B-Metro's Experts 2015

B-METRO’S

experts 2015

Each day, we’re met with situations that require our attention; for many, our success is dependent on the guidance of others. From managing your wealth to designing the fitness routine that’s right for your body, you deserve people you trust to help you navigate life. Read on to discover B-Metro’s 2015 Experts—No matter what your situation, there’s an expert for that.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: Catherine Ryals Couture make coNtact: 2839 Culver Road Suite204 Birmingham, AL 35223 205-329-0024 www.stellareesebridal.com

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Catherine Ryals Couture provides a service that some would almost consider extinct: custom-made clothing. “Couture, to me, means custom,” she says. “The client gets what she wants regarding style and fit. We cater to our customers; we want them to feel special. And, because each dress is a reflection of the customer, nobody else will ever have the same dress!”

Catherine’s passion for sewing and design, inherited from her grandmother and encouraged by her parents, bloomed throughout her childhood. After years of perfecting her craft by doing high-end wedding gown alterations, Catherine started her Stella Reese Bridal line.

She would repeatedly hear the mothers of the bride and groom say how difficult it was for them to find their own special dresses. “A mother of the bride or groom does not want to show up at her child’s wedding and see a guest

wearing the same dress.

That’s where I come in.

The mom gets her own unique creation.” Of her first custom gown, designed for a mother of the groom, she says, “It was such a rewarding experience. The process is so much fun and the design work is so collaborative.

Catherine Ryals Couture offers services for custom gowns of any kind, as well as wedding dress alterations. Each dress is meticulously and thoughtfully conceived. Gowns by Catherine Ryals Couture are marked by impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail, and highquality materials and laces imported from around the world. They employ couture techniques so that each dress reflects the elegance, style, and perfection that meet the demanding standards of discerning ladies.

Recently, Catherine and her team have expanded their services to include informal wear as well. “We started doing informal pieces because one client asked us to make a vest/cape for winter,” Catherine shares. “It was fun! We love what we do, so taking on different types of projects keeps the creative energy flowing around the studio.”

Catherine Ryals Couture

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the experts Name of BusiNess: Navigate Wealth Management make coNtact: One Independence Plaza, Ste 816 Birmingham, AL 35209 (205) 224-9500 www.navigatewealth.com

Caleb Hopkins & Johan Grahs

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The Retirement Equation:

Control What You Can

Source of graph: J.P Morgan

What is the retirement equation and why is it important?

The retirement equation includes those categories that affect your financial situation in retirement, and it helps people focus on the factors they can control. For example, while portfolio risk and market returns are obviously related, portfolio risk can be managed while market returns cannot. Yet many investment discussions revolve around returns and not risk. The same holds true for governmental policies regarding social security and future expected tax rates. We use expectations for these factors when we make long-term income projections.

What factors can someone control?

Investment portfolio risk is a key factor that can and should be intentionally managed. A comprehensive financial plan gives perspective and provides a framework for decision making, and it allows for evaluating the impact of portfolio risk on a future income stream. This is true whether you are a business owner with an IRA, a professor with a 403(b) plan and pension income, or you intend to generate an income stream from insurance proceeds. All investors have unique needs, wants, and wishes, as well as having different income streams as and tax situations. Similarly, deciding whether spending now or later will better align your assets with your goals is something within your control, and which can be evaluated with financial projections.

How can you control portfolio risk?

Knowing your tolerance for risk, for example the right mix of stocks and bonds, is a great place to start. People usually think they can stomach more risk than they can. The 2008-2009 market collapse is a great example of this when many investors took more risk than they could really manage, and ended up selling at the wrong time. A thorough understanding of your risk tolerance, your willingness and ability to take risk, will lessen the chances of falling into the pitfalls of the average investor – “selling low and buying high”. Awareness of risk and a

financial plan are a wonderful combination to increase your chances of disciplined investing and success.

What about the things that are out of your control?

What the stock market does in any given year is completely out of your control. While “experts” often speak confidently about their knowledge of the future direction of markets, there is little evidence that following their advice when managing investments increases success. On the contrary, the evidence we’ve seen is that when the average investor tries to follow market timing recommendations, they actually tend to underperform the market as opposed to beating the market. Also, future government policies and its implications on taxes and social security are other examples of issues that are not within an individual’s control. This doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t currently employ the best strategy possible, but trying to predict future tax laws may not be a useful exercise for most investors.

You’ve mentioned financial planning. Why is a financial plan important?

There are a lot of misconceptions about financial planning; chiefly, that a financial plan is just setting a household budget. A financial plan is much more than this. It is the process of determining whether and how an individual can meet goals through the proper management of financial resources. A comprehensive plan will incorporate elements of cash flow needs, exposure to risks, estate planning, investments and tax planning. Ultimately, a plan that incorporates your current situation, your goals and objectives, and action items that you can control to get you closer to your goals brings peace of mind.

About Navigate Wealth Management, LLC (www.navigatewealth.com) Navigate Wealth Management is an independent, fee-only wealth adviser to individuals and families, and serve clients over the age of 50 and with more than $1 million in investable assets.

Navigate Wealth Management

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AllSouth Appliance Prepares to Move, Partners With Wellborn Cabinets

By Terri Bischoff

AllSouth Appliance is growing in exciting new ways. From a scheduled move by the end of the year to an exciting new Birmingham showroom to a new partnership with Wellborn Cabinets, AllSouth continues to expand its role as the state’s premier expert in creating extraordinary kitchens AllSouth’s soon-to-be new location on State Farm Parkway off Lakeshore (the former Babies “R” Us location) will provide an expanded showroom for AllSouth’s family of top-tier brands, as well as more convenient parking for customers. The Wolf Subzero Living Kitchens showcases will feature updated displays and increased space for product display. The company’s popular outdoor kitchen and living spaces solutions will also be able to be featured more prominently In addition to their new showroom, AllSouth recently announced their partnership with Wellborn Cabinets, a family owned and operated cabinetmaker located in Ashland, Alabama. Wellborn has products that fit most consumer tastes and budgets, and the connection will assist in developing AllSouth’s ability to be the go-to

expert for the very heart of the home, the kitchen.

AllSouth also believes in nurturing the heart of the community so it is very active in assisting charities with meeting their awareness goals via special events at the showroom. Charities involved include the March of Dimes, Birmingham Humane Society, and the Ronald McDonald House to name a few.

Founded by brothers Tyler and Josh Hillman almost two decades ago, AllSouth now has locations in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Chattanooga, bringing the highest levels of quality brands and expert advice to consumers in those markets and throughout the South. AllSouth staff attends multiple training experiences each year to keep up-to-date with new technology and product development. Staff design expert Lynn McWhorter specializes in kitchen and bath design and provides in-house cabinet design.

“Constant training for our specialists is one difference from large, home-improvement stores,” Leah McIntyre, marketing director/event coordinator, says. “This makes our staff experts in their fields.”

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the experts Name of BusiNess: AllSouth Appliance make coNtact: 4 W Oxmoor Rd Birmingham, AL (205) 942-0408 www.MyAllSouth.com

AllSouth Appliance

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the experts Name of BusiNess: The Fred Smith Group RealtySouth make coNtact: (205) 879-6330 www.SoldByFred.com

The Fred Smith Group When Fred Smith put together a team of Alabama Real Estate agents, he made sure that he only associated himself with the best in the business. With over 50 years of combined experience, the team has expertise in every area of greater Birmingham and its outlying communities. Ashley Lewis, Dawn Mead, Langston Hereford, Stephanie Knight, Jen Brown, Brandi Gann, Amanda Dabbs, & Briana Burgess round out the team that’s based out of the Crestline branch of RealtySouth.

Fred’s team has been representing buyers and sellers since 1995 and have closed on over 1500 properties. The Fred Smith Group employs an aggressive marketing plan unlike any other Realtor in the

area, we believe in marketing beyond the sign. We go the extra mile to help you achieve your selling goals by constantly researching the market and property values so your home is priced effectively from day one.

After one meeting, we will have laid out for you exactly what steps will be taken to sell your home or property for the most amount of money in the least amount of time. Just read our wonderful reviews on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and Angie’s List.

Whether you’re considering buying or selling, our team can guide you in the right direction If you are thinking of moving, visit soldbyfred.com or call 205-368-2280.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: The Rose Law Firm, LLC Matrimonial and Family law

make coNtact:

(205) 323-1124 www.RoseFamilyLaw.com

Practical divorce tips from a family law specialist Q: I got cheated on so I should automatically win custody, right?

Well, not exactly. It’s a common misconception that the person who is in the wrong automatically gets the short end of the stick. Even though your spouse is a cheat, the court may still consider them fit as a parent. The reason for this is because our courts use what is referred to as “best interest of the child” to determine how to rule on custody matters. Don’t fret though, because a good family law attorney should know exactly what the court (and each judge) is looking for and should be able put together a strategy based on that.

Q: But I’m sure I’ll win, so I should just do my own divorce, right?

You can, but whether you should is another matter entirely. I have seen firsthand so many people unknowingly sabotage their own case by making poor decisions while representing themselves. Family law is a complex field of law with a lot of nuance; you aren’t going to learn it from some Google research or your well-meaning Uncle Joe who took a semester of law school. Would you trust yourself to hit a major league fastball after googling how to hit? No? Then, considering the stakes involved, why would you feel comfortable arguing against someone who went to school to win these types of arguments?

Q: Well, what can I do to help my case?

First and foremost, document, document, document. For instance, if you are claiming your spouse has a drug problem, the court is more apt to believe you if you have some evidence other than word of mouth.

If you are getting threatening texts, phone calls, or emails, store them somewhere secure until your attorney can review them. It’s much harder for the court to ignore hard evidence. Consider minimizing your social media presence. It’s really easy to fall into a trap of doing or saying something that can and most certainly will be used against you.

Jennifer Rose

The Rose Law Firm Lawyers use Facebook and Twitter too, and they can get at those posts you think are private.

Q: My children are upset. Any suggestions?

Yes. I strongly recommend that you encourage them talk to you about whatever is bothering them, without judging their feelings. If they are old enough, consider letting them see a counselor so they can get their feelings out to a professional. Make sure they know that the divorce is not their fault. Fight fair when it comes to the kids by reserving any negative talk about your spouse for your attorney, friends, or your counselor. Last, but not least, don’t drag your kids into the middle of your divorce by making them pick sides or feel bad for loving both parents.

No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: PhysIQ Lifestyle Medicine make coNtact: 3125 Independence Dr #300a, Homewood, AL 35209 (205) 874-9940 • physiqmedicine.com

Dr. Kim Fagan and PhysIQ Lifestyle Medicine Helping You Reach Your Fitness and Wellness Goals Dr. Fagan completed her medical training in 1991 with board certification in both internal medicine and sports medicine. Since that time, she has had a dream of combining those skills sets; her dream has been realized in PhysIQ , a unique practice that caters to athletes and non-athletes alike. PhysIQ is designed to provide information and treatment recommendations as a guide toward a life of wellness. PhysIQ’s services begin with a physical evaluation, medical history overview, and labs appropriate to the patient.

Professional staff, FDA-approved equipment, personal care, and a physiatrist board certified in both internal and sports medicine sets PhysIQ apart.

For the athlete, PhysIQ seeks to improve performance. Testing including VO2 max testing, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and the Bod Pod (which measures body fat) are available to tailor a plan to help each of PhysIQ’s athletes succeed. For the nonathlete, a team approach utilizing a physician, dietician, and exercise physiologist is employed. For some, treatment involves hormone, expanded panel thyroid, adrenal, and other lab testing to uncover the reasons behind a patient’s difficulty in losing weight, building muscle, or overcoming fatigue. If problems are detected, bio-identical hormones, thyroid replacement, and an adrenal support plan is put into place. Targeted, personalized supplements are also available and recommended only if there is a true need.

Healthy aging is another focus for Dr. Fagan and her team. This includes weight management and appropriate exercise routines, as well as specialized lab tests including micro-nutrient, CorusCAD, telomere, and TK, with many others available upon request.

PhysIQ is not designed to replace your primary care physician. It is meant to be a collaborative effort in order to provide both care for any of your medical conditions with the addition of cutting-edge preventative and life-enhancing services. Dr. Fagan’s passion is to help you realize your personal goals no matter what your start point.

the experts

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Name of BusiNess: Dog Days of Birmingham

make coNtact:

112 18th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 458-9364 www.dogdaysofbirmingham.com

Dog Days of Birmingham Jimmy and Sue Johnson are the owners of Dog Days of Birming­ ham, a full service dog care facility. Jimmy serves as the President of Dog Days and Sue serves as CEO for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Dog Days of Birmingham offers daycare, boarding, grooming, train­ ing and a retail store. Dogs attending daycare are assigned a regular classroom with their own human to play with and who takes care of them. Most of the regulars have best dog buddies that they hang out on the playground with! One of the most unique features of Dog Days is that the owners live on site in their own special loft. If they have to go out of town a staff member is paid to sleep at the facil­ ity. The boarding dogs are never alone overnight. Brad Strickland

is Director of Training and has been training dogs for over 15 years and the Head Groomer is Melissa Norman who has over 5 years of grooming experience. For the Johnsons, Dog Days is a venture of love for dogs and a way of life they even have 4 dogs of their own. Dog Days of Birmingham will be celebrating their 5th year anniversary this September and are excited about a 2nd location being opened spring of 2016 in Lakeview in the current location of Cahaba Brew­ ery on 3rd Ave South. Jimmy serves on the Board of Directors for Hand­in­Paw and both of the Johnsons are active is several charities benefitting dog rescue. Dog Days of Birmingham’s motto is, “It’s ALL about the dogs!”

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the experts Name of BusiNess: Sports Vision South make coNtact: 3055 Lorna Road Suite 100 Hoover, AL, 35216 (205) 490-1063 • www.sportsvisionsouth.com

Sports Vision South Want to know the real secret weapon of our country’s greatest athletes? Dynamic visual skills.

Sports Vision South is based on the simple, yet powerful premise that vision is a learned skill and, like any other learned skill, it can be improved with practice.

What sets elite student and professional athletes apart from the rest is an interactive and intense training regimen focused on honing visual and motor skills.

Research has shown that up to 80% of common athletic mistakes are due to vision errors—despite this, very few coaches and athletes are aware of the benefits of vision and cognitive training techniques.

Sports Vision South was founded by Dr. Dorri Goldschmidt, an optometrist who has been based in the metro Birmingham area for the past 23 years.

With a professional goal of helping athletes of all ages and sports perform at their peak level, she has spent years receiving specialized training and acquiring cutting-edge equipment to achieve that goal.

Through a sophisticated program of electronic perception and cognitive training devices , the Sports Vision South program has been shown to produce dramatic results in eye-hand coordination, peripheral awareness, concentration under stress conditions, speed and span of recognition, depth perception, and anticipation timing. Athletes who have trained with Dr. Goldschmidt’s program read plays faster, concentrate better, judge the speed and distance of objects with greater accuracy, and adjust focus to moving objects more quickly.

Programs just like the Sports Vision South regimen are being utilized by collegiate and professional sports teams across the country, yet vision training still remains a secret amongst the general public.

Team up with Sports Vision South to make sharp, precise vision your own secret weapon, and you’ll increase your capacity to see, react, and perform like an elite athlete.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: Alliance Wealth Advisors

make coNtact:

420 20th Street North, Suite 2000, Birmingham, AL 35203 (205) 986-5022

Specialties: tax-efficient investing, planning for women, pre-retirement catch-ups Ivey de la Torre is passionate about helping individuals and families make sense of their complex finances. Like many Birmingham locals, she watched countless friends and family suffer devastating losses as a result of the accounting fraud at a local health care institution.

When her own parents lost a portion of their retirement in the scandal, she knew it was time to start making a difference. “I watched my parents and our friends lose so much of their savings—not only because of the fraud that took place, but also because of misplaced trust,” says Ivey. “I made it my mission to help change the way people approached investing, as well as the way they looked at their finances as a whole.”

As one of the founders and a principal advisor of Alliance Wealth Advisors, Ivey is dedicated to delivering fresh, unbiased financial guidance based on each client’s unique situation. She applies her background in tax analysis, her dedication to personal service, and her experience helping women make better, more informed financial decisions to help take charge of their financial future. “I’ve seen too many people get poor financial guidance because they think they need to approach their finances the same way their parents did,” says Ivey. “What they don’t see is that times have changed. The economy has changed. Global investing has changed. To be successful financially, it’s important to adapt to what’s happening in the world and take a new approach with a new perspective.”

Ivey de la Torre A fresh perspective for your finances

Full-service financial planning Ivey finds that her attention to tax-efficient planning is particularly valuable to her clients. “Everyone wants to keep more money in their pockets, but few people realize that taxes are the biggest culprit at eating away assets,” says Ivey. “Focusing on balancing the taxes you pay today with the taxes you pay in retirement can have a great impact on your income stream in retirement. It’s one of the low-risk ways to generate predictable income stream in retirement.”

Other areas of focus include helping to empower women to take responsibility for their own financial well being, and educating people on the importance of working with an advisor who is truly working in the client’s best interest. “I chose to be an independent advisor so I have the freedom to recommend solutions that address each client’s needs—not the sales goals of a large organization.” This independence is one reason her clients turn to her for guidance with everything from buying a new home, purchasing land, re-financing a house, leasing out their property, and even selecting the appropriate health care coverage.

“Each person’s financial life is much bigger than most people realize.

By looking into every aspect of my clients’ financial worlds, I’m able to remove the stress money often brings, and help make their lives that much more relaxing and successful.”

Ivey de la Torre is registered with and securities offered through Kovack Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Kovack Securities Corporate Headquarters: 800-711-4078 | kovacksecurities.com Investment Advisory services offered through Kovack Advisors, Inc. Alliance Wealth Advisors is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: Mantooth Interiors make coNtact: 2813 18th St. South , Homewood, Al 35209 205-879-5474 mantoothinteriors.com

“Our clients come seeking our aesthetic expertise. But they come back because of the way we connect with them as people.”

– Lynette Mantooth

At Mantooth Interiors, Lynette Mantooth has drawn upon years of experience to assemble one of the most impressive collections of fine home furnishings available in the Southeast. This luxury home interior design showroom has deep relationships with the most respected and innovative manufacturers in the business, which is key in sourcing the inspired pieces Lynette and her design staff use to craft unique solutions for their customers.

The collection includes a comprehensive catalog of upholstery, fine case goods, lighting, accessories, custom window treatments and the best in beds, bedding and linens. But the real difference that Mantooth Interiors delivers is in the way the experienced design staff listens and

works with their clients to bring the customer’s vision to life. It’s also a family business, with Lynette working together with her husband, Larry Mantooth, as true partners.

Lynette summed up what people can expect working with her and her design team this way, “The starting point for your home doesn’t have to be what’s trendy. And it also doesn’t need to be what’s been done time and time again. We approach design knowing that by spending time with you, we can help make your home a reflection of you.

It’s really about starting a conversation that can transform the way you live.”

Fine Furniture – Drapery & WinDoW treatments – Lighting – accessories – FuLL Design services

the experts

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Name of BusiNess: Grants Mill Animal Hospital Dr. Lindsey Petras make coNtact: (205) 933-0515 5431 Beacon Drive Irondale, AL 35210 info@grantsmillanimalhospital.com

Grants Mill Animal Hospital Dr. Lindsey Petras

Grants Mill Animal Hospital opened its doors in the spring of 2014 with an office located in Irondale, convenient to many of Birmingham’s neighborhoods. From the very beginning, Dr. Lindsey Petras’s priority has been to provide her patients and their families with the very best veterinary care available in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Personalized treatment is the cornerstone of care at Grants Mill Animal Hospital; from wellness programs tailored to the age, breed,

lifestyle, and personality of your pet, our commitment to the needs of our patients is incomparable.

From routine wellness care, such as boarding and grooming, to advanced diagnostics and medical/surgical treatments for your loved ones, Dr. Petras and the knowledgeable and compassionate staff at Grants Mill Animal Hospital are pleased to meet all of your veterinary needs.

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the experts Name of BuisNess: SWAG Studio make coNtact: 2711 18th Place So Homewood 35209 www.swaghomestaging.com

SWAG Studio SWAG Studio, based in Homewood, specializes in home staging, new construction design services, and color consulting. Whether you’re selling or staying, we’ll transform your home so that it will attract as many buyers as possible, or create a living space that you will treasure and enjoy for years to come.

Established in 2009, by Erin Dunavant, we have successfully transformed hundreds of homes throught the Birmingham area. Our extensive experience with homes of all styles and sizes, combined with

Visit our blog at www.swagdesignstudio.com our understanding of the latest in real estate trends, make us the ideal resource to help your home stand out from the competition and attract as many buyers as possible.

We have established a reputation for helping home owners, builders, and real estate professionals sell their homes faster and for top dollar. From condominium to mid-market and multi-million dollar homes, all of these properties have benefited from SWAG Studio’s design services.

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the experts Name of BusiNess: JJ Eyes

make coNtact: 2814 18th Street South Homewood, AL 35209 205-703-8596

7 South Church St. Suite D Fairhope, AL 36532 251-929-0015 www.jjeyesoptical.com

JJ Lamb

JJ Eyes JJ Eyes was first opened in 2002 in Fairhope, AL by JJ Lamb, with a goal to provide ultimate customer service and quality merchandise with state-of-the-art lenses. After 12 years in Fairhope, JJ and her family moved to Birmingham, AL. She then began working on opening her second location. JJ Eyes opened in the heart of Homewood in August 2014.

We are a premier optical boutique that carries exclusive top lines found only in the world’s most metropolitan areas. We pride ourselves on our customer service where we take the time to evaluate each client’s face shape, coloring and personality when fitting for a pair of glasses or sunglasses. JJ Eyes is one of the only eye exam facilities in the region where the patient receives 100 percent of the eye testing from a doctor. Stop by today and let JJ or one of our experienced staff members help you pick out your new look.

“Choosing a frame that accentuates a persons’ most striking features and conveys a person’s personality is an art form.”