College planning strategies to save like an advisor

By Stacey Pittman, CFA, CFP, CPWA, Managing Director, BT Wealth Advisors As a wealth advisor and the mom of a college freshman (Go Gators!), I am acutely aware of the challenges of planning for college. In speaking with clients, I emphasize that education planning is often the most challenging of the areas of financial planning. … Read more

How the pandemic spurred the ‘Great Relocation’ to Tampa Bay

By Ali St Cyr, Broker/Owner at Tomlin St Cyr The pandemic has changed the housing market indefinitely. From what people want in their homes to where they want to live, the real estate industry has transformed over the past two years. Now homes are for working, learning, exercising, entertaining and more. And Florida, particularly Tampa … Read more

The art of ownership transition

By Jeff Servais, principal, and David Laugtug, principal, CLA In the life of a business, ownership transition is inevitable. Whether selling to private equity or to the next generation of your family, someone else, at some point in time, will own your company. Most owners don’t realize how this process, often highly emotional, balances a … Read more

“Exit” on your mind!

By Taylor K. Ranker, II, President, Questmont Strategic Wealth Advisors Is it a good time to sell your business, what with increasing interest rates and spiking inflation? Last year was an all-time, record high for business sales and M+A but is 2022 still good? For a successful exit, 3 things should be ready: the mental … Read more

Commercial real estate and the Tampa office market

By Joanne LeBlanc, director at Colliers International During my 30+ years in Tampa, I have never experienced a more exciting time to be in this area than now. Tampa has been ranked a #3 place to relocate in the U.S. and The Economic Development Council reports 200 people a day moving to the region. Attracting … Read more

It’s time for CEOs to rethink the role of human resources

By Christine Hairelson, vice president, employee experience at Accusoft/OnTask COVID was a massive stress test, and gut check, for every organization regardless of size, scope or industry. All departments were faced with unprecedented scenarios that tested organizational processes, teams, culture and technology. Unfortunately, many of us quickly found we needed to evolve and evolve fast. … Read more

Recorded conversations: A warning and call for change

By Martin Deptula, attorney, Older Lundy Alvarez Koch & Martino A friend of mine recently contacted me about his sister, “Karen,” who was considering a divorce from her physically abusive and controlling husband, “Ken.”  Ken is a functioning alcoholic, who becomes physically abusive when intoxicated. My friend was excited that his sister had finally decided … Read more

Moving women’s health care forward at AdventHealth

At AdventHealth, we understand that women have unique health needs throughout each phase and stage of their life that require specialized, customized care that’s as individual as they are – from mammograms and pelvic health to maternity care and menopause. We’re evolving as well by staying on the forefront of women’s health with new innovations … Read more

Understanding the Employee Retention Credit for Recovery Start-Up Businesses

By Dawn Morgan, CPA and Kathleen Martin, CPA Many entrepreneurs in Tampa Bay entered 2020 with new business ventures in motion or expansions of existing business—opening new locations, new entities or a combination of the two. Despite hits from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tampa Bay area saw a trending increase in new business applications, according … Read more