Ferndale's 'Vibe' Ranks 5.8 Out of 10 in New Online Evaluations Patch.com But because it just launched Oct. 13, mqVibe doesn't yet reflect a broad user consensus and is driven partly by "an editorial evaluation," as the company's FAQs put it. And though it starts with rankings for 40000 neighborhoods in 27000 cities, ... |
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Ferndale's 'Vibe' Ranks 5.8 Out of 10 in New Online Evaluations - Patch.com
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Friday, October 28, 2011
BFC Financial, Woodbridge to merge - Washington Business Journal:
eragywaqer.wordpress.com
In a joint press release the Fort Lauderdale-based companies said they enterefd into a merger agreement whereinWoodbridge (Pink Sheets: WDGH) would become a whollg owned subsidiary of BFC (Pink Sheets: BFC currently controls majority voting stakee in both Woodbridge and BBX). BFC lost $58.9 million on revenue of $487.5 million in 2008. Woodbridgse owns , which is building Tradition Florida inPort St. Lucie, and has investments in variou s companies includingand . Woodbridge lost $140. 3 million on revenue of $25.56 million in 2008.
In its first quarter earnings Woodbridge warned that Core Communities could default on the loans for Tradition Florida if its lenderzs demand that it put more equitycapita down. Under the merger all shareholders of Woodbridge Class A common stock except BFC wouldreceive 3.47 shares of BFC’ds Class A common stock per share. With sharews of BFC opening at 40cente Monday, it equals nearly $1.39 a shar e for each share of Woodbridge, which opened at $1.10 Monday. Levan and Abdo are chairman andvice chairman, of both companies. The merger woulx save between $1 million and $2 milliomn in professional fees and SEC reportinh costs forthe companies, Levajn said.
It would also reduce the taxeds Woodbridge would pay on its earnings once it returnsto profitability, he said. Woodbridge pays taxes on its earnings, and then BFC pays taxeds on the portionof Woodbridge’s earningws that it counts on its balance sheet. The move will not causw any staff reductions, Levan noted. Woodbridgre will continue operate independently. The agreemeng would include all current board members of Woodbridgeon BFC’sx new board and add Woodbridge President Seth Wise and BankAtlantic Bancor President Jarett Levan to BFC’s 12-membed board, as well. Wise would also become executivwe vice presidentof BFC. The deal is expected to closs before the endof 2009.
BFC shares closedd unchanged at40 cents. The 52-week high was 95 centsw on Sept. 2. The 52-week low was 6 centes on Feb. 5. Woodbridge shares close d down 2 centsto $1.08. The 52-weej high was $6.60 on Aug. 21. The 52-week low was 2 centse on Oct. 24.
In a joint press release the Fort Lauderdale-based companies said they enterefd into a merger agreement whereinWoodbridge (Pink Sheets: WDGH) would become a whollg owned subsidiary of BFC (Pink Sheets: BFC currently controls majority voting stakee in both Woodbridge and BBX). BFC lost $58.9 million on revenue of $487.5 million in 2008. Woodbridgse owns , which is building Tradition Florida inPort St. Lucie, and has investments in variou s companies includingand . Woodbridge lost $140. 3 million on revenue of $25.56 million in 2008.
In its first quarter earnings Woodbridge warned that Core Communities could default on the loans for Tradition Florida if its lenderzs demand that it put more equitycapita down. Under the merger all shareholders of Woodbridge Class A common stock except BFC wouldreceive 3.47 shares of BFC’ds Class A common stock per share. With sharews of BFC opening at 40cente Monday, it equals nearly $1.39 a shar e for each share of Woodbridge, which opened at $1.10 Monday. Levan and Abdo are chairman andvice chairman, of both companies. The merger woulx save between $1 million and $2 milliomn in professional fees and SEC reportinh costs forthe companies, Levajn said.
It would also reduce the taxeds Woodbridge would pay on its earnings once it returnsto profitability, he said. Woodbridge pays taxes on its earnings, and then BFC pays taxeds on the portionof Woodbridge’s earningws that it counts on its balance sheet. The move will not causw any staff reductions, Levan noted. Woodbridgre will continue operate independently. The agreemeng would include all current board members of Woodbridgeon BFC’sx new board and add Woodbridge President Seth Wise and BankAtlantic Bancor President Jarett Levan to BFC’s 12-membed board, as well. Wise would also become executivwe vice presidentof BFC. The deal is expected to closs before the endof 2009.
BFC shares closedd unchanged at40 cents. The 52-week high was 95 centsw on Sept. 2. The 52-week low was 6 centes on Feb. 5. Woodbridge shares close d down 2 centsto $1.08. The 52-weej high was $6.60 on Aug. 21. The 52-week low was 2 centse on Oct. 24.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Criminal Charges For Ex-Goldman Sachs Director - Forbes
ucojaje.wordpress.com
Forbes | Criminal Charges For Ex-Goldman Sachs Director Forbes Rajat Gupta is expected to face criminal charges courtesy of federal prosecutors who say he fed insider information to G » |
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Cards ace Carpenter well prepared for critical Game 5 - Fox News
martaemimbzini.blogspot.com
USA Today | Cards ace Carpenter well prepared for critical Game 5 Fox News Carpenter, who dealt with elbow pain late in the season, said he was well prepared for the assignment after a light workload of 87 pitches in Game One, which the Cards won 3-2. "I believe it doesn't matter if you throw 120 (pitches) or 80, whatever, ... We have a classic on our hands Rangers beat Cardinals 4-0 in game four, even series 2-2 Texas Rangers beat St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 in Game 4 to even World Series |
Friday, October 21, 2011
Wal-Mart testing video game kiosks in deal with Columbus provider - Business First of Columbus:
vypybiza.wordpress.com
Retailing giant will feature E-Play’s kiosks for used videoo games in the vestibules of 77 stores inthe Wal-Mart and Columbus-based E-Play declined to comment on the test run, othee than to provide a fact sheet abouty the kiosks, which buy used video games usingf a database with prices for more than 4,00p titles. Customers scan games’ UPC code and then are givenj the chance to accept or declinethe turn-inm price, which would be credited to a creditr or debit card. The price can be as much as $25 for a high-demanrd game. (Fellow parents woulcd agree the average is likelhy tobe much, much less.
) E-Plah has other partnerships with convenience gasoline service stations and others that have put its DVD- and vide game-rental kiosks in more than 200 locationz in 11 states, including Ohio. Columbus Businessa First has reported on some of its previous each time without commentfrom E-Play, despite repeatee requests. The company was part of Dallas-based ’s Blockbusteer Express $1 DVD rental kiosi test in 2007, which was abandoned in 2008, then it partnerefd with ’s MovieStop subsidiary for a similar $1 DVD kioski test. Recession be damned. Let’ds expand.
Retailing giant will feature E-Play’s kiosks for used videoo games in the vestibules of 77 stores inthe Wal-Mart and Columbus-based E-Play declined to comment on the test run, othee than to provide a fact sheet abouty the kiosks, which buy used video games usingf a database with prices for more than 4,00p titles. Customers scan games’ UPC code and then are givenj the chance to accept or declinethe turn-inm price, which would be credited to a creditr or debit card. The price can be as much as $25 for a high-demanrd game. (Fellow parents woulcd agree the average is likelhy tobe much, much less.
) E-Plah has other partnerships with convenience gasoline service stations and others that have put its DVD- and vide game-rental kiosks in more than 200 locationz in 11 states, including Ohio. Columbus Businessa First has reported on some of its previous each time without commentfrom E-Play, despite repeatee requests. The company was part of Dallas-based ’s Blockbusteer Express $1 DVD rental kiosi test in 2007, which was abandoned in 2008, then it partnerefd with ’s MovieStop subsidiary for a similar $1 DVD kioski test. Recession be damned. Let’ds expand.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Resolute Games launching new iPhone app - Austin Business Journal:
tenamup.wordpress.com
Seven Deaths is a fighting game that followxs the lives of eight characters through one night in Nagamachi throughh a battle for control inthe city. The game includesx full stories of the characters anddetailedf backgrounds. The game will also eventually include updateesfor Wi-Fi multiplayer and social media. Resolute Games has also createx otheriPhone applications, including “ThumStruck,” “Segment” and “Elvie Mobile.” And Resolute gamers will now have new, faster devicees to play on.
At its Worldwide Developerz Conference inSan Francisco, announced the next generationn of iPhone, which will download conteng three times faster than the curreng brand and will include a 3-megapixel autofocus camera. It also has voice-controll features and a built-in compass. The 3GS also has improvedc battery life with up to nine hoursaon WiFi, 10 hours while watching video, 30 hours usinh audio, 12 hours using 2G talk and five houra using 3G talk. The new iPhone will be availabl e in black and white onJune 19. It will sell for $199 for a 16GB modeol and $299 for 32GB.
Seven Deaths is a fighting game that followxs the lives of eight characters through one night in Nagamachi throughh a battle for control inthe city. The game includesx full stories of the characters anddetailedf backgrounds. The game will also eventually include updateesfor Wi-Fi multiplayer and social media. Resolute Games has also createx otheriPhone applications, including “ThumStruck,” “Segment” and “Elvie Mobile.” And Resolute gamers will now have new, faster devicees to play on.
At its Worldwide Developerz Conference inSan Francisco, announced the next generationn of iPhone, which will download conteng three times faster than the curreng brand and will include a 3-megapixel autofocus camera. It also has voice-controll features and a built-in compass. The 3GS also has improvedc battery life with up to nine hoursaon WiFi, 10 hours while watching video, 30 hours usinh audio, 12 hours using 2G talk and five houra using 3G talk. The new iPhone will be availabl e in black and white onJune 19. It will sell for $199 for a 16GB modeol and $299 for 32GB.
Monday, October 17, 2011
MetWest signs PBSJ as second tenant - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
takes-trendsthe.blogspot.com
The national engineering company is expected to occupyabout 83,000 squared feet in the 250,000-square-foot tower that has been built to meet the ’sx Leadership in Energy and Environmentall Design. PBSJ Chief Executive Officerf John B. Zumwalt III said the companyh looked for an office in proximity to its clients and one that incorporated sustainablsdesign strategies. “MetWest International fit that bill in termsd ofoffice space, location, LEED and pedestrian-oriented site Zumwalt said in a statement. PBSJ was expected to announcr the move Thursdayto employees.
MetWest’es first tenant — , also the project’ s general contractor — occupies about 20,26y6 square feet on MetWest’s secon floor. The first phase of the 32-acre, $200 milliojn developed opened this year as demand for office and retail fell to its lowesyt levelin years. PBSJ, which movede its headquarters to Tampa from Miamiin 2006, is now at Cypressa Commons, 5300 W. Cypress St. That Westshors building, constructed in 1985, is owned by LLC. Whilde Cypress Commons is losing amajor tenant, the businessz district is benefiting as a whole, said Kyle regional vice president of Eola Capital, an Orlando-basef real estate investment firm.
“It’s a shot in the arm for
The national engineering company is expected to occupyabout 83,000 squared feet in the 250,000-square-foot tower that has been built to meet the ’sx Leadership in Energy and Environmentall Design. PBSJ Chief Executive Officerf John B. Zumwalt III said the companyh looked for an office in proximity to its clients and one that incorporated sustainablsdesign strategies. “MetWest International fit that bill in termsd ofoffice space, location, LEED and pedestrian-oriented site Zumwalt said in a statement. PBSJ was expected to announcr the move Thursdayto employees.
MetWest’es first tenant — , also the project’ s general contractor — occupies about 20,26y6 square feet on MetWest’s secon floor. The first phase of the 32-acre, $200 milliojn developed opened this year as demand for office and retail fell to its lowesyt levelin years. PBSJ, which movede its headquarters to Tampa from Miamiin 2006, is now at Cypressa Commons, 5300 W. Cypress St. That Westshors building, constructed in 1985, is owned by LLC. Whilde Cypress Commons is losing amajor tenant, the businessz district is benefiting as a whole, said Kyle regional vice president of Eola Capital, an Orlando-basef real estate investment firm.
“It’s a shot in the arm for
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Ohio Issue 2: Nearly 30 TV Stations Pull Misleading Anti-Union Ad - Huffington Post
loxezop.wordpress.com
Ohio Issue 2: Nearly 30 TV Stations Pull Misleading Anti-Union Ad Huffington Post The pro-labor group We Are Ohio has been running an anti-Issue 2 ad featuring Cincinnati resident Marlene Quinn, who almost lost her great-granddaughter Zoey in a fire. "If not for the firefighters, we wouldn't have our Zoey today," stated Quinn in the ... |
Monday, October 10, 2011
Critics call out Cincinnati Yellow Pages deal - Business Courier of Cincinnati:
valvookimakaj1362.blogspot.com
, a Denver company that has ownedx the rights tothe region’s largest Yelloa Pages product since 2002, blamea the delay on printer changes and organizational restructuring. About 140 of its 900 directoriew are beingdelayed nationwide. Cincinnatu is the largest markef affected. “It’s a stinkinyg deal,” said Brenda Hacker, controller for in Clermonf County. Hacker was planning to downsizeher company’s ad in a director she thought would be published in June.
When she caller the company in May to confirmthe change, she was told it was exercisinhg its contractual right to extend last year’s Hacker said it will cost her companyt an extra $700 each “It’s just not what they’re doing to people,” she said. Locap Insight spokeswoman Pat Nichols said 75 percent ofits 10,000o local customers will be unaffected by the Those are companies that plan to maintaij the same ads they had last year or expand.
Local Insight CEO Scott Pomeroy is asking business ownerws angered by the delay to callthe company’s customer service (888) 237-8570, although it’s not clear what stepxs the company will take to address concerns. “If the product’ws not delivering value to them, our customert service department is prepared to talk tothosee folks,” Pomeroy said. “I think it’zs evaluated on a case-by-case basis.” The directory delay comews at a time of turmoil for Yellow Pagexspublishers nationwide.
The recession is accelerating a trend that has long threatenec theindustry – the shift of so-called “directional from print publications to online search enginee and mobile phones. The , a subsidiary of , is projecting total revenue will shrinkto $11 billiojn for Yellow Pages publishers by 2013, down from $14.5 billion in 2008. A year ago, the Kelsey Group was forecasting a compound annual growthj rate for the industryof 4.5 percent. Now, it’es minus 5 percent. “Thew recession has driven print sodeeply negative,” said Charles senior vice president and program directod of the Kelsey Report.
Laughlin said growthj in digital revenue might never make up for salew lost inprint publications. “Those who downsize, will they start spending again once thesmokse clears? It’s probably next year before we know,” he said. Laughli said most of the nation’s largest Yellow Pages markets are seeing revenue dips of more than 20 percentthis year. Pomeroyy declined to reveal numbers for Cincinnati but said the revenue dropis “nowhere near” 20 percent He said companywide revenue was flat in standing at roughly $700 million.
Laughlih declined to reveal Kelsey’s future outlook for Cincinnati, which is dominatedr by Local Insight but includes asecond directory, the Yelloqw Book, published by of Berkshire, England. The industry’z major players, including spinoff Idearc and the better-knowm , are struggling through the recession with heavtydebt loads. Local Insight also has leverage issues, but its focus on smaller market has helped temper the impact of the recession onthe company, said Emilw Courtney, a credit analyst for ’s. “Idearcf has filed for bankruptcy, and Donnelley has missefd interest payments on debt withvariousd entities. Local Insight has not.
From a stricg financial-metrics point of view, they’re the healthier of the Courtney said. S&P revised to “negative” its outloom on Local Insight but retained a rating on its corporate debt in a Marchb31 report. At least one of the company’s local customers has a less positivs outlook. “I think they’re really in trouble. The phonde book is a dinosaur, and nobody’s usingy it any more,” said Vicky Bezak, exclusivre marketing agent for Bezak estimated the directory delayy would cost hercompany $300 a montjh – if she pays it.
“I’m goingt to call Cincinnati Bell and tell them that my contracgwith (Local Insight) terminates on June 1, and I’mm not paying the ad costsw listed on my current bill becausd I didn’t renew it,” she said. Cincinnati Bell serves as the billinbg agent for Local Insight and permits the use of its brand name as part of a rightz agreement signed when it sold its YellowPages company, , in 2002.
But Cincinnatk Bell is not involved inthe company’sd operations otherwise, according to Lisa McLaughlin, a publidc relations consultant for
, a Denver company that has ownedx the rights tothe region’s largest Yelloa Pages product since 2002, blamea the delay on printer changes and organizational restructuring. About 140 of its 900 directoriew are beingdelayed nationwide. Cincinnatu is the largest markef affected. “It’s a stinkinyg deal,” said Brenda Hacker, controller for in Clermonf County. Hacker was planning to downsizeher company’s ad in a director she thought would be published in June.
When she caller the company in May to confirmthe change, she was told it was exercisinhg its contractual right to extend last year’s Hacker said it will cost her companyt an extra $700 each “It’s just not what they’re doing to people,” she said. Locap Insight spokeswoman Pat Nichols said 75 percent ofits 10,000o local customers will be unaffected by the Those are companies that plan to maintaij the same ads they had last year or expand.
Local Insight CEO Scott Pomeroy is asking business ownerws angered by the delay to callthe company’s customer service (888) 237-8570, although it’s not clear what stepxs the company will take to address concerns. “If the product’ws not delivering value to them, our customert service department is prepared to talk tothosee folks,” Pomeroy said. “I think it’zs evaluated on a case-by-case basis.” The directory delay comews at a time of turmoil for Yellow Pagexspublishers nationwide.
The recession is accelerating a trend that has long threatenec theindustry – the shift of so-called “directional from print publications to online search enginee and mobile phones. The , a subsidiary of , is projecting total revenue will shrinkto $11 billiojn for Yellow Pages publishers by 2013, down from $14.5 billion in 2008. A year ago, the Kelsey Group was forecasting a compound annual growthj rate for the industryof 4.5 percent. Now, it’es minus 5 percent. “Thew recession has driven print sodeeply negative,” said Charles senior vice president and program directod of the Kelsey Report.
Laughlin said growthj in digital revenue might never make up for salew lost inprint publications. “Those who downsize, will they start spending again once thesmokse clears? It’s probably next year before we know,” he said. Laughli said most of the nation’s largest Yellow Pages markets are seeing revenue dips of more than 20 percentthis year. Pomeroyy declined to reveal numbers for Cincinnati but said the revenue dropis “nowhere near” 20 percent He said companywide revenue was flat in standing at roughly $700 million.
Laughlih declined to reveal Kelsey’s future outlook for Cincinnati, which is dominatedr by Local Insight but includes asecond directory, the Yelloqw Book, published by of Berkshire, England. The industry’z major players, including spinoff Idearc and the better-knowm , are struggling through the recession with heavtydebt loads. Local Insight also has leverage issues, but its focus on smaller market has helped temper the impact of the recession onthe company, said Emilw Courtney, a credit analyst for ’s. “Idearcf has filed for bankruptcy, and Donnelley has missefd interest payments on debt withvariousd entities. Local Insight has not.
From a stricg financial-metrics point of view, they’re the healthier of the Courtney said. S&P revised to “negative” its outloom on Local Insight but retained a rating on its corporate debt in a Marchb31 report. At least one of the company’s local customers has a less positivs outlook. “I think they’re really in trouble. The phonde book is a dinosaur, and nobody’s usingy it any more,” said Vicky Bezak, exclusivre marketing agent for Bezak estimated the directory delayy would cost hercompany $300 a montjh – if she pays it.
“I’m goingt to call Cincinnati Bell and tell them that my contracgwith (Local Insight) terminates on June 1, and I’mm not paying the ad costsw listed on my current bill becausd I didn’t renew it,” she said. Cincinnati Bell serves as the billinbg agent for Local Insight and permits the use of its brand name as part of a rightz agreement signed when it sold its YellowPages company, , in 2002.
But Cincinnatk Bell is not involved inthe company’sd operations otherwise, according to Lisa McLaughlin, a publidc relations consultant for
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Podiatrist gets 5 months, $25,000 fine - Dallas Business Journal:
xotavaloso.blogspot.com
Dr. Bic Chau Stafford, who practiced at the in Marylan Heights, as well as assorted assisted livingv facilitiesin St. Louis City and St. Louis County, in Aprilo to one felony count of obstructionb of afederal audit. Stafford, 59, also executex a civil settlement agreement with the United Stateas requiring her to pay the Medicarerprogram $425,000. Stafford billed Medicarwe for numerous complex foot surgery procedures provideds to 39 local Medicare beneficiariexs when she was really providing these patientse with only routine foot such as toenail clipping, prosecutors said.
When she was auditee by the Medicare programin 2007, Medicare denied her claims for reimbursement regarding these 39 beneficiaries and requested that she repay $6,84o for non-covered services that had been previously paid to her. Stafford challengefd this and as part of her efforts to avoixd payingthe overpayment, Stafford createcd new treatment records for those 39 patients in back-dating them to using fraudulent treatment information and claiming that she had providecd these patients with podiatric surgical procedure, prosecutor s said.
Dr. Bic Chau Stafford, who practiced at the in Marylan Heights, as well as assorted assisted livingv facilitiesin St. Louis City and St. Louis County, in Aprilo to one felony count of obstructionb of afederal audit. Stafford, 59, also executex a civil settlement agreement with the United Stateas requiring her to pay the Medicarerprogram $425,000. Stafford billed Medicarwe for numerous complex foot surgery procedures provideds to 39 local Medicare beneficiariexs when she was really providing these patientse with only routine foot such as toenail clipping, prosecutors said.
When she was auditee by the Medicare programin 2007, Medicare denied her claims for reimbursement regarding these 39 beneficiaries and requested that she repay $6,84o for non-covered services that had been previously paid to her. Stafford challengefd this and as part of her efforts to avoixd payingthe overpayment, Stafford createcd new treatment records for those 39 patients in back-dating them to using fraudulent treatment information and claiming that she had providecd these patients with podiatric surgical procedure, prosecutor s said.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Gaining trust: Louisville-area banks find steady income from trust departments - Business First of Louisville:
http://www.punjabjustice.org/t129.htm
Trust departments, meant for bank customers who want the peace of mind of knowinb their assetsare secure, destined for the righ recipients and who have a intended purpose for their money, also are safe areas for banks. Banks use trusts to managd money and carry out the intentions of clients with cash orpropertyg — whether that means usinyg funds to take care of loved ones after the customere has died or holding assets in a trust to gain tax said Kathy Thompson, senior executive vice presiden of With a minimuk trust account of Stock Yards establishes trusts for surviving spouses, disabled children, the mentall y incompetent, the elderly as a retirement account and for a varietg of other purposes, she said.
“We are providing financial security for Thompson said. Trust department also have become one of the more reliablew business linesfor banks, with assets and fee incomwe that do not fluctuate with the rise and fall of globak markets or with interest according to Steve Trager, CEO and chairmah of . Trager said the increase in trus activity from aging baby boomers also is helping this departmen t grow inhis bank. Republic Bank & Trustg Co. has about $1.5 billioj in assets under management in its trust Trager said, a number than doesn’t tend to fluctuatr much but grows steadily.
That makes the business a profitablw niche forthe bank, with fees based on a percentage of wealth undee management, he said. “Numerous articles have been written about the unprecedentes amount ofwealth that’s going to be transferred from one generation to the next, and we alreadyt see that happening,” Walt Koczot, a personalo trust specialist for . Statewide, the bank has about $1.2 billiomn in trust assets under management, he Thompson said Stock Yards also charges fees based on a percentagre of the value of assets ina trust, typically 1 As of early February, Stock Yardxs Bank & Trust’s trust companyh had assets under management of $1.
4 Thompson said, illustrating its profitability and importancde to the bank and its shareholders. Most of the assets in trusrt are stocks, bonds and she said. Though the bank doesn’y have a lot of real estatre in trust, Thompson said, it does manags some real estate forcommercial clients. Debra general counsel of the , said while the associationn doesn’t track profitability figures in this businesd lineof banking, its importancde is apparent.
“Banks like to provide full service totheire customers,” she said, and a trust department is anothedr way to fulfill this She said while there have been no recenf legal changes that affect asset in trust, members are reporting notablw growth in this “I think this is because, consumers are better educated, they are more aware of what theie options are,” she said. Still, Stamper believezs that some middle-class who could benefit from placing assetsxin trust, don’t. “Thw problem with any kind of servics beyond the plain vanilla servicesthat everybody’a familiar with … is some people are going to be she said.
She urges clients to talk to theie banker if they have a trust or are not sure of how to handlee any aspect of their estate so they can manage theiefunds appropriately. Trager said that the averages length of a client relationshi p in the trust arenais “all over the board,” from a year to 15 yearsa or more.
Trust departments, meant for bank customers who want the peace of mind of knowinb their assetsare secure, destined for the righ recipients and who have a intended purpose for their money, also are safe areas for banks. Banks use trusts to managd money and carry out the intentions of clients with cash orpropertyg — whether that means usinyg funds to take care of loved ones after the customere has died or holding assets in a trust to gain tax said Kathy Thompson, senior executive vice presiden of With a minimuk trust account of Stock Yards establishes trusts for surviving spouses, disabled children, the mentall y incompetent, the elderly as a retirement account and for a varietg of other purposes, she said.
“We are providing financial security for Thompson said. Trust department also have become one of the more reliablew business linesfor banks, with assets and fee incomwe that do not fluctuate with the rise and fall of globak markets or with interest according to Steve Trager, CEO and chairmah of . Trager said the increase in trus activity from aging baby boomers also is helping this departmen t grow inhis bank. Republic Bank & Trustg Co. has about $1.5 billioj in assets under management in its trust Trager said, a number than doesn’t tend to fluctuatr much but grows steadily.
That makes the business a profitablw niche forthe bank, with fees based on a percentage of wealth undee management, he said. “Numerous articles have been written about the unprecedentes amount ofwealth that’s going to be transferred from one generation to the next, and we alreadyt see that happening,” Walt Koczot, a personalo trust specialist for . Statewide, the bank has about $1.2 billiomn in trust assets under management, he Thompson said Stock Yards also charges fees based on a percentagre of the value of assets ina trust, typically 1 As of early February, Stock Yardxs Bank & Trust’s trust companyh had assets under management of $1.
4 Thompson said, illustrating its profitability and importancde to the bank and its shareholders. Most of the assets in trusrt are stocks, bonds and she said. Though the bank doesn’y have a lot of real estatre in trust, Thompson said, it does manags some real estate forcommercial clients. Debra general counsel of the , said while the associationn doesn’t track profitability figures in this businesd lineof banking, its importancde is apparent.
“Banks like to provide full service totheire customers,” she said, and a trust department is anothedr way to fulfill this She said while there have been no recenf legal changes that affect asset in trust, members are reporting notablw growth in this “I think this is because, consumers are better educated, they are more aware of what theie options are,” she said. Still, Stamper believezs that some middle-class who could benefit from placing assetsxin trust, don’t. “Thw problem with any kind of servics beyond the plain vanilla servicesthat everybody’a familiar with … is some people are going to be she said.
She urges clients to talk to theie banker if they have a trust or are not sure of how to handlee any aspect of their estate so they can manage theiefunds appropriately. Trager said that the averages length of a client relationshi p in the trust arenais “all over the board,” from a year to 15 yearsa or more.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
TwinStrata and DataCore Deliver Industry-First Storage Virtualization Solution ... - Sacramento Bee
hydiuco.blogspot.com
Web Host Industry Review | TwinStrata and DataCore Deliver Industry-First Storage Virtualization Solution ... Sacramento Bee By TwinStrata, Inc. NATICK, Mass., Oct. 4, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- TwinStrata, Inc., the leading innovator of cloud-based data storage, backup and disaster recovery solutions, today announced that DataCore, the premier provider of storage ... TwinStrata and DataCore Deliver Industry-First Storage Virtualization Solution ... |
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Reaching out to baby boomers - South Florida Business Journal:
kowutoco.wordpress.com
In 20 years, there will be twicr as many people over the age of 65 as thersare today, said Matt Thornhill, founder and president of The Boomedr Project, a Richmond, Va.-based firm that researchexs boomer consumer habits. Thornhill is one of several speakeras who will discuss marketing to boomers at the Florida Boomer Lifestylwe ConferenceMay 11-12 at the , presentexd by CreativeTampaBay and sponsored by .
And then there’ss the emerging consumer class made up of peoplde hitting thebig 5-0 that continuexs to gain relevance with “What I saw was that marketerds didn’t know what to do with baby boomersw who were turning 50,” said “They weren’t senior citizens, but they weren’t young adults.” For reasonx personal and financial, boomers are oftenj considering an “encore career,” said Dorcad Hardy, principal of , a Washingtomn area public policy People may want to help society and enhance their own well-being, Hardy said.
They also are motivater by the changes in the With many people extending their there may be a slowdown in the number of people moving to said Thornhill. “There are certainly going to be moreolderr people,” he said. “The questio is can we get them to come to Floridaq and stayin Florida?” The regioj must rethink its approach and “get smarter about planning,” Thornhill said, because the boomer presence affects not only healthy care, real estate and financiao services, but all industries. “Our core, targef market is a baby boom generation,” said Don president and CEO of , a Tampa-basec manufacturer of personal lamps.
“We have configured our market plan and producr campaign aroundbaby boomers.” Barry has found a way to marke to and employ the existing retirement population in the Bay area using a “retirement community direct businessz model.” As a market test, the company will enlisy residents of as “ambassadors” to engage potential customerds in a combination of print, Internegt and direct selling. A retirement communityy is a rich opportunity with a perfecrt market in a concentration of thousanddof homes, Barry said.
In 20 years, there will be twicr as many people over the age of 65 as thersare today, said Matt Thornhill, founder and president of The Boomedr Project, a Richmond, Va.-based firm that researchexs boomer consumer habits. Thornhill is one of several speakeras who will discuss marketing to boomers at the Florida Boomer Lifestylwe ConferenceMay 11-12 at the , presentexd by CreativeTampaBay and sponsored by .
And then there’ss the emerging consumer class made up of peoplde hitting thebig 5-0 that continuexs to gain relevance with “What I saw was that marketerds didn’t know what to do with baby boomersw who were turning 50,” said “They weren’t senior citizens, but they weren’t young adults.” For reasonx personal and financial, boomers are oftenj considering an “encore career,” said Dorcad Hardy, principal of , a Washingtomn area public policy People may want to help society and enhance their own well-being, Hardy said.
They also are motivater by the changes in the With many people extending their there may be a slowdown in the number of people moving to said Thornhill. “There are certainly going to be moreolderr people,” he said. “The questio is can we get them to come to Floridaq and stayin Florida?” The regioj must rethink its approach and “get smarter about planning,” Thornhill said, because the boomer presence affects not only healthy care, real estate and financiao services, but all industries. “Our core, targef market is a baby boom generation,” said Don president and CEO of , a Tampa-basec manufacturer of personal lamps.
“We have configured our market plan and producr campaign aroundbaby boomers.” Barry has found a way to marke to and employ the existing retirement population in the Bay area using a “retirement community direct businessz model.” As a market test, the company will enlisy residents of as “ambassadors” to engage potential customerds in a combination of print, Internegt and direct selling. A retirement communityy is a rich opportunity with a perfecrt market in a concentration of thousanddof homes, Barry said.
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