Benjamin Larkin was a practicing attorney for over 25 years and has worked in the professional practice mergers and acquisitions field for over 20 years. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, his law degree from George Washington University and a master's degree from the University of New Hampshire. While he has worked most frequently in the Greater Boston area and New Hampshire, he has had the good fortune to work as a consultant throughout New England and into New York, California, Texas and elsewhere.
Ben is comfortable and experienced in working on the seller or buyer side of a transaction. In addition to advocating for his client, Ben is acutely aware of the importance of building a good professional team for his client and managing the transaction to completion. Ben attempts to treat all parties with respect and professionalism. He is very proud that some of the parties who were on the other side of the table when they purchased or bought into businesses 15 or 20 years ago now come to him to represent them as they plan their own exit strategies.
In addition to working with traditional practice sales and buy-in/buy-out transactions, Ben has significant experience working with practice sales to dental service organizations (DSOs), and working with acquisitions of or by multi-practice owners.
Ben speaks and writes frequently about professional practice transition topics. Please feel free to contact him to speak to your organization.
Andrew D. Schwartz, CPA, is founder and managing partner of Schwartz & Schwartz, PC, in Woburn, MA. Since 1993, Andrew has provided tax, practice management, payroll, and basic financial planning services to healthcare professionals and their practices. Andrew is also the founder of The MDTAXES Network, a national association of CPAs that specialize in the healthcare profession.
Andrew is a frequent speaker at national and area conferences, medical and dental schools, and community events. He is a regular contributor to QuantiaMD’s website for medical professionals as their “Ask the Expert” columnist for tax and financial advice.
Andrew is the author of many tax and basic financial planning articles on a variety of issues that impact healthcare professionals. He is frequently interviewed as a tax advisor on current topics in national media, such as ABCNews.com, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, and local media, such as Greater Boston Radio 92.9 and Boston.com.
Andrew graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs (MSCPA) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Andrew was selected as a multi-year winner of Boston Magazine’s “Five-Star Wealth Manager Best in Client Satisfaction” award.
Ricky Patel is a Transition Consultant with Optimal Practice Transitions, LLC. In addition to his involvement in practice sales, Ricky will coordinate OPT's work in practice valuation and due diligence. Prior to joining OPT, Ricky was a financial analyst in the practices team at Schwartz and Schwartz, PC, and was formerly a wealth management intern in the Parquette Group at Morgan Stanley. Ricky possesses a keen insight to the business of dentistry and always provides excellent client service.
Ricky received his BS in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Finance and Management Information Systems from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.
Dr. Roni Golden is a national leader of dental education, founding The Golden Study Group consisting of five thousand dentists over two decades. Her passion is connecting people and communities. Roni had built a $5 million dollar, 3 location, solo owner practice in Vermont. She started her career by acquiring a small three operatory practice in Irvington, NJ. She has experience and expertise in all sides of buying, selling, and operating dental practices. Understanding the real-world needs of dentists makes her the ideal person to work with to achieve your goals. Understanding all the benefits and pitfalls of a 40 year dental career, Roni is available anytime to chat and explore your path to a successful sale or acquisition.
Our History
Optimal Practice Transition, LLC, founded by Andrew Schwartz and Benjamin Larkin, is a result of providing over twenty years of Dental Practice Accounting and Transition Services and asking how transitions can be made better. Since 1993, Andrew Schwartz has provided tax preparation, accounting, payroll, and practice management services to dentists, physicians, and other healthcare providers. Meanwhile, in 2000, Ben Larkin founded New England Practice Transitions where he was involved in over 350 practice transitions. Together Ben and Andrew have over 40 years of experience in the dental practice marketplace, and they now bring their expertise together to provide clients with the Optimal Practice Transition Experience.
Data Driven to Deliver Optimal Results
With over 40 combined years in the dental practice management field, and having worked on a combined several hundred dental practice transitions, the principals of Optimal Practice Transitions, LLC, have acquired a tremendous amount of relevant data on dental practice management and transaction metrics. We utilize our broad database to provide our clients with the most accurate and up to date information available. Selling or buying a professional practice can be an emotional time for everyone involved, and we certainly understand that emotions can drive decision-making, but it is our hope that real data based upon what is truly happening in the field, can assist our clients in making those sometimes very emotional decisions.
OPT is Unique
We have the professional perspective and experience to serve you best. We thoroughly understand the legal and accounting issues that may arise in a transaction and can work with our client’s professional team to efficiently address issues or avoid them completely.
We are not just experts – we care. Effective communication. Honesty. Integrity. Compassion. These are the qualities that we bring to the table in every transaction.
We are not merely a referral service. We become directly involved in our clients’ transactions, visiting practices, negotiating terms, discussing documents, and working seamlessly with our clients, the other parties, and other professional advisors, attending closings. Most of all, we listen.