Transition Talk

When does it make sense to bring on a transition advisor so that you can maximize the benefits of hiring one in the first place? Is it when you have a concrete practice opportunity to purchase? Is it before you even start the discovery process? The timing, along with your unique situation, can determine the when and if an advisor truly is a good fit for what you need.

When it comes to searching for that dream associateship or position, there’s a little more required than learning about the job responsibilities. Arthur | Marshall’s Rich Gehrke and Kevin Simpson join Christy to share tips for finding your associateship or job opportunity, approaching the interview process and doing the homework to prepare for this significant life decision.

The process of searching for your ideal associate or partner requires more than just a job posting. It requires you to set a clear understanding of what you’re looking for and have the desire to not only craft a compelling offer, but to create a positive experience for the candidate. This process isn’t about having a line of candidates through your door, but rather, it’s about going into it feelin...

When Christy and Charles decided to start Transition Talk in 2018, they didn’t know what a valuable resource it would become and the impact it would have today, but they knew they had educational content to share. The co-hosts celebrate the milestone of 100 episodes by reminiscing about their favorite moments and episodes and sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the road traveled to where they are...

With the implications of inflation, interest rates and economic volatility looming, some doctors may feel uncertain about making a big career decision. How can current and future practice owners make sense of it all? What can they do to stay positive as they approach a future practice sale? Brian Bortz, Cain Watters & Associates Partner, joins this episode to provide an update on the economy and i...

Managing the clinical, business and operational side of a dental practice is a juggling act, which means owners likely have a lot of questions swirling in their minds. Charles and Christy use this episode to answer common transition and ownership questions. From preparing for a transition, assessing potential buyers to building and lease questions, this episode provides clarity and insight on a wi...

With a constant buzz surrounding dental service organizations (DSOs) and private equity (PE) firms, practice owners may wonder if this is the appropriate route for them and their practice. Christy and Charles explain the types of qualities that DSOs and PE firms look for, while also while also illustrating both the opportunity and risks of the corporate sale.

From navigating a three-doctor partnership, a child’s health diagnosis, busy schedules and much more, pediatric dentist Dr. Michelle Decere had to figure out what works and what doesn’t to keep the wheels moving. In this episode, she shares her story and shows that sometimes the keys to a fulfilling lifestyle are leveraging your support system, setting priorities and finding balance.

Dr. Christy Marcello is the only female specialist dual trained in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics in the state of Louisiana. And as a practice owner, wife and mom, she understands the weight and stress that many women endure as they seek perfection. Tune in to hear her story and how she strives to be not the best, but rather be the best version of herself.

Not only is goodwill a large contributing factor to the overall practice value, but because it’s intangible, the handoff between the buyer and seller isn’t as simple as handing over the keys. Yet, it has to be addressed. In this episode, Christy and Charles discuss why goodwill matters, when it’s worth more or less, what sellers may be expected to do to transition goodwill, what buyers can reasona...

We get it. You are ready to close that deal. Whether it’s excitement, anxiety or another feeling or reason, many people just want to get through their dental transition and close the deal as quickly as possible. However, speeding through the process can lead to oversight of important details and even complications to the overall transition. NDP’s Head of Consulting Bridget Schwebke joins Christy o...

Dental transitions between family members come with their own set of expectations, obstacles and even perks. Charles welcomes a father-son duo, Drs. Rick and Kyle Washut, to share their transition story, the lessons learned and wins along the way.

In the world of dentistry, it’s not uncommon to see two young people meet in dental school and journey together into their careers. That’s where it began for Drs. Todd and Terrah Larrabee, owners of a family dentistry and orthodontic practice and parents of two boys. Their message to any other couples in dentistry is clear: Practice ownership is about creating your own dream rather than fitting in...

While more women than ever are entering the field of dentistry, there’s still some hesitancy among women about becoming a practice owner. With self-doubt obscuring the picture, many female dentists wonder how to navigate a successful career, build a thriving practice and achieve “mom of the year” status. Angie Svitak, Cain Watters & Associates Financial Planner, joins Christy on this empowering ep...

Whether you’re the buyer or seller, you have a vision of what the perfect practice, buyer and dental transition looks like. However, when it doesn’t play out exactly the way you envisioned, and you’re forced to switch gears, it can be challenging to keep your eyes on the end goal. This new episode shows you how to maintain an open mind and broaden your perspective throughout the buying or selling...

Negotiating the practice real estate or lease is often a task that comes up near the end of the transition. But with significant financial implications and all of the moving pieces involved, this aspect of the transition requires consideration well in advance. In this episode, Christy and Charles cover common questions surrounding the real estate or lease. What are the most negotiated areas? What...

Despite what dental practices are seeing with staffing shortages, inflation and rising costs, practices have proven to be resilient. Cain Watters and Associates Partner Hunter Satterfield joins Charles on this episode to pause and assess the recent trends across practices and offer solutions to help owners respond and grow.

It’s not easy to cultivate a successful dental partnership. With years of experience working with dentists, Cain Watters & Associates CPA and Partner David Forbess returns to Transition Talk to offer his expertise and discuss real-life examples of conflicts in partnerships. Together, David and Christy illustrate the importance of starting the conversation before the worst-case scenarios take shape...

While dental students may be hesitant to jump into practice ownership, the transition can many times be easier than they think. In the final episode of this three-part series, Christy and Charles continue to offer an optimistic approach and answer students’ most asked questions about ownership. They discuss student loans, corporate sales, work-life balance, advice for recent graduates and much mor...

The path to practice ownership can seem daunting, especially for dental students whose core focus has recently been on the clinical aspects. In part two of this three-part series, Christy and Charles help alleviate the concerns and answer students’ most asked questions about practice ownership. They touch on topics such as red flags to be aware of, how to identify a healthy business, the “dating p...

As dental students prepare to kick off their careers and consider owning a practice, planning their next steps after dental school can feel overwhelming. Christy and Charles answer students’ most asked questions about practice ownership, touching on topics such as the stress that comes with ownership, developing confidence as an owner, leading a team and much more.

With money, effort and time put into a dental practice, owners want to know what their life’s work has amounted to and how they can increase their overall practice value. Recorded live at the Cain Watters & Associates Annual Meeting, Charles and Christy teamed up with the co-hosts of the Accumulating Wealth Podcast to weigh in on the question that’s on every practice owner’s mind, “What’s my denta...

When you begin to consider selling a portion or all of your practice, it's normal to wonder how long it typically takes to close the deal. While there is rarely a standard start-to-finish timeline, Christy and Charles show that numerous factors can affect the timing, from the type of practice and buyer, financial and emotional variables to even a little luck.

While the idea of selling a portion or all of your practice can feel complex and intimidating, asking the right questions early and equipping yourself with the proper insight can help provide a clear path. Christy and Charles discuss the top questions on sellers’ minds as they begin the selling process and how they can acquire the answers.

While the idea of purchasing a dental practice may lead to trepidation and fear, asking the right questions and stocking yourself with the proper knowledge can help ease the emotions. Christy and Charles discuss the top questions on buyers’ minds as they begin the purchasing process and how they can track down the answers.