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August 31, 2011 - Tom Breedlove, What's Happening in International Markets?/ What Will Help Your Business?
  • Wednesday, August 31, 2011
  • Guest:  Tom Breedlove, Lead Principal of HLB Gross Collins, P.C. International Niche
  • Listen to show. 

Today’s guest is Tom Breedlove, CPA and Principal of HLB Gross Collins.  Our conversation today will cover Tom’s international expertise in dealing with issues that affect foreign operations and we will join Tom after first discussing our Business Tip of the Week and The Good – The Bad – The Ugly 

We’ll talk today about our Business Tip of the Week – What will help your business? 

We are currently in very unsettled business and political environment. 

  1. Taxes going up in 1-1/2 years
  2. Healthcare costs are uncertain, but will probably go up
  3. Inflation pressures building, but not here
  4. Financing relationships different – tougher underwriting 

Much uncertainty – pressure on costs going up 

How do you plan to grow in rising cost environment? 

  1.  Avoid increasing permanent overhead, where possible (office, people, IT)
  2. Virtualize where possible – In the Cloud vs. Internal
  3. Begin eCommerce addition/transition
  4. Outsource everything possible – people, H/R, IT, fulfillment, manufacturing
  5. Use technology – then people
  6. Find new ways to delight your customer
  7. Expand to international markets, if possible (internet & FedEx = anywhere) 

The Good 

  1. Congress is out of session.  No current damage being done nor ugly confrontations.
  2. Markets stabilizing and showing strength.
  3. Growth, while slow, still exists. 

The Bad 

Hurricane Irene has added another natural disaster to the economy.  41 dead, 12 Billion in damage, strain to insurance industry. 

The Ugly 

Job growth and residential real estate 

Job Growth

  1. Battle over government creating jobs vs. private industry.
  2. Government creates jobs two ways:
    1. Temporary projects or
    2. Permanent government overhead
    3. Both require taxes/costs to private sector and weaken us productivity
    4. Government jobs up – net negative
    5. Private job down – net negative

 

Private Industry – lower regulations, lower taxes, encourage capital formation and repatriation. 

When government attacks business, business moves elsewhere. 

Residential Real Estate 

 No orderly market yet exists

  1.  Foreclosures are continuing unabated.
  2. Purchases and refinances are stalled by low appraisals.
  3. Income and asset verifications in underwriting are onerous and difficult. 

Values are still declining

  1.  Motivation to build or buy not there.
  2. Culture moving to rent vs. own.
  3. Absorbing existing inventory available very slow. 

I’m pleased to present the guest segment of the show and introduce our guest expert today, Tom Breedlove, Principal at the HLB Gross Collins - Click to view his bio.

  1. Tell us a little bit about your role as the firm’s lead principal in the international niche. 
  2. What were they hot topics at the HLB International Conference you recently attended? 
  3. Share some of the highlights and key take-aways from the time you spent in London meeting with some of your key clients and contacts. 
  4. Where are some of the opportunities in international markets? 
  5. What are some of the challenges and how can the firm provide guidance? 
  6. Are there any updates on IFRS? 
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