Drilling It Down

Hosted by Wes Lyon

Business Management

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

More dentists than ever are seeking out independent, objective, financial advice. In a world recently flooded with private equity money, lower dental insurance reimbursements, and questionable tax advice, it can be tough to see through the fog and answer the most important question, how can a dentist make more money? Join your host Wes Lyon as he helps you see clearly through the fog of dental office financials, allowing you to concentrate on delivering quality dental care. Wes prides himself in offering independent, uncensored, objective advice to help dentists increase practice profitability, make better practice management decisions, and improve their personal financial planning. Whether you’re a recent graduate, new owner, in the stride of your career, or considering a transition into retirement, the Drilling It Down Podcast will help you make more money, pay less tax, and reach financial independence earlier. About Us McGill and Lyon Dental Advisors is an independently owned one-stop financial services resource for the dental profession, based on their "every step of the way" team approach. Their team offers financial consulting services and continuing education seminars exclusively for dentists nationwide. Throughout the years more than 30,000 doctors nationwide have trusted McGill and Lyon Dental Advisors for objective advice to reach their financial goals. Aside from their consulting, transition, and continuing education services, the group also publishes The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory, a dental business newsletter that offers valuable insights for all dentists. The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory provides strategies and advice to help minimize federal and state income taxes, maximize practice profits, reduce overhead expenses, and create and protect your wealth. Membership includes monthly issues, searchable archives, special reports and bulletins, Q&As, financial calculators, forms, guides, letters, and more! Visit mcgilladvisory.com to subscribe! Wes and his guests are experienced dental advisors specializing in tax planning, business planning, financial planning, wealth management, and practice transitions, who take pride in providing independent advice that puts the independent dentists’ best interests first. Host Biography Wes Lyon: Wes helps dentists and specialists across the country achieve financial independence by improving practice profitability, slashing income taxes, managing dental insurance exposure, and making better personal financial decisions. Wes serves as President & CEO of Lyon Publishing Inc., President & CEO of McGill and Lyon Dental Advisors, and Managing Partner of Lyon Wealth Advisors Group, LLC. He is a highly sought after speaker making regular appearances at industry events, study clubs, podcasts, and McGill and Lyon seminars. Wes is also published in other editorials periodically and writes a Financial Management column for the Academy of General Dentistry. Before entering the dental consulting world, Wes worked in institutional investment management. Prior to that, Wes was a financial advisor specializing in helping small business owners with their personal finances. McGill and Lyon Dental Advisors is a consulting firm providing dentists and specialists independent, objective financial advice as it relates to tax planning, business planning, and financial planning. McGill and Lyon Dental Advisors was founded in 1983 by Dr. Charles Blair and John K. McGill. Since then, the company has helped over 1,000 dentists reach their financial goals while paying the least amount of taxes required through their tax, business, and financial planning service.

Listen to episodes

36 recent

August 21, 2026Episode 3555 min

Avoid These Top 5 Practice Transition Mistakes

On today's episode, Wes is joined by a special guest, David Mathews, Transitions Advisor at McGill and Lyon Practice Transitions. Wes & David sit down to discuss the top 5 mistakes they see doctors make when planning or executing their practice transition. Unfortunately, they've seen way too many doctors make these mistakes, which can be costly AND extend a doctor's time in practice. Plan ahead to ensure you don't make these mistakes, resulting in a smooth and efficient transition! ____________________________________________________________________________ Want to submit a question to be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillandlyon.com. If you're not already, subscribe to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory newsletter to keep up with all the articles mentioned in our episodes, as well as a plethora of other content. Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Dr. Scott Menaker and Mario Santiago.

August 14, 2026Episode 341 hr 17 min

IRS Penalty Relief, Buying Patient Charts, and More I August 2026

Wes and Mario are back for another episode recapping this month's newsletter! In August, we highlighted 10 topics dentists and specialists should be aware of to bring in more revenue, avoid costly mistakes, and cut down on costs. Wes and Mario highlight a great way to replace patients lost by dropping PPOs through purchasing patient charts from a retiring doctor. They also cover how to save on supply costs by using a buying group, saving on flights, promoting longevity benefits to improve treatment acceptance, and much more! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Want to submit a question that will be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillandlyon.com. If you're not already, subscribe to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory newsletter to keep up with all the articles mentioned in our episodes, as well as a plethora of other content. Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Dr. Scott Menaker and Mario Santiago.

August 7, 2026Episode 3324 min

5 Simple Rules That Create Wealthy Dentists

On today's episode, Wes and Tyler sit down to discuss the 5 simple rules that wealthy dentists follow to build their wealth and maintain it. The good news? You don't have to be uber talented or intelligent to understand and follow these rules; they're really quite simple! The tricky part is sticking to them. But make these a priority, and you'll be on your way to financial freedom in no time! This podcast is just a preview of what our McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory members have access to every month. Consider this episode wading in the shallow end, where as our proprietary, members-only content is jumping into the deep end. If you're not subscribed to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory, you can sign up here so you ensure you're set up for financial success. Want to submit a question that will be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillandlyon.com. Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Dr. Scott Menaker and Mario Santiago.

July 22, 2026Episode 3243 min

Is Your Marketing Company Ripping You Off?

On today's episode, Wes is joined by Ryan Strachan of DDS MediaPro, a marketing agency that specializes in helping dentists grow their practice online. Together, they discuss what effective dental marketing should look like and how practices can make smarter decisions when investing in their growth. Ryan and Wes dive into how marketing companies should track new patient acquisition, why monthly reporting and optimization are critical, and the risks of being locked into long-term marketing contracts. They also discuss the importance of maintaining an accurate Google Business Profile, generating patient reviews, and building a strong online presence through social media and pay-per-click advertising. The conversation also explores how AI is changing the marketing landscape and what dental practices need to know to stay competitive, visible, and prepared for the future. If you're interested in receiving your free online audit from DDS MediaPro, you can contact them here . Additionally, if you're not subscribed to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory, you can sign up here so you don't miss out on any of our content! _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Want to submit a question that will be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillandlyon.com. Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Dr. Scott Menaker and Mario Santiago.

July 10, 2026Episode 311 hr 26 min

July 2026 - Special 40th Anniversary Episode! 40 Financial Lessons Learned Over 40 Years

Wes and Mario celebrate the 40th anniversary of The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory with this special episode of Drilling It Down! To celebrate the anniversary, this episode is available to everyone! If you want to listen to the rest of the episodes and you're not a McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory member, you can sign up at newsletter.mcgillandlyon.com. We release these episodes monthly, and they feature our advisors taking a deeper dive into that month's newsletter articles. On this episode, Wes and Mario review the top 40 financial lessons learned over 40 years. They also discuss how to protect yourself from hackers and scams, how to increase patient referrals, and the likelihood of social security benefits being cut. Lastly, they talk about teaching children how to handle their money and the benefits of opening a Trump account for your child! _________________________________________________________________________________ Want to submit a question that will be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillandlyon.com. If you're not already, subscribe to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory newsletter to keep up with all the articles mentioned in our episodes, as well as a plethora of other content. Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Wes Lyon and Dr. Scott Menaker.

May 22, 2026Episode 3020 min

Boost Productivity by Increasing the Effectiveness of Your Morning Huddle

The morning huddle may seem like a formality, but it can be one of your best tools to improve productivity in your dental office. Are you using it to its full advantage though? Wes and Liam sit down to discuss the morning huddle on today's episode, as well as other meetings you should be having in your practice to ensure everyone is on the same page and moving in the same direction. To chat with one of our advisors about your practice, contact us today ! And stay on top of more practice management insights by reading our blog , subscribing to our newsletter , and attending one of our seminars !

May 21, 2026Episode 2940 min

12 Friction Points Killing Conversions in Your Dental Practice

Every dentist wants to convert as much business as possible. But are you and your staff taking all the right steps to ensure that becomes reality? On today's episode, Wes and Tyler sit down to discuss the 12 things that may be occurring in your practice that are killing your conversion rate. Some of them may seem like common sense, but they're worth investigating to ensure your patients are being given every opportunity to say "yes." To chat with one of our advisors about your practice, contact us today ! And stay on top of more practice management insights by reading our blog , subscribing to our newsletter , and attending one of our seminars !

April 10, 2026Episode 115 min

Why Smart Dentists Employ Their Spouse

Most dentists are overpaying in taxes… and don’t even know it. One of the simplest (and completely legal) ways to reduce your tax bill? Paying your spouse through your dental practice. In this video, Wes and Tyler break down how this strategy works, why it’s so effective, and what you need to do to implement it correctly. Done right, this can mean thousands in tax savings, increased retirement contributions, and a smarter overall financial setup. You’ll learn: ✔️ How employing your spouse actually saves money ✔️ What the IRS requires (and what to avoid) ✔️ How to structure it the right way ✔️ Why most dentists never take advantage of this If you’re a dental practice owner looking to keep more of what you earn, this is a must-watch. To chat with one of our advisors about this tax saving strategy and others you should be using, contact us here . And stay on top of more tax saving strategies by reading our blog , subscribing to our newsletter , and attending one of our seminars !

March 11, 2026Episode 113 min

Can I Actually Write Off a Car? - What the IRS Allows in 2026

Can you actually write off a car on your taxes? And if so, how do you do it legally? In this video, Wes and Mario break down how car tax write-offs really work, who qualifies, and the proper steps you need to take to stay compliant with IRS rules. Many business owners hear about writing off vehicles but don’t understand the requirements, documentation, and methods the IRS actually allows. If you’re a business owner, understanding vehicle deductions can potentially save you thousands in taxes, but only if you do it the right way. To chat with one of our advisors about your potential business deductions, contact us today !

July 15, 2025Episode 132 min

One, Big, Beautiful Bill Update: How Will It Affect You?

Today's episode of Drilling It Down highlights Trump's One, Big, Beautiful, Bill and some of the impacts it will make to the tax law. Wes and Mario highlight the changes that will affect dentists' tax bills, some of the entertaining provisions of the bill, and how Trump did compared to promises he made during his election campaign. Tune in to discover how this will affect you! Charlotte Seminar: https://www.mcgillhillgroup.com/Seminar/4302/The-Roadmap-to-Financial-Wellness-and-Practice-Success Want to submit a question that will be answered on the next episode? Submit it here or email us at newsletter@mcgillhillgroup.com. If you're not already, subscribe to The McGill & Lyon Dental Advisory newsletter to keep up with all the articles mentioned in our episodes, as well as a plethora of other content. Use code Podcast20 for 20% off! Listen to our sister show, Next Gen DDS! An all-in-one resource for dental students, residents, and early career doctors, discussing both clinical and business aspects of dentistry, hosted by Wes Lyon and Dr. Scott Menaker.