Saltmarsh Christmas Party

We had a fantastic time celebrating the Holidays with our Saltmarsh family at the Pensacola Country Club on Saturday.  Below are some photos from the party!

Year-end Planning for 2012

Year-end tax planning is especially difficult this year due to the many uncertainties over tax laws in 2013.  In most years, accelerating income would not be top strategy based on the time value of money.  However, if you’re concerned that tax rates will be going up for 2013 due to expiring Bush tax cuts and the new Medicare tax, then we have a few suggestions that may be of use before 2013, and could help to reduce the overall burden of taxes.

Accelerate income into 2012:

• C corporations pay a special dividend 
• Sell appreciated assets
• Complete Roth IRA conversions
• Accelerate billings and collections

Postpone deductions until 2013:

• Postpone bill pay until 2013
• Pay last estimated state payment in 2013
• Bunch itemize deductions into 2013/use the standard deduction in 2012

These are a few ideas, however, it is important to remember that each tax situation is different and you must consider your unique and individual circumstances above all else.  We would be glad to help with your year-end planning in this year of complicated tax uncertainties.  Please call our office for more information or to make an appointment with a Saltmarsh tax professional at (800) 477-7458.

--Lisa Fairbanks, CPA

Equipment Rodeo

The Escambia County Equestrian Center hosted an equipment rodeo this past Saturday.  The event was sponsored by National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) and featured several competitions that tested skills operating various types of construction machinery.  We were happy to sponsor the refreshments for this event and even got to participate in a few of the competitions!

Participants took turns operating excavators, backhoes and zero-turn mowers.  Competitions included using an excavator to scooping up basketballs and placing them in a bucket, using a mini-excavator to move a piece of pipe and a barrel race on a zero-turn mower.  

Check out some of our pictures from the rodeo below!

YMCA Corporate Cup 2012

Saltmarsh participated in the YMCA Corporate Cup Games for a second year in a row on Saturday, October 20th at the University of West Florida.

While we didn't claim 1st place in small companies division again this year, we sure did have a lot of fun!!  Check out a few pictures from the day!

2012 Team Saltmarsh

  

Sod Surfing

Frisbee Chaos

Jen and Philip getting ready to run!

Teri in the Paper Chase

Second place in the obstacle course!

United Way Day of Caring

On Friday, we participated in the United Way's Day of Caring and were lucky enough to be paired up with Oakcrest Elementary for our second year in a row!  Our volunteers were able to help out with some projects around the school.  We helped install a new sprinkler system for the school's student garden, clean up some of the planter beds and repaint a few of the picnic tables around the school.  

It was especially rewarding for our Saltmarsh volunteers to see all the progress that's been made from last year's projects.  Thank you to the United Way for coordinating another great Day of Caring event for the community!

UWF College of Business Grand Opening

We had the chance to attend the University of West Florida's College of Business Education Center Ribbon Cutting Dedication and Reception on Thursday, October 4, 2012.  Saltmarsh was recognized, along with several other donors in the area, as a "special donor" for continued support and contribution to the College.

Faculty and students have been patiently awaiting the completion of this state-of-the-art building, which has been under construction since July of 2011.  Saltmarsh is a proud of partner of the University of West Florida's College of Business, and home to many of the University's Alumni.

To see more information about the new building, follow the link provided below:
http://uwf.edu/cob/educationcenter.cfm

2012 Bank Forum and IT Funnel

The Saltmarsh Bank Advisors hosted their annual Community Bank Executive Forum and IT Funnel on Thursday, October 4th and Friday, October 5th at the Tampa Club in downtown Tampa, Florida.

Thursday's IT Funnel featured speakers Daniel Villareal from Community Bank Connection, Pete Martio of the FDIC and Kristen Stogniew and Stephen Reyes of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund.  Topics covered included Technology Trends, ACH Fraud Developments and the Shifting Risk of Information Systems.

Stephen Reyes speaks on the Shifting Risk of Information Systems.

Friday, the Bank Forum featured Joe Keating from CenterState Bank speaking on the effects of the November elections on the outlook of the economy and the financial markets.  Noel Boeke of Holland & Knight spoke on developments in foreclosures and actions by homeowners associations, and Charlie Stutts, also of Holland & Knight, spoke about failed bank investigations and litigation by FDIC in Florida.  A regulatory panel discussion featured Pete Martino of the FDIC, Dave Cheesman of OCC and Dough Heniz from the Florida Office of Financial Regulation.  The day was concluded with a session titled  ACH Fraud Developments by Kristen Stogniew of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund.

Annual Fun Day

     

It's that time of year again!  Friday, September 21st, the FWB office celebrated their annual Fun Day!  This year's festivities included lunch at the Mellow Mushroom in Destin, followed by a trip to Arnett's Gulfside Trail Rides in Santa Rosa Beach for some horseback riding!  The group had a great time as always!

  

Meet the Firms

On Thursday, September 30, Saltmarsh participated in Beta Alpha Psi's Meet the Firms event at the University of West Florida.  We were among approximately 30 firms in the area who took part in the networking event with some of the University's accounting and finance students.

Twenty-seven academic scholarships were awarded to students funded by several of the firms in attendance.  Diane Martinez, a Senior from our Audit and Assurance Department, awarded six of those scholarships on behalf of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund to students who were selected by the University's Accounting and Finance Department, based on their qualifying essay.

Many of our Saltmarsh employees were given an opportunity to interact with University students and representatives from firms in the area.  We had a great time.  Thank you to Beta Alpha Psi for inviting our firm to participate in such a dynamic event, we look forward to seeing you again next year!