Keep It Local

Strategies to stay on course By AlexandraGalucci Special to the Marin IJ CTW Features W henitcomestoinvesting money, the options may seem endless. If you have settled in to your long-term home and community, investing locally is another option that could pay huge dividends for you and your family. Just ask Jane Seeman, mayor of Vienna, Va., which was ranked third on a Money magazine's 2013 Best Places to Live list. The magazine cites the "small- town feel" and "unique businesses" as major benefits of living in Vienna. Seeman says that keeping business local ensures strong relationships and friendships in her town. For consumers Consumers can invest in a communi- ty's financial services by buying insur- ance from a local agent, banking with a community bank or asking for financial advice from a local adviser. "When you're doing business locally, ev- erything you do is as a community," says Cheryl Greeley, personalized manager for BB&T Insur- ance Services in Monroe, Ga. Greeley sees her customers around town on a regular basis, which builds well-rounded rela- tionships, she says. The personalized service also comes as a result of understanding a client's situation. Larry Luxenberg is a financial adviser in New City, N.Y., and he says, "Everybody I deal with has unique problems and unique circumstances, but because I am local I can develop that customized, unique solution, and I think the national compa- nies can't." He adds, "So a nation- al company has greater resources, obviously, but I think that the local per- spective is very valuable for lots of people." For business owners Since local businesspeople are likely to have a closer relationship with their clients, "I think you're going to get a lot better service and better attention," says Jeff Koon, president of Stratus Property Group in Atlanta. Knowledge of the local market is also a plus if your business oper- ates in the area, Koon says. In his commercial real estate business, he works with local bankers, property managers and insurance agents, and being able to "put a face with a name" has been a valuable asset to these relationships. For volunteers Besides for-profit business rela- tionships, investing locally can mean donating your time at various community events. Laine Hyde is a 20-year resident of Vienna, Va., and one of the reasons she loves her community is the way they come together to volunteer. "It makes you much more aware of what many, many people give to their communities. It's inspiring; it really is," she says. The good business relationships that Greeley has encountered in her town of Monroe — both with clients and "friendly competitors," as she calls them — have encouraged her to volunteer her time to those in need. "If we turn around and give back to our community, it just makes our community stronger. It helps them to thrive; it helps people to be hap- pier," she says. n ©CTWFeatures Investlocally,gainpersonally Investing in the local community could be your smartest financial move Small businesses have accounted for this percentage of net new jobs from 1995-2011 Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 64 % Bythenumbers WeeklyLunchSpecialsServedUntil3pm Serving Locals for over 64 Years NeeditToGo? Entire Menu Available For Take Out. Banquet Facilities for up to 45 People. OPEN7DAYSAWEEK Mon–Thurs11am–11:30pm•Friday11am–12:00am Saturday 5pm–12:00am • Sunday 4pm–11:30pm 1585 CASA BUENA DR. CORTE MADERA (415) 924-1500 • marinjoesrestaurant.com 14 September 9, 2018 Keep It Local A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com

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