The Enterprise Asset Management Experts
Cohesive Information Solutions Helps Organizations Improve Productivity and Reduce Costs

Even the newest, best and most sophisticated capital equipment isn’t of much use if it isn’t being used appropriately or working properly. Yet many organizations lack the necessary processes, organizational structure and technology to take full advantage of their production assets and keep them in optimal condition.

A partner like Cohesive Information Solutions makes a world of difference for organizations looking to achieve operational excellence through optimization of their asset reliability and availability.

The Kennesaw, Ga.-based company has been helping organizations apply industry best practices for enterprise asset management (EAM) and optimize their EAM technologies since 1998. It serves a variety of asset-intensive industries, including energy and utilities, by offering unique solutions aimed at improving physical asset reliability while reducing the associated costs of maintenance.

“We are experts in enterprise asset management,” explains Cohesive President George Lowry. “What we do is help companies optimize their production operations through the implementation of reliability-based work management processes and effective use of their related technology investments.”

For most customers this means using an EAM solution like Maximo®, an IBM software tool that helps organizations “catalog their assets and implement maintenance strategies to ensure their assets are always in working order,” Lowry says. Cohesive is an IBM premier business partner and North America’s number one Maximo reseller to commercial markets.

The company provides end-to-end Maximo services, from software sales, consulting and implementation services, to ongoing support 
and license maintenance.

Bridging the Gap Between Business and Technology
Cohesive’s industry experts – “individuals who have actually sat on the customer’s side of the table,” Lowry says – serve customers in diverse industries including utilities, energy, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, education and public sector agencies. “One of our recent energy customers, which moves natural gas, was using antiquated asset management technology and had very immature asset management practices – and, in some cases, no asset management practices at all,” Lowry says. “Some of their people were basically working from tribal knowledge. Since becoming a customer, the company has been using Maximo to improve their enterprise asset management program efficiency. The result is better equipment reliability, optimized workforce performance and full visibility of their related costs.”

Ultimately, Lowry says, it’s all about applying and managing the process changes that enable bridges to be built between business goals and related technology investments. “Deploying the technology is the easy part. The real challenge is embedding the appropriate EAM business practices and sustaining them.  Those who focus on following the process and using the technology appropriately have much greater potential of achieving their operational goals.”

125 TownPark Drive, Suite 240 | Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 678.233.1280
www.cohesivesolutions.com

Succeeding in a business that involves lending money is a two-step process. First, learn everything there is to know about lending. And second, seek an experienced technology professional who can provide the foundation for that lending. Preferably, Allied Business Systems (ABS), the leader in financial software.

For nearly 35 years, hundreds of companies have turned to ABS for high-quality, cost-effective loan origination software solutions. “Our software offers direct and indirect loans, sales finance, real estate with escrow, plus many other types of loans,” says Billy Cutshaw, president and CEO. “If a business lends money, we have the experience and expertise to meet its needs. Our products cover the entire loan process: application, loan decision and origination, collection, solicitation and general ledger.”

As a pioneer in both the types and number of services offered, ABS is constantly creating new ways to improve client efficiency. For instance, when all branches of a business operate with exclusive ABS software solutions, the result is typically higher profits for every branch as well as the entire company.

ABS has a history of providing quality products that give its clients a competitive advantage. Other software packages can’t compete with the ease of use and complete synergy offered by absVision® and absSterling Loan Management Technology®.

Taking Service to the Highest Level
But it’s not just software, it’s also service that sets ABS apart. The firm’s employees are second to none in willingness, loyalty and innovation, with a deep and comprehensive knowledge of lending that includes areas like delinquency, solicitation, earnings and more. The ABS staff routinely comes through with time- and money-saving solutions that keep clients ahead of the game.

“As president and CEO, I strive to lead with honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic,” says Cutshaw. “Our company motto is, ‘Our Client’s Success Is Our Success.’ We don’t just follow it, we live it fully – every day. We understand that in order for our clients to be successful, they must have a solid foundation on which to conduct their business. That’s what we’re all about. That’s what our software and our service provide.”

4848 Mercer University Drive | Macon, GA 31210
800-727-7534 | 478-474-7601 | www.alliedbiz.com

There’s No Place Like The Gardens
The Gardens at Ocean Springs Offers Unparalleled Assisted Living

Nothing helps with a tough decision like recommendations from trusted sources. Especially when there are a lot of sources and they all say the same thing.

For instance, if you’re thinking about an assisted living care facility for yourself or a loved one, there’s one place that’s favored by a wide range of experts: The Gardens at Ocean Springs.

The Gardens has been recommended not only by physicians, health care professionals and the Mississippi State Department of Health, but by community leaders, police personnel, attorneys and other professionals who assist seniors with their long-term care needs. They all know what so many of The Gardens’ residents have experienced for years: This is a one-of-a-kind community, enriching to the body, mind and spirit.

“The most important service we offer is a pleasant, stimulating environment,” says Erin Hollis, president of Health Care Services, LLC, co-owner of The Gardens. “We have an extensive activities calendar that has something for everyone, including field trips for shopping, lunch, sightseeing, theater and other community interests. Our activities director has a BA in music, so our residents get to take part in lots of fun, music-centered activities. And no matter what we do here, we try to involve family members as much as possible.”

A Community Customized to Its Residents
Hollis and other members of the management staff know each resident personally. Familiarity with everyone’s background and interests allows them to offer activities that have been specially chosen to be meaningful and enjoyable.

The Gardens is locally owned and operated by three partners who are in touch with all day-to-day operations. Since they never have to seek or wait for approval from a parent company, the partners can address residents’ concerns quickly and orchestrate change smoothly.

“We’re dedicated to seniors,” says Hollis. “Everyone who works here can feel good knowing they have a positive influence on our residents’ lives. I enjoy the opportunity to sit with residents for a minute, hold their hands and have a conversation. There’s such a tremendous attitude here. This place is like a treasure chest filled with wonderful, fabulous experiences. Every day is new and surprising – not just for the people who live here, but for the people who work here.”

1260 Ocean Springs Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228-818-0650

www.thegardensassistedlivingoceansprings.com

Not-for-Profit Insurer Provides Exceptional Service

How do you choose the best health plan for your family or your employees when most plans today are basically the same? How do you distinguish one health plan from another as benefits and pricing become increasingly homogeneous?

It’s a dilemma for individuals and employers everywhere. But not for the growing number of people and small companies in Georgia that have made Alliant Health Plans their clear choice. The not-for-profit, boutique health insurer is based in Dalton, with operations in Kennesaw, Georgia.

A niche player from the start – “We have never tried to be all things to all people,” says Al Ertel, chief operating officer – Alliant focuses exclusively on serving the needs of small businesses and individuals.

“What really sets us apart is our people – and the service they provide to every one of our plan members,” says Emma Stacey Leigh, senior sales executive and government affairs liaison. “We do everything possible to provide a hassle-free experience, and our members appreciate it.”

“Phone calls are answered by people who address the issue at hand quickly and efficiently,” Leigh says, “with critical customer service matters referred to the highest level of management as appropriate.  We are a not-for-profit company. We don’t have constant shareholder pressures to influence decisions. Instead, we focus on providing the best value for the premiums paid by our hard-working members.”

Provider-Owned, Georgia-Based
Alliant was founded in Northwest Georgia by medical providers 15 years ago. The organization remains provider owned and Georgia based, entering additional markets in the state at the request of other provider organizations.

“We try very hard not to get in the way of the doctor-patient relationship,” says Mark Mixer, vice president of sales and marketing. “We believe in allowing the clinical professionals to do what they do best: treat patients. As a result, we enjoy a true partnership with our physicians 
and hospitals.”

Alliant is careful to choose only seasoned professional insurance agents to represent it in the marketplace, and is committed to not competing with them. “It’s part of our commitment to the communities we serve,” Ertel explains, “and an approach taken by no other insurance carrier. Additionally, our commitment to helping people is led by our long-term staff tenure.  The average employee has been with the company for 10 years.”

“Everyone should compare prices and plan offerings when choosing a health insurance company. That goes without saying,” Mixer says. “But when these are equal, what really matters is exceptional service.”

600 TownPark Lane, NW, Suite LL-1000 | Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 877-668-1015 | www.alliantplans.com

A BEAUTIFUL SETTING – A CARING COMMUNITY
The Oaks at Whitaker Glen is the place you want to call Home

The secure community is peacefully nestled among beautiful, mature oak trees in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina – about three miles from downtown. It provides all the comforts of home, along with shared amenities like greenhouse space, library and media rooms, fitness and rehabilitation center, Carolina Café and Pub, and activity spaces. Living there enables residents to design a lifestyle as tranquil or as vibrant as they prefer.

The Oaks at Whitaker Glen is the Independent Living segment of a larger Continuing Care Retirement Community that also includes the historic five-star rated skilled nursing center – The Oaks at Mayview. Administrator Danielle Weeks, MHA, says that the community is relatively small, which allows staff to offer a higher level of individualized attention, further stating, “We really enjoy spoiling our residents.”

Peace of mind is important when choosing retirement living, and Whitaker Glen has its own alert call system, positioning it for a speedy response should one of the residents need medical attention. There is also a registered nurse on-site every day, and certified nursing assistants available to offer other health-related services upon request. Health care services can be administered within the residents’ own apartment homes, and there is a shuttle service for appointments and errands.

“Community is a key component to our decades of success,” Weeks says. “People meet in the coffee shop, hang out at the sports bar and play some cards, visit our salon and spa, go to movies or a play together. Many of them simply enjoy meeting in our skylight atrium or walking throughout the campus. It is a vibrant lifestyle choice that takes away some of the daily responsibilities and lets our members relax and just enjoy living. At Whitaker Glen, we make it easy for people to age in place — we want our residents to stay here and really make it their home.”

501 E. Whitaker Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27608
919-839-5604
www.whitakerglen.com

WorkingBuildings® Expands Globally, Sets Benchmarks for Optimal Building Operations

The opening of the WorkingBuildings office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the latest in a series of expansions of the Atlanta-based Owner’s Representative firm. With offices located across the continental United States, this expansion is a logical next step for the 13-year-old team of engineers, architects, and sustainability consultants.

“As the world globalizes rapidly, owners are challenged to deliver complex design and construction projects based on regional realities and resources,” says WorkingBuildings Managing Principal and President Michael L. Weiss, PhD, ABD, HCCP. “Understanding best practices across the globe and modifying them to meet local needs without sacrificing performance or requirements are tasks few firms have accomplished and WorkingBuildings excels at. We are brought on to share our substantial understanding of how buildings should work on projects throughout North America, the Middle East, South America, the Pacific Rim and Asia proper.”

Weiss founded the employee-owned company in the late 1990s with a single $1,700 contract. With five divisions, WorkingBuildings, WorkingLaboratories, WorkingHospitals, WB Global Advisory, and CxAlloy Software Solutions, and with regional offices spread across nine states and two continents, it is now on the Inc. 500/5000 2012 list of the nation’s fastest-growing privately held companies.

The company’s meteoric rise in a competitive global marketplace is due to its unique approach to owner representation – an approach that covers every aspect of the most complex, mission-critical facilities from planning through operation. “We lead owners through the big picture while we focus on the details,” says Weiss. “In the end, they have a facility, a campus, or even an entire portfolio that operates as envisioned. We’ve even acted as operators for complex projects after close-out, allowing owners to concentrate on their core service.”

WorkingBuildings brings together a multidisciplinary team of internationally recognized thought leaders in their areas of expertise who introduce best practices from around the world. “Through our leadership and innovative products like quality management software that is now the gold standard in the field, our team is actively setting the benchmarks for optimal building operations worldwide,” says Weiss.

WorkingBuildings’ leadership is perhaps nowhere more apparent than in the fields of sustainability and compliance. Delivering over 200 LEED-rated buildings, it is the recipient of the President’s Award for its work with the Sandia National Laboratory. It is the official Sustainability Sponsor of the 2012 Cityscape Riyadh Summit, where Weiss was a keynote speaker and hosted an award ceremony. WorkingBuildings recently agreed to work with Brazil’s primary biosafety organization, ANBio, to develop a program to audit and help manage and control the numerous biosafety issues in hospital and laboratory environments.

“We are redefining the traditional role of the project consultant to perform as a sustainability advocate for the owner,” Weiss says. “For instance, we urge that any green practices be coupled with return on investment. If there is no ROI, it’s not sustainable.”

www.workingbuildings.com | +1 678-990-8001 | info@workingbuildings.com

Everyone is looking for fulfillment.

Especially manufacturers and marketers tasked with shipping countless products all over the world. Customers are eagerly waiting for their packages, and that’s what fulfillment is all about. It is the art and science of getting those orders from the warehouse and into the customer’s hands.

Making it happen is a family-run company just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. When someone places an order, Fulfillment Services International (FSI) picks the items from its warehouses, packs them for safe transit and ships them to one of over 170 countries. For clients needing mass-produced kits, FSI assembles them for packing and shipping.

FSI has the capacity to accommodate megacorporations with thousands of orders per day, yet is small enough to work with start-ups. Unlike typical fulfillment providers that require minimum volumes, FSI likes to look at the client’s potential, knowing the payoff can be huge when a new product takes off.

“Many of our largest clients started out small, and we’ve grown together,” says Forrest Marbutt, VP and General Manager. “Rather than forcing clients into a cookie-cutter mold, we offer custom solutions that create valuable opportunities. Maybe that means a custom database application or online reporting solution on the IT side, or maybe it means a streamlined process on the operations side. Because we can do that, the result is continued growth from clients who can’t find these services elsewhere.”

Tracking Packages Like Never Before
One of FSI’s most innovative developments is FSI Track, an online package-tracking tool that allows clients to track the status of their kit-packing jobs all at once, instead of one at a time. Designed by the company’s in-house IT staff, FSI Track lets clients see which kits have been delivered and which are still in transit. It’s one thing to tell a client whether a particular package was delivered. It’s quite another to say, “Of those 10,000 shipments, here are the 10 that are still in transit.” It’s a big reason so many clients send their kit-packing jobs to FSI.

An order accuracy rate of 99.9 percent doesn’t hurt, either. Nor does the fact that FSI is a family-oriented business. Employees have been with the company an average of seven years, almost unheard of for a 16-year-old business. FSI has made Inc. magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest growing private companies for four years running.

How do they do it? “We’re big enough to handle whatever our clients throw at us,” says Marbutt, “and small enough that our clients won’t get lost in a sea of other clients. Through teamwork and a can-do attitude, we get the job done right and on time. We understand the bigger picture and treat our clients and employees as if they’re going to be with us forever.”

7800 The Bluffs, Suite C
Austell, GA 30168
678-391-5980
www.fsifulfillment.com

LIVE BETTER, LIVE HEALTHIER AT GALLOWAY RIDGE AT FEARRINGTON

With her long litany of ailments, Mrs. N.A. looked and felt much older than her 65 years. At the time she joined the Wellness Program at Galloway Ridge in 2011, she had just undergone both gastric bypass surgery and breast cancer treatment. Not only was she taking medication for pain, blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, she was very weak and had difficulty walking. Moreover, she was unable to complete the standard cardiovascular test for her age group and gender or to rise from a seated position without using her hands.

Two years later, Mrs. N.A. is a different person. With the support and encouragement of the Wellness Program’s professional staff, including the certified cancer exercise trainer, she exercises three times weekly to improve both muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness. Her cancer in remission, she has lost 50 pounds and stopped taking most of her medications, stands up and sits down easily – and can even walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes without difficulty.

Vibrant Living for Active, Involved Seniors
Just miles from North Carolina’s renowned Research Triangle, Galloway Ridge at Fearrington is a vibrant community of active, involved seniors, many of whom are still working. The 25,000-square-foot, medically based wellness center, where Mrs. N.A. transformed her life, is a focal point of the continuing care retirement community.

Most residents live independently in an apartment or villa, though assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care are also available on site should the need arise. Indeed, residents are guaranteed priority access to these services, for just a minimal additional meal cost.

Life at Galloway Ridge is interesting and intellectually stimulating, says Executive Director Heather Rusnak. There is always something to do, from volunteer work to current events groups to world-class performances on campus or in nearby Chapel Hill or Raleigh-Durham.

In addition, the wellness center, with its indoor pool and indoor track, offers a wide range of programs and services to enhance wellness of mind, body and spirit. Both Duke University Health System and UNC Health Care operate primary care clinics on the Galloway Ridge campus, and some of the best medical facilities in the world are just a short drive away.

“The best time to move to a continuing care retirement community is when you are well and living independently,” Rusnak says. “Our residents enjoy a wonderful lifestyle, with the security of great medical care nearby if they need it.”


3000 Galloway Ridge Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312
1-888-763-9600
www.gallowayridge.com

Aligning Your Technology to Achieve Your Business Goals

Local or Cloud-based. Microsoft or Apple. Office or Salesforce.

“It doesn’t matter what technology a company uses,” says Darrell Rodgers, president of Emerald Data Networks, Inc. “I’m vendor agnostic. The important thing is that a company’s technology achieves its business objectives.”

The Atlanta-based IT firm works with businesses of a variety of types and sizes, on both an ongoing and project basis, setting up data networks, implementing communication solutions, installing security and audiovisual systems.

Often that means working with and building on technology already in place. Other times it means starting from scratch. “I approach every customer as a unique situation,” Rodgers says.

For example, the company recently replaced an Atlanta bakery’s 15-year-old phone system with an up-to-date VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system. “Now they can call internally to their five stores in the metro area without paying for outside phone lines; they save money every month,” Rodgers says. “They can also transfer calls between sites, monitor phone availability at each site and make do with less staff without missing a call at any of their stores.” The new system also allows the bakery to add new sites anywhere in the world it wishes.

The owner of a manufacturing company is now able to oversee his workers and monitor all systems – whether off site with a client or while relaxing on the back porch of his lake house. “He can even make phone calls that appear to be coming from the office,” Rodgers says.

Some clients want EDN to do everything technology-related for them, including managing subcontractors.  Others, including Delta Air Lines and Black Box International, have special projects that require EDN’s specific expertise.

 The Business Technology People
“While most people think of technology as an expense, I know better,” says Rodgers.  Instead of trying to persuade customers they need to upgrade their software or buy a new server, EDN holds planning meetings with clients every year to determine how to achieve their business goals. “With the right technology,” Rodgers explains, “employees can do their jobs faster and better, and a company is much more likely to be successful. That’s why we’re vendor agnostic. We are achievement people, not salespeople.”

5064 Roswell Road | Suite B-102 | Atlanta, GA  30342
678.302.3000
info@emeralddata.net  | www.emeralddata.net

LIVE LIFE ON YOUR TERMS AT BRANDON OAKS

Wouldn’t it be reassuring to know you would never have to move to another community – even if you were no longer able to live independently? Or that your living expenses would not increase if you needed a higher level of care? Such peace of mind is possible – at Brandon Oaks.

As a LifeCare retirement community, Brandon Oaks offers a full continuum of care. There are apartments and cottages for residents able to live independently, assisted living for those needing extra help with activities of daily living, as well as skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

“Our residents and their families enjoy tremendous peace of mind knowing their monthly fee will stay the same even if their needs change,” says Bonnie Allison, Director of Sales and Marketing.

People today are living longer. At Brandon Oaks, they’re also living better, with a wide array of services, amenities and activities to choose from, new friends to meet and new interests to share. The community even has its own full-time wellness director who teaches over 25 classes a week.

“People really blossom here,” Allison says. “It’s wonderful to see.”

3804 Brandon Avenue, S.W.  Roanoke, VA 24018
540-776-2600 | 
info@brandonoaks.net | 
www.brandonoaks.net

While looking for effective strategies to retain and reward the best employees, HR professionals are simultaneously challenged to offset inevitable increases in the cost of employee health benefits, comply with historic legislative changes such as PPACA and find the right mix of benefits options. “The issue has been escalating for more than three decades,” says Scott Hankins, president and CEO of ShawHankins, Inc., one of the leading employee benefits firms in the Southeast.
“Employers have adopted numerous strategies to control costs such as changing plan designs, shifting costs to employees, enhancing technology and better utilization management. These strategies have been helpful but cannot produce enough long-term improvements in the cost of employee health care and coverage.”

According to Hankins, a common-sense solution has been hiding in plain sight. “The industry has been slow to recognize the value of implementing a well-designed, comprehensive worksite wellness program. These programs address the underlying problem of employees’ and dependents’ poor health status. Worksite wellness programs provide a measurable return on investment that continues to be realized year after year.”

ShawHankins’ experience with over 400 clients in the region over several years confirms wellness programs definitely are bending the medical cost trends downward. A 700-employee public sector organization asked ShawHankins to analyze its health care program and learned that far too few employees underwent important screenings such as mammograms or PSA tests.

ShawHankins’ recommendation to start a wellness program led to a 10 percent reduction in claims and savings in overall employee health care costs of $800,000 on an eight million dollar budget in the first year. After the ShawHankins team oversaw the opening of a complete on-site wellness clinic the following year, the client continued to enjoy reductions in costs and no increase in liability.

“On-site health clinics are a platform for the wellness plans to create opportunities for savings with every visit and every prescription,” explains Hankins. “And as employees find it easier to be followed intensely by their healthcare professional team, they are more apt to identify early signs of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Early intervention is significant because in any given year the majority of high-cost medical claimants didn’t realize they had medical conditions the year before.”

770-382-0951
or 800-994-7429
shawhankins.com

ShawHankins is based in Cartersville, GA, and has offices in Albany, Cumming, Rome and St. Simons Island, GA, and Birmingham, AL.
For information please contact Kathryn Bryant, Business Development Director, at 678.535.6363 
or 800.994.7429.
ShawHankins, Inc. celebrates 50 years as a market leader in employee benefits

“LIKE BEING ON A STATIONARY CRUISE SHIP”

Interview with William “Bill” Shipley, resident of The Cypress of Charlotte. A former National Sales Manager for Procter & Gamble and former President of National Liberty Marketing and Board Member of National Liberty Corporation.

Q: How did you decide to move to The Cypress?

A: I like to study and understand innovative products and ideas – that’s what my business career has been all about. The Cypress concept is fascinating and the product has proven very successful in different locations.

Q: Did you do much research in making this lifestyle choice?

A: My wife and I visited several other possibilities, but The Cypress proved to be unsurpassed in its gracious campus lifestyle and, surprisingly, in the value here. And then, like I did at Procter & Gamble, we talked to The Cypress members. Not only were they more than pleased, most said they wished they had moved in sooner than they did.

Q: What’s different about The Cypress communities?

A: We own our home here and we have equity. The alternative is to pay an entry fee. I didn’t like that idea. The Cypress communities are all debt free, which is highly unusual for senior living communities, and the Club operates as a not-for-profit. The community finances are sound and we have a personal safety net with greatly reduced costs. In fact, my wife has needed to spend time in our on-site health center and our costs have been about half what we would pay if we weren’t here.

Q: How do you spend your time now?

A: The beauty of being at The Cypress is that the extensive services enable me to stay active. At 80, I am still busy with my marketing company and volunteer activities. I can simply call the Concierge with any maintenance, housekeeping or transportation requests and then forget about it. We can enjoy fine or casual dining in the Clubhouse or have meals delivered right to our home. It’s a wonderful life.

Q: How do you describe The Cypress to your friends?

A: It’s like being on a stationary luxury cruise ship with total peace of mind. We don’t worry about a thing.

The Cypress communities are perhaps the nation’s finest Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Located on beautiful campus settings, our communities offer a wide range of housing options and, most importantly, a comprehensive service package and on-site skilled nursing care for complete peace of mind for residents.

www.TheCypress.com
Managed by Life Care Services Corp.

LAKE PRINCE WOODS – A VERSATILE RETIREMENT EXPERIENCE
It’s time to redefine retirement living.

“Today’s boomers are more productive and healthier than previous generations,” explains Judy Raymond, executive director of Lake Prince Woods Retirement Community in Virginia’s historic Hampton Roads area. “They’re looking for a supportive community where they can enjoy more independence and less hassle.”

Retirees at Lake Prince Woods find many options to create their own retirement lifestyle. “It’s really no stretch to call Lake Prince Woods a ‘flexible’ retirement community,” says Raymond. “Not only can you embark on the life you desire, you also can craft just the right level and types of services you receive.”

Retirees select from a variety of distinctive homes, freestanding cottages, villa homes or apartments. Each includes must-have amenities: security and 24-hour emergency call system, grounds maintenance, use of the beautiful Anchorage community center, participation in all activities, and scheduled transportation. “Then each family can select additional services as desired,” explains Raymond. “For instance, you can let us do the cooking for you as often as you’d like, arrange for help with light or heavy housekeeping, use our laundry services, tap into our wellness program, and much more.

“The most important value we offer is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can age in place here,” says Raymond. “We are one of three continuing care retirement communities operated by United Church Homes and Services, a not-for-profit, church-affiliated provider of senior living opportunities.

“We offer residents priority access to assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation available on campus. Residents don’t have to worry about surprises or difficult decisions for their family.”

Making the move early to Lake Prince Woods is the best strategy, according to active, independent residents. “It’s better to be five years too early than five minutes too late,” Ray Hartless, a resident since 2005, says. “Moving here is the best gift you can give your children,” adds Bill Cloe, a resident since 2002.

100 Anna Goode Way
Suffolk, VA 23434 
757-923-5500 | 877-637-7940
www.lakeprincewoods.org
Owned and operated by 
United Church Homes and Services

Retirement Living in Southern Elegance

Retirement is an exciting, well-deserved time in your life. But for many seniors, it also comes with a lot of uncertainty. Have I saved enough money? What if I get sick? St. Catherine’s Village, a continuing-care retirement community just outside of Jackson, allows you to enjoy your retirement during the good times and promises you’ll be taken care of during the bad, says Marketing Director Jane Bell.

St. Catherine’s offers an all-inclusive continuum of care that focuses on wellness, yet also guarantees residents that, if their health needs change, temporary or long-term care will be provided for the rest of their lives. “Residents can easily transfer from independent living to assisted living or to our Alzheimer or nursing care units,” says Bell.

“Transferring within our community means your costs are predictable and you’ll have no unpleasant surprises, such as a waiting list, if you were to need to transfer to a different community due to changes in health.”

Five-Star Amenities
St. Catherine’s Village is designed for today’s active seniors. The 160-acre campus features a 15-acre stocked lake, walking trails, a putting green, a croquet court and community gardening space. There are also on-site banking and salon services, a fitness center, and an indoor, heated pool.

The community employs a full-time activities director who arranges guest speakers, activities, trips and other special events designed to provide mental stimulation, socialization and humor. “Our residents are engaged in life,” says Bell. “They’re energetic and determined to make the most of their retirement years. They help us create a warm and welcoming community where new residents can feel right at home.”

St. Catherine’s Village | 200 Dominican Drive | Madison, MS 39110
601-856-0123
www.stcatherinesvillage.com

“Living the Dream” in Retirement

“You feel like you’re on vacation, but you’re home.” That’s how Lynn, a lifelong traveler, described The Atrium at Serenity Pointe. The gated senior living community is Arkansas’ premier choice for world-class, resort-style living in gorgeous Hot Springs, recently named by the New York Times as one of the best small art towns in America. Where to Retire magazine recently named Hot Springs one of the nation’s top ten places to retire. Huffington Post’s Christine Buckley called the area “the most magical place in America.”

Built along the shores of beautiful Lake Hamilton, The Atrium is the ultimate retirement destination of seniors who are ready to savor life to its fullest. “This visually stunning community honors its residents by surrounding them with a qualified, compassionate staff and with every imaginable amenity,” explains Steve Levato, The Atrium’s Executive Director. “There is no other senior living community like it anywhere in the world.”

The Atrium offers seniors a wide range of residential options. Modern, gracious cottages dot the banks of the lake, each with private balconies and breathtaking views of the water. Cottages have two bedrooms, two baths, full kitchens and up to 1,074 square feet. And life doesn’t get any more carefree than apartment living in The Atrium: from efficient studios with kitchenettes to two-bedroom/two-bath apartments up to 1,290 square feet.

It’s really no stretch to call The Atrium a ‘designer’ retirement community. In addition to the incredible number of amenities all included with the monthly fee, residents can add or subtract services as needed, including 24-hour nursing. Unlike other retirement communities, you can access a higher level of care without the hassle of having to move to another building.

With no buy-in requirements, The Atrium is truly second to none in quality and care, and surprisingly affordable in price.

2803 Albert Pike Road | Hot Springs, AR 71913
877-528-7486 | 501-545-9324

www.theatrium.us

Gracious Retirement Living on a Grand Scale

It’s the retirement setting so many dream of: gently winding streets and walking trails on a lush 28-acre campus. Cocktails on the terrace. Exercise with a personal trainer. Exquisite dining. Activities for every interest. Everything a retiree could need or want.

Welcome to The Village at Germantown, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located just outside Memphis in the idyllic town of Germantown. Here in this calm, carefree oasis, residents are free to pursue their dreams, enhance their well-being and leave everyday concerns behind.

“Our residents can do it all here,” says Village Marketing Director Pam Leet. “Surrounded by a culture of wellness, they’re more apt to stay motivated and get the full benefit of our programs. Many say it reminds them of life on a cruise ship, but it’s also home.”

Abundant Living at Every Stage of Retirement
As a CCRC, the Village combines independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care. Thus, residents can “age in place” in their spacious apartments and luxurious, two-bedroom villas without ever having to move or worry about home maintenance or repair.

Opportunities for fun, friendship and fulfillment abound: a clubhouse, an on-site movie theater, a woodworking shop and a resident garden, just to name a few. With a wealth of programs and activities—along with a fully equipped fitness center and exercise classes designed by Methodist Healthcare—The Village aims to help residents stay fit, active and engaged for many years to come.

Healthcare Resources Are Second to None
The Village’s Skilled Nursing Center has become the short-term rehabilitation site of choice for many Germantown-area orthopedists, thanks to its private rooms and low staff-to-patient ratio.

“We have a team of qualified physical, occupational and speech therapists to assist those who need help with regaining mobility and relearning basic daily living skills interrupted by stroke, accidents, surgery or other conditions,” says Village Health Center Administrator Sally Ostheimer. “We’re proud that more than 80 percent of our short-term rehabilitation residents return 
to a higher level of mobility.
Our mission is to help retirees continue to age successfully.”

7820 Walking Horse Circle | Germantown, TN 38138 | 901-752-2500
www.village-germantown.com

“Every detail of our campus–underground parking, personal outdoor balcony or patio for every Independent Living residence, a new aquatics and wellness center, wonderful dining venues, a club room, and other beautifully appointed public spaces–has been designed with our residents’ tastes in mind.”

12000 Turnmeyer Drive | Hunstville, Alabama 35803
(256 )881-6717 | (866) 881-6717
www.redstonevillage.org

Today’s retirees aren’t willing to settle for traditional senior living, nor should they. They’re highly educated, world travelers and accustomed to the finer things in life. They expect their chosen address to reflect that. Danberry at Inverness understands and has set the bar for today’s more aptly named “lifestyle communities,” says Lori Krueger, Danberry Marketing Director.

Danberry at Inverness is a Daniel Corporation community, located just outside of Birmingham in Hoover, Ala. It’s a unique community that reflects a complete break from ordinary senior living, says Krueger. “We’re a full-service community with dozens of opportunities to stay active and engaged.” Danberry at Inverness offers a wide range of first-class amenities and services, including chef-prepared meals, an indoor saltwater swimming pool, exercise classes and state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a full-service spa, a pub, educational and cultural programs, concierge service and personal Town Car transportation.

Celebrating Life with Style
Danberry at Inverness offers the choice of cottage ownership or apartment rental for its independent living residents. Neither requires a large entrance fee up front, says Krueger.  “This is a significant benefit in an economy where people may be having trouble selling their previous homes,” she adds. Private assisted living suites are also available with the same level of exceptional design and natural flair, offering 24-hour nursing supervision.

The atrium lobby features a fireplace, waterfall, stained-glass windows and a European feel that is echoed throughout the community. “It sets the mood for a retirement lifestyle emphasizing natural beauty and personal fulfillment,” says Krueger. “Who wouldn’t want to enjoy every day as if you are on a vacation in a wonderful resort with everything?”

235 Inverness Center Drive
Hoover, AL 35242
205-443-9500
www.DanberryAtInverness.com

MAKING THE MOST OF
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Insurance Applications Group Gives Employers 
a Sensible Option

Nothing about health care reform is simple, straightforward or easy to understand. Consider a recent McKinsey & Co. survey of 1,300 diverse businesses across the country: As many as 30 percent indicated they will cease to offer major medical insurance to their employees beginning in 2014 as a result of the complex regulations and requirements of the Affordable Care Act. This number increases to more than 50 percent when the employer becomes more familiar with the full impact of the law.

The resulting lose-lose situation forces employers to either continue paying an average of $8,000 per full-time employee for coverage or a $2,000 penalty per employee if they choose to opt out. The latter choice may relieve employers of a major financial responsibility, but not the moral responsibility for the welfare of their employees.

Insurance Applications Group (IAG) provides a sensible compromise. IAG has considerable expertise in employer-sponsored benefits plans with over 3,000 corporate clients. “We have developed a defined contribution basic health care policy, Defined Contribution Advantage,” says J. Marshall Dye, president. “It’s a solution for employers who opt out of the complex health care reform regulations by choosing to pay the $2,000 per year penalty on each full-time employee, but still want to provide employees the needed first layer of health coverage not available from high-deductible State Exchange plans.”

For a total of $400 per month, per full-time employee ($4,800 per year, includes the cost of the opt-out penalty plus the Defined Contribution Advantage benefit bundle), employers can provide coverage that satisfies 85 percent of the average person’s annual medical expenses. Most importantly, the employer maintains the essential bond between themselves and their employees at a predictable cost.

IAG is based in Greenville, S.C., and has offices in Dallas, Charlotte and Jacksonville. Its clients are national companies that have large numbers of hourly-wage employees in need of consumer-oriented, affordable insurance products – as an employer-paid benefit or as a voluntary benefit paid by the employee through payroll deductions.
“We incorporate the proven best practices and principles of the insurance industry into innovative products and technologies for the future,” says Dye. “Our forward-thinking programs have improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of working people.”

Insurance Applications Group, LLC
250 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 107
Greenville, SC 29615
864-527-0474 | www.iagbenefits.com

O’Neal’s Business Savvy Takes the 
Guesswork Out of Capital Projects

Challenging industrial capital construction projects with complicated processes and intricate designs are the specialty of O’Neal, Inc. The integrated design and construction company’s multidisciplined team of creative professionals galvanize around complex projects for manufacturers in automotive, process chemical, pharmaceuticals and other industrial manufacturing sectors.

“Complex projects don’t intimidate us,” says O’Neal’s CEO, Kevin Bean. “Our comprehensive in-house staff of design and construction professionals, including process and manufacturing engineers with real-world experience in manufacturing, works collaboratively to solve problems and find opportunities for value engineering. Always foremost in our mind is the understanding that, at the end of the day, our clients must make products.”
Sensitivity to the practical business constraints of every project is an O’Neal trademark. For example, O’Neal removes unnecessary obstacles by aligning capital project plans with the business objectives and production requirements of its clients. “Business owners and managers often have few procurement options. We don’t force them to work according to our plan,” explains Bean. “We offer an adaptable approach and develop custom solutions for each of our clients.”

O’Neal’s business acumen provides clients with a high level of confidence when deciding whether or not to move forward with design and construction for a capital project. The O’Neal Pre-construction process results in a guaranteed cost and schedule for projects. O’Neal’s team has the experience, market intelligence and expertise to determine accurately the scope, cost and schedule of the project upfront, establish a plan that minimizes changes and unexpected costs, and assumes the cost and schedule risk once the project is funded.

For more than 35 years, some of the largest domestic and international manufacturers doing business throughout the U.S. have relied on O’Neal for complete services or a customized mix of services to meet their specific needs. The company also earned recognition being named an ENR Top 500 design firm, ABC of the Carolina’s General Contractor of the Year, and recently being named one of the Best Places to Work in South Carolina.
“O’Neal’s ability to adapt to owner demands and revised design criteria based on changing information was outstanding,” says Craig Burghardt, Project Director for UPM Raflatac Inc. “The design of the site and building was nearing completion when a major redesign was required. Instead of resisting the change, O’Neal rallied to the challenge and completed the design in a timely and professional manner.”

“When you are an employee-owned company, you have a different mindset,” concludes Bean. “We address the technical concerns that go into any successful capital project while at the same time always being mindful of our client’s core business.”

Atlanta, GA 404-230-9901
Greenville, SC 864-298-2000
Raleigh, NC 919-840-9500
www.onealinc.com

Inclinix and PMG Research Merger Enhances Clinical Trials by Introducing the Human Element

For new drugs and medical devices, the grueling road from the laboratory bench to the marketplace passes through the intensely personal setting of the physician’s office. “Before a new advance is approved, research moves from the lab to the clinic,” explains J. Tobin Geatz, President and CEO of Inclinix-PMG Holdings, Inc. “The doctor-subject relationship lies at the heart of every clinical trial. Practitioners must be confident they are offering appropriate alternatives to the current standards of care. Ultimately, the success of the study hinges on the number of properly-selected volunteers and the ability of the physician to follow FDA guidelines and to gather and report data.”

Inclinix-PMG Holdings has had a front row seat at thousands of these studies since 1979, when PMG Research was founded. PMG Research is a Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Integrated Site Network of 10 research hubs with over 30 clinic locations in the southeastern U.S. Inclinix is a Wilmington, N.C.-based clinical trial enrollment solutions provider serving pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech companies, CROs, and clinical sites to ensure they are able to enroll trials efficiently.

In June 2012, new ground was broken in the industry with the merger of Inclinix and PMG Research. “The merger allows us to develop enrollment solutions in a much more meaningful and practical way,” says Geatz. “Now, as we approach a new project, we come armed with the best practices PMG has developed through millions of volunteer encounters and hundreds of thousands of clinical trial participants. Our clients receive the enrollment support necessary for a successful clinical trial, developed by their peers – by sites, for sites.”

“As far as we know, we are the first patient recruitment company to merge with an Integrated Site Network,” says Geatz. “We believe it’s a much better business model and will likely be a trend in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the next decade.”

Inclinix-PMG Holdings CFO Jeff Reiniche explains the company’s strategy for growth: “We will continue to look for opportunities to integrate other solution providers that increase value to our customers and investors.”

Inclinix-PMG Holdings, Inc.
272 North Front Street, Suite 500 | Wilmington, NC 28401 | 888-898-7425
www.inclinix.com | www.pmg-research.com

Next-Level Finance and Operations 
for All Stages of Business

When FinOps Solutions, Inc. Founder and President Paul Boyer moved from Boston to Raleigh in 2008, he brought with him over 25 years’ experience fomenting and facilitating business success. He had served as CFO and/or COO of both public and private companies—from startup through IPO and beyond—with up to $700 million in revenues. He had engineered buy- and sell-side M&A transactions, leveraged debt and equity markets to raise hundreds of millions of dollars of funding, executed international expansion strategies, and helped struggling businesses reposition for growth.

It was this wide-ranging expertise and Boyer’s winning proposition—contract CFO/ COO, M&A, capital raise and turnaround management services delivering value at every business stage—that made FinOps Solutions a welcome addition to the Raleigh market. Since its North Carolina debut four years ago, FinOps Solutions has grown from 35 to 65 percent annually.

“We saw a tremendous need here for our unique expertise and skills,” Boyer says. “We bring practical, proven experience in scaling companies at the various stages of growth, all the way through liquidity events. This is what truly separates us.”

Critical Support From Startup to IPO
FinOps Solutions’ signature strengths are its long-range, wide-angle view of the unique challenges and opportunities a business will face at each stage of its growth cycle—inception, early development, expansion, M&A and IPO exit—and its ability to help companies in a broad array of industries (tech, life sciences, manufacturing, etc.) navigate these transitions.

“The way you must think about each new stage of your company, build a strategy around it and deploy your resources is completely different,” Boyer says. “Helping our clients solve these problems is the core of what we do.”

Embedded and Engaged to 
Ensure Success
According to Boyer, FinOps Solutions’ reputation for superior execution and results also stems from the quality and depth of the firm’s client engagements.
“We defy the classic perception of contract consultants as mere hired guns that come in, do some work and exit,” Boyer explains. “Our team spends a lot of time embedding ourselves with the companies we engage, becoming part of the management team. We put that much more effort, time and focus into ensuring we’re driving success in whatever we’ve been called to do.”

218 Waterville St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
435-901-2146
www.finopssolutions.com

CORNERSTONE WEALTH AND TAX ADVISORY GROUP INC.
Building Financial Foundations

A husband and wife in their 70s, overweighted in high-risk investments, turn to South Carolina-based Cornerstone Wealth and Tax Advisory Group for more age-appropriate financial management. Cornerstone transitions them to safer products, protecting the couple from devastating losses like those that affected so many others in 2008. Retiring from a hospital with a modest nest egg, a woman is concerned about having sufficient income. Cornerstone shows her how to combine Social Security with steady investment income, providing her more money in retirement than she was earning while working.

Building the financial foundation for a successful retirement has never been more complicated. The world economy is in turmoil, and what Congress will do in the future regarding tax rates and spending is anyone’s guess. Cornerstone Wealth and Tax Advisory Group (CSWTA) strives to help pre- and post-retirement clients protect and grow their assets, regardless of economic conditions. With a focus on comprehensive retirement planning, CSWTA takes into consideration asset accumulation, risk management, portfolio management, insurance and more.

“We help our clients plan for unforeseen expenses that might arise,” says Dave Armbruster, president of the firm’s financial division. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, CSWTA is an independent company, not beholden to a third party or tied to a specific product, and is free to make investment recommendations it believes to be in the best interest of its clients. The company represents more than 50 insurance carriers, dozens of mutual funds and other products, including some that are designed to provide a guaranteed fixed income.

“This is a one-stop shop,” says CEO Michael Haskett. “When clients walk in they don’t have to speak to different companies to get the best deal.” “We have already done the research,” adds Managing Partner Jonathan Booher.

As a result of its outstanding service, CSWTA enjoys exceptionally high client retention. Over the next five years the company plans to open additional offices nationwide. Due to this growth it will soon be seeking to hire additional financial professionals who are passionate about helping their clients succeed. The team agrees that one of Cornerstone’s unique qualities is its family-like atmosphere.

“When I started Cornerstone, my goal was to create an environment where family came first,” Haskett says. “My wife, Jen, and my kids, Max and Mary Tom, are the reason behind everything I do, and I wanted a chance for others to have the job that they wanted, without compromising their values or their family time. At Cornerstone, helping our clients is a priority, but we strive to do so in a way that creates a great family atmosphere where we work as a team and feel like family.”

866.262.2245 | www.cswta.com | 89B Old Trolley Road | Suite 200 | Summerville, SC 29485

At Palmetto Investment Consultants, RETIREMENT PLANNING STARTS WITH THE END IN MIND

Don’t expose clients to any more risk than necessary to achieve their goals.
That’s the guiding philosophy at Palmetto Investment Consultants, LLC, a full-service financial firm in Rock Hill, S.C. “We start every client relationship with the end in mind,” says John S. Sloop Jr., CFP®, MBA, President. “Every new relationship begins with an in-depth retirement and financial planning process to identify what the client wishes to accomplish – and any potential potholes along the way.”

From gaps in pension benefits for a surviving spouse to long-term care or outlasting one’s money, there are many things that can potentially derail a comfortable retirement, says John A. Black III, Chartered Financial Consultant™, Vice President. “These are often things the client doesn’t think about. But we do.”

It is only after this initial planning process has been completed and a solid foundation has been laid that the advisors start looking at possible investment solutions. Clients benefit from the firm’s robust trading platform that allows it to manage assets in a highly tactical manner.

INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL INVESTING FOR ‘MAIN STREET’ CLIENTS “We offer an institutional-level experience to our ‘Main Street’ clients, using a discretionary portfolio management system that incorporates both fundamental and technical-based research,” Sloop explains. “The fundamentals tell us what to own, and the technicals provide us conviction towards positioning clients more offensively or defensively at any given time. Clients benefit from our ability to change our models, and by extension, their account allocations, at a moment’s notice when our research indicates it is the prudent course.”

There is no charge for moving a client’s assets from one investment to another and hence no conflict of interest, he notes. Rather than transaction commissions, clients pay a quarterly advisory fee based on the size of their accounts. As clients entrust the firm with more of their retirement capital, their fees go down. In Sloop and Black’s experience, too often people define success based solely on achieving the highest possible returns, when what they should be focused on is achieving the necessary returns to attain their goals, taking only an advisable degree of risk, as determined during the initial planning process.

“In our opinion, clients would be better served by not comparing their returns to their neighbors’ or their co-workers’. Rather, they should concentrate on defining success as it applies to them; their end result is what matters,” Black says.

“Not having a financial plan is like going on a vacation without identifying the destination,” Sloop adds. “You’ll end up somewhere … you just might not like the clothes you packed when you arrive.”

362 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730 803-909-7000 phone | 803-909-7004 fax | 866-909-7001 toll free | www.palmettoinvestmentconsultants.com

Investment advisor representative offering securities and investment advisory services through Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC, Financial Network & Palmetto Investment Consultants, LLC are not affiliated.

REVOLUTIONIZING RETIREMENT PLAN ASSET MANAGEMENT
Novus Advisors Unleashes Novus Managed Allocation PortfoliosTM

Typically the wealthiest investors always seem to have an advantage. Their extensive assets give them access to the most exclusive products, asset managers, and expertise. Through its patent pending Novus Managed Allocation PortfoliosTM, Novus Advisors has broken down the traditional investment barriers to provide premier investment access to all retirement plan participants.

Developed and implemented by Novus Advisors in conjunction with TD Ameritrade Trust Company, these portfolios are completely unique in the retirement plan industry. Through a sophisticated daily unitization process, the Novus Managed Allocation PortfoliosTM make it possible for any plan participant to utilize cutting-edge investment options. “Nothing like this has ever been available,” says Emmet Martin, Principal of Novus Advisors. “We make it possible for plan participants to access the same high-powered resources currently utilized by large endowments and foundations; that’s truly revolutionary in the industry.”

A Registered Investment Advisor in South Carolina, Novus Advisors focuses on institutional asset management and portfolio construction for retirement plans. With $200 million under management, the firm’s three principals have more than 40 combined years of industry experience. “We have managed portfolios for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. We wanted to develop a process for retirement plan participants to have that same type of high-quality management,” says Christopher Connelly, Principal. These efficient portfolios are tactically managed and consist of a blended mix of exchange-traded funds and active institutional managers. This strategy provides for a powerful and cost-efficient product. Each portfolio is independently audited on a monthly basis, thus assuring investment policy compliance.

“Our focus has always been innovation,” says Jennifer Belshe, Principal. “As with any groundbreaking idea, there were those who believed it could not be done. TD Ameritrade saw the opportunity and partnered with us to make it happen.”

When the three principals talk about the Novus Managed Allocation PortfoliosTM, their passion is apparent. “We share a common goal and the same motivation,” says Martin. “We’ve all contributed our own unique and individual expertise into the development of this product; in the end that has made us successful. It’s exciting to be a part of something like this, and we’re glad it’s having a positive impact for our clients and their employees.”

877-661-9848 | www.novusadvs.com | 1627 East North Street, Suite 1 | Greenville, SC 29607

At Palmetto Investment Consultants, RETIREMENT PLANNING STARTS WITH THE END IN MIND

Don’t expose clients to any more risk than necessary to achieve their goals.
That’s the guiding philosophy at Palmetto Investment Consultants, LLC, a full-service financial firm in Rock Hill, S.C. “We start every client relationship with the end in mind,” says John S. Sloop Jr., CFP®, MBA, President. “Every new relationship begins with an in-depth retirement and financial planning process to identify what the client wishes to accomplish – and any potential potholes along the way.”

From gaps in pension benefits for a surviving spouse to long-term care or outlasting one’s money, there are many things that can potentially derail a comfortable retirement, says John A. Black III, Chartered Financial Consultant™, Vice President. “These are often things the client doesn’t think about. But we do.”

It is only after this initial planning process has been completed and a solid foundation has been laid that the advisors start looking at possible investment solutions. Clients benefit from the firm’s robust trading platform that allows it to manage assets in a highly tactical manner.

INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL INVESTING FOR ‘MAIN STREET’ CLIENTS “We offer an institutional-level experience to our ‘Main Street’ clients, using a discretionary portfolio management system that incorporates both fundamental and technical-based research,” Sloop explains. “The fundamentals tell us what to own, and the technicals provide us conviction towards positioning clients more offensively or defensively at any given time. Clients benefit from our ability to change our models, and by extension, their account allocations, at a moment’s notice when our research indicates it is the prudent course.”

There is no charge for moving a client’s assets from one investment to another and hence no conflict of interest, he notes. Rather than transaction commissions, clients pay a quarterly advisory fee based on the size of their accounts. As clients entrust the firm with more of their retirement capital, their fees go down. In Sloop and Black’s experience, too often people define success based solely on achieving the highest possible returns, when what they should be focused on is achieving the necessary returns to attain their goals, taking only an advisable degree of risk, as determined during the initial planning process.

“In our opinion, clients would be better served by not comparing their returns to their neighbors’ or their co-workers’. Rather, they should concentrate on defining success as it applies to them; their end result is what matters,” Black says.

“Not having a financial plan is like going on a vacation without identifying the destination,” Sloop adds. “You’ll end up somewhere … you just might not like the clothes you packed when you arrive.”

362 Oakland Ave., Rock Hill, SC 29730 803-909-7000 phone | 803-909-7004 fax | 866-909-7001 toll free | www.palmettoinvestmentconsultants.com

Investment advisor representative offering securities and investment advisory services through Financial Network Investment Corporation, member SIPC, Financial Network & Palmetto Investment Consultants, LLC are not affiliated.