Hello Reader,

Many of you read Sunday’s Article of the Week on the growing risks inside the private credit market. If that piece gave you a sense that something beneath the surface isn’t quite right… this week’s Video of the Week will take that feeling and sharpen it into clarity.

In this conversation, Tom Bilyeu walks through the structural parallels between today’s private credit system and the mechanics that led to the 2008 financial crisis; connecting dots in a way that’s both sobering and incredibly instructive.

​Watch the Video of the Week here:

If Sunday’s article and this week’s video raise even a slight concern in your mind, the goal isn’t to panic; it’s to prepare.

Here are a few practical, actionable steps, many of which I wish I had taken prior to 2008:

1. Secure (or Expand) Your Line of Credit. Before You Need It!​
If you don’t currently have a business line of credit, establish one now.
If you do have one, explore increasing it while times are still stable.

In 2008, credit didn’t just get expensive, it disappeared entirely, often overnight and without warning.
Banks don’t extend umbrellas when it starts raining.

2. Build a “Rainy Day Fund”, both Personal and Practice​
Target:
• Ideal: 6 months of operating expenses
• Minimum: 3 months

This applies to both your practice (payroll, rent, supplies, debt service) and your household.

In a downturn, cash = optionality.

3. Know Your Exposure (Even If You Didn’t Choose It)​
Many investors have indirect exposure to private credit through 401(k)s, pensions, and insurance products.

Take a few minutes to understand where your capital actually sits. Awareness alone can change decision-making.

4. Stress-Test Your Practice​
Ask:
• What if new patient flow drops 20–30%?
• What if collections slow down?
• What if reimbursements tighten?

Dental practices are resilient, but still highly dependent on consistent cash flow.

5. Delay Non-Essential Expansion​
If you’re considering major build-outs, equipment purchases, or aggressive hiring, it may be worth sequencing those decisions carefully.

In 2008, many practices didn’t fail because they were poorly run; they were simply over-leveraged at the wrong time.

6. Strengthen Your Balance Sheet​
Focus on flexibility:
• Reduce unnecessary leverage
• Be mindful of variable-rate debt
• Maintain liquidity

Flexibility is what allows you to navigate uncertainty without being forced into bad decisions.

7. Have a “Playbook”. Not Just a Plan.​
Decide in advance:
• What expenses you would cut first
• What levers you would pull to preserve cash
• How you would communicate with your team

Clarity under calm conditions leads to better decisions under pressure.

8. Lean Into Education (Not Headlines)​
This is a time to understand the system, not react to noise.

The more clearly you see the “plumbing,” the less likely you are to be surprised by it.

None of this is meant to suggest that a crisis is imminent. But if the last cycle taught us anything, it’s that the time to prepare is when things still feel stable.

I didn’t fully appreciate that lesson in 2008. I do now.

As always, I’d genuinely value your thoughts, especially if this challenges or refines your current perspective.

If you find this type of content helpful, you can find more curated resources at
www.TheBitcoinDentalNetwork.com; created to help professionals better understand the financial waters we’re all swimming in.

Talk soon,

​
Mark

P.S. f you haven’t already, take a few minutes today to check your liquidity and access to capital. It’s one of those simple steps that rarely feels urgent, until it suddenly is.