Consulting and M&A Advisory Firm Releases Associate Equity Compensation Model for Group Dental Practices

TUSK Partners, the fastest growing middle market consulting and M&A advisory firm in the dental industry, today announced the public launch of Partnership Pathways. The innovative program is designed to attract key talent, minimize turnover, and increase the value of equity among employees within group dental practices. Partnership Pathways joins a list of other industry-leading services TUSK provides to group dental practices and DSOs.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a few months, you’ve probably heard that Congress passed sweeping tax reform for 2018.  The impacts of this legislation will be felt far and wide, but the general consensus is that the reform will be good for both companies and individuals.  If that bears out to be true, the economic outlook for the United States should be very favorable for the years to come.

But, what does is mean for the dental industry and for DSOs in particular?  Everybody’s got an opinion, so we asked some friends to share some feedback.

Here’s what they had to say…

Last week my partner,Kevin Cumbus, and I braved the cold of Chicago to do some networking and educate ourselves at the McGuireWoods Healthcare PE Conference.  The action is fast, and education comes courtesy of a firehose.   

Here are the three main things we learned.

Key Healthcare Business and Market Trends & Opportunities:

Everyone wants to know if we’re “at the top of the overall healthcare market” as it relates to valuations.  The short answer is that nobody really knows, but the good thing is that in our world valuations are driven by earnings – not eyeballs.  2017 was phenomenal and the M&A sell side has been robust for 18-24months.  Equity markets have been strong and debt markets have been very favorable.  The great lending environment has been great for buyers using both debt and equity.

Wisdom & Wandering from the Herd

Last fall, my partners and I all attended the McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity Conference here in Charlotte.  While most of the southeast was still battling the remnants of what was Hurricane Irma, we had an opportunity to listen to sector experts as they tried to navigate the swirling winds of the healthcare industry.  Make no mistake – healthcare is hot.  There is a lot of opportunity, but it doesn’t come without an equal amount of risk.

Here’s what we learned…

The company adds to its financial and operational strengths

Charlotte, NC: Today TUSK Partners announced it is adding significant depth to an already strong and talented team with the addition of Kevin Arnold.  Arnold will help to expand the company’s strategic consulting and “Second Stage” alternative financing service offerings (two of the fastest growing segments of the company and the most sought-after services by the emerging DSO market).

As we welcome in 2018, many people will be celebrating the New Year with a glass – or bottle – of bubbly.  It’s festive.  It’s celebratory.  It’s tradition.  It also got me thinking…

If 2018 is your year to sell your group dental practice or DSO, what’s the best bottle of champagne you should have in the fridge?  Well, here are the official “TUSK Top FIVE” bottles of bubbly to celebrate the sale of your Group Dental Practice or DSO...

Doubtfully, but the Dentist Entrepreneur Organization led by Dr. Marc Cooper and CEO Jacob Puhl recently created a similar experience – and let me assure you, it was an EXPERIENCE – for four of their lucky members.

Wisdom & Wandering from the Herd

Last fall, my partners and I all attended the McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity Conference here in Charlotte.  While most of the southeast was still battling the remnants of what was Hurricane Irma, we had an opportunity to listen to sector experts as they tried to navigate the swirling winds of the healthcare industry.  Make no mistake – healthcare is hot.  There is a lot of opportunity, but it doesn’t come without an equal amount of risk.

Here’s what we learned…

TUSK was invited to the 2017 ADSO Summit  to share the stage with Dr. Marc Cooper of the Mastery Group to present to emerging group practices and DSOs. I focused on the Strategies + Tactics to grow your group / DSO, while Dr. Cooper discussed the leadership qualities necessary to build a group. We had the pleasure of presenting to over 200 industry professionals over the course of 4 hours – it was a remarkable morning.

Two weeks ago, my partner Perrin DesPortes and I spent most of the week in Chicago at the McGuireWoods Healthcare Private Equity Conference where we were honored to be a “Featured Company.”  For those who might not be familiar, McGuireWoods is a 180 year-old, international law firm covering numerous sectors of the economy and are recognized as one of the preeminent firms in the DSO space.  This conference was very well attended as it was their 14^th time putting it on.