Don’t Ever Retire
The sale of your dental practice should be the start of something better.
If you're a dental practice owner in the final third of your career, chances are you're wrestling with a big question: What’s next? You’ve poured your life into building your practice. You’ve cared for thousands of patients. Your community knows you as “Doctor.” But once the practice is sold and the scrubs come off for the last time, what happens next?
For some, the answer is financial. But for most, it’s much deeper. Many dentists approaching transition are less concerned about their net worth than they are about their purpose. Who will they be after the title is gone? Will they still matter? Will they still feel useful?
That’s why we believe in this simple truth: Don’t ever retire.
Yes, sell your practice. Step away from the chair. But don’t stop being fully engaged in life. Retirement, in its best form, isn’t about withdrawal; it’s about redirection. You finally have the freedom to enjoy what you've spent decades working toward.
Those who make the healthiest transitions refuse to be defined by a job title or paycheck. They know their worth isn’t in how many patients they see or how many calls they return. Yes, be proud of the difference you’ve made, but don’t let pride keep you stuck. Many doctors wait too long to transition, missing their ideal window due to declining energy, health issues, staffing struggles, or stagnant collections.
Here’s the truth: Your value doesn’t end when your practice does. You still have influence, wisdom, and the ability to make an impact, just in new ways.
Here are some ways to step into your next chapter with intention:
Stay active, but shift your focus. Trade dental procedures for community service, mentorship, travel, part-time consulting, or even grandparenting!
Plan your days. A blank calendar sounds relaxing, but can become isolating. Build a new routine.
Invest in others. Find ways to serve, encourage, and support people around you. Making a difference is still your job.
Retire with your spouse, if possible. Discover new adventures and shared goals together.
Get an accountability partner, someone you meet with regularly to reflect on your life’s direction and keep your new goals on track.
Take care of your health. Prioritize exercise, sleep, and nutrition. Staying strong physically is essential to staying sharp emotionally.
You’re not ending a career, you’re starting a new purpose. Don’t ever retire from living a full, intentional, and meaningful life. At Practice Endeavors, we are uniquely qualified, experienced, and credentialed to reach your goals for the future. Let’s have a conversation.
Take control of your future
PVA℠ helps practice owners prepare for the inevitable transition of their practices to new ownership.
J. Robert “Bob” Brooks, CEPA, CBI
J. Robert “Bob” Brooks, CEPA, CBI, leads Practice Endeavors, an Ohio-based practice brokerage and dental realty company. His company provides practice owners with the tools they need to prepare well for life after practice ownership and to find the best price/best fit buyers for their seller clients. Bob was integral in starting the first of its kind dental practice broker credentialing for the International Business Brokers Association.