When we think about fitness, we picture strength, flexibility, and resilience. Financial fitness is no different. It’s about building a strong foundation, staying adaptable, and preparing for life’s unexpected challenges. For eye care professionals, who often juggle student debt, practice expenses, and personal financial goals, being Money Fit is essential for peace of mind and long-term success.
How to be Money Fit
Money Fit means having clarity and confidence in your financial life. It’s not about being wealthy, it’s about being in control. Just like physical health requires regular checkups, financial health needs ongoing attention. A Money Fit professional understands their cash flow, manages debt wisely, and plans for the future.
Five Pillars of Financial Fitness
- Cash Flow Control
For both your personal and business finances, be sure you know where your money goes. Are you spending unnecessarily? Have you grown your inventory because of “great” new looks? Do you realize how much you are spending on your coffee outings a year? Create a spending plan that reflects your priorities. - Debt Management
Student loans and practice financing are common in eye care. Being Money Fit means using debt strategically to maximize opportunities for other investments like long term savings or equipment additions. - Risk Protection
Your ability to earn an income is your greatest asset. Review your base household expenses and understand the costs to keep your business going. Disability and critical illness insurance protect your income generating ability if health issues arise. You want to have time to recover and still have your business afloat when you are ready to return. Revisit your protection plan regularly to ensure it’s just as healthy as you are. - Emergency Preparedness
Life happens. Despite the best risk protection, unfortunate events and sudden expenses can appear. An easily accessible emergency fund covering three to six months of base expenses provides security when the unexpected occurs. - Future Planning
Retirement may feel far away but starting early matters. Use tools like RRSPs, TFSAs, and corporate accounts to build wealth over time. Prepare your practice for a successful transition well in advance of your desired exit day. Understand the implication of taxation both today and in the future. Creating flexibility through multiple sources of future revenue is key to retirement success.
Why does Being Money Fit Matter?
Financial stress can impact your well-being and even your patient care. According to the 2025 Financial Stress Index conducted for FP Canada, money remains the top source of stress for Canadians at 42%, followed by personal health at 21%. Yet, for those working with a financial professional, this drops to 34%.
Being Money Fit reduces anxiety, improves decision-making, and allows you to focus on what you do best, helping others see clearly.
Start Now!
- Begin with a financial health checkup. Review your income, expenses, debt, and savings.
- Set clear, achievable goals (we call this Clarity). You need to know where you are going in order to create an effective means to get there.
- Set it and Forget it. Automate savings and debt payments to stay consistent.
- Work with a financial advisor who understands the unique needs of eye care professionals.
Final Thought
Like with physical fitness, money fitness isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. Small, consistent steps lead to long-term stability and freedom. Just as you encourage patients to care for their vision, take time to care for your financial health. Your future self will thank you.
Did you know… That the 3 Cs of C3 are Clarity, Confidence and Control? That’s no coincidence. As a former Optometrist and practice owner, Roxanne has truly embraced what it means to be Financial Fit today and in the future. As a Certified Financial Planner®, Chartered Life Underwriter® and Certified Health Insurance Specialist®, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and their wealth by helping them make smart financial decisions that bring more joy to their lives. This article is for information purposes only and is not a replacement for personalized financial planning. Errors and Omissions exempt.
ROXANNE ARNAL,
Optometrist and Certified Financial Planner
Roxanne Arnal graduated from UW School of Optometry in 1995 and is a past-president of the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) and the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS). She subsequently built a thriving optometric practice in rural Alberta.
Roxanne took the decision in 2012 to leave optometry and become a financial planning professional. She now focuses on providing services to Optometrists with a plan to parlay her unique expertise to help optometric practices and their families across the country meet their goals through astute financial planning and decision making.
