In this episode, Matt sits down with attorney Vince Nardone, a legal expert who has handled countless dental practice acquisitions.

They break down the most common mistakes dentists make when buying a practice and why many of these errors don’t surface until it’s too late. Vince shares real-world scenarios and key red flags to watch out for, whether you’re currently looking to buy a practice or already own one and want to avoid hidden legal and financial traps.

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Derek interviews Steve about how he and his family moved to Europe and lived out of backpacks.

They discuss the planning the trip, and what traveling in Europe looks like.

They talk about prioritizing experiences and  acting with urgency on your dreams.

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In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Steve Van de Graaff interviews Dr. Derek Williams about what life was really like after selling his practice and hitting the road full-time with his family. Derek shares the fears, logistics, and challenges of RV life with five kids, along with the deep rewards—stronger family relationships, personal growth, and a new perspective on freedom. They discuss what it feels like to step away from clinical dentistry, how to find fulfillment after financial independence, and why chasing growth may be the ultimate goal.

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In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams and Dr. Steve Van de Graaff open up about the vision, planning, and mindset that allowed them to sell their practices and take extended time away with their families.

They share the early influences that shaped their career goals, the numbers and strategies that made financial independence possible, and the emotional challenge of actually pulling the trigger.

Whether you dream of early financial freedom or simply want more balance, this conversation offers insights on building a practice that supports your ideal lifestyle—both now and in the future.

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In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams breaks down exactly how he sold his dental practice without a broker—what he did, why he did it, and what he’d change.

Derek covers building a bank-ready prospectus (financials, KPIs, payer mix), where and how he marketed the listing (FB groups, classifieds, ADA Marketplace), keeping anonymity (NDAs, separate email), and running negotiations when you’re representing yourself.

He also compares private-dentist buyers vs. DSOs, talks timing (why not being in a rush matters), transition terms, real estate flexibility, and the role of a flat-fee attorney.

Whether you’re considering a DIY sale or debating a broker, you’ll leave with a clear framework and practical next steps.

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In this episode, Matt shows you how to cut through the dental jargon and focus on what patients really care about. Stop talking about teeth and start connecting with the human in front of you... their wants, desires, and problems. When you do, both your practice and your fulfillment will skyrocket.

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Stop complaining about your team and start teaching them.  Steve shares solid lessons to help you create a team that makes your life easier, not harder.

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New owner. New mindset. Zero panic. In this candid conversation, Derek sits down with a brand new owner to unpack how a 20-year-old’s discovery of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) shaped his entire path through dental school, associateship, and a swift, strategic leap into ownership.

He shares how he maximized clinical reps in school (hello molar endo and wisdom teeth), evaluated practices with a clear freedom-first lens, and landed a rare small-town, low-competition office outside Dallas. You’ll hear the exact factors he prioritized (fixed costs, saturation, collections), why he chose coaching with TLP to compress his timeline, and how he handled week one with a “change nothing, learn everything” approach—using curiosity and “strong opinions, weakly held” to identify true root problems (documentation, over-spending on supplies, collections discipline) without rattling the team or patients.

Whether you’re a student, associate, or on the brink of ownership, this episode is a blueprint for moving fast and smart.

What you’ll learn:

How a FIRE mindset clarifies clinical, career, and ownership decisions

The simple filter used to evaluate practices (competition, fixed costs, collections)

Why saying “no” a lot makes it easy to pounce on the right deal

A calm, high-trust playbook for your first weeks as an owner (“change nothing, ask why”)

Where passive leadership hides in the numbers (supplies %, lab %, collections rate) and how to spot it

Highlights:

Discovering FIRE and choosing dentistry with the end in mind

Maximizing clinical exposure in school (be in clinic 8–5; study after)

From associate to owner: doing the math, then committing

Due diligence in saturated markets and why small-town sites can win big

Week-one leadership: reassure the team, observe, document, then prioritize

Back-office fixes that move the needle: documentation, insurance, discounts, CareCredit/process cleanup

Reach out to at: [email protected]

Reach out to Derek at: [email protected]

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In this episode, we explore why retaining patients is just as important as attracting new ones. Matt shares a real-world case where a patient nearly slipped out the “back door” mid-treatment, highlighting the risks to both patient care and the practice. You’ll learn simple, repeatable steps to protect your work, improve continuity of care, and keep patients engaged through treatment completion.

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