Dental Practice – Brian Colao
2. Ep #567 - Rewriting The American Dream in a Stagflation World – Dr. David Phelps

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

Selling your practice can look like a financial win—and still feel like a personal loss if you choose the wrong partner.

In this episode, Brian Colao, one of the earliest architects of the DSO legal framework, unpacks what most dentists misunderstand about consolidation, private equity, and the true risks hiding behind "fair value" offers.

With nearly three decades advising DSOs and representing more than 780 dental organizations, Brian brings rare clarity to a space filled with noise, fear, and half-truths.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #571 - When The Practice Doesn't Need You Anymore – Dr. Dylan & Kelsey Everett
2. Ep #550 - Every Dentist Must Master Leadership, Exit Strategies and Burnout – Dr. John Meis

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-68d64588-408c-832e-9ddb-19cf6e6e6fca-1" data-testid= "conversation-turn-24" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "b876dbf2-e901-4d0a-bf9f-4945aa73604f" data-testid= "conversation-turn-46" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">

Success can quietly hollow out what matters most. In this episode, Dr. Dylan Everett and his wife, Kelsey, share how seven-day workweeks and relentless pressure forced them to reset their definition of success. Instead of a quick fix, they deliberately rebuilt: merging practices, restructuring leadership, removing misaligned team members, and reclaiming time swallowed by obligation. Their story shows how stepping back from the chair and building a team that doesn't rely on the owner's constant presence enables growth without sacrificing family, margin, or life itself.

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you'll enjoy:

1. Ep #570 - Don't Quit. Lessons in Resilience, Reinvention, and Relentless Action – Tony Rubleski
2. Ep #563 - Realigning Priorities is Non-Negotiable – Faith, Family, and Practice – Dr. Michael and Jennifer Kelly

Check out the show notes for more information!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you're closer than you think):

1. Schedule a Call with My Team:

If you're tired of running on the hamster wheel, and are looking for a proven blueprint to create more freedom and reduce dependency on your practice income, schedule a call with my team to learn more.

2. Get Your Dentist Retirement Survival Guide:

The winds of economic change are here, and now is the time to move to higher ground. This guide gives you the steps to protect your retirement, your family, and your peace of mind. Get the 25-point checklist here.

3. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:

Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Click here to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.