Eagle Creek Life
OCTOBER 2015
Meet Your Neighbors, The Marquez Family
Photo by: Amanda Yachmetz Photography
A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC
IN THIS ISSUE • Meet Your Neighbors • Quick Reference Directory • Are Interest Rates Rising?
• Here are 8 Ways to Increase Profits • October 31st brought to you by God. Enjoy!!! • Pass Go, Collect $200
• Setting to Flight the Wings of Innovation • The Three “Ds" of Investing
Hello From Kisselback Ford. In this month’s issue, in addition to our savings below, I am reaching out to your community to see if you or anyone you might know is interested in an Administrative Assistant position. I am looking to ad the position to the dealership, working as my assistant with Administrative, HR and Marketing responsibilities. If you are interested please send your info/resume to me at Kiss@kisselbackford.com. Thank you. Bobby Kisselback
P.s. Just 20 minutes to work!
Unstoppable Sign and Go Continues in October! ZERO DOWN!
ZERO FIRST MONTH'S PAYMENT! ZERO DUE AT SIGNING! (with Approved credit from Ford Motor Credit Company)
“The Works” $29.95
plus tax
Oil Change and Tire Rotation
407-892-2141 • KISSELBACKFORD.COM 1118 13TH STREET • ST.CLOUD, FL 34769
Most Makes and Models Gas Engines Only Diesel Discounts Also Available
October 2015
from the
Editor Welcome
Bill Bokunic, Publisher & CEO Quantum Marketing Communications 321..331.6398 • Bill@QMCWorld.com
Happy October 2015!
Join us on Facebook--just search for “Eagle Creek Life”. Eagle Creek Life is now online. Visit www.eaglecreeklifemag.com or www.QMCWorld.com This month we welcome a new advertiser and supporter of Eagle Creek Life. Making an appearance is the Florida Health Insurance Exchange, your local Blue Cross agents in Saint Cloud. Ellen Bryan and Johanna are two excellent agents that will help you navigate through the ever changing health insurance maze. We personally use them and have a number of resident/friends who are clients as well. They are highly recommended! Johanna is an Eagle Creek resident and is also featured on this month’s cover! The Eagle Creek Social Committee is hosting a Halloween Trunk or Treat event October 30th 5-8 pm at the Eagle Creek Clubhouse. There will be hay rides, costume contest, and a whole lot more--a lot of fun for the whole family! Please see their ad later in the magazine. Please mention our publication when visiting any of our advertisers. Until November! Bill Bokunic Publisher and CEO, Quantum Marketing Communications 321-331-6398 bill@QMCWorld.com
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ON THE COVER
Meet Your Neighbors
Meet Your Neighbors, Johanna & Rodmy
What is your kids favorite things about Eagle Do you have a cause or business that you would Creek? He loves the amenities that he can walk home. like to promote? Yes! I am a licensed agent with Florida Blue (Blue Cross & Blue Shield). Please see my Where did you move from? Hunter Creek ad in the magazine. What do you miss most? Nothing at all. What do you do for fun? Boating What is your background? Originally from Venezuela. What is the last magazine that you have read? Licensed insurance agent for health and life. People Magazine. What is a good early story about Eagle Creek? What is the last movie that you have seen in the I like Eagle Creek, easy access to main highway, easy theatre? "Mission Impossible 3" commute to work and great schools. from left to right: Johanna and Rodmy Who is your role model and why? Arnold What is unusual or unique about Eagle Creek, in Schwarzenegger. He is a successful person who has Who’s on the cover? Johanna and Rodmy with their comparison to your previous home? The garage accomplished a lot. size, location to food, shopping and new amenities. son Alex. What is your favorite TV Show? "Walking Dead" Do you have any pets? Yes, we have a Chiguagua What is your favorite weekend activity? Boating. What makes you laugh? Movies, my son and husband. named Lucky. Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud When did you move to Eagle Creek? September of? Nice neighbors. 2014. Are there any recommendations for other What do you love most about Eagle Creek? I love neighbors? The community access, peace and quiet. everything.
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Are Interest Rates Rising? by Jeanine Corcoran
I
f you read the newspaper or watch the news, the experts are talking about interest rates and how they are expected to rise possibly before the end of the year. What does this mean to you? If you’re an owner and you’re thinking of refinancing, you should do so now before the mortgage interest rate goes up. The difference in savings to you on a rate of 3.83% versus 4.83% is almost $60.00 a month for every $100,000 you borrow. On a $300,000 loan, that’s $180.00 a month or more than $2,000 per year. If you’re a buyer, the rising interest rates may be the difference of whether or not you can afford your monthly payment. If you’ve been on the fence about purchasing, don’t wait. Waiting can cost you thousands of dollars -more than $60,000 actually, over the life of the loan but more importantly, your monthly payment may be significantly higher. Think of what this can do to your purchasing power.
Prior to 2011, the last time mortgage interest rates were below 4% was in the 1950’s. The mortgage interest rate now is at 3.83% which is still historically low. Whether you are a homeowner looking to refinance or a buyer looking to purchase, take advantage of the low rates while they are still here and before it’s too late.
Jeanine Corcoran is the Broker and Owner of The Corcoran Connection, LLC – A Real Estate and Property Management Company. Jeanine has been helping families with their Real Estate needs since 2005. Jeanine is Barbara Corcoran’s sister from ABC’s SHARK TANK. Jeanine can be reached at 407.922.3308, email her at JeanineCorcoran@gmail.com, or visit TheCorcoranConnection.com.
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Here are 8 Ways to Increase Profits by Larry J. Herring, CPA
Benchmarks are developed from prior history or industry statistics. KPI’S are most effective when compared to benchmarks. Use KPI’s as a team builder and productivity tool for each department. Communication systems and how you treat your people are critical to performance. Use employee feedback to improve your profitability and overall performance.
N
o matter what size client I am working with, there are always questions regarding practices they can implement to increase sales and profitability. The usually suggest the following:
Your employees want and need to be rewarded. How, when and how much depends upon their productivity. Pension plans, cafeteria plans, employee insurance plans and non-qualified plans reward employees for extraordinary performance.
Goal setting almost universally improves performance. Establishing business goals involves a reasonable amount of introspection into what makes your business work and what you want its future to be.
Develop an alliance with other businesses that reach the same prospects as you. Concentrate your marketing efforts to gain the maximum from your promotion. Develop a customized marketing plan for your business. Use social media as a marketing tool to reach new customers and foster customer loyalty.
Grow revenue in ways that are not dependent upon gaining new customers. For example, upselling existing customers or reducing customer attrition. What do all the numbers really tell you about your business? What drives profitability and how can you measure these factors? These are key performance indicators (KPI’s). It is important to have management focus on KPI’s as they are used to evaluate factors that are critical to the success of a business. KPI’s differ depending on the type of business. Some examples include a customer loyalty metric or a net revenue metric. What you can measure, you can manage. What you can manage, you can leverage.
The use of technology to streamline internal processes and to improve the external link employees have with customers is of key interest. Utilize the latest breakthroughs in technology applicable to your company. If you have any questions regarding the above please feel free to call Jennifer Lutz at Larry Herring, CPA, PA, , at 407-647-7777. For any of our other services please contact Larry J. Herring, CPA, PA, at 407-647-7777 for a free, no obligation consultation on how we can help you today.
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October 31st brought to you by God. Enjoy!!!
B
elieve it or not God made Halloween! Ps 118:24 says
My Grandmother used to say “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” I will admit I was somewhat troubled by my grandmother talking about throwing babies at all but overtime I came to understand what she meant. Don’t loose the good because you are afraid of the bad.
That’s right, God made Halloween, also known as October 31st. The author of every sunrise smiles at the dawn on October 31 just as he smiles on every other day that He gloriously creates. We should celebrate Halloween just as we should celebrate every other day given to us by God. Don’t tell any other Christians that I said this but since it’s just us, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN!”
My dad later would adopt, “Eat the chicken and throw away the bones.” The old television show used to say, “You take the good. You take the bad. You take ‘em both and then you have the facts of life.” The fact is a thing cannot be good or bad, it’s what you do with it that makes the difference and so it is with a day. A day created by a good God cannot be a bad thing so celebrate every day as a gift from God. Remember that the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “now is the day of salvation.” Every day is a good day to celebrate and share the good news that God has come and that we can know him.
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” I once performed an experiment where for an entire year, I read this verse each day, and believe it or not, there was not a single day of the year when it disappeared.
I am not ignorant of the Druid origins of this historically Celtic holiday or the sacrifices made to imaginary gods in antiquity. Nor am I ignorant of the modern claims of Wicca on October 31 but none of that changes the fact that “this is the day that God made” so let’s rejoice and be glad in this day. Why is it that once something is used for evil the good people quickly abandon it? The abuse of a thing does not make the thing itself bad. Everything is created by God and is intended for our good and his glory. I love candy, celebrations and happy children and I believe that God does too.
So forget Fall Festival, Harvest Festival, Family Festival and every other covert Halloween party renamed by churches across this country. Happy Halloween from Pastor Mike and Life Church. I hope that you will join us on the town square October 31 from 6-9 for live music, candy, games and hayrides as we celebrate this day that the LORD has made.
8 Eagle Creek Life
Pass Go, Collect $200 by Vasanti Rosado, Eagle Creek Resident
I
t’s hard not to think about college with Valencia right down the street. However, it can be easy to push it away from your mind if your children are far from college age. The Florida Prepaid College Board (myfloridaprepaid.com) encourages us to do the opposite by providing ways to invest in our children’s education now. We can take advantage of any time we have remaining by locking in today’s tuition rates and starting payments now. If you have been a Florida resident for the past 12 months and have a child (newborn up to an 11th grade student), you have many options available including a 2 year college, 4 year college, 2+2 (2 years / 60 credits at college and 2 years / 60 credits at university), 1 year university, or 4 year university. Payments can be spread out monthly, over 5 years, or paid in a lump sum. If you worry about over-purchasing, they have you covered there as well. Plans are transferable to another child or can be refunded. If your student decides to attend a school outside of Florida, the initial investment can be transferred. If your student wants to take a few years off after high school, no worries there either as enrollment can begin up to 10 years after the expected graduation date. So now that you have the basics, head over to the website and sign up so you will be the first to know when open enrollment begins for the 2015-2016 school year. You can read through the FAQs and plans while you wait. If you are on the fence, check out the 2+2 plan that starts your student off in a Florida college and then guarantees admission to a State University upon graduation. Florida holds the number 1 ranking for prepaid college plans. Let’s start a plan and see why! The Prepaid College Plan is 1 of 2 options you have for college savings. If you missed last month’s article on the 529 College Savings Plan, visit nonamom.comand search “529”.
10 Eagle Creek Life
Setting to Flight the Wings of Innovation by Greg Troxell, Cell: 408-905-9422
T
o date they have helped six children who due to congenital or accidental reasons had lost an arm. The concept for the nonprofit Limbitless Solutions, first came to Fulbright Scholar, Albert Manero, after hearing a radio interview about 3-D printing and its application in the medical field. Manero, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering at UCF, went to the manufacturing lab where he met Dominique Courbin, a student of Mechanical Engineering at UCF, and the two young men began setting to flight the wings of innovation. The first arm they produced was a fixed unit, but the students decided that they really wanted to produce a bionic arm. To realize the dream the students invited in a few more innovators from various fields of study and that’s when Eagle Creek resident, Victor Salomon, a senior at UCF now working for Texas Instruments, joined the team. Seeing that the team had begun implementing a principle known as electro myography Victor was able refine electrical engineering even further making the arm lighter, and more responsive. What they produced became known around the world as the Ironman Arm. The video featuring Robert Downey Junior presenting the IronMan arm spun virally. The team has been featured on BBC World News, NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and ABC’s World News Tonight. Despite global press, we were surprised to learn that not one athletic professional, or movie star, nor foundation, hospital, or business has begun a conversation with them to make a sizable donation to underwrite a large number of arms. While a conventional prosthetic arm is a “medical solution” costing nearly $5,000, the bionic solution from Limbitless Solutions has a material cost of just $350 (plus twenty to thirty volunteer hours to customize and manufacture). The team has successfully closed a crowdfunding campaign to provide twelve bionic arms this Christmas. The children, who have already been selected, are from ten different states. In the new year they will launch their second crowdfunding campaign, “Books and Bionics” aiming to raise $45,000. In partnership with “Help for Syria” and “Project MedLife” they will provide seventy-five arms and promote reading and literacy among children giving wings to the dreams of children around the world.
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12 Eagle Creek Life
The Three “Ds” of Investing by Steve Mullins, Investment Adviser, Primerica A good way to keep your focus on your goals is to remember the three ‘’Ds” of investing: Dollar-Cost Averaging, Discipline and Diversification. Dollar Cost Averaging Dollar-cost averaging means investing a certain fixed amount each month, regardless of what’s happening in the stock market. This eliminates having to predict when to invest as you will be able to take advantage of the market highs and lows - by purchasing fewer units when the prices are high and more units when the prices are low. While dollar-cost averaging can’t assure a profit or protect against loss, it does show how a systematic investing plan, sustained over a period of time has the potential to pay off, relieving your worries about whether the market is up or down. Discipline By staying focused and staying invested through all market activity, you can increase your long term potential because missing even a handful of the best-performing days in the market over time can considerably diminish your returns. Experts say market ‘’timing” is a bad way to invest. The key is to maintain a long-term view and stay focused on your goals. Diversification Because there is no single, perfect investment, take advantage of the next best thing which is to build your portfolio by balancing a variety of investments. Together these investments help you achieve your goals and reduce your portfolio’s risk. This may also work to increase returns by offsetting losses in one asset class with an opportunity for gains in another. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss.
An investor should consider a mutual fund’s risks, investment objectives, and fee expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the mutual fund. You may obtain a prospectus from your PFS Investments representative or by contacting PFS Investments at 770-381-1000. You should read and consider the prospectus carefully before investing.
Steve brings Wall Street to Main Street Most advisers don’t offer to help Main Street Americans because most don’t have a high enough net worth. Steve will offer his services to Americans living paycheck to paycheck to those who are the savviest of investors and every one in between.
Steve teaches people how to: • Get out of debt • Save money • Send their children to college • Obtain proper protection • Prepare for retirement • And become financially independent While… • Reducing their stress level • Improving their quality of life • Helping them enjoy life
Steve A Mullins, Harmony Resident Investment Adviser Primerica 1301 Bedford Dr. Ste. 102 Melbourne, Florida 32940 407-738-7479 steveamullins@primerica.com www.primerica.com/steveamullins
On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how motivated are you to accomplish some or all of the things above? If Steve can put together a plan that helps you accomplish some or all of those things, are you ready to get started? Steve takes an educational approach, and he offers sophisticated financial tools to the Middle Market for free. He starts with a FREE Financial Needs Analysis, a very basic questionnaire he can complete in 20 minutes. It asks all the right questions to help determine the next steps you need to take on the road to a better financial future.
Quick Reference Directory ACCOUNTANTS Larry Herring CPA, PA 611 N. Wymore Rd Winter Park, Florida 32789 407-647-7777 www.herringcpa.com
GYM Anytime Fitness 3380 Canoe Creek Rd. Saint Cloud, Florida 34772 407-891-9111 www.Anytimefitness.com
AIR-CONDITION SERVICES Eric Farnsworth 407-921-0760 ELFarnsworth@live.com
HAIR Victor Russell Salon 105 East 13th Street Saint Cloud, Florida 407-892-1005 www.victorrussell.com
AUTO & TRUCK DEALERS Kisselback Ford 407-892-2141 1118 13th Street Saint Cloud, Florida KISSELBACKFORD.COM
HANDYMAN The Good News Handyman - Rick Wade 407-468-1352
BANK Center State Bank - Karen M. Giel 4898 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy St. Cloud, Florida 34771 407-891-8396 x3782
HEALTH INSURANCE The Florida Health Insurance Exchange 1712 E 192 Saint Cloud Fl 34771 407-892-5500
CARPET CLEANING Best Care Carpet Cleaning 407-891-9635 www.carpetcleaningfl.com
HOSPITAL Health First-Holmes Regional Health Care 1350 South Hickory Street Melbourne, Florida 32901 321-434-7000
CHURCH’S Harmony Community Church 10am Sundays at Harmony High School (844) 444-FBCH www.harmonycommunity. church Life Church Meeting at Narcoossee Middle School 10:10am Sundays 217-827-7986 lifechurchcfl.com DJ SERVICES HPE House Party Entertainment 407-738-3409 www.hpemusic.com ELECTRICIAN Hightower Electric, LLC 321-766-6038 FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INVESTING Edward Jones Kerry L. Scott 4725 Old Canoe Creek Rd Saint Cloud, Florida 34769 407-498-0147 Primerica Steve A Mullins 1301 Bedford Dr., Ste 102 Melbourne, Florida 407-738-7479 steveamullins@primerica. com GRAPHIC & WEB DESIGN Energy Graphics Shannon Danford 407-267-6300 www.Energy-Graphics.com
HOUSE CLEANING Neat & Shinny 407-334-5614 www.neatnshiny.com INSURANCE Farm Bureau Michael Long 407-847-5189 www.floridafarmbureau.com Kocher Insurance LLC 1312 Illinois Ave, Suite H Saint Cloud, Florida 34769 (407) 957-1918 kocherinsurance.com LAWN CARE Triple Palm Lawns 407-957-3489 Triplepalmlawn@aim.com Weed Man 4417 13th St. Suite 182 St. Cloud, FL 34769 (407) 979-4623 MOVIE THEATERS Cinema World East of 95 on 192 next to Sam’s Club Melbourne, FL CWTheaters.com MUSIC LESSONS Vocal & Piano Lessons Dawn Korzen text/call: (407) 301-4561 musicinharmony2013@ gmail.com ORTHODONTIST Lake Nona Orthodontic Dr. Lach 13832 Narcoossee Rd Suite B101, Orlando, FL 32827 407-359-1960
Painting and Pressure Washing William “Joe” Murray 407-766-5051
HOME EQUITY LINES... endless possibilities!
PEST CONTROL Luv A Lawn & Pest Control 407- 908-9139 PHOTOGRAPHER Amanda Yachmetz Photography 813-842-6473 AmandaYachmetzPhotography.com PLUMBING SERVICES Linscott Plumbing Services Wayne E. Linscott Sr 407-891-1700 POOL TABLES Florida Game Rooms 9350 S. Orange Blossom Trail tr #12 407-859-4400 www.myfloridagamerooms. com PRINTERS Creative Printing 1115 Pennsylvania Ave. Downtown St. Cloud 407-891-9797 www.CreativePrintingFL. com REAL ESTATE The Corcoran Connection, LLC Jeanine Corcoran 407-922-3308 Jeaninecorcoran@gmail.com www.thecorcoranconnection.com RESTAURANTS Stone Bridge Tavern - The Royal Crest Room 5530 Michigan Ave Saint Cloud, Florida 34772 407-891-0903 www.stonebridgetavernandgrill.com
As Low As
3.25
%
APR*
We will pay closing costs on lines up to $150,000! **
KAREN M. GIEL VP/Branch Manager NMLS #805471
kgiel@centerstatebank.com
407.891.8396 x3782
TIRES NTA National Tire and Auto 304 13th Street Saint Cloud, FL 34769 407- 593-2136 TRAVEL Meisner Cruise and Travel 407-738-7088 Meissnertravel.com Linda@meissnertravel.com WATER SYSTEMS Aguamaman Water Co. Matthew Benetti 321-250-4999 www.Orlando.haguewater.com
w w w. c e n t e r s t a t e b a n k . c o m 4898 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway St. Cloud, FL 34771
*Rate based on minimum beacon score of 721. Annual Percentage rate may increase after consummation. **Line must be funded by 50% or $10,000 whichever is greater at closing. If line is Closed within the first two years, consumer will be required to pay back the closing costs.
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