121: Dental Financial Planning: Turning Chaos into Financial Freedom - Part 9

121: Dental Financial Planning – Cash Flow Projection & Surplus AllocationIn this episode of the Dental Boardroom Podcast, host Wes Read, CPA, CFP® returns from a break to continue the Turning Chaos into Financial Freedom series for dental practice owners. This installment focuses on one of the most important pieces of financial planning: creating a cash flow projection and determining how to allocate surplus capital.Wes breaks down:Why identifying your “cash cushion” is essential for peace of mind and financial stability.How to forecast collections, overhead, debt payments, personal living costs, and taxes.The prioritization ladder for using surplus dollars—paying down debt, funding retirement accounts, reinvesting in the practice, or building personal wealth.How effective tax planning is built into cash flow forecasting (and why to avoid risky “too good to be true” tax schemes).The role of seasonality, budgeting for major life events, and automation in building long-term wealth.Why reinvestment, whether into equipment, facilities, or financial markets, accelerates financial independence.“Your cash flow projection is your financial x-ray. It tells you exactly where your money is going, what’s left, and how to put that surplus to work so you control your money—instead of your money controlling you.” — Wes Read📄 Supplemental Resource: Download the sample cash flow projection discussed in this episode here: Sample Cash Flow Projection (PDF)Whether you’re aiming to pay down debt, fund a 401(k) or defined benefit plan, or reinvest in your practice, this episode provides a practical framework for putting every extra dollar to work.