Photo courtesy of Dr. Vittorio Mena, who is seen in his exam room showing off a “mind over money” t-shirt. Dr. Mena says a financial advisor can help you attain that mind over money ideal.
How to choose and manage a financial advisor
By Vittorio Mena, OD, MS
June 25, 2025
In my last column, I stressed the importance of proper bookkeeping and how the right accountant can help you keep more money in your pocket, especially if you own a business and use the tax code to your advantage.
Now, I want to shift focus to another crucial element—how finding the right financial advisor, coach or mentor is essential for aligning your financial strategy with your mission in life, your practice and your plans for retirement.
Why Mindset and Purpose Matter
When talking with financial professionals, you’ll often hear about the power of compounding interest and that the best time to invest is “yesterday.” That advice is absolutely true. Still, too many advisors miss the bigger picture—they don’t take a holistic view of your life and long-term goals. A few out there do, however, and those are the advisors worth your trust.
Looking back, I realized the best investment I ever made was in myself and my business. The return has been at least tenfold, thanks to the right mindset and a plan that fits my values and ambitions.
Life Over Money: A Perspective Shift
Here’s a question I often pose: If I handed you $5 million but you died tomorrow, would you take it? For most, the answer is no—unless you’re already at the end of life.
What if the $5 million meant you would be sick for the rest of your life, or you had to work 14-16 hour days, every day, from age 18 onward with no end in sight? Again, most would pass. If you said no to any of these scenarios, you value your life, health and time over money. The true wealth for most of us comes from good health, our time, freedom and, for many, faith. Money is just the tool that helps us reach those goals—not the goal itself.
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Common Financial Situations: You’re Not Alone
In conversations with colleagues and clients, I hear a range of financial situations. Some admit they haven’t started investing, opened a 401(k) or are stuck under student loans or credit card debt, just trying to make ends meet while saving for a house, wedding or practice. Their money often sits in a bank account, maybe earning a little interest.
Others are further along—they have a solid salary, are saving for their kids, investing in various accounts, holding insurance policies and old 401(k)s, maybe even already own their home or practice. Some are mortgage free, with funds available but not sure what to do next.
No matter where you fall across that spectrum, about eight out of 10 people I speak with have one thing in common: no clear financial game plan. Accounts and policies may be scattered, investments might not be coordinated, and their overall financial life isn’t running at full potential.
The Power of a Financial Road Map
Creating a financial game plan is like mapping out a road trip. You need to know your destination and have a GPS to steer you there. Just as roadblocks, flat tires or detours can reroute travel plans, life will throw you curveballs—so your plan needs flexibility and ongoing adjustment. That means having both a primary strategy and backup options.
A solid financial game plan should include your strengths, weaknesses and potential stumbling blocks. It should set clear, actionable steps for critical areas like financial planning, tax planning, investment management, debt management, estate planning, insurance and legal matters. This plan is a living document. Just like your GPS updates on the road, you’ll need to revisit your plan every three to six months as life and goals change.
Advisors Who Know Optometry
If you’re looking for someone who understands both finance and optometry, here are some options who work specifically with optometrists (and in some cases, are optometrists themselves):
- Financial Design Resource Group (Dr. Marc Tescher): University of Houston OD graduate, financial licenses, works with optometrists on exit strategies. Details
- C3 Wealth Advisors (Dr. Roxanne Arnal): Retired University of Waterloo OD, active CFP practicing in Canada. Details
- Dr. David Kong: PA College of Optometry at Drexel grad, fiduciary and financial coach, co-creator of the OD Finance Professionals Facebook group. He also is the current President-Elect of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians (NJSOP) Contact: davidykong@gmail.com
- McCall & Associates (Austin Coley, CFP): Former pro athlete and current CFP—family deeply rooted in optometry, works on exit planning, high-net-worth and practice sales. Details
- Integrated Planning & Wealth Management (Adam Cmejla, CFP): Not an OD, but has strong ties to the profession. Read articles by Adam Cmejla in ROB. Details
- Hayes Wealth Advisors (Natalie Schmook, CFP): Not an OD, but from a family of ODs
- Optometry Wealth Advisors (Evon Mendrin, CFP): Specializes in optometric finance, even without direct family connections to the field. Details
- AOAExcel (American Optometric Association): Offers resources like student loan refinancing, retirement planning and insurance options
A Word of Caution: Credentials Matter
A quick pro tip—watch out for anyone posing as a comprehensive advisor but only holding a life insurance license. True investment advice requires the appropriate licenses and expertise.
Take Control of Your Financial Health
At the end of the day, no one cares more about your financial health than you. It’s wise to seek advice, but ultimately you need to own your game plan—just as our patients rely on our expertise for their eye health. To use the words of a top 100 CFP, “what gets managed gets measured.” Don’t let what you neglect silently erode your assets or future security.
Thanks for reading—and stay tuned for my next column.
Vittorio Mena OD, MS, is the sports vision director with Optical Academy. Dr. Mena is also an Optometric Financial Coach, with Series 6 and 63 investment licenses and Series 2-14 life and variable annuity licenses. To contact him: menavitt@gmail.com
