Episode summary
2025 Dentist Financial Benchmarks: How Are Dentists Really Feeling? Part Two
The Dentist Money Show
· · Hosts: Ryan, Matt Mulcock, Cody
Summary
The discussion centers on Dentist Advisors’ 2025 benchmark survey and how the firm’s client base is tracking across income, net worth, retirement readiness, spending, savings, and debt. The hosts frame the data as a way to show where dentists are relative to peers, and Cody explains that the firm shifted to median figures and age bands to reduce outlier distortion. Across the sample, the average client age is about 41, average general-dentist net worth is around $2 million, and retirement readiness is roughly 10.28, which the hosts argue is ahead of the broader dental industry.
Income trends are strong and still rising, with the overall surveyed group above $607,000 and the median at $518,000 after excluding incomes over $2 million. The age-bucket analysis shows a steady climb from early-career associates into the mid-40s and then a leveling-off or decline in income as dentists begin buying back time, adding associates, or transitioning toward slowdown. The hosts repeatedly connect this to practice ownership, debt paydown, and liquidity.
Spending rises with income and age, peaking in the late 50s rather than dropping sharply before retirement. Savings also jump later in career, while student loans decline and practice loans fall as dentists age. The hosts’ main argument is that dentists, especially their clients, are accumulating wealth faster than many expect, but retirement readiness depends on the whole balance sheet, not just being debt-free.
Key takeaways
- Dentist Advisors’ clients average about age 41, around $2 million in net worth for general dentists, and a retirement readiness score of 10.28, which the hosts say is ahead of schedule.
- The overall surveyed group has an average income above $607,000 and a median income of $518,000, even after removing outliers above $2 million.
- The hosts say income tends to rise sharply into the 40s, then flatten or decline as dentists buy back time, hire associates, or prepare for transition.
- Spending keeps climbing into the late 50s, so Ryan and Matt warn that retirement does not automatically mean a big drop in lifestyle costs.
- Student loan balances fall over time, but the hosts emphasize that readiness is about net worth and liquidity, not simply being debt-free.
- Savings spike later in life, which the hosts attribute to debt paydown and larger retirement-account contributions once practice and student loans ease up.
Notable quotes
“our clients tend to build a higher net worth faster and safer at an earlier age than the average dentist”
“the numbers are the same. So that when we go through these numbers here, it is the same. It's a multiple of your”
How the episode opens
Consult an adviser or conduct your own due diligence when making financial decisions. General principles discussed during this program do not constitute personal advice. This program is furnished by Dennis Advisers, a registered investment adviser. Welcome to the dentist money show where we help dentists make smart financial decisions. I am Ryan and I'm here with Matt and also special guest Cody Baris. Hello everybody. What's happening?
Two times in the same week, guys. It feels good. This — Feels like we're starting to feel like a bit of a dream team. I'm just I'm just I don't want to label anything. I'm not into feels like we're a real business here. Feels like a real business. And it feels like a real dream team. I feel like Cody's really just rounded out the
He keeps it serious. He keeps it serious. — All right. It's almost like we've been sent to chaperone and uh he's much more talented and smarter and you know well spoken but it's also kind of like a chaperone situation.
It like wasn't so it was like subtle not so subtle for the marketing team of like you know what we're going to have do this with like Study's like messaging me like hey um how about Cody joins you guys?
Hey what do you guys think about having like a moderator I mean like another guest you think Cody's going to stop us? You think Cody's going to stop us? — He hasn't been around long enough to know how to stop the trade, you know.
Yeah. Nothing's stopping you guys. — Cody feels the pressure. He feels the pressure. — He just sits back and his eyes get bigger. — She's like, "Oh, these guys are idiots." — Like, what tangent are we on?
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- dentist financial benchmarks
- dentist income and spending
- dentist debt and cash flow
- dentist savings and investments
- retirement readiness
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Dentist Advisors
- Aquire Wealth Advisors, LLC
Watch the episode
Watch “2025 Dentist Financial Benchmarks: How Are Dentists Really Feeling? Part Two” on YouTube
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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The Dentist Money Show, this episode and its artwork belong to Dentist Advisors - Financial Planning and Investment Management. Octagon is not affiliated with the show; this page is an independent summary.
