http://marconews.com/news/business/marconews.com Stories: Businessen-usbusinesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/16/tax-secrets-wealthy-easy-do-winning-tax-combinatio/To paraphrase Mark Twain, the collapse of the American economy has been greatly exaggerated. A few — very few readers of this column — are enjoying increased sales and profits. Most are flat or down a bit. An alarming number — though small — are bleeding red ink. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:59:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/16/tax-secrets-wealthy-easy-do-winning-tax-combinatio/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/15/business-buzz-july-15-2008/Software, as all business people know only too well, can be tricky. But, unlock its potential, and the advantages will bring smiles to their faces and bucks to their bottom lines. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/15/business-buzz-july-15-2008/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/14/women-wisdom-wealth-three-rs-investment/Sorting through the Sunday paper I came across ad inserts for “back to school” supplies. Remember the three R’s, the basics of education; reading, ’riting and ’rithmatic? The investment world also has three R’s; risk, returns and rebalancing. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/14/women-wisdom-wealth-three-rs-investment/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/14/business-spotlight-morgan-stanley/Morgan Stanley seized the opportunity to open a branch on Marco Island with qualified Financial Advisors with 90-plus years’ accumulated market experience. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:57:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/14/business-spotlight-morgan-stanley/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/end-integrityolde-marco-inn-other-projects-harmed-/Real estate investors have sued local executives of a failed bank over unexpected losses in the historic Olde Marco Island Inn. Nearly a dozen investors, most of them from the Midwest, are involved in the suit, pending in state court in Long Prairie, Minn. Together, they say they invested more than $1.1 million in partnerships created to purchase, operate and finance the inn. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:30:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/end-integrityolde-marco-inn-other-projects-harmed-/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/end-integrity-bank-southwest-florida-joins-others-/A few years after buying into a small bank in the old railroad town of Staples, Minn., in the 1990s, Marco Island resident K. Patrick Kruchten and other investors saw the opportunity to expand into the Sunshine State. So First Integrity Bank opened a loan production office in downtown Naples. It thrived with the real estate boom in Southwest Florida. But after the boom went bust, so did the bank. Federal regulators recently shut down First Integrity, National Association, citing “unsafe and unsound practices” that weakened its finances. The move came after the bank closed its loan office in Naples, where business had stalled. Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:30:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/12/end-integrity-bank-southwest-florida-joins-others-/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/10/seminar-offer-advice-handline-foreclosure-related-/The Foreclosure Task Force is sponsoring a free pro bono foreclosure law clinic at the offices of Legal Aid Services of Collier County in Naples on Saturday. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/10/seminar-offer-advice-handline-foreclosure-related-/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/09/peak-your-profits-show-your--game-part-2/ Here’s more of my conversation with Jack Altschuler, CEO and executive coach, plus, creator of the “Fully Alive Leadership” program. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:48:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/09/peak-your-profits-show-your--game-part-2/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/09/tax-secrets-wealthy-your-tax-questions-my-answers/This was the subject of a recent seminar I gave. The right answer to this question is important to your economic health. Your family’s economic health. And your business’s economic health. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:43:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/09/tax-secrets-wealthy-your-tax-questions-my-answers/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/08/business-buzz-july-8-2008/Businesses on Marco Island are being asked to provide letters of support for the Marco Island Historical Society’s museum effort. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:52:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/08/business-buzz-july-8-2008/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/06/peak-your-profits-show-your--game-part-1/Jack Altschuler is one heckuva nice guy! His positive attitude pours out of the phone. It’s even better in-person! Over the past two years, I’ve had the pleasure to work with Jack and two of his CEO or executive leadership groups. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:27:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/06/peak-your-profits-show-your--game-part-1/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/06/women-wisdom-wealth-money-management-can-make-it-o/Ah, young couples in love for generations have survived on lyrics like these from the 70’s love song by Loggins and Messina. Remember when material things didn’t matter much and the power of love maintain happiness? Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:25:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/06/women-wisdom-wealth-money-management-can-make-it-o/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/peak-your-profits-end-or-bold-beginning/Q: I want to feature something about me and my business that’s powerful, yet catchy in my e-mail signature block, what do you suggest? Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/peak-your-profits-end-or-bold-beginning/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/women-wisdom-wealth-start-good-stock/The last six out of seven Fridays the stock markets have closed down. That 4 o’clock closing bell couldn’t ring soon enough. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/women-wisdom-wealth-start-good-stock/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/business-buzz-july-2-2008/Eking out a little extra gas mileage may not have been such a priority in the recent past, but today’s outrageous gas prices have changed all that. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/business-buzz-july-2-2008/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/tax-secrets-wealthy-two-or-more-kids-tax-victory-h/Starting in the mid-1970’s, we have been telling readers of this column and our clients to transfer their businesses to their kids during life. Waiting until you die to complete the transfer is an unnecessary and expensive waste of tax dollars. It was a tough fight Mom, but now the IRS agrees. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jul/02/tax-secrets-wealthy-two-or-more-kids-tax-victory-h/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/26/realtors-southwest-florida-home-sales-prices-climb/Home sales and prices in Southwest Florida are on the rise, according to reports released Thursday by the Florida Association of Realtors. Marco Island saw one of the largest increases of sales for single-family existing homes in May with 63 homes sold compared to 45 in April. The 66 percent jump from May 2007 (38) to May 2008 (63) was the largest in the state this past month. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:25:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/26/realtors-southwest-florida-home-sales-prices-climb/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/24/business-buzz-june-24-2008/Extending the life of Collier County’s vital landfill facility is behind a move to encourage commercial recycling on Marco Island. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:53:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/24/business-buzz-june-24-2008/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/24/business-spotlight-vip-insurance-services/ “I’ve been on Marco for the past seven years. I worked in the insurance industry for in Philadelphia for 15 years, and have worked on all kinds of businesses, from contractors to condominiums, and from trucking to metal shops. The reason for opening this division is because there are certain things I want to do in terms of growth and opportunities that are more easily done through a separate profit center. Management in Hollywood liked the ideas, and wanted to encourage me to do those things, so as a result they were willing to open up a separate branch office here on Marco. We will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on July 10 at 5:30 p.m.” — Vip Grover Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:51:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/24/business-spotlight-vip-insurance-services/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/23/peak-your-profits-without-trust-youre-bust-part-2/More tidbits on “trust” with friend, speaker, author (“Radical Trust”) and part-time CEO of CCG/FASTER, Joe Healey. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:49:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/jun/23/peak-your-profits-without-trust-youre-bust-part-2/business