Business

A new year gives us that annual opportunity to start fresh, to reinvent ourselves, set new goals, make resolutions, and just plain reset and refocus. For us on the Emerald Coast, moving into 2019 offers particular meaning this year by providing the chance to rebuild, renovate, and reimagine after...

By Maurice Stouse, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager Many investors have experienced significant ups and downs lately and are trying to understand what is going on and how to make or adjust their strategies accordingly. Many just want to know, why the increase in volatility? There are several aggravating factors...

When tragedy hits, it hits hardest to those who live where the disaster happened. And that’s no different with the recent hurricane that rocked the Emerald Coast. It continues to affect the day-to-day life of our local residents, as well as the operations of locally-owned businesses. While much of...

By Maurice Stouse, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager As we approach the end of the year, many Americans are looking to make or complete their charitable intentions for 2018. While the tax laws have made some changes to charitable giving, investors and savers alike are looking to not only give...

By Maurice Stouse, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager As we approach the end of the year, many Americans are looking to make or complete their charitable intentions for 2018. While the tax laws have made some changes to charitable giving, investors and savers alike are looking to not only give...

By Gail Pelto, Realtor Recently, I asked a group of business professionals, “How many of you have purchased, sold or invested in real estate?” And almost all of their hands went up. Then I asked them, “How many of you know how to hire a real estate agent?” NONE of...

Team work makes the dream work at Ava’s Furniture and Design. “It takes the entire team at Ava’s Furniture and Design to complete the job,” says both mother and daughter, co-owners. Ava’s began its story 10 years ago when mother Susan and her daughter Courtney, a team of two,...

By Joe and Lea Capers Every time a storm threatens our state, we are reminded of how many homeowners and business owners either do not carry flood insurance at all or have inadequate limits to cover their loss.  Almost everyone in a participating community of the National Flood Insurance Program...

By Maurice Stouse Financial Advisor and Branch Manager Unemployment remains steady at 3.9%. A record number of Americans are at work. Some reports say there are more job openings than people looking for work. Corporate profits, year over year, are up 16%. Recent tax cuts have enhanced corporate earnings. Interest rates...

By Chrissy Wetzel You’ve heard the old saying, “the only things certain in life are death and taxes.” For most of us also certain also to life, is work. Today’s work force is as diverse as ever before. With increasing amounts of large corporations finding it economical and ideal to...