Let's say a hail storm not only damages your roof, but also your prized 1965 cherry red Mustang convertible - you are going to wish you knew Brian Hutson.  If you are on a trip and lose the diamond ring passed down from your great grandmother which became your engagement ring - you are going to wish you knew Brian Hutson.  Why?  Because insurance only sounds boring until you need it.

Brian Hutson is an unlikely insurance agent.  He played in a rock band and thought insurance was boring.  Typical of most insurance agents, he didn't intend to enter the insurance profession.  But then he started working for Given/Woods & Assoc., Inc. while attending college at SMU and an idea developed: If a person had a thorough understanding of business, risk, and insurance, and intended to represent the client instead of the insurance company, that person would be very valuable to a business owner. 

Read on.

 

Reata is pleased to be a sponsor for a concert benefiting Crossroads Family Services and the Dallas Songwriters Assocation.  Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 9, for the concert at the McKinney Performing Arts Center headlined by well-known local band Beatlegras.

 

For more information about the artists, how to buy tickets and how to become a sponsor, please see the flyer here.

 

Aren't you tired of hearing that?  Me too, but I have to admit that the economy is dominating many conversations right now.  Mark Dotzour, an economist at Texas Real Estate Research Center, recently spoke to a local business group and had great information which I found to be interesting and enlightening.  So I have attached the slides from his presentation.  Here is a preview of his conclusions. 

 

"Investors will return to the market when:
 

1. They can believe bond ratings agencies again;

2. They can believe corporate accounting again;

3. They think the recession is nearing an end;

4. They think house prices are stabilizing nationally;

5. They regain confidence in the value of a contract and that the federal government will not change the terms of mortgages the investors may have invested in;

6. There is clarity regarding what the income tax rates and capital gains taxes will be in 2009 and beyond;

7. They have sorted out the massive government intervention and determined the unintended consequences; and

8. The return on short-term cash gets so low that corporate dividends and corporate bond interest become attractive again." 

 

 

 

A shocking piece of legislation is being considered in Washington called the Employee Free Choice Act.  If passed, it would allow employees to unionize with only 50% + 1 of them signing a card. 

 

I learned of this from Sal Castillo of Castillo Management Services which provides HR consulting services.  The legislation would bypass the secret ballot system and create a much easier system for union expansion. 

 

For more information or to discuss how to protect your company from the EFCA or other HR issues, contact Sal by clicking on the link above.

 

 

Subleases can often save 20% - 50% when leasing space.  They are also usuallyshort-term which allows for greater flexibility when a company's future isn't crystal clear.

 

Visit the Properties page in my website. It features the excess space we have listed which our clients no longer need.  If you don't see what you need there, let me know and I can find you sublease space listed by other brokers.

 

If you know of a company which has more space than they need, I'd like be introduced to them.  Or if you know of a company which needs to lease space, I'd like an introduction to them as well.

 

From the same guys who created the McCain vs. Obama comparison in last month's BizLetter, now comes a look at national debt.  There are some pretty amazing facts in the report.

 

Click here for the report.  The question then is, what do we do about it?

 

We welcome your testimonials and your referrals.  Thanks for your business and support.

 

 

 

 

Bob Gibbons

972-679-1142