Consider Opportunity Zones as part of a well-crafted tax plan

By Brian Duren, signing director  and Chris Dhanraj, managing principal of investments Since their introduction in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Qualified Opportunity Zones (OZ) have attracted attention as an important tool to help mitigate income tax liabilities. And, despite the headlines focusing on rising inflation, rising interest rates and possible rising … Read more

Year-end planning to leverage the time value of money

By Heather Williams, CPA/CFP and Patricia Entsminger, CPA/CFE/CIA As the year winds down and the rush of tax season is still several months away, now is the perfect time to schedule a strategy session with your CPA, and financial team, to discuss tax planning to help minimize the financial impact for you, your family and … Read more

Don’t be the Dunce!

By Taylor K. Ranker II, CEO, Questmont Virtual Family Office I love it, my industry loves to call itself wealth managers, but did you know there is a formal definition of wealth management that goes well beyond your portfolio? When applying this formula: Wealth Management = Investment Consulting + Advance Planning + Relationship Management, fewer … Read more

Tax-smart investing strategies for a down market

By Brian Carter, CPA Let’s be honest: The market’s performance in 2022 has been disappointing, at best, and for many investors ‘alarming’ would be a more accurate description. Equity prices are declining and volatility is high, with each new day bringing the potential for more carnage as jobs reports, inflation numbers and other economic data … Read more

Inherited wealth: A series of unfortunate events

By Margo Land Hirons, J.D., vice president, trust officer at The Bank of Tampa  “Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like.”  – Lemony Snicket From the moment you looked into your baby’s eyes, you knew you were going … Read more

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

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

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

Preparing Florida’s youth for personal and financial success

In this economic climate, financial literacy is a pivotal issue that can determine a person’s quality of life. The Florida Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit group on the front lines of the state’s educational system, is preparing young people for personal and financial success. It achieves this initiative through educational programs in economics, the … Read more

New market president named for First Horizon Bank’s Tampa Bay region

First Horizon Bank has appointed Jim Donatelli as market president for the Tampa Bay region. As market president, Donatelli will lead the consumer, commercial and wealth banking teams and is responsible for the company’s growth and expansion plans for the Tampa Bay market, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Sarasota, a statement said. “As First … Read more