Day: June 8, 2013

By Kathleen Schiop & Gary Nager | June 8

With the positive upsurge in the economy, more and more homeowners are considering adding improvements to not only increase the value, but also the esthetic appeal, of their residences. One of the ways many homeowners choose to add such value is to install new flooring, whether it be carpeting, tile or wood.

And if you’ve ever had flooring installed in your home, apartment or even your business, you know that it can be a stressful experience. Between the cost, having to tear out the existing carpeting, tile or floor and having to move your furniture, you know you want the job done right the first time.

That’s one big reason why you should visit our friend Andy Dunning of American Wood Flooring, located in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Shopping Center (next to Marshall’s) on Bruce B Downs (BBD) Blvd., if you’re planning to take the plunge and replace those old, pet-stained carpets or cracked tile with a new hardwood, laminate or tile floor.

“We are the only flooring vendor in Wesley Chapel,” says Andy, “and we have better prices than most and with quality installation you can trust.”

Andy speaks from years of experience working in the family business. “This is an independent, family-owned company that has been selling and installing floors in the Tampa Bay area for about 20 years.”

Andy’s family’s first store, started by his father and stepmother 20 years ago (on U.S.19 in New Port Richey), moved to the corner of Mitchell Blvd. and Little Rd. in 2005 in what is now called the Trinity area. The Wesley Chapel/New Tampa location has been open for almost six years now, and offers a wide variety of tile, wood flooring and carpeting to add extra appeal to any home.

“A few of the newer items we’ve added in the past few months are wood-look ceramic tile, which combines the rich, beautiful look of wood and the durability of tile, and hand-scraped, or ‘distressed’ finish hardwood flooring.”

He also notes that wood-look tile has the advantage of being water resistant (“which can be important in flood situations,” he says) and that the pre-scratched wood also is a great floor in homes with kids, since any “accidents” that may happen just add more “character” to the look of the flooring.

Andy says that American Wood Flooring specializes in both real hardwood and laminate flooring and has access to literally hundreds of colors and styles from all of the major manufacturers, including Armstrong, Bruce, Tarkett, Beaulieu and Columbia, to name a few, and higher-end companies like Mirage, Indus Parquet and Robbins, which provide a variety of exotic hardwoods, such as Brazilian cherry, Santos mahogany and amendoim (also known as Brazilian oak).

Noticeable Differences

“We’re not the only local company you can find that carries the major manufacturers,” he admits. “But, not only are our prices at least competitive with other companies, we also offer a lot of extras most of the others don’t.”

For example, all of the prices per square foot quoted at American Wood Flooring include delivery, installation, moving all of your furniture for you, removal of your old carpeting, tile or flooring (with no charge for disposing of it) and, “all of our installers are in-house and have been certified to install Armstrong, Bruce and the other major manufacturers’ flooring. We also give you a free cleaning kit and free felt pads to keep your furniture from scratching the floor. A lot of places charge extra for many of those same services, so our prices really are even better than they seem.”

Oh, and there’s never sales tax charged on the floors (because the government doesn’t collect sales tax for major home improvements), as long as you have American Wood Flooring install it. “We also warranty all of the floors we install for as long as you own your home,” Andy says. “Unlike the major home store retailers, the warranty is with us. At Lowe’s or Home Depot, the warranty is from the installer, not the store.”

That can lead to unexpected problems. Those warranties can be important, especially with laminate floors, which (unlike hardwood floors) are not glued to your concrete slab.

“Yes, gaps can easily develop in your laminate floors,” he says. “Usually, all it takes is a trained installer to fix those gaps, but a lot of people try unsuccessfully to do it themselves. I would say at least once or twice a month we do fixes on installation mistakes made by the national chains and do-it-yourselfers. ”

He adds that no matter how expensive your flooring may be, you still need it installed properly for it to look its best.

“You can buy the finest wood flooring for $20 a square foot, but if the installation isn’t done properly, it can still look like junk, so you’re not really getting the best value. It’s a good idea to check us out before going elsewhere. We have a wide variety of prices to fit most budgets, from just $3.99 per square foot for laminate, real hardwood starting at $5.99 a square foot, carpeting from $1.99 a square foot, and tile from $5.50 a square foot. And, all of those are installed prices, so you never have to worry about your bill inflating from charges you were never told about beforehand.”

And if that isn’t enough, Andy says there are always bargains to be had at American Wood Flooring, because, “We’re always being offered specials by the different manufacturers.”

Part of the reason Andy is so knowledgeable about all aspects of the business is that he also spent some time (in 2007 and 2008) as a territorial sales manager for a flooring distributor covering Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. “It was a great experience for me to be on the distributor side,” he says. “I really learned a lot about which floors sell and why.”

And yes, American Wood Flooring does carry and install both carpet and tile, as well as wood and laminate floors.

Andy says that many of the jobs the store does are from referrals from satisfied customers. Bhavana, a resident of Richmond Place, installed cherry wood flooring, and was so satisfied with the results that she referred American Wood Flooring to several of her neighbors.

Another happy customer is TammyHellman, a realtor at Prudential Tropical Realty. Tammy hired American Wood Flooring to install her laminate floor and has since referred all of her real estate customers to Andy.

“We’ve probably gotten at least 15 or 16 jobs from her alone in the past three years. We love it when our customers love our work.”

American Wood Flooring’s WesleyChapel location is at 1285 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.. The store is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.­­-6 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, visit AmericanWoodFlooringFL.com or call 991-7999.

 

By Gary Nager | June 8

I’ll admit it. Even though I worked as a research editor for a major Wall Street investment firm 30 years ago, I still know precious little about investments. And, even though I’m a whole lot closer to retirement age than Derek Ifasi of Ifasi Financial Group (an independent financial firm located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd., just south of the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit of I-75), the difference between what Derek knows about how to successfully plan for retirement and what I know on the same subject is like the difference between night and day.

Although he looks even a little younger than his 27 years (“I know I have a baby face,” he admits), I promise that if you spend even five minutes with this very personable and obviously very knowledgeable Certified Long Term Care (CLTC) specialist, you’ll end up at least wanting to know more about everything from the many different types of annuities you can set up to Social Security benefits, IRAs, Roth IRAs, life insurance and so much more. But, I’m telling you, if you do end up meeting Derek, you’ll probably end up wanting to hire him to handle your retirement planning.

“Our goal is to provide individuals with the knowledge and understanding about how to protect their current and future retirement income. We have the skills and experience required to help meet our clients’ established goals. Our company goal is to become a resource for each and every client. We abide by a strict code of ethics to ensure our social responsibility. We believe that every financial product is equivalent to an individual tool in a tool belt.”

Ifasi Financial Group specializes in deferred compensation planning and retirement income planning. “We understand that each client’s interests and needs vary, and offer products to help them maximize their goals,” Derek says. Ifasi uses a variety of phone, face-to-face and internet-based tools to ensure that each client is comfortable speaking with a representative.

“Being a younger man in this business hasn’t really been a problem for me,” Derek says. “I’ve been involved with financial planning for seven years and all of my professional training has been in this business. In this profession, some people who have worked in other businesses first decide to get into retirement planning in their 40s or 50s, as they near retirement age themselves.”

Ifasi is a native of Bethpage, Long Island, NY, who graduated from USF with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He started his career at age 20, when he worked with his brother Anthony and the financial advisors at an Allstate Insurance office in Brandon while still in school. Then, after he graduated from USF, he worked with Northwestern Mutual and then MetLife for a couple of years.

“But, I saw I could offer more value as an independent than I could working for someone else,” he says. “I specialize in all types of retirement income planning. Most of clients start looking into retirement options about 10-15 years before they retire.”

Derek adds that his average client is about age 55, “although my oldest is 98 and my youngest is in his mid 20s.”

Among the products and services Derek handles/offers are different forms of life insurance, investing rollovers of existing IRAs (individual retirement accounts), Roth IRAs, Keogh plans and annuities (investment plans which offer fixed sums of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their lives) and many more.

“In other words, I can help you create your own pension plan, even if you never had one at work, or I can rollover your existing pension or retirement plan into an annuity that will guarantee you a fixed income for the rest of your life that you literally can not outlive.”

 

Different Types Of Annuities

Most people know how life insurance and even IRAs work, but there are several basic types of annuities you (and I) may not fully understand, only one of which Derek says he and his staff of retirement planning pros do not recommend for their clients.

Deferred – An annuity which begins with an accumulation or savings phase, but then enters the income phase on its annuity starting date, when it is converted into a stream of income for the beneficiary.

Immediate – An annuity with only an income phase, which generally starts with a single premium that is converted immediately or shortly after it is purchased into an income stream for the beneficiary.

Fixed Interest – A fixed interest annuity pays a fixed rate of interest on the premiums invested in the annuity contract.

Variable – During the accumulation phase of variable annuities — which are the only types of annuities that Ifasi says he does not offer to his clients — the premiums paid on the contract, less any applicable charges, are placed in a separate account of the insurance company, where the annuity owner can invest them in one or more stock and bond “subaccounts.

During the income phase, the amount of each income payment may be fixed and “guaranteed” (all guarantees referred to in this article are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company) or variable, changing with the value of the investments in the separate account. “I tell my clients that most people planning for retirement don’t want that much risk associated with their annuities,” Derek says.

Indexed – Indexed annuities combine characteristics of both fixed interest and variable annuities. Like a variable annuity, the insurance company pays a rate of return based on a stock market index (such as the Standard & Poors 500), but only the interest earned on the annuity is based on the fluctuations of the market, not your principle.

“Hybrid” annuities – “Hybrid” annuities are the same as indexed annuities, but with an income rider, also offering the benefit of no risk to the principle.

“Hybrid annuities go up when the market goes up, and flatline if the market goes down. In other words, a hybrid annuity has a floor, but no ceiling.” Derek adds that when the market is solid, a hybrid annuity can earn 20 percent or more a year, and that he gets business referred to him by other retirement providers because, “I have access to the highest income riders in the business for hybrid annuities, with a guaranteed floor of 7-8 percent per year.”

He adds that you can even have an annuity as your IRA or roll over your existing IRA into an annuity with a guaranteed income rider. “I can find you the best way to roll over your IRA, no matter what type of IRA it is now.”

 

Education Is The Key

If all of this sounds as confusing to you as it is to me, don’t sweat it. Derek’s website has more than 70 free, educational videos on a variety of retirement subjects that walk you through the complex world of IRA rollovers, annuities and more, as well as a radio show on NewsRadio WFLA-AM (540) & FM (104.5) Orlando. The show airs Tuesdays, 7 p.m.-8 p.m., & Sundays, 7 a.m.-7:30 a.m.

His website (RetireSharp.com) is divided into four sections — one that focuses strictly on annuities, one for those who are at retirement age or already retired, one for those who are pre-retirees and one for those who have changed jobs.

“I’m open to hosting seminars for a company or even an entire family looking for different retirement investment plans,” he says. “The most important products we offer are myself and my staff.”

Ifasi Financial, which is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and the National Ethics Assn., can and does sell education funding plans and life insurance, too.

“We have access to many great life insurance companies and can get the best policies to suit your needs,” he says.

In addition to being a CLTC, Derek has his Series 6 and Series 63 licenses and also is certified to sell life and health insurance and annuities. He and his fiancée, Jenna, a teacher with Hillsborough County Public Schools, live in Tampa Palms.

Ifasi Financial Group is located at 17427 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite J, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. For

By Matt Wiley | June 8

With the passing of every NFL football season, it seems that concussions continue to make even more headlines. Luckily for local athletes, no matter the sport, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) is now a certified concussion treatment center, the only one of its kind in Pasco County. The concussion center is part of the hospital’s new Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur each year, 75 percent of which are concussions. Whether it’s from sports, a car accident or a fall, identifying concussions can be difficult, as the symptoms of some concussions can be milder than others, even though the condition still exists.

Enter Dr. Jonathon Phillips, MD, CAQSM (Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine), and founder of the FHWC Concussion Center, which is located on the first floor of the recently opened FHWC Wellness Center. Dr. Phillips is educating parents and athletes, alike, on the dangers and proper treatment of concussions.

“It’s very important for parents and kids to get educated about concussions because they don’t always consider (every minor brain injury to be) a concussion,” Dr. Phillips explains. “It’s not always the concussion that knocks someone out that is the bad one. There are a lot of little things that can happen. A player may come to a coach or parent with a headache or an inability to concentrate, but there wasn’t a major incident on the field. Those are the kinds of concussions that can last one to two months instead of 5-7 days.”

Dr. Phillips explains that knowing where to go to get treatment for a concussion also is important.

“There isn’t really a wide range of physicians you can see to get the appropriate concussion management,” he says. “Most folks aren’t educated about which providers to visit. You have to go to a place that is known to manage the condition. Imaging capabilities are not always necessary, just the proper training. Usually, the doctors with the proper training are primary care physicians who also specialize in sports medicine, or neurologists, pediatricians and physiatrists (physical rehabilitation physicians). However, not every one of those types of physicians is always trained, which is why it’s good to go a certified concussion center, like we have here.”

 

A Full Gamut Of Tests

As Dr. Phillips explains, there are a multitude of tests that you have to do to come up with the clinical concussion diagnosis, One of the most simply administered, but actually most complex, tests — called an ImPACT evaluation — is actually done completely on the internet.

“It’s a very visual, spatial test that challenges memory, reaction time and a couple of other parameters done completely on a computer,” Dr. Phillips explains. “It takes about 25 minutes to do.”

I actually took the test to get a better idea of what Dr. Phillips meant. It’s a good thing it wasn’t for a grade because it turned out to be much more complex than I expected, which is the point.

The tests vary from remembering a series of numbers, shapes or words to determine if the color spelled out inside a shape matches the color of the letters. However, for the best results, athletes are encouraged to take the test before ever stepping onto the field

By taking the test before a concussion can occur, doctors, such as Dr. Phillips, can establish a baseline with which to compare the test results if the athlete does end up suffering from a head injury on the field and takes the test again. By comparing the numbers, the doctors at the FHWC concussion center can determine how severe a concussion an athlete has suffered and take the necessary steps to treat the condition.

“This whole idea of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of concussions is so critically important,” says Tracy Clouser, director of marketing for FHWC. “We know that the schools and athletic associations and youth leagues are strapped for resources, so if we can provide some of those resources through education and training, we’re really excited about that.”

In addition to being the official orthopedic and sports medicine and outpatient rehabilitation provider of the Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football League team, FHWC also is the lead sponsor of this summer’s Josh Freeman Football Camp, which is being held June 19-20 at Wesley Chapel High on Wells Rd.

During the camp, hosted by the Tampa Bay Bucs’ starting QB, on Thursday, June 20, Dr. Phillips will be giving a lecture for parents about concussions, including how to identify signs and symptoms, the next steps to take for treatment and the importance of ImPACT evaluations. FHWC’s Dr. Christopher Baker, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, also will be on hand to speak with parents about sports injuries.

The concussion center is just one part of FHWC’s new Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, which also offers other orthopedic services and specializes in treating injuries to the musculoskeletal system sustained from playing sports. Due to its location on FHWC’s campus, the Institute is able to provide diagnostic digital imaging using the hospital’s state-of-the-art imaging technology, such as its 128-slice CT scanner, to determine treatment options.

Depending upon the severity of an injury, the Institute also can offer surgical intervention, as well as extensive therapy and in-patient or out-patient rehabilitation, in the FHWC Wellness Center’s new rehab center to help athletes get back in the game faster. The rehab center even features an “Alter-G” (or anti-gravity) treadmill, which can support up to 80 percent of a patient’s body weight, allowing patients to walk on lower-body injuries much sooner than normal. From personal experience, I can say, “it’s almost like running on the moon.”

For more information about the FHWC Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, please visit FHWesleyChapel.org. For info about the Josh Freeman Football Camp visit ProCamps.com/JoshFreeman.