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C O N T E N T S
Volume 1 • Issue 3
Publisher/Editor
4
Success Stories
Mac’s Grocery
Jack Criss Advertising Administrator Mindi Phillips Art Direction/Layout
Success Stories
Business News for Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties
March 2010
Features
6
BUSINESS
Pevey Creative gmpevey@bellsouth.net
Tire Depot
Columnists Jim Craig, Walt Dallas, Robert Dienelt,
10
Cover Story
Ken Lewis/People Lease
Wes Holsapple , David Russell, Julie Skipper, Carl Snell Contributing Writers
14
Special the GJB
Professional Women’s Association
Lynne Jeter, Mary Mack Jones, Tom Ramsey, Sara White Photography Beck Photographic, Jack Criss, Mary Mack Jones, Jeff Sanders
COLUMNS 4 Up Front
7 Speical to GJB
16 Julie on Jackson
David Russell
26 Julie on Jackson 28 Financial
Robert Dienelt
Julie Skipper
20 GJB Special
24 Eonomy
Todd Parkman
8 Craig’s Corner
20 Ramsey’s Reality
Jack Criss
30 Planning
Walt Dallas
Wes Holsapple
32 Business Seen 18 GJB Speical
Carl E. Snell, Jr.
2 - Greater Jackson Business
Greater Jackson Business is published twelve times a year to promote Metro Jackson in an informative and positive manner. We welcome contributions of articles and photos; however, they will be subject to editing and availability of space and subject matter. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Greater Jackson Business are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement.
BUSINESS
Business News for Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties
P.O. Box 13665 • Jackson, MS 39236 Phone: 601-750-6587 email: jack@greaterjacksonbusiness.com www.greaterjacksonbusiness.com
U P
F R O N T
A Queen In More Ways Than One
BY JACK CRISS Publisher
I’ll admit I was a skeptic. Yes, I knew the Sweet Potato Queens raised some money. Well, fine. But so do a lot of other people and organizations. And most do it either anonymously or, at least, without running around looking goofy and calling attention to themselves every year on a certain March weekend. You could say I wasn’t a fan. You could also say I was a premature curmudgeon. These things would both be true when it came to what I thought about the vaunted Sweet Potato Queens. Then…I saw the light. And with that illumination, I also saw the error of my ways. A close friend told me how much a certain book was not only making her laugh out loud when she needed it most but also had a good bit of depth to it. When she went on to say that it was a book written by Jill Conner Browne, I kept my doubts to myself out of respect for my friend’s literary tastes. However, out of that same respect for her, I thought I would see just what she found so impressive about JCB and decided to read some of her books myself. My friend also pointed out the following quote to me from one of JCB’s books and, for some reason, it hit me like a ton of bricks and made my decision to explore her books on my own a little easier. It was: “Don’t fear being near-death--but rather fear, dread, loathe, and do all you can to avoid ‘near-life’ experiences... We are always, as we say in the South, just ‘fixin’
to.’ After this thing or that one happens, then we will travel, write, play, rest, visit friends, then we will live. And lo and behold, before any of that stuff can happen, it is over and we never got around to living.” Down home existentialism? From a Sweet Potato Queen? There might be something here after all… So, I got the books. Probably just written for middle-aged women, the cynic within me was still chiding even as I headed for the counter at Lemuria. Nevertheless, I went through with it. And I read. And I was converted. The icing on the cake (or tiarra on the head as the case may be) was meeting Jill Conner Browne for the first time for an interview I conducted (please see our website at www.greaterjacksonbusiness. com). I’m not sure who or what I expected to meet that morning at Broad Street Bakery but I came away a new fan, a supporter and, hopefully, a longtime friend of Jill’s. As pleasant, gracious and as funny a lady as I have ever met, Jill told her story to me in person that day. As she did, her emotions would well up when discussing the good that the SPQs had done throughout the years, not only with the charity work for children they are known for, but also for helping many women across the country gain friends and build their selfesteem through their participation in the SPQ phenomenon. I was shocked to find out a few weeks later, in talking with Jill, that – to her knowledge – no article has been written solely about how much she and the SPQs actually do for charities in Mississippi and around the country. The economic benefits brought to the Metro Jackson area when the Queens gather here every March is well known but not so much the benefits many charities receive all year long. We spoke about this recently after Jill had just returned from a week in Chattanooga, TN, making appearances and raising money (right at $15,000) for the Children’s Hospital there – all of it done pro bono. “A lot of what we do is awareness building for the Blair E. Batson Children‘s Hospital here in Jackson,” she said to me. “Obviously, they have single donors who handily give more
than the $30,000 we raised last year during the parade! But when you consider that the $30,000 is gotten $1, $5, $20 at a time – it’s a lot of ‘face time’ for the hospital. “When the X-Box360 contest was running nationally, I didn’t know about it until the last week or so of the competition (People “voted” for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital of their choice and the top three got X-Box 360 Rooms for their hospitals). I put the word out in a newsletter and on Facebook asking Queens to vote for Batson – and the Queens all over the country voted for our hospital – over the ones in their own areas – because they identify so closely with Batson and Jackson from their Parade experiences,” Jill added. Jill also told me about the SPQs raising over $100,000 for Wells Church’s Katrina Recovery
Efforts and then, 18 months after Katrina, raising over $15,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast for Christmas gifts for hurricane-affected kids in the region. “We got an emergency call through Wells – two weeks before Christmas – that they had 5,000 requests for gifts and only 1500 toys at Toys for Tots. It was a year and a half after Katrina--and people had just forgotten the great need of these kids,” Jill said. “Thanks to the Queens literally every single child on the Gulf Coast that needed to get ‘Christmas’ this way did! And they got what they had asked for – bicycles, game-boys and such – not paint-by-number stuff! So much money and so many gifts were sent that the Boys and Girls Clubs had excess to share with other groups in the area. All the needy kids on the Coast had a great Christmas, thanks to my Queens.” So, yes, there is silliness, goofiness, often outright lunacy, when Jill and her Queens take over Jackson for the weekend of the Mal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade. But there is also compassion, incredible generosity, goodness, fun that heals and helps the soul and – as I found out – even reflective, philosophical wisdom. Jackson – and Mississippi – is incredibly fortunate to have Jill Conner Brown – bestselling author, philanthropist – as our ambassador. Jill, I was so wrong about you and your Queens: But at least I’m “Spud Stud” enough to admit it! - GJB Greater Jackson Business - 3
S U C C E S S S T O R I E S
Mac’s Grocery: Staying Strong in Competitive Market Reggy McDaniel BY Mary Mack Jones Contributing Writer
R
eggy McDaniel has been in the grocery business all his life. His first job at age five was stock boy – stacking Pet Milk cans on the shelves in the family grocery store in rural Columbia, Louisiana. McDaniel learned early on the value and the necessity of hard work, and this ethos has guided him through the years. As owner of Mac’s Fresh Market at School Street Crossing on Highway 51 in Ridgeland, McDaniel is one of a select few independent grocers in the Jackson Metro area – a rare breed in this new culture of big-box stores and supermarket chains. His second Mississippi store is located in Durant. In addition to his Mississippi stores, McDaniel is a partner in eight grocery stores and the owner of four other stores in Louisiana and Arkansas. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of these stores is a 24-7 proposition for this energetic businessman. McDaniel is not shy when explaining the success of his ventures. With the zeal of an evangelical, he freely exclaims, “Blessings from God. It’s how God has chosen to feed me. I believe that. The three things that are most important to me are God, family and work. Work is a requirement. God himself only rested one day. God is a worker and I believe that the concept of work is biblical.” Since he bought his grandfather’s grocery business many years ago, he has continued the practice of acquiring stores, and with that expansion he has learned a great deal about being in business. He understands that the owner is always the last man standing. “Being an independent gives me the freedom to know my customers and to solve problems myself. I don’t have to call anyone to get permission. I take responsibility for the good and the bad,” he declares. “The secret to my success is my people. In this business, you have to be sure your people are always taken care of. I
4 - Greater Jackson Business
am blessed with good meat, marketing, and produce managers and I have great stockers and cashiers. It’s not about me but about the people who work for me.” Managing a smaller operation allows McDaniel to be part of a co-op where he can purchase high quality meat – a staple in his stores that makes Mac’s unique. “We buy from AWG, a large co-op with six warehouses. We buy at cost and probably buy as cheaply as the
big chains. We’re not trying to compete with the big stores. Don’t want the headaches,” says McDaniel. He and his Ridgeland manager, Ric Martinez, obviously make a good team. Martinez has been in the grocery business for thirty years and came to the Ridgeland store four years ago. That particular store is weathering the recession and has actually seen better numbers this year than expected. Even though the current economic climate, coupled with the tax and spend policy of big government, are of much concern to him, McDaniel will likely triumph by continuing to practice the valuable lessons learned from his father and grandfather. Mac’s Fresh Market invites customers to come in and have a complimentary cup of coffee and see what makes being locally-owned special. - GJB
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S U C C E S S S T O R I E S
Tire Depot:
Locally-Owned Business Goes the Extra Mile For Customers
Jeff Wall and Troy Sturdivant
BY MARY MACK JONES Contributing Writer
R
ankin County is at the bull’s-eye of economic growth in the Greater Jackson region. In the 1990 census, Rankin County households hovered around 30,000 and by 2009, that number had increased to approximately 53,500. Considering that each household probably owns at least one automobile, it’s a demographic no-brainer that Rankin County is a mecca for a small business offering tire and auto services. First time business owners Jeff Wall and
6 - Greater Jackson Business
Troy Sturdivant were well acquainted with the demographic statistics along Old Fannin Road when they opened their new store in 2004. Their solid business plan had a clear goal of reaching an underserved sector of the region and offering name-brand tires and quality automotive services. The Tire Depot was an instant favorite with the residents of the area who had long felt a need for a convenient place to take their cars for service. Wall remembers that when the store opened its doors, customers would exclaim, “Thank God you opened this store. You don’t know how much we have needed it.“ Those words were music to the ears of the new owners and their customer base has continued to grow during
the six years they have been operating. Sturdivant, a lifelong Rankin County resident and Wall, who had moved to the area from Hattiesburg, had worked together previously in a printing business. In their new venture, the two joined forces with Ross Jackson to open separate locations of Tire Depot-one on Old Fannin Road and the other in Byram at Terry Road. With years of experience in automobile service, Jackson took the lead in educating his new partners on how to run a successful tire and auto business. The Tire Depot is not a franchise, but, instead, a locally owned, independent operation. “Our slogan and the catch phrase that voices who we are is ‘We are your neighbors and we appreciate your business.’ We live here, and we really do believe in supporting the local businesses in our hometown,” says Wall. Wall and Sturdivant are huge believers in The Rankin County Chamber–a major ally for the partners in the success of the business. “We were a shoestring operation in the early days and the first year was brutal. Without the support of the Chamber, we probably would not have made it. It has been the key to our success,” enthuse both Wall and Sturdivant. Tire Depot is a full-service shop and is proud to offer the services of an ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) master technician. “We basically sell everything related to tires but on top of that, there is very little we can’t do to a car in terms of repair work,” says Wall. “Repeat business is the core of our operation. We are a people business and the trust factor is huge. We’re also happy to note that 60 percent of out customers are female and we think that speaks to the trust that our customers place in our ability and trustworthiness.” The upward growth trajectory for Rankin County brings traffic headaches and road widening projects that interrupt the easy flow of movement. In spite of the challenges and growing pains, the gentlemen at Tire Depot are looking forward to a prosperous year in business and the opportunity to continue to serve the Greater Jackson community. - GJB
S P E C I A L
T O
G J B
Raise your Pints
By TODD PARKMAN Contributing Writer
S
ince the repeal of the 18th amendment, the federal government has allowed each individual state to construct their own alcohol laws. This was the easy way out for politicians and created an esoteric, irrational precedent that has given this country the biggest patchwork quagmire of alcohol laws in the world. Yet, forty-nine other states in this country have modernized their laws to an extent that allows a free market and gives you, as an adult, the option to have whatever beer you might want. As you might have guessed, Mississippi is the last state to undertake such a proposition. Whether you know it or not, Mississippi considers any beer containing more than five percent alcohol by weight to be illegal. This prohibits entire styles of beer. Barleywines, Belgian dubbels and triples, Double IPA’s, and Imperial stouts to name a few, are all illegal in Mississippi. As of 2009, Mississippi, along with Alabama and West Virginia, were the last three states to still have this prohibition era law on the books. Alabama and West Virginia changed their laws in 2009 to allow for craft and gourmet beer above the ridiculous five percent by weight cap. One might think that if Alabama and West Virginia, those stalwarts of progressive thinking, could get their law changed, Mississippi would surely follow suit. We did not. Raise Your Pints, (www.raiseyourpints. com) a non-profit, grass-roots organization, has for the last three years, attempted to get
this law changed in Mississippi. Along the way, the group has garnered the support of nearly three thousand Mississippians, local business owners, the Mississippi Malt Beverage Association, distributors, and breweries, including our own Lazy Magnolia. What they have not been able to do is convince certain members of our legislature that this is simply one more piece in the puzzle to bring Mississippi into the 21st century. It’s always been a mystery as to why beer is unfairly singled out in our state. You can’t buy a beer brewed by a Belgian monk that happens to be eight percent alcohol by weight, but there’s no limit to the amount of 190 proof, pure grain alcohol that you can buy. Mississippi is missing out on an entirely new revenue stream for no other reason than certain legislators still think and act as if it’s 1950. The beers that would be allowed if this law was changed, are expensive, gourmet products. Joe Sixpack isn’t your demographic for these beers. Craft brewing has exploded in this country over the last twenty-five years. And while the big boys (Miller/Coors/Anheuser BuschInbev) have all seen their market share stagnate, craft beer market share grows every year. According to the Brewers Association, as of July 31, 2009, there were 1,525 breweries in the United States, the highest number in more than 100 years. Simply put, we’re missing out. Beer Advocate, recognized by beer geeks everywhere as the authority on all things beer, has a Top 100 beers list. At last count, 86 of the 100 were illegal in Mississippi. Some of these beers sell for as much as $18 per 750ml bottle. In these times of economic shortfall, shouldn’t we be exploring every available revenue option? Shouldn’t the beer drinkers in Mississippi be able to spend their money in Mississippi instead of driving to Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee to buy these beers? And make no mistake; they do drive out of state to buy them. This argument is about more than beer and revenue, however. This is about choice. Why are you, as a Mississippian, denied the same products that every other person in this country has access to? Even if you’re not a beer drinker, surely you can understand the dilemma here. Our local government is telling us that we’re not responsible enough to make
our own decisions. The state of Mississippi is telling you what beer you can drink. While that probably won’t elicit any real response from the folks that never venture outside of the mass produced, light lager category, we want you to see the bigger picture here: Your local government is telling you that you can’t have it. They don’t want you to have the facts. They will tell you their constituents won’t stand for it. They will tell you they have moral reservations about changing the law. They will tell you the beer we have now is good enough. But, the facts are, every possible argument your legislator makes as to why they’re against this law change has been addressed in forty-nine other states and they’ve not seen any decline in the quality of life in their communities. I have no qualms with anyone who truly opposes alcohol on a moral basis. I’m not asking anyone to drink a craft beer, or any beer for that matter. However, I would like for you to afford me the same courtesy and allow me to make that decision for myself. What you need to tell your legislator, is that as a Mississippian and an American citizen, you should have the right to decide for yourself. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. “The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer. Sadly, as American citizens, we’ve become accustomed to our politicians not giving us the facts. And as Mississippians, we can’t even get the beer. GJB Todd Parkman is 41 years old, born and raised in Jackson and currently lives in Fondren with his wife, Katie. He is a 1992 graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Mass Communication and a minor in English and currently works for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Parkman is a founding member of the grass-roots, non-profit group Raise Your Pints Mississippi. His hobbies generally consist of traveling the world with his wife enjoying the beer culture that so many places actually offer and appreciate. To date, some of the major cities the couple has visited are Dublin, Munich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Prague, Budapest, Seattle, and Portland. When not traveling, Parkman can usually be found at the end of the bar with Hal White solving the problems of the world. - GJB Greater Jackson Business - 7
C R A I G ’ S C O R N E R
The Business Community is Challenging State Immigration Laws in Arixona and Oklahoma Why not here?
T
he alien who resides with you shall be to (1) year, or both.” you as the citizen among you; you shall Think about that. A restaurant closed for a year love the alien as yourself. - Leviticus because its permit from the Health Department 19:33-34 was revoked. A retail gasoline station closed In the last few years, you’ve read or watched a because it lost certification from the Department lot of news and opinion about immigration. It’s of Agriculture and Commerce’s Weights and no secret that our southern border has been poMeasures Division. Nurseries to nursing homes, rous, allowing millions to cross into the United grocery stores to contractors – if your business States without a visa or other authorization. requires some certification or license from a dePresident George W. Bush sparked an explopartment of State Government, then you could sion of dissent within his own party when he be shut down for twelve months for failing to use proposed to change the immigration laws in his the “status verification system.” In this economy, second term; many thought the proposal didn’t that’s a result that sentences the average business “get tough” on illegal immigration. You may to bankruptcy. have a strong opinion on the issue. But, does It gets worse. Without complying with the “status your business have less than 100 employees? If verification system,” your business can be sued so, get ready for Mississippi law to “get tough” by any Mississippi employee you terminated – BY JIM CRAIG with you. no matter how badly the employee performed -Contributing Columnist On July 1, 2010, the Mississippi Employ if it turns out that an employee you retained was ment Protection Act expands, and businesses an unauthorized alien. Miss. Code Ann. §71-11with 30 to 100 employees will be required to 3(4)(d). And if you hire an unauthorized alien comply with its provisions. When the Act was passed in 2008, Busi- without using this “system,” the employee can be guilty of a felony nessWeek said, “The Mississippi law is the most extreme step that’s under Section 71-11-3(8)(c) – and you could be charged as an accesbeen taken by proponents of tougher controls against illegal immi- sory to that crime under Miss Code Ann. §§97-1-3 or 97-1-5. grants.” At the time, Senator Alice Harden of Jackson said, “I want Loss of license, loss of business, lawsuits, criminal charges – a to make sure people in the state of Mississippi are treated fairly, and frightening prospect. But what’s so bad about using the “status veriI want to make sure our businesses who employ Mississippians are fication system?” After all, verification that a new hire is a legal emtreated fairly.” But it’s far from clear that the Act does either. Across ployee is not a new practice for local businesses. Almost certainly, the country, business groups have challenged the constitutionality of you already use the Federal I-9 form to prove that you requested idensimilar laws passed in other States; and a recent report casts serious tity documents from every person you have already hired. doubt on the accuracy of the web-based program that is critical to the But the I-9 is not the “status verification system” that the 2008 Act new laws’ usefulness. requires you to use. The Act defines the “status verification system” To date, however, Mississippi businesses have meekly complied as “the electronic verification of work authorization program . . . operwith the 2008 Act. Will that change when it applies to a much larger ated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, known as group of enterprises? Should Mississippi businesses challenge the en- the E-Verify Program.” Miss. Code Ann. §71-11-3(3)(d). forceability of the Act? But E-Verify’s not what it’s cracked up to be. In fact, Federal law The heart of the 2008 Act is the statement, “Employers in the State currently does not require any businesses (other than Federal contracof Mississippi shall only hire employees who are legal citizens of the tors) to use E-Verify. It’s a pilot program that doesn’t appear to be United States of America or are legal aliens.” An overwhelming ma- getting off the ground any time soon. jority of Mississippi employers and employees – of all races and na- As FOXNews.com reported on February 25, 2010, “The system tionalities – would agree. But the guts of the statute – the place where Congress and the Obama administration want employers to use to it meets your business – is in the next subsection: “Every employer help curb illegal immigration is failing to catch more than half the shall register with and utilize the status verification system to verify number of unauthorized workers it checks, a research company has the federal employment authorization status of all newly hired em- found.” FOX explains that the Federal Department of Homeland Seployees.” Miss. Code Ann. §71-11-3(4)(b)(1). curity “quietly posted” the research company’s report, “along with a Any employer who does not use the “status verification system” is summary that pointed out that E-Verify is accurate ‘almost half of the at risk for some serious penalties. As Section 71-11-3(7)(e)(i) says: time.’” “Any employer violating the provisions of this section shall be subject An earlier report, released in 2007, calculated that foreign-born into the cancellation of any state or public contract, resulting in ineligi- dividuals who are eligible to work in the United States were thirty bility for any state or public contract for up to three (3) years, the loss times more likely to receive an erroneous non-confirmation from Eof any license, permit, certificate or other document granted to the Verify. employer by any agency, department or government entity in the State That puts a Mississippi business on the horns of a serious dilemma: of Mississippi for the right to do business in Mississippi for up to one On the one hand, a business can fail to use E-Verify, and (a) lose its
8 - Greater Jackson Business
right to do business in Mississippi, (b) get sued by terminated employees, and/or (c) face criminal charges. On the other hand, a business that uses E-Verify, and terminates a legal employee wrongly, opens itself up to a Federal discrimination lawsuit. That’s only the most obvious problem. For businesses with 30 to 100 employees, there are also compliance costs, and, since E-Verify is clearly still in its infancy, those costs will include continual upgrade training for the person(s) who will be using the system. Plenty of risk, appreciable costs, and no real benefit. That’s exactly why lawsuits have been filed against similar statutes in other states. But these are not cases filed by the ACLU, labor unions, or other civil rights groups. Rather, they are filed by local, state, and national business groups – led by the United States Chamber of Commerce. As Robin Conrad, vice president of the National Chamber Litigation Center (the U.S. Chamber’s litigation arm) says, “The emerging patchwork of conflicting state immigration laws is creating a national crisis. The widespread bipartisan support for our lawsuit shows that both sides can agree on at least one thing: it’s not the role of states to set immigration policy.” The lawsuit to which Ms. Conrad refers is Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. Edmondson, 2010 WL 354353 (10th Cir. 2010). On February 2, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction, forbidding Oklahoma from enforcing two provisions of its State immigration act. The Court was sharply divided in the reasons for its decision; three judges wrote three separate opinions. But the common ground in the ruling was that the Constitution gives the United States Congress the power to legislate on immigration issues. So, when State legislation penalizes employers and businesses for acts that they are allowed to do under Federal immigration law, that State law should not be enforced. The U.S. Chamber challenged a similar statute in Arizona. The Ninth Circuit (based in San Francisco) – usually considered more liberal than the Tenth – ruled that Arizona could enact its own antiimmigration penalties on employers. That case is pending review in the U.S. Supreme Court. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America v. Candelaria, No. 09-115. In these cases, the Chamber is using the same argument that gave businesses victory over products liability lawsuits in State court. In those cases, the Court ruled that where Federal regulations allow the sale of a product, the States may not pass conflicting laws that subject the manufacturer or seller of that product to liability. The principle has been applied to automotives cleared by the Department of Transportation, over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications approved by the FDA, and the like. Similar Supreme Court cases forbid the States from enacting labor union protections, shipping requirements, and many other types of economic regulations that conflict with Federal law. As the U.S. Chamber explains in its briefs, this line of cases is essential to giving businesses a level playing field in national and international commerce. If one State can impose higher costs and stricter regulation than another – in an area that Congress has the Constitutional power to legislate – then the businesses in States without those costs and regulations are at a severe disadvantage. So it is with immigration. Federal law gives an employer a “safe harbor” if the I-9 system is used. While the employer is allowed to try E-Verify, it is not required to do so. If Mississippi agricultural businesses are required to turn workers away because of (possibly erroneous) E-Verify responses, or if they have higher costs to comply with the Mississippi Act, then they will have higher costs or slower output than similar businesses in our neighboring states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee, which have no such requirements. It’s not a new idea. When Leviticus says to “love the alien as yourself,” it hits the nail on the head. Capitalism is not a zero-sum game: every employed worker is also a consumer; and every productive worker creates wealth for the business that hired him or her. We’re all
in this together to produce products and provide services that people want, at prices they can afford. This time, the interests of the alien community and the interests of the Mississippi business community are in perfect alignment. That’s why the business communities in Arizona and Oklahoma are in court today challenging restrictions that are less onerous than those that will be applied to Mississippi small businesses on July 1, 2010. That’s why the business communities in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia have filed briefs in support of Arizona and Oklahoma. Will Mississippi’s small businesses “go along” and hope for the best? Or will they step up to the plate and join the challenge? We should know before July 1st. - GJB Jim Craig is a partner in the Jackson office of Phelps Dunbar LLP, where he represents businesses in commercial and customer litigation at trial and on appeal. The views in his columns are his, not Phelps Dunbar’s. Jim can be reached at jim@greaterjacksonbusiness.com
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C O V E R
S T O R Y
TIME IS MONEY:
Local company leads the way in assisting other businesses, relieving burdens BY JACK CRISS Publisher
L
ong known as one of the Metro area’s most outstanding companies, People Lease, based in Ridgeland, has helped free countless business owners and managers from the neverending back-office resources and compliance issues associated with employee administration. By bringing back-office services such as payroll preparation, tax filing, workers’ compensation, health insurance and retirement plan administration to People Lease, businesses – both large and small – can begin reallocating valuable time and manpower, while more effectively managing cash flow and improving employee job satisfaction. In today’s fierce and ever-tightening economy, the advantages of the time-saving services People Lease provides should be obvious. Additionally, keeping up with the many regulatory challenges coming down the pike on a seemingly daily basis is also a major part of what People Lease does for its customers. People Lease was started in 1984, introducing the employee administration industry to Mississippi. By 1988, Jackson metro area businessman Larry Lewis literally changed the rules for success at businesses everywhere by lifting the weight of employee administration off the shoulders of businesses. Over the past two decades, People Lease has established itself as one of the leading backoffice services providers in the nation. By redirecting and consolidating payroll and benefits administration, regulatory compliance, and human resource responsibilities, People Lease has helped business owners, managers and employees remain focused on the profitable aspects of their business. People Lease is also proud to have been one of the founding members of the National Staff Leasing Association, meeting their strict audit requirements and satisfying their unwavering standards of quality. The company also holds 10 - Greater Jackson Business
memberships in local and regional professional employer associations, the American Payroll Association, the Independent Payroll Providers Association, Society of Human Resource Managers, and various Chambers of Commerce as well as the Better Business Bureau. By introducing back-office administration to the state, People Lease has continually and consistently provided market leadership and the company has extended that leadership and those services to their many customers. One of those customers is Kyle Smith, owner of Reservoir Stationers in Ridgeland. “Reservoir Stationers has enjoyed steady growth over the years, and one of the secrets to our success is letting go of employee administration chores,” Smith says, in a testimonial on People Lease’s website. “I’m more efficient, it’s a much better use of my time if I’m out selling, calling on customers – in general, being able to run my business – instead of trying to figure out how many hours a given employee worked this week, or any of dozens and dozens of other employee details. I can’t imagine how any company – even one with just a few employees – can keep up with all the laws and changes and deductions, what taxes get paid when, what needs to be withheld at what level. I don’t see why any business owner or administrator would accept that responsibility, when People Lease is here to do it for them…I’ve recommended People Lease in the past, and I continue to do so,” Smith says. Greater Jackson Business recently sat down with Ken Lewis, Director of Operations for People Lease, a Navy veteran who has been with the company since 1995. GJB: So what exactly do you mean telling other businesses to mind their own business? LEWIS: Business owners had a vision of a service or product that they wanted to make a
run at. They devoted a lot of time and energy and, in most cases, money getting their companies up and running. The last thing they needed then or now was the distraction of employee administration. Particularly now in these trying times. We all need to be focused on running and growing our businesses not dealing with payroll administration, employee benefits, human resources and everything else that comes with having employees. People Lease will do all that for business so that they can mind their own business. GJB: So only big, major corporations need the kinds of services People Lease provides, correct? Smaller businesses can usually handle their own payroll, compliance and other issues. Lewis: That’s incorrect. In fact, businesses of all sizes can certainly benefit from some level of our services. Obviously larger employers would have different needs than smaller employers. That is why we have designed a system that we tailor to meet each individual customer’s unique needs. GJB: Well, couldn’t a small business just let their CPA handle those same items, Ken? Lewis: Sure they can get a CPA to do payroll and tax administration. We actually partner with CPA firms to provide these services to their customers. That’s only a part of what we provide our customers. They are not educated in compliance issues, employment matters, human resources, and don’t offer employer and employee benefits to their customers. A good combination is our services, along with a CPA, to keep business owners bases covered at all times. The employment environment is changing almost daily. Basically everything that is going on in Washington directly impacts employers and payroll processing. Many of the changes they’re making, or proposing to
Ken Lewis Greater Jackson Business - 11
Jackson Business Journal, 1996
themselves. Having employees is not what they got in business to do. It is exactly what we got in business to do. GJB: Can you help any company? Can all companies benefit from your services? Lewis: In most all cases, absolutely. Because of the broad array of services and products in most all cases we can help with whatever issue a business might be having. Keep in mind, though, that there doesn’t necessarily need to be a current problem going on. Our system is designed to free up owners or key staff members’ time to work on more productive duties. This in turn leads to increased profits.
make, deal with payroll taxes. Like health care reform, for example, and COBRA changes. And these changes are done rapidly and usually retroactive which makes it extremely difficult for any business owner to keep up with them. He or she might read about it in the paper but do they then know how it will effect – and it will – their business? We are aware of these changes and study them; we stay on top of them every day. GJB: How do you stay on top of these changes if they’re coming that rapidly? Lewis: This is what we do. It is a part of our service. Through multiple national level associations and our involvement in those associations and through the legal libraries that we maintain which constantly keep us updated in the employment world.
GJB: Does People Lease primarily work with local customers or have you expanded outward? Lewis: We pride ourselves in being a Mississippi business working with Mississippi businesses. After twenty five years of successful growth we currently process payroll and have customers in a number of other states. GJB: What do the businesspeople who read Greater Jackson Business need to know about that they might not right now? What are the most serious issues you all at People Lease are dealing with that may not be a concern to our readers? Lewis: My best advice would be to mind their own business. None of us got into business to constantly
GJB: I take it then, with this kind of expertise, you can save companies money. Lewis: Yes. If a company will take the time to come in and look at all that we do, we will save them time and money. We keep up with issues like I9 (immigration), new legislation and payroll administration which leaves the company leaders to be free to go out and do what they do, which is run and grow their business. And, in all cases, it is much less expensive for them to hire People Lease to handle their payroll and other related needs then to try handle it 12 - Greater Jackson Business
Metro Business Chronicle, 2005
LARRY LEWIS FOUNDER OF PEOPLE LEASE
have to deal with employee related matters. We had widgets to make or services to sell. In these trying economic times every owner and manager should be finding ways to increase the profits of their companies. They can’t afford to waste time dealing with payroll, benefits, compliance, human resources, and everything else that comes with having employees. I would also advise that business owners monitor health care reform very closely. Whatever we feel about it personally or whatever side of the political spectrum we fall on, businesspeople need to realize that there will be some major impacts coming down the pike, especially to small businesses. And I mean right out of the gate, especially in the form of penalties if you don’t provide the benefits that are mandated. There are things attached to the health care reform that deal with cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and they’re minimizing the amount an individual can set aside every year in pre-tax deductions. So there are a lot of little pieces that will be getting into business profits that owners should be cognizant of. Laws are laws, though, and regardless of how we might personally feel, we read them “as is” and help our customers. GJB: Do your customers sign contracts with People Lease or pay some type of retainer? How is that done? Lewis: Yes, but we call it a customer service agreement. It outlines the responsibilities of both parties. It comes with our service satisfaction guarantee. It can be cancelled at any time with proper notice as well. There are no retainer fees or up front charges. Our system is designed so that a customer issues one payment period to People Lease that takes care of all the necessary wages, taxes, etc. for that pay period. This levels out their cash flow and gives them one simple entry for accounting purposes. GJB: What are your future plans for People Lease? Where do you see your own company in the coming years? Lewis: Our main internal objective right now is, as with most businesses, embracing the new technologies available in order to become more efficient and profitable – that helps both us and our customers. GJB: Finally, what is your favorite part of the job? Lewis: Time and time again customers will tell us it was the best decision they ever made becoming a part of, and taking advantage of all the services we offer. It doesn’t get much more rewarding than that. And often the customer’s employees will comment on loving the fact that we handle the payroll and benefits. - GJB
Visit us online at www.greaterjacksonbusiness.com
“These days, I act as chairman of the company I founded, People Lease. I’ve got good people on board here and my son, Ken, has taken over. We’ve been in business for 25 years now and, at the time of our founding, there was nothing like this in the state. I had read an article in a business magazine about payroll, which got the idea rolling. I’ll never forget my first customer: It was a guy with one employee, it took me four hours to do the payroll and I had to call the IRS to find out what FICA was! Hiram Jennings was that customer, actually. I had been in real estate all of my working life and didn’t realize what withholdings went for, you know? It took me about a year to get the business really rolling and we have never looked back. We’re capitalized extremely well today and are highly ranked and regarded in the industry. I’d like for every entrepreneur and risk-taker out there to fall into a deal like I did. It has been a great, great ride and we are still growing. Our services are always in demand so we have never seen a slow down. If you work extremely hard and do things by the book and do right by the customer, you’ll succeed. I’m living a ‘freed up’ lifestyle these days, really. It took me about 10 to 15 years before I was really comfortable letting the business go a bit for others to help run it. In my opinion, if you build a business from scratch, you’ve got to make it your entire life for a long time. When I reached the goal of having a certain amount of cash reserves in People Lease, I felt I had made it. It was a milestone. You know, from one client to handling the millions of dollars of payroll we now write. I’m satisfied today with the company and with the principals who will run it in the future. I’m still always looking for something to do, more mountains to climb. I love to travel and I enjoy my time off but it bores me, ultimately. Not that I’m looking to start another company even though that is a real joy and I can’t tell you how exciting it was for me to grow People Lease into what it is today. You never say never, though.” - GJB
Greater Jackson Business - 13
S P E C I A L T O G J B
The Profesional Women’s Association Where Businesswomen Network and Gain Valuable Insight
BY SARA WHITE Contributing Writer
T
he Professional Women’s Association (PWA) is bringing businesswomen in the Metro Jackson area together to provide a networking community for women. Joy Foy, Sonja Dunaway, Barbara Travis and Michelle Burford decided to form the PWA in 2002. Foy, Director of the Asset Development Division of the Mississippi Development Authority, was formerly with the Madison County Economic Development Authority. She was looking for a way to network and meet people outside of Madison. When Foy first discovered a need for a female networking group she approached Dunaway, a Commercial Realtor and a pioneer for women in real estate. Dunaway was known for facing the good old boy network head-on and was appointed the first female president of the Mississippi Association of Realtors. Foy knew Dunaway would be perfect for encouraging other women to join PWA. Dunaway and Foy then went to Barbara Travis, director of the World Trade Center and Ms. Mississippi Senior 2009, for help in leading the programs for PWA. In addition to creating a networking group, the women also wanted to provide a platform for interesting speakers. As Travis explains, “We look for a woman with a good story and someone that all women can admire. The speakers are asked to discuss topics that are educational or motivational.” All of the speakers have been native Mississippians. At the first meeting, the ladies welcomed 80 women to hear the guest speaker, former First Lady Pat Fordice. It was the perfect beginning. When looking for speakers, Dunaway keeps the group on the straight and narrow. She wants to know “what are they going to tell us that we do not know, and how can we help our members.” Representative Rita Martinson has spoken to the group on several occasions 14 - Greater Jackson Business
Left to right: Joy Foy, Barbra Travis and Michelle Burford
and is a favorite every year. Martinson told the group before one such meeting she ran into a fellow legislator, and he asked where she was going; she told him she was going to speak to the “Powerful Women of America.” There is not a better way to describe this group. Since the inception of PWA, the group has provided tremendous support for each other by creating new working relationships and connecting each other to jobs and new hires. Travis says that, “We like to see women accomplish things and establish mentorships. In the beginning the members were all around the same age, and now the group is growing and is more diverse. The younger members help bridge gaps, and the women are able to learn from each other.” Foy says “We all grow through seeing things through different eyes. You do not know what background people come from or how people perceive things. Women of different age groups and backgrounds react differently to the same message.” PWA values the diversity of experience that comes from a wide range of professions and career paths. PWA creates this inspiring career support network through monthly meetings. The
meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month at River Hills. Once a year the group changes things up a bit and takes an outing to enjoy other activities in the community. This year the women met at Mint restaurant in Renaissance and then took some time to shop. At Christmas, the women have a mini-trade show with the members of the group. This allows them to shop for Christmas presents and support the other member’s businesses. Some of the trips have included a tour of the Nissan Plant; a fashion show at Ballin’s where the members modeled the clothes; and visiting Bessie Speed’s home in Eastover to learn about the history of the area. If you are a woman interested in PWA, becoming a member is easy! Learn more about PWA by visiting www.PWAMS.org or send an email to JFOY@mississippi.org. - GJB Sara Harrison White is an attorney with the Willoughby Law Group, PLLC. Her principal areas of practice are estate planning, real estate, and business formation and transactions. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in accounting and received her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law. The Willoughby Law Group, PLLC is located in Ridgeland. White may be contacted at swhite@msbusinesslaw.com.
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Greater Jackson Business - 15
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S P E C I A L
2010: Getting Focused Now T BY WES HOLSAPPLE Contributing Writer
he terrorist attacks of 9/11 ushered in a cold reality to Americans. It was the beginning of a period of depression for many. A few weeks later, my Dad asked how I was doing. I painted a dismal vision mixed with anger and fear. He asked me what I was going to do about it. What could I possibly do that would make a difference? With a look of resolve he said, “Son, the best thing you can do is to get back to doing what you do best; working and living!” That was good advice then and it is good advice now. Today’s battle is surviving and thriving in the current state of the union, a poor economy. But how do you get back to work when you have lost your job or your business is down considerably? After owning and building BNI of Mississippi for 8 years, Katrina hit. Nearly half of my clients lost their livelihoods and many lost their homes. After a week of watching the devastating scenes on TV, I remembered the words of my father. The best way you can help is to get back to doing what you do best; working and living! In the midst of chaos, how do you find your bearings and get headed in the right direction? First, you must know where you are. The 4 Phases cycle is a good starting point. 1-EXCITED: New opportunities and positive expectations describe our outlook. 2-QUESTIONING: Things are not going as planned and challenges are overwhelming! 3-BLAMING: Focus is on the symptoms of the problems, not the causes. Therefore, we blame what we can’t control instead of taking responsibility for what we can control. 4-LOOKING: We all need to win. Many look for ways to change their external circumstances instead of embracing personal growth and working through the challenges. Without realizing it, people go through this cycle in various areas of their lives on a weekly and daily basis. We wonder why our emotions and results are up and down. We long for consistency but we can’t figure out where to start! So what must happen for us to spend more time in the excited phase? Set and achieve short term goals in writing. Accomplishment encourages us. Build important working relationships. Becoming equally yoked with others who are worthy, generates greater results and fulfillment. Demonstrate your competencies. Rise to the occasion, be your best and be recognized for your talents and, ability to get results. Be proactive. Start now, even though you are hesitant. Fear kills inspiration and motivation. Courage is not the lack of fear. Courage takes action in the face of fear. Identify which phase you are in. Meditate on the four action steps above. Begin building momentum to reach, and stay more in, the excited phase by writing out ways you can implement these action steps. Share your thoughts and convictions with a trusted advisor. The new year is upon us. Discipline your mind, body and emotions to serve the wholesome vision and passions that reside within you and are waiting for you to beckon. A responsible person does what he or she can until their destiny is revealed. - GJB Wes Holsapple is the president of BDS Institute which provides professional development, training and business coaching for entrepreneurs, companies and non-profit organizations. His areas of expertise are in sales, marketing and helping people achieve their goals by fully utilizing their potential. He served as a Dale Carnegie trainer and area manager in Mississippi for ten years where he worked with more than 5000 clients ranging from small companies to the Fortune 500. Holsapple owned and operated BNI of Mississippi for eight years. BNI, Business Network International, is the world’s largest business referral organization. Holsapple worked with more than 3000 local business people, teaching them how to grow their businesses through word-of-mouth marketing. He is a contributing author of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Masters Of Networking. Wes can be contacted at wes@bdsinstitute.com or www.bdsinstitute.com
16 - Greater Jackson Business
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Greater Jackson Business - 17
G J B
S P E C I A L
Roth IRA Conversions for 2010 A unique opportunity for IRA owners
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BY CARL E. SNELL, JR. Contributing Writer
Citations. 1 kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2009/01/sweet-deal-on-rothira-conversion.html [1/09] 2 thestreet.com/print/story/10505164.html [5/26/09] 3 smartmoney.com/personalfinance/retirement/estate-planningwith-a-roth-ira-7966/ [1/22/09] 4 smartmoney.com/personalfinance/retirement/roth-iras-toconvert-or-not-7965/ [1/10/08] 5 smartmoney.com/personalfinance/retirement/roth-iras-youwanted-to-know-7967/ [1/9/08] 6 cnbc.com/id/34511917 [12/21/09] 7 northjersey.com/news/business/82334757_Make_a_New_ Year_s_to-do_list_to__bring_home_ the_bacon__.html [1/22/10]
18 - Greater Jackson Business
n 2010, anyone may convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. No income limits will stand in the way of the conversion.-1 Should you do it? Here’s why it may (or may not) make sense for you to go Roth this year. Why you might want to consider it. A Roth IRA permits tax-free growth and tax-free income distributions in retirement (assuming you are age 59½ or older and have held your Roth account for 5 years or longer). You can contribute to a Roth IRA after age 70½, without having to take mandatory withdrawals. While contributions to a Roth IRA aren’t tax-deductible, the younger you are, the more attractive a Roth IRA may seem.-2 However, older investors have reason to go Roth as well – especially if they don’t really need to withdraw IRA assets. Under present tax law, converting an untapped traditional IRA to a Roth will shrink the size of your taxable estate, and careful estate planning could foster decades of tax-free growth for those IRA assets.-3 Currently, if you name your spouse as the beneficiary of your Roth IRA, your spouse can treat the inherited IRA as his or her own, after you die, and forego withdrawals. So those Roth IRA assets can keep compounding, untaxed, across the rest of your spouse’s life.-4 If your spouse then names a son or daughter as a beneficiary, that heir has the choice to make minimum withdrawals according to his or her life expectancy, all while the assets continue to compound tax-free. Currently, withdrawals from an inherited Roth IRA are not subject to income tax.-3 Why you may want to think twice about it. The IRS regards a traditional IRA-to-Roth IRA conversion as a distribution from a traditional IRA – a taxable event.-5 You’ll need to pay taxes on the entire amount of the conversion. Guess what, though: the federal government is giving you a tax break this year. If you do a Roth conversion in 2010, you can choose to divide the taxes on the conversion between your 2011 and 2012 federal returns. So you won’t have to finish paying them until April 2013.-6 If you talk to your local tax preparer, CPA or financial planner, you will probably find all of them agreeing on one thing: federal income tax rates are likely to be higher in the future than they are now. This is another reason why 2010 may be a good time to convert. You could simply do a partial Roth IRA conversion if converting the full amount would send you into a higher tax bracket. If you think you have more IRA assets than you need, a partial Roth conversion could result in a more manageable short-term tax impact as you pursue the objectives of having some tax-free retirement income or leaving some IRA assets to your heirs. You may be tempted to use the current IRA assets to pay the conversion tax, but should you? If you’re younger than 59½, you’re looking at a 10% penalty on the amount you withdraw, and you’ll lose the chance for tax-free compounding of those assets within the Roth IRA.-6 Be sure to consult your tax advisor before you convert. This is a very good idea before you arrange any rollover, trustee-to-trustee transfer, or same-trustee transfer of your IRA assets. There are many variables to consider, and they differ greatly from person to person. In any year, you should fully understand the potential tax impact of a Roth conversion on your finances and your estate. Also, remember that while the income limit on Roth IRA conversions will go away in 2010, the income limits on Roth IRA contributions still apply next year and for the foreseeable future. So high-income IRA owners can make the conversion, but they may not be able to pour new money into the account. For 2010, the MAGI phase-out limits kick in at $105,000 for single filers and $167,000 for joint filers. However, those income limits don’t prevent you from contributing to a traditional IRA in 2010 and converting that IRA to a Roth.-7 - GJB Carl Snell, Jr. is a Representative with LPL Financial Corporation and may be reached at http://www.carlsnell. com or carl.snell@lpl.com This material was prepared by Peter Montoya Inc., not the named Representative nor Broker/Dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named Representative nor Broker/Dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If other expert assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information.
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20 - Greater Jackson Business
everal years ago, my father had a series of strokes. The first ones were mild (as strokes go) and none of them were the massive, life ending attacks that can drop you like a stone. The doctors sat him down and told him with no hesitation that he would have to radically change his lifestyle and eating habits if he wanted to recover. The doctors, nurses and therapists assured him that working with them to improve his overall health would put him on track to recovery and could possibly prevent further strokes. For those of you who never had the pleasure to meet Bill Ramsey, I will tell you what many already know. He was stubborn and resistant to change. His first forays into exercise made him sore and he figured that anything that made you feel bad could not possibly be good for you. The changes in his diet from fats and meats to fiber and vegetables initially made his stomach upset (more gassy than upset, but I’m trying to be polite) and he concluded that the new foods were making him sick. Despite the pleading of his medical team and his family, he stayed with what made him feel better immediately, rest and comfort food. Eventually, he suffered countless mini-strokes and his health spiraled downwardly until he was killed by a simple sinus infection when his body was just too weak to put up a good fight. Right up until his last days, he insisted that all he needed was rest and good food. Who could blame him? These things, although they were killing him slowly, made him feel good. When faced with enormous problems in the world today many of us are turning to the things that make us feel good and ignoring the hard work that will make us better, stronger and healthier. This is the sweet and tender trap of populist politics. Paper dragons are much easier to slay than fire breathing real ones. There are real and present dangers to our town, our state and our country and to fight these problems we need to make the hard choices and stick to them no matter how sore and tired we become. To do these things we need real leaders who can tune out the din of cries for easy fixes and emotional panacea. We need leaders who can risk being unpopular for the good of all. Our governments need to spend less and earn more. We can’t just attack one side of the equation and think that will solve the problem. The catch is that no one who thinks they are only on the receiving end of government spending wants to get less and no one who thinks they are only on the giving end wants to give more. Like in most situations, the truth is more complex and found in the middle. We all give and we all receive. With national
and state elections just around the corner, candidates (both challengers and incumbents) will turn their ear to the public, stick a moistened finger to the air and check for the currents of populist opinion. What will the public tell them? Like kids on Santa’s lap, they will ask for what they want. By the time the ballots are printed and the ads are on the TV, the candidates will be well informed on the issues. They will possess far more knowledge than the average voter on any range of topics. Yet still, they will pander, offering one-liners and emotional cries of “no taxes” and “cut the waste.” We expect this because it is all we have ever known from the winners. After all, this is politics and we certainly don’t expect these elected officials to make good on all of their promises. We have played this game before. But once our victors are in office what we should hope for is the courage to be unpopular. Armed with research and reams of data, these elected officials should have the strength to look us in the eyes and say “I know you want cotton candy, hot dogs and reclining chairs, but what the data tells me is that you need vegetables, lean meat and exercise. You trusted me enough to put me in office, now let me lead. If my decisions are poor, kick me out next cycle.” The flaw in populist politics is believing that consensus means correctness. It rarely does. Swift, efficient and popular governments end up looking like Germany in 1932. Give everyone what they want, make everyone feel good and then just do whatever you feel like once you have taken power. We aren’t there yet in this country. We still have some courageous leaders who will make tough choices. What worries me is that on both sides of the political aisle, a rise in populist policies is emerging. If we elect people to office simply because of popularity, then their hold on office is only as strong as popular opinion and their decisions will be based solely on polls and “robo-calls.” We will be in a rudderless ship with a skipper who asks the sailors which way to tack. As we near the next election cycle, I encourage each and every reader of this article to ask the hard questions and demand the hard answers. I hope that we can all look beyond our own immediate comforts, brace ourselves and charge into the daunting challenges that face us. Back when everyone in this great nation still had an English accent, the founding fathers knew the dangers of populism and “king making” and argued until they nearly came to blows over pure democracy vs. representative republic. They made the right choice. Let’s keep it that way. GJB
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Expert Estate Planning Legal Services can be as Easy as 1, 2, 3! 1. Discovery Meeting 2. Assessment Meeting 3. Document Signing Celebration T. Walt Dallas, J.D., LL.M. (taxation) 601-209-8327 • wdallas@estateplanning123.com Phillip W. Smith, J.D., LL.M. (taxation) 601-850-9668 • psmith@estateplanning123.com Bonnie J. Childers, Client Services Director 769-798-2123 (local) • bchilders@estateplanning123.com Tom Hilton, Client Services Director 601-209-1601 • thilton@estateplanning123.com
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The knowledge of estate planning is extensive and because of that knowledge we received the best advice on what would be the most beneficial to our needs. The compassion and concern for Clients always comes through, putting your mind at ease by explaining everything in such a way that your doubts and fears start melting away. — Mrs. James A. Hathorn, Jr. The direction and advice has allowed me to get a handle on my over-all situation and to make competent decisions…also assisted two of my military friends with their strategic financial and estate planning. — Dr. Ancel C. Tipton, Jackson, MS
130 Riverview Drive • Suite A • Flowood, MS 39232
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E C O N O M Y
When the Parent Becomes the Child
BY DAVID RUSSELL Contributing Columnist Providing Care for Older Individuals It should come as no surprise that there are now more mothers taking care of mothers than there are mothers taking care of children. Over the recent past, medical science has defeated numerous diseases that once shortened the lives of many1. These extra years are not without their problems; living longer allows people to come down with illnesses that, in years past, they would not have lived long enough to develop. As a person ages, health problems can gradually become overwhelming, to the point where the individual is no longer capable of living independently or handling his or her personal affairs. Often, a child will then step in to “help out.” Gradually, a role reversal takes place in which the child becomes the parent and the parent becomes the child. Planning Ahead - If Possible Planning ahead makes the process easier. A child who is taking over a parent’s situation will often be handed total responsibility for the parent’s well being. To the extent that the parent is able, he or she must be kept involved. Some key areas include: • Finances: Managing the parent’s income, assets, and liabilities, paying the bills, and seeing that income tax returns are prepared. • Medical: Understanding the parent’s medical situation and history, insuring that needed medical care is provided, and dealing with required medication. • Benefits: Making maximum use of any benefits that might be payable from former employers, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Veteran’s Administration. • Key Documents: To carry out the parent’s wishes and legally act on the parent’s behalf, an adult child will need key documents such as wills, trust documents, a durable power 24 - Greater Jackson Business
of attorney for health care, a general power of attorney, and a “living will” or advance health care directive.
National Vital Statistics Reports, Volume 56, Number 16, Deaths: Preliminary data for 2006. June 11, 2008.
When to Intervene? Very few of us want to intrude in our parents’ lives. It is only when we begin to notice certain “things” about Mom and Dad that we begin to consider stepping in. Problems such as memory loss, dementia, diminished sight or hearing, incontinence, and falling are signs it’s time to intervene. Two initial questions must be answered: 1. What needs to be done? What is the appropriate level of care and/or type of living arrangement? Often, this question is answered in consultation with the parent’s physician or with the help of a geriatric care manager. 2. Who will be in charge? This task frequently falls to the child who is the closest, geographically, to the area where the parent resides. Sometimes, younger family members may decide to share the responsibilities. In other instances, a child with special skills or aptitudes may be chosen. For example, a child born in the year 1900 had an average life expectancy of 47.3 years. However, for a child born in 2006, average life expectancy had increased to 78.1 years. Source:
Care and Housing Options Remaining in the family home is often the first choice of many elderly individuals. However, because the home is either unsafe or ill-suited to their needs, other options must be considered. The chart below lists a few of the alternatives: Preparing for the End Even longer lives eventually end. The
caregiver’s responsibilities in this final stage of life are just as important as in any other. One key goal is to honor the terms of the elderly individual’s advance health care directive. A “Do Not Resuscitate” order may be required, when even heroic medical efforts serve no real purpose. You may have to arrange for hospice care when death is near. Allowing the elderly the opportunity for a death with dignity is as important as caring for them when they are alive. - GJB David Russell serves as Senior Vice President & Trust Officer for Pinnacle Trust. He may be reached at drussell@pinntrust.com or 601-957-0323.
ALTERNATIVES FOR HOUSING FACILITY TYPE
DESCRIPTION
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
Senior Adult Condominiums
Similar to home ownership. Usually age restricted.
Living unit can often be matched to the individual’s needs Few maintenance or security concerns.
Individual must arrange for own healthcare and personal service needs. Rules may be restrictive. Costs may be high.
Senior Apartments
Apartment rental units. Often age restricted.
Individual can select a unit to meet needs. May have common services such as transportation, recreation, or meals.
Individual must be able to live safely and independently; must arrange for own healthcare and Personal service needs.
Senior Care Retirement
Provide a range of facilities, including independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care.
Different levels of services and living arrangements are available to meet an individual’s needs as those needs change over time.
Usually expensive. Require a large initial entrance fee as well as monthly charges. If care provider is not financially strong, monies paid may be lost.
Assisted Living
Rental of private rooms or apartments, with many services.
A wide range of personal services are provided, including laundry, meals, housekeeping, and 24 hour monitoring.
Individual must be able to move about and handle most of their own physical needs.
Nursing Home
Skilled nursing facility.
Provide care for individuals who cannot live independently because of physical or mental impairments.
Can be quite expensive. Quality of care can vary.
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Greater Jackson Business - 25
J U L I E O N J A C K S O N
Leading the Cheer I
have a confession. Sometimes, I feel like a bit of a Pollyanna as far as Jackson goes. Maybe it’s living downtown, but every day, I look around and I see possibility, and I can’t stop talking about it – I’ve been teased about being a bit of a cheerleader for doing this. But the thing
is, for too long now, we Jacksonians have allowed – and even participated in – negative talk about our capital city. I see that changing…and an increasing wave of understanding that the development happening here in our city will ensure that the Metro area – and our state – will thrive, not only now, but in the future. It’s impossible to think about the future of the city without talking about our future business
BY JULIE SKIPPER Contributing Columnist
and community leaders, and how we recruit and retain that young talent. If you read about Generation Y and younger generations (I encourage you to), you’ll discover that they look for where they want to live first, and Then look for a job, instead of the other way around. That means it is critical to the life of our city that we work to make the metro a place that is attractive for young professionals. Is Jackson a place where they can see themselves living, working, and playing? We need the answer to be a resounding, “Yes.” Not long ago, I changed careers. Some of my friends pointed out that was a chance to move somewhere else, but without fail, I answered that there was no other place I’d rather be than Jackson. Unfortunately, when I graduated from Millsaps College in 2001 I didn’t feel that way, and I left the state for three years for graduate school. I have other friends who did the same. Like me, many of them have returned and are now working to make this the Jackson whose future we are proud to inherit. But what I dream of is the time when our best and brightest don’t think that they have to leave Mississippi to find the lifestyle they want. I want them to think of Jackson and think of a thriving downtown, a vibrant creative class, and plenty of arts, entertainment, and recreation. I’ve talked to people in the business community who say things like, “We’re not competing for recruits with other firms in town; we’re competing with Birmingham, Nashville, and Atlanta.” So what should we do? Work together to get them to the city first.
A native of Meridian, MS, Julie Skipper is the Development Officer for the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson. She graduated summa cum laude from Millsaps College with a degree in art history and received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School. After returning to Jackson, she practiced law for three years until starting her current position. Julie is actively involved in the Jackson community. She is a proud resident of downtown. She currently serves as chair of the YP Alliance, a board member of the Women’s Fund of Mississippi, on the advisory council for Downtown Jackson Partners, a board member of the Jackson Progressives, and president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. She is a 2007 graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson.
26 - Greater Jackson Business
Next month, I’ll get to tag along with Downtown Jackson Partners and a couple of other young professionals to talk to a group of local high schoolers about “Jackson Now.” I hope that we capture their interest and help them see that they can stay here, invest in their city, and be a part of Jackson Future, not just Jackson Present, because this is a place where you can have a dream and make it happen. I hope that by getting them involved with what’s going on now we’ll help them realize that what makes Birmingham, Nashville, and Atlanta exciting is also what can happen (and is happening) here. At the very least, it’s a first step. I’m thrilled that every day, I see people starting to understand this. I’m excited to be a part of groups like the Young Professionals Alliance, which has made recruiting, retaining, and promoting young professionals its mission and is working to collaborate with other groups to really focus on these efforts. I hope that you will support them, and others who are working to improve the quality of life in Jackson. And I hope that you will become a bit of a cheerleader for your capital city, too. - GJB
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F I N A N C I A L
Reassessing Your Risk Tolerance
T
he potential return from any investment can generally be linked to the amount of risk the investor is willing to assume. Finding that balance between the return you desire and the risk you can handle has never been easy. What makes this problem even trickier is that your financial goals - and thus your risk tolerance - inevitably change throughout your life. Therefore, the investment that was right for your goals of yesterday may not be so appropriate today.
BY ROBERT DIENELT Contributing Columnist
It is a good idea to review your investments periodically with risk tolerance in mind. If you heed the advice of your financial advisor, you probably already review your account statements on a regular basis to monitor performance and change any investments whose time has passed. Take some extra time when doing this to screen your investments for inappropriate levels of risk. Most people identify risk management with safety of principal. This is true to an extent - a dollar locked in a safety deposit box for 10 years will most likely be worth a dollar when it is taken out. Of course, that dollar is not likely to have as much purchasing power in 10 years as it does today. In other words, locking your money away exposes it to inflation risk. What you gained in stability, you lost in buying power. Like that dollar in the box, some investments are also exposed to inflation risk. There are many other types of risk as well, which apply to different securities. The following are some of the types of investment risk you should keep in mind. Market risk - the possibility that an investment may lose its value when traded in the financial markets. Credit risk - the possibility that the issuer of an investment (a corporate bond, for example) may not live up to its financial obligations and cause you to lose your invested capital or not receive expected interest payments. Interest Rate risk - the risk that, if interest rates rise, the price (value) of an investor’s bond holdings and certain stocks will decline. Reinvestment risk - the possibility that interest rates will fall as a fixed-income investment matures and cause you to be unable to reinvest matured assets at an attractive rate of return. Liquidity risk - the risk that you will be unable to liquidate an asset (such as real estate, collectibles or thinly traded stocks) when you want and at the price you want. While the variety of risks is substantial, you should not let risk management intimidate you. People participate in the financial markets because the rewards have often enough outweighed the risks. By carefully assessing all the risks an investment offers and periodically reviewing the holdings in your portfolio with your financial advisor in consideration with your risk tolerance, you should be able to find a level of risk that is appropriate for meeting your investment goals. Robert A. Dienelt, AAMS (Accredited Asset Management Specialist) is a Financial Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. His office is located in Brandon, MS. www.RobertADienelt.com
28 - Greater Jackson Business
Greater Jackson Business - 29
P L A N N I N G
Reducing Your Taxes Higher Taxes With rising deficits, taxes will increase. The Bush tax cuts will expire at the end of this year, and this will push the top rate from 35% to 39.6% and the top rate on capital gains goes from 15% up to 20%. It is no secret that President Obama and Congress are considering other avenues to raise your taxes. The Mississippi legislature is also entertaining options to increase taxes. Even the Mississippi estate tax could rise again from the dead without legislative action.
BY WALT DALLAS Contributing Columnist
Let us remember what taxes were like before Ronald Reagan. The income tax rate for income over $215,400 was 70%. Income taxes were so high that there was even a maxi-tax. There was also a tax penalty if your IRA grew too large. Some taxpayers paid more than 100% on some income. So what to do? Take advantages of the legal ways to reduce your taxes. Engage a tax professional who can guide you to the deductions and credits. Clients have become extremely interested in income tax plans again. These tax plans can substantially reduce your income tax by taking advantage of the opportunities in the income tax code. Tax planning is generally done by using a C corporation as that sort of corporation can do the tax-advantaged plans available to the larger publicly traded companies. While a tax attorney generally sets up the tax plan, a good tax preparer may be the most important part of the team as the rules must be followed so the tax deductions and credits can be supported. Many clients are considering the conversion of regular IRAs into a Roth IRA. On the conversion, the income tax is paid, but future distributions from the Roth IRA will be tax-free. Therefore, if income tax rates are rising, less in income taxes will be paid. However not all people should convert to the Roth IRA and should seek professional help to determine disposition as the calculations are complex. Some clients are concerned that Congress will go back on its word regarding future tax-free distributions from a Roth IRA. While we recognize the retroactive tax issues, this would indeed be unusual, as Congress usually grandfathers tax positions taken under prior law. And if Congress does not abide by rules of fairness, the public will lose faith in the system. The current capital gains rate is only 15% at the federal level. Mississippi also has a 5% tax. Clients are considering selling highly appreciated stock to take advantage of the low capital gains rates. Other clients plan to contribute highly appreciated stock to charity and avoid the capital gains tax completely and receive a charitable income tax deduction. Other clients plan to retain highly appreciated assets until death and receive the tax-free step up in basis to completely avoid capital gains tax. One of my own clients took our advice to the extreme with awesome tax results. The client borrowed against the appreciation in a securities portfolio avoiding the sale of highly appreciated stock and capital gains, and at his death, all of the capital gains were avoided and the obligation to the bank was deducted from the gross estate for estate tax purposes. In income tax planning, care should be taken to abide by all of the statues, regulations and other authorities as this is a complex area. Walt Dallas, J.D., LL.M. (taxation) is a tax attorney with his offices in Flowood, Mississippi and can be reached at wdallas@corporateplanning123.com or by phone at 601-209-8327. Dallas will be writing a series of columns on income tax planning for future issues. - GJB
30 - Greater Jackson Business
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Clinton – Brian Harris recently founded Bridgeport Financial Group, LLC, a fullservice financial planning and investing firm. Brian worked for A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., as a financial consultant for five years before deciding to start his own firm. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance, and he currently maintains NASD Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. Please visit www.bridgeportfg.com for more information. Securities and advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Cambridge and Bridgeport Financial Group, LLC, are not affiliated.
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B U S I N E S S S E E N
GJB: Business after Hours On Monday, February, 22 Greater Jackson Business held its first “After Hours” event at The Auditorium restaurant in Jackson’s Fondren District. Close to 300 people attended this networking party which will be held every month. Shown below are scenes from the evening’s festivities. Photos By Jeff Sanders
Publisher Jack Criss and Advertising Administrator Mindi Phillips
Cindy Tauchar and Blake Wallace
Jack Criss, Robert Dienelt and Danny McDill
Earl and Ty Robinson
Cindy Cobb and Jack Criss
Jack Criss chatting with guests
Jack Criss, Lynn and Stacey Wall
Kelly Shannon and Lesley McLin
The crowd enjoying themselves
32 - Greater Jackson Business
Families Helping Families Since 1974 Services Available: Skilled Nursing - Physical Therapy Speech Therapy - Occupational Therapy Social Workers - Certified Nurse Aides Registered Dietician - Specialized Services Wound Care - Orthopedic Rehab - Hospice Services
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If you can’t be there, we can. She’s one fastball away from victory, and when she lets it go, the crowd’s gonna go wild. But if you can’t be there cheering in the stands, you can still make sure that she knows you believe in her. Farm Bureau Insurance has a wide range of life insurance policies that can meet your family’s needs, so you can help her feel like a winner, no matter what happens.
Contact the agent nearest you.
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