Thats a Butler building.

Wide-open interiors and

beautiful exteriors.
Your local Butler Builder, ALEXANDER & BEB-
OUT, INC., can handle complex building require-
ments with all the efciencies and savings you expect
from a Butler building. Call us today.
www.butlermfg.com
1-855-BUILD-86
Thats a Butler building. Wide-open interiors and
beautiful exteriors.
Your local Butler Builder, ALEXANDER & BEB-
OUT, INC., can handle complex building require-
ments with all the efciencies and savings you expect
from a Butler building. Call us today.
www.butlermfg.com
1-855-BUILD-86
Thats a Butler building. Wide-open interiors and
beautiful exteriors.
Your local Butler Builder, ALEXANDER & BEB-
OUT, INC., can handle complex building require-
ments with all the efciencies and savings you expect
from a Butler building. Call us today.
www.butlermfg.com
1-855-BUILD-86
Alexander & Bebout, Inc.
Engineering Design Construction
10098 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, Ohio
419-238-9567
www.AlexanderBebout.com
Thats a Butler

building.
Wide-open interiors and
beautiful exteriors.
Your local Butler Builder

,
ALEXANDER & BEBOUT, INC.,
can handle complex building
requirements with all the
efficiencies and savings you expect
from a Butler building. Call us today.
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www. busi nessj rnl . com
BusinessJournal
OF WEST CENTRAL OHIO
THE
September 2014
The Regions Business Publication
INSIDE
IPB and Colliers International
complete sale ........................ P5
People on the Move ............. P6
By the Numbers ................ P 7-8
Jeffrey Gitomer column ...... P 10
Much More!
See PAULDING, page 2
A profle of Paulding County
BY ED GEBERT
Business Journal Writer
egebert@timesbulletin.com
PAULDING In northwest Ohio,
Paulding county boasts a population of
19,254 on just over 416 square miles. That
averages 47.1 persons per square mile. Of
that land, 87.8 percent is used as cropland
with another 7.6 percent in forest. Much of
the land was once a part of the Great Black
Swamp which covered most of northwest-
ern Ohio nearly two centuries ago.
The county seat is Paulding, with a pop-
ulation of 3,544. Also within the county is
the Village of Antwerp, with a population
1,712, and the Village of Payne with 1,172.
Smaller communities include Briceton,
Latty, Melrose, Haviland, Oakwood, Scott,
Broughton, Cecil, and Grover Hill.
The working population of Paulding
County is willing to drive a distance to
work. The mean driving time to work is
23 minutes. The total civilian work force
is around 9.500 with 500 unemployed for
a unemployment rate of 5.2 percent as of
July 2014.
There were 346 active businesses in
Paulding County, including 27 business
starts to last year. Major employers in the
county include Alex Products, Cooper
Farms, H.E. Orr Co., LaFarge, Paulding
County Hospital, Paudling Exempted Vil-
lage Schools, Spartech Corp., Tem-Pace/
Paragon Tempered Glass, and Wayne Trace
Local Schools. The state lists 105 good-
producing establishments in the county
with an average of 1,859 employees at an
average wage of $727 per week. Serving-
providing industries number 214 with em-
ployment averaging 1,762 workers at an
average wage of $491 per week.
Paulding County is also home to two
industrial wind farms. Timber Road Wind
Farm, owned by EDP Renewables, con-
tains 55 wind turbines which can produce
a total of 99 megawatts. The Blue Creek
Wind Farm, owned by Iberdrola Renew-
ables, is split between Paulding County
and Van Wert County with 175 total wind
turbines producing up to 350 megawatts
of power. In addition, a few private firms have
erected wind turbines to cut overall power costs.
Traditional farming is big business in Pauld-
ing County. Around 680 farms take about 22,878
acres with total cash receipts at $187.1 million, the
majority of those receipts (nearly $1.03 million)
Paulding County Courthouse
2 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
Paulding
Flags line the streets of Paulding.
Maumee River
Wind turbines on one of two wind farms located in Paulding
County.
L
O
G
A
N COU
N
T
Y
Successful businesses that
provide jobs, support families
and promote community partnerships.
INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL ROOFING
CottermanRoofng.com
Minster, Dayton & Columbus
(800) 713-3190
comes from raising crops. Another $84.2 million is collected for
lifestock and other ag products.
Paulding County was the first county in the United States
to receive funding from Andrew Carnegie to build a library.
Carnegie also matched funds to purchase a pipe organ in the
Paulding Methodist Church. The county has four buildings
listed on the National Register of Historic Places: The Pauld-
ing County Carnegie Library, the Paulding County Court-
house, the depot on the Norfolk and Western Railway in Ant-
werp, and a round barn on Emerald Township Rd. 168 northest
of Paulding.
School districts in Paulding County are Paulding Exempt-
ed Village Schools, Wayne Trace Local Schools, and Antwerp
Local Schools. A career-tech center, Vantage Career Center
also educates high school juniors and seniors and offers adult
education courses as well.
Throughout the county there are 10 public school buildings
in use with a total enrollment of 3,126 students and approxi-
mately 210 (full-time equivalent) teachers. There is one major
main library plus three library branches. Nearly 88 percent of
all county residents age 25 and older have a high school diplo-
ma. Another 12.5 percent have a Bachelors degree or higher.
There are 1,523 persons in the county who are U.S. veterans.
Housing is mostly stable in Paulding County. The home-
ownership rate is near 80 percent, compared to just 68 percent
across Ohio. Of the nearly 8,700 housing units in the county,
only 7.7 percent are in multi-unit structures. Almost 90 percent
of residents have lived in the same house for one year or more.
The median value of all housing units is $92,100. The median
household income is slightly over $44,000 annually, and 14
percent of the people live below the poverty line.
(Continued from Page 1)
September 2014 TheBusinessJournal 3
of West Central Ohio
Volume 23, No. 9
Contributing Writers
Jeffrey Gitomer
The Business Journal is mailed to the top
business leaders in the 13-county region
of West Central Ohio. Although information
is gathered from sources considered to be
reliable, the accuracy and completeness
of the information cannot be guaranteed.
Information expressed in The Business
Journal does not constitute a solicitation for
the purchase or sale of any products.
Copyright, The Business Journal of West
Central Ohio, 2006, All rights reserved.
Reproduction or use, without written permission
of editorial, photographic or other graphic con-
tent in any manner is prohibited. The Business
Journal is published monthly at 405 N. Main
St., Delphos, OH 45833
Contact Us
Cynthia Yahna 419-695-0015 ext. 129
cyahna @ delphosherald.com
Peter W. Ricker 419-695-0015 ext. 130
pwricker@delphosherald.com
Toll free 800-589-6950
Mail 405 N. Main St., Delphos, OH 45833-1598
For information concerning news,
advertising and subscription e-mail us at:
bizjrnl@delphosherald.com
www.businessjrnl.com
THE
Business
Journal
Survey helps manufacturers place workers according to skill level
BY STEPHANIE GROVES
Business Journal Writer
sgroves@delphosherald.com
In 2013, the West Central Ohio
Manufacturing Consortium (WCOMC) -
including Rhodes State College and the
Northwest Ohio Manufacturing Extension
Partnership - conducted a regional survey
of manufacturers, which gave a snapshot of
manufacturers skill and education require-
ments, skill gaps and hiring projections.
The survey included 52 companies rep-
resenting 56 facilities in 12 counties of West
Central Ohio. The manufacturers employ
over 18,000 and combine for $11 billion in
annual sales.
The survey identified detailed skill sets,
educational requirements and employ-
ment needs for replacement and incumbent
workers and consisted of 154 questions on
skills and education requirements that were
needed within the industry as it prepares a
competent workforce.
The 2013 Survey found problems at the
Basic skill level including the soft skills
of punctuality, completing tasks on time,
following directions and procedures and
internal written and verbal communica-
tions.
Problems in Computerized Numeric
Control (CNC) and Programable Logic
Control (PLC) interfacing and program-
ming; evaluating and managing personnel;
working with word processing, spreadsheet,
database software; team leadership; and the
facilitation of team meetings appeared in
the Intermediate skill level.
At the Advanced skill level, the survey
indicated issues with external verbal and
written communication; maintaining buget
control; performing cost-benefit analysis;
diagnosing malfunctions; troubleshooting
and repairing equipment; computer net-
working and programming.
Specific findings of the 2013 survey in-
cluded:
The percentage of Advanced skilled
workers increased from 17 percent in 2007
to 21 percent in 2013;
The percentage of Basic skilled work-
ers in the 2004 survey (50 percent) were
much lower than in 2007 (64 percent) and
2013 (63 percent); Average starting wage
at Basic skill level is $1 per hour higher than
in 2007, but the average wage declined from
2007 by 50 cents per hour;
Largest increase in number of skills
preferred or required were reported at
Basic level;
Percentage of manufacturers planning
to hire increased in all three skill levels and
the total number of projected hirings were
lower than in 2007, and;
Difficulty in finding Basic skilled
workers showed largest increase among
manufacturers surveyed; and
Percentage of interest in co-ops and in-
ternships doubled from 2007 survey.
The 2009 survey focused on developing
a skilled workforce specifically for process
operations.
In 2007, the survey indicated Basic, In-
termediate and Advanced skill levels were
trending and the challenge for manufactur-
ers was to continue promoting future work-
ers up a career pathway.
Survey results in 2004 showed that man-
ufacturers in the region needed to employ
workers with high-technology skills who
were able to work in an advanced manu-
facturing environment in order to compete
nationally and globally.
Connect Ohio report shows 31 percent of Ohio Internet users
apply for services or fill out forms at government websites
Submitted Information
COLUMBUS According to Connect
Ohios recently published report, Making
Government Accessible: e-Government
Usage in Ohio, nearly 3.6 million adults
(47% of adult Internet users in the state) go
online to do business with government of-
fices. More than one in three Ohio Internet
users (38%) go online to search for infor-
mation about govern-
ment services, while
31% use the Internet to
apply for government
services or fill out
forms at government
websites.
With a large
amount of government services quickly
transitioning to online formats, it is en-
couraging to see a growing number of
Ohio Internet users utilizing them, said
Stu Johnson, executive director of Con-
nect Ohio. Unfortunately many Ohioans
are excluded from these services due to
lack of available broadband services or ad-
equate digital skills, with concentration in
the most vulnerable populations that these
services are intended to serve. To keep pace
with the twenty-first century, it is important
to ensure that all Ohioans have the skills
and access to equipment in order to take
advantage of these services.
E-Government usage increases among
Internet users who are veterans (52%) and
adults with disabilities (51%). Altogether,
this represents approximately 385,000 vet-
erans across the state and nearly 630,000
Ohio adults with disabilities who rely on
the Internet to find information and inter-
act with the government agencies that help
them on a daily basis.
Online services will only help those
Ohioans who have the skills and capabili-
ties to access broadband, yet more than 1.2
million households in Ohio still do not sub-
scribe to home broadband. This will need
to increase as a growing number of govern-
Miller Precision
Mfg. Industries, Inc.
131 Progressive Dr. P.O. Box 489
Ottoville, Ohio 45876
CNC Precision Machining Small & Large Production Runs
Fixtures Special Machinery & Tooling
Secondary Machine Operations
Phone 419-453-3251 FAX 419-453-3030
www.millerprecision.com
See CONNECT, page 9
4 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
Information Submitted
PIQUA A former Chevrolet facility
has been purchased and is scheduled to
be transformed into the RUSO Business
Center. Local investors have purchased
the 10 acre site at Exit 83 in Piqua to cre-
ate a premier business park that will in-
clude a fully renovated 14,000 SF show-
room facility for offices or retail as well
as a 36,000 SF industrial facility that will
accommodate automotive, trucking and
light industrial.
Thom Baker and his sons Adam and
Matthew Baker of ATM Investments, LLC
purchased the property. Thom Baker is a lo-
cal entrepreneur who has operated Wappoo
Wood Products in Sidney for over 34 years.
This location at 8654 N. County Road 25A
is adjacent to I-75; this along with the nu-
merous amenities the facility has to offer is
what convinced Baker to acquire the for-
mer dealership. He felt this was the right
time to invest in the local economy. This
is a chance to help attract employment to
the area and we felt this was great location
to do that, added Baker.
Tim Echemann of Industrial Prop-
erty Brokers represented the seller in this
transaction and will continue to market
the property for lease. Piqua is fortunate
to have local entrepreneurs that are will-
ing to take the risk to purchase vacant
facilities and turn them back into income
producing properties. We have a high lev-
el of interest in leasing the property now
that a new owner is in place, commented
Echemann.
Industrial Property Brokers is a pre-
mier full service real estate company of-
fering sales, leasing, investment analysis,
tenant representation, and property man-
agement throughout Western Ohio and
Eastern Indiana. The company is located
at 213 N. Ohio Ave., Sidney, Ohio. For
more information visit www.industrial-
property.biz or call 937-492-4423.
Investor purchases 55,000 square-foot Piqua business center
7 cardinal rules to retirement planning
Financial Planner says Independent & Credentialed Advisors may better tailor individual portfolios
Information Submitted
An onslaught of retiring baby boomers; the uncertain du-
ration of Social Security funding; difficulty with workplace
retirement accounts like 401(k)s even if these factors were
stronger than they are now, youd still have a heavy burden
in managing your finances during retirement, says financial
planner Carl Edwards.
Financial planning for retirement has always been a
daunting prospect; the current landscape simply makes your
preparation that much more crucial in using your assets
well, says Edwards, a highly credentialed consultant and
owner of C.E. Wealth Group, (http://www.cewealth.com).
Many advisors and clients rely too much on single prod-
uct lines. This misuse often gives products and the financial
industry in general a bad name. Advisors who are restricted
in the types of financial products they can offer or under-
stand may not provide the best advice. Independent and cre-
dentialed planners, on the other hand, dont have their hands
tied in what they can offer clients and may provide better
advice.
Edwards reviews seven essential points that everyone
should know regarding retirement planning.
Avoid trying to time the market. Markets often move in
cycles and some investors believe that they can boost their
investment returns by buying at the bottom and selling at the
top. The problem is that investors are terrible at correctly
predicting market movements and multiple studies have
shown that market timers usually end up with significant-
ly smaller retirement savings than buy-and-hold investors.
While it can be stressful to see your portfolio plummet dur-
ing a market correction, its important to stay calm and focus
on your long-term strategy.
Use risk-appropriate financial vehicles. Retiring can be
a risky business. The days of relying on employer-provided
pension plans are largely over and retirees now have to deal
with risks including investment, inflation, healthcare, lon-
gevity and others. Though the total elimination of risk isnt
possible, we can manage many of them through competent
retirement planning and a clear understanding of factors like
your goals, time horizon and financial circumstances.
Invest in the most tax-efficient manner. Taxes can take
a big bite out of investment returns, which is why we stress
tax-efficient planning with our clients. While taxes are just
one piece of the overall financial puzzle, its important to
structure your investments so that you are able to keep what
you earn.
Complete a cash flow analysis. Retirement will involve
major changes to your finances. Sources and timing of in-
come will change and financial priorities may shift as you
start generating income from retirement savings. A cash flow
analysis will identify spending patterns and help ensure that
you have enough income to support your retirement lifestyle.
Guarantee your required income. For many retirees,
having income that is not subject to market fluctuations is
an important part of their retirement plan. Many will have at
least some level of guaranteed income from Social Security
or defined benefit pension plans. However, if you are wor-
ried that your expenses exceed your guaranteed income, a
financial advisor can help you explore options for additional
streams of income for life. Guarantees are subject to the pay-
ing ability of the income provider.
Utilize longevity planning. Todays retirees are liv-
ing longer than ever and many worry about outliving their
assets. Longevity planning is about preparing for a happy,
comfortable and independent retirement and can help ensure
that your wealth lasts as long as you need it to.
Consider the effects of inflation. Inflation is one of the
biggest issues facing retirees because they are dispropor-
tionately affected by rising prices. Escalating food, fuel and
medical costs can devastate a retirement portfolio unless
these costs have been factored into your planning. Position-
ing your retirement portfolio to fight inflation is critical to
ensuring adequate income in retirement.
(Carl Edwards, MBA, ChFC, is a Chartered Financial
Consultant and is the owner of C.E. Wealth Group, (http://
www.cewealth.com). He has passed the Series 7, Series 66 and
Series 63 securities industry exams. In addition, he has passed
the Series 24 principal exam. He represents High Street Asset
Management as an Investment Adviser Representative and Cal-
ton & Associates, Inc. as a Registered Representative. Edwards
is also a licensed insurance agent in Life, Health, Medicare Sup-
plement and Long Term Care insurances.)
September 2014 TheBusinessJournal 5
Industrial Property Brokers and Colliers International
complete sale for $10 million in Fostoria
Information Submitted
Fostoria, Ohio Industrial Prop-
erty Brokers and Colliers International
in Greater Cincinnati are pleased to an-
nounce the completed sale of an industrial
warehouse at 130 W. Jones Road in Fos-
toria, Ohio, for $10 million.
The 588,000-square-foot industrial
property was sold by Herb Krumsick to an
undisclosed buyer. Tim Echemann, SIOR,
CCIM, President of Industrial Property
Brokers and Norm Khoury, CCIM, SIOR,
Brokerage Senior Vice President with
Colliers International in Greater Cincin-
nati, represented the seller in the transac-
tion. We have seen an uptick in industrial
activity in areas surrounding Fostoria,
said Echemann. This is the first large
property sale the community has seen in
sometime. Its a positive sign for more
transactions to move forward.
The 558,000-square-foot warehouse
property sits on 12.625 acres and was
almost full leased at the time of the sale
by a variety of tenants. Krumsick is one
of the top investment brokers in the U.S.
and has been in real estate investment for
45 years. He and his other principal part-
ners, Dan Carney, the founder of Pizza
Hut, and Ken Wagnon, who owns Capi-
tal Enterprises (150 Pizza Huts, Freddys
Steakburgers and other restaurants con-
cepts), bought the building when it was
vacant. The investors quickly rehabbed
the building; painted it, laid new asphalt
in the parking lots, replaced damaged
sheet insulation, fixed and installed T5
lighting and completed other general
property maintenance. About six months
after they purchased the facility, the en-
tire building was leased to Ohio Logistics
and H.J. Heinz. During the down turn in
the economy a few years ago, there was
a significant amount of vacancy in the
building. Today the property is 95% oc-
cupied. This has been a good invest-
ment for us. We are very pleased that we
were able to turn it around and fully lease
the facility and eventually sell it, stated
Krumsick.
Krumsick added, We also owned the
488,000 square foot. warehouse located at
110 E. Jones which we purchased at about
the same time. We rehabbed that building
and leased it to Arm & Hammer. We sold
that building last year to an investment
group that is Boston based.
Khoury added that its great to see
tertiary cities along the I-75 Corridor, like
Fostoria, making strides in commercial
real estate. Khoury and Echemann have
worked together for more than 20 years in
the Industrial/Commercial real estate in-
dustry, specifically in the marketing of in-
dustrial properties along the I-75 corridor.
The Business Journal of West Central Ohio
Distributed in 13 counties...
ALLEN, AUGLAIZE, DEFIANCE, HANCOCK, HARDIN, HENRY. LOGAN,
MERCER, PAULDING, PUTNAM, SHELBY, VAN WERT, WOOD
N.W. Ohio with dependable plumbing and heating services.
Our Commercial Services include:
Service Agreements
Mechanical Contracting
All plumbing, heating & cooling needs
New installation & remodeling
BID/specification services
Design/build services
Licensed & bonded in the state of Ohio for
Plumbing, HVAC, Hydronics & Refrigeration
Certified by the State of Ohio for Boiler
Installation & Repair
Licensed by the State of Ohio for
Backflow Certification & Repair
For the past 29 years, Ayers Mechanical Group has provided
N.W. Ohio with dependable plumbing and heating services.
419-238-5480
6 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
The Business Journal of West Central Ohio available online.
Conley joins Dickman Supply as Branch Manager
Information Submitted
Industrial and Electrical supplier Dick-
man Supply is bringing additional experi-
ence to its Marysville store with the recent
addition of Bill Conley. Conley has taken
on the role of Branch Manager and brings
18 years of experience in electrical distribu-
tion with him. Bill is a 1998 graduate of The
Ohio State University, beginning in the elec-
trical distribution industry as an intern while
at Ohio St.
Many area businesses will recognize
Conley from his most recent position as an
agent with Concept Sales, where he repre-
sented 12 of the industrys top manufacturers
in the greater Columbus area.
According to Dickman Vice-President,
Chris Geise, We are excited to have Bill
joining our Marysville team. His knowledge
and experience in the market will enhance
the support we provide to customers at our
newest location as we continue to grow in
the Marysville area.
Dickman Supply, which opened in
Marysville in October of 2013 at 548 N Main
Street, is one of the largest independently-
owned and operated electrical and indus-
trial suppliers in the state of Ohio, serving
contractors, commercial, and industrial
companies in West and Central Ohio and
also Eastern Indiana from their locations in
Sidney, Greenville, Celina, and Marysville.
Ruse named honorary chairman
of FindlayHancock County
Chamber Golf tournament
937.498.2381 www.ferguson-construction.com
Building our Region
for over 90 Years
i ndustri al
i nsti tuti onal
heal thcare
commerci al
speci al proj ects
Information Submitted
FINDLAY - The FindlayHancock
County Chamber of Commerce has invited
Bill Ruse, president and CEO of Strategy
and Solutions, LLC, to be recognized as the
honorary chairman at this years Chamber
Golf Tournament on September 8, at the
Findlay Country Club. Ruse was selected for
his commitment and dedication not only lo-
cally but abroad most notably from his work
at the Blanchard Valley Health System, for-
mer Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
in 2000 and 1993, and his leadership through
the Findlay Rotary Club.
Bill retired from Blanchard Valley in
2001 after serving as its President and CEO
for 36 years. In recognition of his years of
leadership, Blanchard Valley named its new
65,000 square foot building on its Findlay
hospital campus the William E. Ruse Cen-
ter. A Rotarian since 1983 and a member
of the Findlay Rotary Club, Bill has served
as the Clubs President and chaired the Past
Presidents Committee. In addition, hes
served as an Assistant Governor of Rotary
International, and became the Governor of
Rotarys District 6600, overseeing 67 clubs,
for the 2003/2004 Rotary year. He has been
active in many national, state and commu-
nity organizations including the Findlay
Hancock County Chamber of Commerce,
United Way of Hancock County, Salvation
Army of Findlay, Red Cross of Hancock
County, Hancock County Safety Council,
Findlay Development LLC, and The Uni-
versity of Findlay.
Bill always has been and continues to be
actively involved in the local business com-
munity not to mention his global humanitar-
ian outreach through Rotary, said Dionne
Neubauer, Director, FindlayHancock Coun-
ty Chamber of Commerce. As a visionary
and great leader, it is with great pleasure that
we honor him at the Chamber Tournament.
A division of the Findlay-Hancock
County Alliance, the proceeds from the golf
tournament will go toward the overall mis-
sion of the organization to drive growth and
prosperity in the Findlay/Hancock County
region by providing resources to local small-
to-large businesses, and improve economic
opportunities for all. Registration deadline
is August 29. For more information on the
outing, contact the Chamber of Commerce
at 419-422-3313, or visit FindlayHancock-
Chamber.com.
(The FindlayHancock County Alliance
is a partnership bringing growth and pros-
perity to the Findlay/Hancock County com-
munity. Through a strong economic develop-
ment focus, leadership programs, business
building initiatives and volunteer opportuni-
ties, the Alliance helps position its communi-
ty among the best micropolitan communities
in the United States. The Alliance is a blend
of the areas best resources including the
FindlayHancock County Chamber of Com-
merce, Findlay-Hancock County Economic
Development and the Hancock County Con-
vention & Visitors Bureau.)
NEW MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES
DESIGNED TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS!
www.businessjrnl.com
BusinessJournal OF WEST CENTRAL OHIO
available
online
COMBINE YOUR
PRINT ADVERTISING
WITH ON-LINE STRATEGIES
AND SAVE $
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CALL
1-800-589-6950 Ext. 131
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happy to help you with all
your advertising needs.
September 2014 TheBusinessJournal 7
By the Numbers
Most and Least Recession-recovered Cities
Information Submitted
by WalletHub.com
Since 2008, 13 municipalities have filed
for bankruptcy. With Detroits bankruptcy
trial approaching, and many other cities still
struggling to recover from the Great Reces-
sion, the leading personal finance social
network WalletHub crunched the numbers
to identify 2014s Most & Least Recession-
Recovered Cities.
To evaluate the progress of local cities
in propelling their economic growth, Walle-
tHub compared the 150 largest U.S. cities
to identify those that have experienced the
most and least improvement since the reces-
sion. Using 18 key metrics from the inflow
of college-educated workers and number of
new businesses to unemployment rates and
home price appreciation we examined
how each city has evolved economically in
the past several years. By doing so, Walle-
tHub can help consumers assess how their
present financial situations might be affected
by the economic health of their cities.
Key Stats:
- Mobile, Ala., experienced the largest in-
crease in its unemployment rate, at 4%. To-
ledo, Ohio experienced the largest decrease,
at 1%.
- Cape Coral, Fla., experienced the larg-
est increase in its poverty rate, at 8%. El
Paso, Texas, experienced the largest de-
crease, at 5%.
- New Orleans registered the highest
home price appreciation, at 64%. Detroit reg-
istered the highest home price depreciation,
with a loss of 65%.
- Raleigh, N. C. experienced the highest
population growth rate, at 21%. Detroit expe-
rienced the highest decline, at 16%.
- Orlando, Fla., experienced the largest
decrease in its violent crime rate, at 1%.
Springfield, Mo., experienced the largest in-
Lowest Home Price
Appreciation
113. Newark, New Jersey
114. North LasVegas, Nevada
115. San Bernardino, California
116. Stockton, California
117. Detroit, Michigan
Smallest Decrease in
Poverty Rate
146. Ontario, California
T-147. Detroit, Michigan
T-147. San Bernardino, California
149. Tallahassee, Florida
150. Cape Coral, Florida
Smallest Decrease in the Ratio
of Part-Time to Full-Time Jobs
146. Huntsville, Alabama
147. Hialeah, Florida
148. Tallahassee, Florida
149. San Bernardino, California
150. Newark, New Jersey
Smallest Decrease in
Unemployment Rate
146. Reno, Nevada
T-147. Las Vegas, Nevada
T-147. Henderson, Nevada
T-147. Las Vegas, Nevada
150. Mobile, Alabama

Smallest Decrease in
Violent Crime Rate
137. Yonkers, New York
138. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
139. Newark, New Jersey
140. Aurora, Illinois
141. Springfield, Missouri
Highest Home Price
Appreciation
1. New Orleans, Louisiana
2. Louisville, Kentucky
3. Birmingham, Alabama
4. Washington, District of Columbia
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Largest Decrease in
Poverty Rate
1. El Paso, Texas
2. Brownsville, Texas
3. Shreveport, Louisiana
4. Baton Route, Louisiana
5. Corpus Christi, Texas
Largest Decrease in the Ratio
of Part-Time to Full-Time Jobs
1. Fayetteville, North Carolina
2. Port St. Lucie, Florida
3. Knoxville, Tennessee
4. Ontario, California
5. Irving, Texas
Largest Decrease in
Unemployment Rate
1. Toledo, Ohio
2. Grand Rapids, Michigan
T-3. Cleveland, Ohio
T-3. Akron, Ohio
T-5. Minneapolis, Minnesota
T-5. St. Paul, Minnesota
Largest Decrease in
Violent Crime Rate
1. Orlando, Florida
2. St. Petersburg, Florida
3. Miami, Florida
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Las Vegas, Nevada
Ohio county-by-county
unemployment,
July 2014
July July July
2014 2013 2009
Allen 6.1 8.2 11.7
Auglaize 4.1 5.4 11.6
Defiance 5.8 7.7 15.4
Hancock 4.8 6.3 10.8
Hardin 6.0 8.2 13.1
Henry 5.3 7.7 14.1
Logan 4.9 6.5 12.5
Mercer 3.3 4.6 9.4
Paulding 5.2 7.1 14.5
Putnam 5.0 6.3 9.7
Shelby 4.9 6.4 13.9
Van Wert 5.3 7.1 15.4
Wood 5.6 7.6 12.8
Ohio Home Sales - June 2014
Ohio Association of REALTORS
Ohio Existing Home Sales*
June 2014
Sales Activity
Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally
Year Month Annual Rate Adjusted
2013 Jun 132,338 13,007 $161,846
2013 Jul 134,820 13,339 $156,738
2013 Aug 136,941 13,527 $149,963
2013 Sep 134,032 11,257 $140,986
2013 Oct. 130,733 11,066 $137,039
2013 Nov. 129,348 9,507 $136,468
2013 Dec. 125,795 9,308 $139,805
2014 Jan. 115,182 6,972 $127,327
2014 Feb. 117,601 7,042 $130,082
2014 Mar. 114,915 8,956 $135,730
2014 Apr. 119,227 10,538 $144,734
2014 May 126,564 12,406 $152,612
2014 Jun 132,464 13,334 $163,711
% change last month: 4.7% 7.5%
% change last year: 0.1% 2.5% 1.2%

Year-end
2012 112,449 $135,042
2013 129,108 $142,004
2014 p 121,320 na
Average Sale Price
Not Seasonally
Adjusted
8 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
By the Numbers
Job Openings and Labor Turnover
Information Submitted by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
in August that 209,000 jobs were added to the
economy in July and although the unemployment
rate ticked up slightly to 6.2 percent, it does mark
the sixth straight month of 200,000+ gains, the
longest such streak since 1997. With job prospects
on the rise, the report also showed that 329,000
people re-entered the job market last month, the
6th increase in the last 7 months.
But its not just the unemployed who are look-
ing for jobs so companies must be prepared for a
star employee unexpectedly quitting. Recent re-
search suggests the possibility of this happening
is rising: The number of workers who voluntarily
quit jobs is at its highest level in six years, accord-
ing to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover
Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Percent Percent
3.0
3.4
3.2
3.0
2.8
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
4.5
3.5
3.5
3.4
3.2
3.3
2.8
2.5
24
2.2
2.0
Secretary of State Husted Releases New Business Filing Figures for July 2014
One out of every three new companies in Ohio now started online, up from one in five
Information Submitted by
Ohio Secretary of State Office
COLUMBUS Secretary of State Jon Husted today
announced that 6,922 new entities filed to do business in
Ohio in July 2014. These numbers are down compared
to July 2013, in which 7,311 new entities filed with the
Secretary of State. The Secretary of States office has as-
sisted with 56,176 new business filings to date in 2014
(January-July). This is an increase from the same time
period last year, in which there were 55,229 new business
filings.
During the previous two years, 2012 and 2013, the state
saw a record-setting number of new businesses file with
88,068 and 89,735 new companies filing to do business in
Ohio respectively. Growth in online business filings has
been steady and available online services continue to be
expanded. Since the programs launch in October 2013,
more than 20,500 filings have been submitted and one in
three new companies are now started online in Ohio.
(New business filings are classified as forms filed with
the Ohio Secretary of State that declare the formation of
a business entity, including for-profit, non-profit and pro-
fessional corporations, limited liability companies, part-
nerships, limited partnerships and limited liability part-
nerships. Filing as a business in Ohio does not guarantee
the company will begin operations, be profitable or create
jobs.)
Dissolutions/Surrenders
Total NewCorp Filings
960 765 686 689 579
9,271 7,660 7,820 6,922 8,570 7,780 7,753
529 618
July June Apr. May Mar. Feb. Jan. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
September 2014 TheBusinessJournal 9
3 proven management techniques that work in any business
Identify the influencers on your front lines, CEO advises
419-224-6980
visit us at www.tjpaintingandrepair.com
Full Service
Painting Contractor
AND REPAIR CO.
COMMERCIAL
INSTITUTIONAL
INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL
Information Submitted
In business, the only thing that mat-
ters is what works, says Peder Johnsen, a
third-generation specialist in senior liv-
ing communities.
The people in your company who are
dealing with your customers the clerks,
the caregivers, the customer service reps
are where the rubber meets the road,
says Johnsen, CEO of Concordis Senior
Living, www.concordisseniorliving.
com, which owns, operates and develops
senior housing communities.
Thats why its essential for the com-
pany leaders, the men and women in the
offices that are often far from the front
lines, to be where the action is on a regu-
lar basis, he says.
Concordis specialties include man-
aging senior-living communities for oth-
er owners and developers, an art it has
perfected, Johnsen says.
We developed certain practices
over the decades, first by building as-
sisted-living communities and then by
operating them, he says. These prac-
tices work in any business because they
keep the leadership actively involved in
whats going well and not on the front
lines, and provides a system for regular
communication through all layers of the
company.
Johnsen offers these tips for manage-
ment that produces excellent results:
Identify the influencers in each
work group. As with most business-
es, senior living communities require
teams of staff, from administrators to
housekeepers and everyone in be-
tween. Within the various groups that
make up your business, identify the key
players the people who influence oth-
ers behavior, whether or not they hold
a title or official authority. Meet with
them on a regular basis so you can stay
plugged in to whats happening on the
front lines.
Identify areas that need improve-
ment. Talk to them about systems and
areas that need to be fixed, overhauled
or eliminated, and about how team mem-
bers are working together. Theyll often
have ideas for innovations. The idea is
not to look for people or problems to
blame, but to work together to develop
solutions and improve the teams overall
efforts.
The information you get in speak-
ing with these key players is invaluable,
Johnsen says. There may be nothing at
all wrong, which is great, but these meet-
ings give you, the CEO or manager, the
information you need to constantly im-
prove. It also reinforces the message to
employees that they and their ideas are
valued members of the team.
Figure out those wildly important
goals. You can have the best people in
the field working for you, yet if theyre
not specifically guided to a certain goal,
they are putting their time and effort to-
ward an end that theyre assuming is cor-
rect. CEOs and other upper-level man-
agers have the 30,000-foot view, so its
up to them to guide everyone beneath
them.
Short-term priorities may change
slightly or drastically on a regular ba-
sis, Johnsen says. Your team may be
self-sufficient, but their vision is limited
to their daily duties. If they dont know
that a goal or objective has changed, they
cant work toward it.
(Peder Johnsen is the CEO of Con-
cordis Senior Living, www.concordis-
seniorliving.com, which owns, operates
and develops senior housing communi-
ties. Hes a third-generation assisted-
living specialist whose grandfather and
father built one of the first contempo-
rary-style ALFs in Florida more than
30 years ago. Johnsen took over admin-
istration of two small facilities at age
18. Today, he runs the full spectrum of
ALFs from ALF lites, where most
residents live very independent lifestyles
but know assisted-living services are
available if they should need them, to
homes specializing in care for residents
with Alzheimers and dementia. He is an
industry leader in staff development and
training, and has overseen the develop-
ment, acquisition and financing of sev-
eral communities.)
Serving the Corporate
and Personal Community
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Living the Rotary motto:
Service above self
Life Home Auto Business Income
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Harrington Agency, Inc.
Insurance Since 1838
513-793-1190 FAX: 513-793-5730 Cell: 513-479-1193
Direct Line: 513-619-4621
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Jane Birckhead, CPCU
Executive Vice President
Trustee - Stepping Stones Center
Life Home Auto Business Income
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Harrington Agency, Inc.
Insurance Since 1838
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FAX: 513-795-5730 Cell: 513-479-1193
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Serving the Corporate
and Personal Community
For Over 30 Years
Living the Rotary motto:
Service above self
ment services are becoming acces-
sible primarily (or solely) online.
Ohio ranked 23rd on its e-Govern-
ment offerings (2008 Brookings
Institute report), suggesting that the
state has room for improvement in
its online offerings.
Additional key findings from
this report include:
Over one-half of adult Ohio
Internet users who have attended or
graduated college (54%) say they
go online to access e-Government
applications, compared to only 34%
of those with no college education.
Over one-half who report an-
nual household incomes of $50,000
or more say they access e-Govern-
ment services, which is higher than
all other state income groups.
Younger Internet users in Ohio
(50% of 18-34 year olds) are more
likely than their older peers (46%
of ages 35 or older) to go online to
search for information, apply for
services, or fill out forms.
Across the state, more than
1.2 million households still do not
subscribe to home broadband ser-
vice, one in eight cite lack of digi-
tal skills as leading barrier to home
broadband subscription.
Connect Ohio revealed its latest
research paper during the state Tech-
nology Association Meeting on July
25 in Columbus. The meeting focused
on discussions around e-Government
services from industry professionals
from OhioMeansJobs, Ohio Business
Gateway, and Ohio Benefits. (View
the meeting presentation here)
Connect
Full Payroll Service:
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Quarterly Payroll Reports Year End Reconciliation W2s & 1099s
Eric M. Macwhinney, President
207 N. Main St. Delphos
419-227-9040 419-695-9040
www.psi-payroll.com
(Continued from Page 3)
10 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
Im all Apple all the time. Since 1984.
So far, Apple and Steve Jobs have
changed the way computers run, revolution-
ized the mobile phone, and revolutionized
the way music is distributed to a point that
all retailers, distributors, manufacturers, pro-
ducers, music groups, and recording artists
are totally dependent on Apple for a sizeable
share of their revenue.
The iPod, and all versions of their music
players, phones, laptops, and anything that
plays music uses iTunes as a playing medi-
um AND a purchasing medium. WOW.
Oh, there are still DVDs and other forms
of distribution, but Apple rules. And Apple
makes the rules. They have completely
changed the game and the process. The
world, accepted it, bought it by the billions,
and LOVES it.
Their iPod competition has utterly failed.
Got Zune? Not only was it a
billion dollar failure, it was a
joke. The iPhone started another
revolution. And thats a story for
another day.
Today is iPad day. Or should
I say book replacement day.
The iPad is so revolutionary
that no one even saw it com-
ing. They didnt know what
to do with it or could have
predicted the changes it would
inspire.
Capitalizing on the grow-
ing demand for e-books, the
exploding app market, e-reader
popularity, and the global appe-
tite for cool products, Apple went to market
having no idea what an explosion of creativ-
ity they were unleashing.
Remember this ditty? No more home-
work, no more books, no more teachers
dirty looks!
Well, some of it is about to come true.
The homework will still be there, the teach-
ers will still be there, their dirty looks will
(unfortunately) still be there, but the books
are fading fast.
Remember your first day of school ev-
ery year? Issuing books was a major part
of the day. Signing for them, writing your
name and grade in them, putting
them in your book bag, and then
dragging them back and forth
to class, to home, and back to
school all year. (Not to mention
losing them and dropping them
in a puddle of water.)
Well, those days arent com-
pletely over yet, but the iPad
is beginning to idle printing
presses globally. And soon, like
the Yellow Pages, newspapers,
and magazines, the majority of
printed media will only be avail-
able online as a download or
from some ASP.
REALITY: Everyone on the
planet is looking for ways to improve edu-
cation. The iPad will lead the revolution. It
will provide 21st century learning and make
it FUN (and might even eliminate some of
the teachers dirty looks).
What kid wants eight textbooks when
they could have an iPad? NOBODY ON
THE PLANET. Less money, no hassle,
completely searchable, underline-able, note-
take-able, and FUN.
Our three-year old daughter Gabrielle
dominates one of our iPads. She
Jeffrey Gitomer
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Business Journal of WC Ohio




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with your employee benefit program!
See GITOMER, page 12
September 2014 TheBusinessJournal 11
5 essential building blocks for
a thriving work culture
Its all premised on having the right players, says Coolest Young Entrepreneur
We take care of making sure
the lighting and equipment is powered up...
...So you can take care of the medical crisis at hand!
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Information Submitted
What makes a successful business thrive?
Thats what eight out of 10 new entrepreneurs
would like to know, because their businesses
fail within the first 18 months, according to
Bloomberg.
Adam Witty has managed to turn plenty of
heads in the business community as founder
and CEO of Advantage Media Group, (http://
advantagefamily.com/), an international pub-
lisher of business, self-improvement, and
professional development books and online
learning.
Witty, who was selected for INC Maga-
zines 30 Under 30 list of Americas coolest
young entrepreneurs in 2011, says creating
the right environment is crucial for success.
The magazine also featured his company in
their top 500|5000 list of the Fastest Growing
Private Companies in America for 2012 and
2013, when the company ranked No. 42 in
Media and No. 36 for Top 100 South Carolina
Companies.
You dont have to be a business guru to
recognize when a business is firing on all cyl-
inders, that everyone is putting their skills to
maximum use, working together, and actually
having a good time. How to create that chem-
istry thats the question, says Witty, the au-
thor of five books and an in-demand speaker
and consultant on marketing, business devel-
opment, media and publishing, and entrepre-
neurship topics.
Of course, you need folks with the right
qualifications who are willing to bring their
A-game every day thats crucial. But there
are also character traits to look for: a posi-
tive, can-do attitude, for instance. If a person
doesnt fit in the mix, not only will he or she
be less likely to bring their best, they can also
compromise everyone elses game.
Witty talks about what it takes to get that
hum every CEO wants, both in the office and
in ones respective industry.
Staff your team with A-players; theyre
worth the wait. An A-player is someone who
brings all of the necessary qualifications to the
table perhaps more than you were expecting
and that something extra as a human being.
Of course, that isnt always readily apparent
during a 45-minute interview; it can take time
to see the true colors of a talented individual to
come through. This speaks to the importance
of having an intuitive hiring manager, which
may be a small businesss CEO, Witty adds.
Also, its important to have A-players who put
the team first, who have helped Advantage
Media Group earn a spot on the Best Places to
Work in South Carolina list for 2013 and 2014.
Egomaniacs who cannot collaborate can to
grind productivity to a screeching halt.
The importance of having fun Hav-
ing fun not only helps your team do well, its
a sign that youre doing things right, Witty
says. Where fun and work meet is the un-
derstanding from employees that theyre
making a difference. You want a team of
individuals who are motivated by the why
of what they do. Fun at work means having
energy and enthusiasm while tending to the
tasks at hand.
Make employees, and clients, your
extended family. A family environment sig-
nificantly facilitates a team mentality, espe-
cially for those quiet geniuses who like to
keep to themselves because theyre shy. But
why stop there? Extend the love to clients,
suppliers and other crucial components of
the business. Without these folks, your busi-
ness couldnt survive.
Direction: understanding the why;
encourage difference makers. Our team
members are driven by the why of what
we do, Witty says. The right content in
the right persons hands at the right time
can change the world forever. We believe in
sharing stories, passion and knowledge to
guide and help others learn and grow.
Commit to lifelong learning. Seek to
uncover and promote the leader in every one
on your team by encouraging all members to
follow a path of personal and professional
development. With increased knowledge,
experiences and skills, people lead to a
more fulfilled life, which can profit every-
one within a working environment.
(Adam Witty is the founder and CEO
of Advantage Media Group, (http://advan-
tagefamily.com/), an international pub-
lisher of business, self-improvement and
professional development books and online
learning. He has worked with hundreds of
entrepreneurs, business leaders and profes-
sionals to help them write, publish, market
and monetize books to grow their business.
Witty has been featured on ABC and Fox,
and was selected for INC Magazines 30
Under 30 list of Americas coolest young
entrepreneurs in 2011.)
12 TheBusinessJournal September 2014
Secretary Husted announces August Ohio Business Profiles
Companies featured remind Ohioans about the importance of giving back
Information Submitted
COLUMBUS Ohio Secretary of State
Jon Husted today announced that Augusts
Ohio Business Profile features seven non-
profit organizations who work tirelessly to
help make our state a better place to live.
Whether they help feed the hungry, assist
those in need, or fight to protect our states
most fragile resources, they give us causes
to champion and provide outlets for all
Ohioans to help give back.
These nonprofits are making a differ-
ence in local communities around the state
by providing goods and services that peo-
ple need, as well as by supporting jobs and
helping to strengthen the states economy,
Secretary Husted said.
According to the most recent report
available from the Ohio Association of
Nonprofit Organizations, Ohios nonprof-
its employed almost 500,000 paid work-
ers. That is equivalent to one out of every
10 workers in Ohio, earning nearly $18.8
billion in wages. Companies profiled this
month include:
Freestore Foodbank Cincinnati - The
largest emergency food and service provider
to children and families in the tri-state. The
organization distributes more than 18.5 mil-
lion meals annually to more than 300,000
low-income individuals and families.
SHC/The Arc of Medina County Medina
- Partners with individuals with disabilities
and their families to provide services to as-
sist them with living.
Black Swamp Conservancy Perrys-
burg - Dedicated to preserving family farms
and natural habitats. To date, they have pro-
tected more than 13,300 acres of land across
13 northwest Ohio counties.
Keep Ohio Beautiful, Inc. Fairlawn
- Believes that everyone deserves to live in
an environment that is healthy, safe, clean
and beautiful. They are a state affiliate of
Keep America Beautiful and serve as Ohios
umbrella organization for 33 local affiliate
organizations.
Elizabeths New Life Center Dayton -
Specialize in positive solutions and support
for unexpected pregnancies, including free
pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, consult-
ing on pregnancy decisions, parenting edu-
cation, and material assistance.
Food for Thought Toledo - Provides
over 350 lunches each week in the Toledo
area and also provides a Mobile Pantry
that serves more than 1,400 each month.
The Arc of Ohio Columbus - Works
to create a world where children and adults
with developmental and intellectual dis-
abilities can enjoy equal rights and oppor-
tunities.
reads, plays, watches, listens, chooses, and
swipes to her hearts content. And any time
I tell her, Thats not on this iPad, she in-
stantly says, Download it, Papa.
So far, this is a nice story. Many of you
already know it, and are reading this on some
Apple device. Thats great for Apple. They
deserve it.
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? What ma-
jor change or shift is about to come into your
world? Your business? Your life? And are you
ready for it?
Whats about to change about the way you
sell? Serve? Communicate? Respond? Take
products to market? Develop new products?
Do business? Get customers? Keep custom-
ers? Manufacture? Deliver? Account for? Get
paid for? Make profit?
Or are you too busy focused on yesterday,
today, competition, pricing, bidding, eking
out a profit?
THINK ABOUT THIS: Whats going to
happen to car salespeople when all the auto
manufacturers put the buy now button on
their websites? They will go the same way
that mediocre stockbrokers went when online
trading was introduced. Gone.
Amazon killed Borders. And Amazon is
killing a lot of other businesses businesses
which were NOT READY for the changes
that are swooping down on the sales, promo-
tion, social media, advertising, and business
world at G-4 speed.
The businesses that have lost it were and
are the businesses that were and
are not ready to compete. And
most of them, like newspapers
and other print publications,
took too long to recognize and
change their strategies. Google
ads and ad words swooped in
and cleaned their clock, their
customers, and their cash re-
serves.
Not many are ready for the
evolution.
I talked about the Apple sto-
ry because they saw what was
next and led the way. They inno-
vated, took risks, made it easy to
do business, and created prod-
ucts that consumers wanted.
And on a smaller scale, in
your market, to your customers,
you must do the same.
Are you looking at EVERY
element of how youre doing
business? Can you see whats
new and whats next? Are you
willing to take the step for-
ward? Or will you try to hang
on to what has worked for the
past twenty years, and not see
let alone seize the opportunity.
Got iPad?
(Continued from Page 10)
Gitomer
4 smart investments beyond the Stock Market
Information Submitted
As major stock market indexes continue
to climb, so too are concerns on the fear
market VIX, the CBOE S&P 500 Op-
tions Volatility Index, says entrepreneur
Dean Anastos.
Advances in the market have been
relatively thin in volume, and the declines
have been heavier; in general, there seems
to be too much complacency among inves-
tors, and there are hints here and there
that the market is not as bullish as many
have supposed, says Anastos, who spe-
cializes in real estate, computer program-
ming and trading data communications
equipment.
Now may be a really good time to look
elsewhere for smart investments, says his
business partner Ricky Brava.
Anastos and Brava review some of
those options.
Real estate is still growing. No area
was hit harder by the recession than real
estate. Since then, however, the getting
has been good for prospective buyers look-
ing for a profit, yet many remain gun
shy due to the hard lessons of 2008-09.
Meanwhile, the housing recovery con-
tinues as prices are getting back to where
they once were. In many markets, buying is
still cheaper than renting, although this is
not true everywhere, Anastos says. Ulti-
mately, it depends on the area, the loan and
how long you may be looking to live on the
property or, if you want to rent a property
out, which continues to be very lucrative
today.
Banks have plenty of distressed debt;
consider a deal. (www.apollofinancialgrp.
com). We buy distressed debt bank portfo-
lios that arent generating cash for the bank
and work with the families in the homes to
refinance at affordable rates, says Brava,
senior partner at Apollo Financial Group,
founded by Anastos, who adds, If we cant
work it out with the owner, the property gets
a second chance, rather than sitting vacant,
when we sell the loans as non-performing
first or second lien bank notes.
Conduct a title search of the property to
reveal any liens. Check with the county to
ascertain what, if any, outstanding property
taxes are due. Contact a local real estate
agent to get an estimation on the property
and its as-is resale value.
Keep in mind tax-advantaged invest-
ments. Tax-advantaged investments can
include real estate partnerships, oil and gas
partnerships and suitability, which refers
to how appropriate an investment may or
may not be to an investor. Two of the most
common types of real estate partnerships,
for example, are low-income housing and
historic rehabilitation. The federal govern-
ment grants tax credits to those who con-
struct or rehabilitate low-income housing
or who invest in the rehabilitation or pres-
ervation of historic structures.
Pay attention to possible changes to
Roth IRAs a good option, so far. This is
still a good investment option for retire-
ment, even though significant changes
have been proposed by the White House.
Your allotted money goes into a Roth after
its been taxed, but earnings arent taxed.
Unlike traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, Roth
owners currently dont have to take an-
nual distributions after turning 70
which means the money has even more
years to grow if the owner doesnt
need it. Once the owner dies, the ben-
eficiary inherits the money tax-free. Presi-
dent Obama says this isnt what was
intended in a Roth and wants to change
this advantage, yet his proposal continues
to face opposition and many think it wont
pass.
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