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Realized Investments
These are businesses in which we don't currently hold an interest, but in which we did at one time.
Fund I
Fund I was conceived in 1998 and licensed by the SBA in 2000. Fund I raised $23 million of private capital from 56 Texas independent banks allowing it to receive commitments from SBA for up to $46 million of additional investment capital ($69 million of total investable capital).
AccuSource Solutions
AccuSource (formerly known as DFMC) is a leading provider of forms design, management and fulfillment services to banks in the southwestern United States. Fund I provided preferred stock financing to effect the recapitalization of the business.
Alsay Incorporated
Houston, TX
Alsay is a leading provider of municipal and industrial water well drilling and servicing to cities, municipalities and municipal utility districts in the Houston and San Antonio markets. Fund I provided equity financing.
C & G Supply, LLC
Fort Worth, Texas
C & G is one of the largest pipe, valve, and fittings distributors, primarily serving the Ft. Worth area. Fund I provided preferred unit financing to enable the company to accelerate its growth and expansion.
CareCycle Solutions
CCS is one of if not the largest providers of telehealth solutions to Medicare patients with chronic diseases in Texas and Louisiana. Fund I provided equity financing to consummate CCS's initial acquisitions.
Ergo Genesis
Navasota, Texas
Ergo acquired certain assets of BodyBilt, a subsidiary of a public corporation. Ergo manufactures and markets customized ergonomic office chairs. Fund I provided equity and subordinated debt financing.
Tucker, GA
GranQuartz is a stone tool distributor located in Tucker, GA (a suburb of Atlanta). GranQuartz sells tools, equipment and supply items to the natural stone market in North America. Fund I's investment manager sponsored the recapitalization and provided equity as lead investor.
GrayCo Supply
ADI acquired the common stock of Graco Supply Company ("Graco") of Fort Worth. Graco is a distributor of specialty chemicals and supplies primarily consumed in the manufacturing, repair and refurbishment of aircraft. Fund I partners with company management and provided equity and subordinated debt financing.
Granite & Marble Holdings, Inc.
Dallas, TX
GMH acquired the common stock of IMC, Inc. of Dallas and IMCA, Inc. of Phoenix. IMC is in the business of importing and distributing natural stone products, such as marble and granite, for use primarily in the building, construction and remodeling trades. Fund I's investment manager sponsored the transaction and provided equity and subordinated debt financing as lead investor.
Painless Performance Products
Fort Worth, Texas
Painless is the primary operating subsidiary of Perfect Performance. The primary business of Painless is the manufacture of specialty electrical wiring harnesses for the high performance automotive after-market. Fund I provided preferred equity financing.
Fund II
Fund II raised $21 million from 29 Texas independent banks allowing it to receive commitments from SBA for up to an additional $42 million of investment capital ($63 million of total investable capital).
Berry Aviation, Inc.
San Marcos, TX
Berry is a full service aviation business that provides charter freight, and line services. Fund II's investment supported a recapitalization of Berry as well as provided growth capital.
Jardine Foods, Inc.
Buda, Texas
Jardine Foods, Inc. is a manufacturer of high-end salsas, dips and sauces sold in grocery markets and specialty stores across the United States. Fund II's investment supported a recapitalization of Jardine's as well as provided growth capital.
The Finial Company, Inc.
Dallas, TX
Founded in 1996, The Finial Company, Inc. designs, manufactures and finishes custom drapery hardware. Fund II's investment supported Finial's acquisition of the assets of Paris Texas Hardware, another Dallas-based drapery hardware manufacturer.


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We are Australian Manufacturers of quality aprons. Our pretty apron designs with adjustable waist ties, create a happy fun kitchen atmosphere while cooking and protecting your clothes.
Note: Matching Kitchen Accessories are available in most prints and Custom Orders are welcome.
Material: 100% Cotton
Approx Size: 68cm x 73cm
LA14 - Ladies Aprons - Red Butterflies & Postcards
- Brand: Covers N More
- Product Code: LA14
- Availability: In Stock

subset: commoncrawl


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LPL Financial has announced an affiliation with Advantage Financial Group that will bring client assets of about $2 billion to LPL.
Company officials said AFG's 63 affiliated independent advisors are moving their securities registrations from their current broker-dealer to LPL. Also, LPL will become the primary custodian for AFG's sister company and RIA firm, Advantage Investment Management, which will continue to provide fee-based solutions to AFG's independent financial advisor members.
AFG, based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, provides professional services to its member advisors in the Midwest, Great Lakes and Southeast regions. Those member advisors share an equity interest in AFG, a separately managed professional services firm with revenues of $11.2 million in the past 12 months.
"This agreement was not just a broker-dealer or custodian change," Bill Morrissey, executive vice president of business development at LPL, told Financial Planning in an interview. "This is about a group of seasoned professional advisors with a collective vision and a unique model who want to serve their clients better. We're pleased to welcome such high quality advisors."
According to Morrissey, LPL's scale and financial stability helped to attract AFG. "We'll be able to help AFG's advisors outsource things we can do more efficiently and less expensively, such as branding and marketing, as well as provide hands-on practice management support." Morrissey described AFG as a hybrid client, for broker-dealer and custodial services, which can be fully integrated by working with LPL in both areas.
In a statement, Morrissey said that, "Our relationship with AFG represents an important step in our broader efforts to establish LPL Financial as the first-choice provider of broker-dealer, custodial, practice management, marketing and succession planning services for successful and sophisticated producer groups throughout the U.S."
Joe Russo, chairman of AFG, said that the agreement with LPL is the culmination of a two-year search that involved meetings with "all the leading players" in the industry, as his group sought the best way to grow enterprise value for its member advisors. "The transition to LPL successfully concludes an extensive review process for a broker-dealer and custodial partner that will help us preserve and enhance the equity value of the AFG partnership."
According to Russo, AFG has been moving to a professional partnership structure with a "partner track," similar in some ways to a law or accounting firm. Many of its member advisors have been in the business since the 1970s and 1980s, so intergenerational and business succession planning are becoming key concerns. "We plan to reach the stage where AFG might help a buyer with a down payment, perhaps, or one partner could buy out another member's interest. The scale of LPL dramatically enhances the value of our members' ownership in AFG."
Charlie Auerbach, a director of AFG, told Financial Planning that the concept of AFG is to give independent producers equity in a group, so they could put a tangible business value on their practice and have some liquidity to count on in their succession planning.
"We started as a corporation and we are now moving to a professional partnership with a hierarchy: associates, partners, managing partners, and so on," said Auerbach, who heads Wealth Strategies Group in Cordova, Tennessee. "This structure will enable us to build more value but one key ingredient had been missing: a strategic partner. After active searching and many conversations with industry leaders, we decided that LPL is the best fit for us."
Donald Jay Korn writes for Financial Planning.
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Applying the Fundamentals of Quality to Software AcquisitionMay 2012
Topics: Contracts and Contracting, Software Engineering Management, Software Standards
Download PDF (97.23 KB)
Historically, software developed under government contracts often does not stand up under real-world use, and defects frequently result in cost and schedule overruns. While proposed development activities from contractors commonly list measures to improve quality, these descriptions cannot be used to select a winning bidder if they are not part of the evaluation criteria. By making software quality requirements explicit at the proposal stage, contractor selection can be influenced by criteria based on best practices in software development.


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I shoot skiing and landscapes for large prints. I require a full frame sensor because I shoot wide angle with a 16-35 Mark III. I have a hard time caputring quickly moving subjects in focus when using my 5D Mark II, am deciding between purchasing a 5D Mark IV, 5DS, or 5DS R.
I hear the new cameras have a focus system that will track a moving subject (skier) and maintain sharp focus as they pass by quickly. Is this feature included with all 3 of the camera bodies I am considering? Do these cameras monitor your eye and focus where you are looking?
If the 5DS and 5DS R both have a superior focus system for sports, then I will go with one of them because I'm excited about the 50.6 MP for making large prints. Is one of these better than the other for my intended use?
Thank you!
Solved! Go to Solution.
If you want to shoot sports, I would go for the 5D4, which has a wider ISO range. If I had a 5Ds, I would most likely only use it on a stationary tripod, not for handheld sports photography.
Thanks. The sopecificstions about ISO between these cameras is clear, and all ISO ranges work for shooting daytime skiing. It's a bummer that no one could answer the specifc questions I have about the focus tecnology. It appears that Sony makes a body that has the features I need
Dave54321 wrote:
Thanks. The sopecificstions about ISO between these cameras is clear, and all ISO ranges work for shooting daytime skiing. It's a bummer that no one could answer the specifc questions I have about the focus tecnology. It appears that Sony makes a body that has the features I need
I thought I answered your question. The 5D4 is better for sports.
As far as Sony goes, I suggest that you read the specifications a little bit beyond megapixels. Your Sony has an upgraded battery, and is now rated to over 500 photos on a single charge, which is a 50% improvement over its' predecessor. Meanwhile, you can expect to get 1000-1500 shots, if not more, from a Canon 5D4.
You really should look beyond megapixels. If the Sony was so great, then why do professionals prefer Canon and Nikon?
The 5D III, 5Ds, and 5DsR all have the same focus system. Canon has a 47 page guide on just the auto-focus system alone and it's ability to do focus tracking. It's a VERY good system.
Some improvements were made to the system for the 5D IV...
Basically on a 1DX II, the focus system links the metering to the ability to follow focus BECAUSE the 1DX II has a ton of metering points. The 5D III, 5Ds, and 5DsR do not have nearly as many (but the 5D IV does). So on the 5D III, s, & sR the ability to track subjects just isn't linked to the metering -- but it's still a very good system.
On the 5D IV, the camera's metering system not only has more metering zones, metering also factors in RGB + IR awareness... this means that it can also track subject movement because it's not only color-aware.. it's also aware of the IR. As a "warm" skier is moving in front a "cold" background... it's particularly easy for the camera to track that. I have not specificially tested this with my 5D IV... but I have to imagine that tracking skiers on snow is probably easier than most other subjects due to the massive difference in temperature.
The cameras do not monitor your eye. I seem to recall Canon had one camera that did that many many years ago.
BTW... if you plan to use a 50 megapixel camera so you can produce really large prints... keep in mind you'll also want top quality lenses to go with it.


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We are ARTEXIM HANOI CO., LTD - One company in Vietnam who specialises in producing and exporting Vietnam Handicrafts, including: - Handbags, Purses, such as: Taffeta Silk Bag, Shell Bag (Mother of Pearl Bag), Horn Bag, ...
3P7/91 Nguyen An Ninh
Hanoi, Hanoi 10000
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All-AmeriKKKan Bada$$
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9 votesAlbums Listened to in 2017 (443 items)
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Published 1 year, 7 months ago
1 votes2018 Music Albuns (61 items)
list by Star Alchemist
Published 7 months ago
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ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ is the second studio album by American rapper Joey Badass. It was released on April 7, 2017, by Cinematic Music Group and Pro Era.
Manufacturer: Pro Era, CinematicMy tags: Add tags
Release date: 7 April 2017
Release date: 7 April 2017
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2018 Music Albuns (61 music items)
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"April 22nd Year: 2017 Genre: Hip Hop "


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Tennessee Men's Health
Call (865) 588-0344Directions
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There are many key factors that lead to Erectile Dysfunction. While some may be due to more serious conditions, it can also be due to common circumstances such as rise of stress levels, or reactions of nerves and emotions.
Business Hours
Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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text: Louisiana houses more inmates than China and has the highest incarceration rate in the United States. Studies show that the best time frame for juvenile diversion is at the elementary level. Homework Hut Tutoring is a juvenile diversion program. This program caters to the students of Emily C. Watkins Elementary School and West St. John Elementary School. We are committed to providing our students with every opportunity to academically succeed. Partnering with St. John the Baptist School Board and District Attorney Tom Bailey, we plan to impact these students and show the importance of education. This year, our program has gotten off to a great start by tutoring 40 children. In the Home Work hut located at West St. John Elementary School are currently tutoring 18 students. At the LaPlace Housing Authority site, we are currently tutoring 22 students. We have employed three teachers at the West St. John Elementary School site. At the St. John Housing Authority site, we have employed three teachers and one teacher's aide. The program is held every Monday through Thursday starting at 4 p.m. The students are provided with a healthy snack box and then proceed onto their lessons until 5:30 p.m. We have gotten off to a great start and strive for great results in the students' lives


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Actor Mahesh Babu's upcoming film, Brahmotsavam, which was initially planned for Sankranthi release , later shifted to April release and it may further be delayed as the makers have postponed the Ooty schedule by a month and are planning to begin on December 8.
The main reason for the delay is the clash in the call sheets as the film has huge star cast including three busy heroines Samantha, Kajal Aggarwal & Pranitha. Currently ,The shooting of the film is going in the Ramoji Film City where some important scenes are been picturised .
Meanwhile ,Mahesh Babu is going to grace the audio launch of his brother-in-law Sudheer Babu's upcoming film 'Bhale Manchi Roju' on November 25. Interestingly Prabhas also promoting the film as the producer Vijay Kumar Reddy of the film is Prabhas close friend. Will Prabhas grace the audio Launch to share stage with Mahesh Babu?.


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We know that when you are looking for a roofing company in the Humble, Atascocita and Spring areas, you want to find contractors you can trust. As a family-owned company with three generations of experience, our staff is competent and professional. We believe in putting people before profit, which is why we focus on the needs of our customers. Through using high quality products and expert craftsmanship, we consistently deliver outstanding results.
Our Comprehensive Services
It is rare to find a roofer who specializes in restoration, which is why we are unique. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has certified us as a Mater Restorer in water damage. Additionally, we are Haag Engineering Certified Inspectors for wind and hail.
Beyond restoration, we can also help with the following:
- Roofing: We can repair or replace roofs made of tile, slate, shingle or any other material.
- Gutters: Fixing damaged gutters will protect your home or business from water damage.
- Siding: We can repair or replace siding that has been nicked or otherwise harmed.
- Emergency Service: We have a 24-hour emergency line for customers who need assistance fast.
In addition to doing roof repair in the Humble and Porter areas, our staff is happy to work with your insurance company to get coverage for any repairs or replacement. We have years of experience negotiating claims and can take on the paperwork so you can focus on other important matters.
Working With Professionals
Fluent in English and Spanish, our competent team works closely with customers to ensure their satisfaction with every job. We are a Better Business Bureau accredited company, paying meticulous attention to the work we do. We offer free inspections on interior and exterior matters, making sure that we cover all necessary repairs.
Contact Us Today
When you need assistance with exterior projects like roofing in Humble, Huffman or New Caney, trust our staff at Eldridge Roofing. We are committed to providing excellent work at affordable prices. To schedule your free inspection today, please call us at (281) 999-4663.
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Posted in Texas September 13, 2017
Here Are The Best Times And Places To View Fall Foliage In Texas
Fall is almost upon us, and while we may not see much in the way of temperature change here in Texas, the leaves definitely obey the rule of the season and change into some of the most vibrant, breathtaking colors you've ever seen. Based on this map, it appears that the best time to see fall foliage in our state is around early to mid-October, but that varies slightly depending on the region. Here are 5 of the best places and times to see fall foliage in Texas:
Some of these places are on this fall foliage road trip. Maybe you'll consider adding the rest!


text: Contact We would love to hear from you! Please fill out this form and we will get in touch with you shortly. Your Name* First Last Your Email Address* Enter Email Confirm Email Your Telephone Number*Your Comments/Questions*Are You a Spammer? Of Course You're Not.Please complete the "captcha" field below to prove that you're not an evil spammer wasting our time. Thanks.Captcha


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This one has the fingerprints of James Brown, the founder and former editor of Loaded, all over it.
These days, Brown is to be found helping out as "consultant editor-in-chief" at the Daily Sport. Barry McIlheney, formerly managing editor of EMAP Metro, is editor-in-chief.
You might find the Sport's effort to reincarnate itself as a lads mag on newsprint either desperate or imaginative.
But you can't deny the chutzpah that Brown and McIlheney have brought to the business of eking out The Sport's last bit of post-David Sullivan revenue potential. (Circulation, by the way, is reputedly down to less than 100,000: McIlheney has taken to describing the paper as "like The Independent — with tits".)
The Sport has just released something called The Real Bloke Report, which insists that almost half of "working class men" have between £200 and £500 of disposable income to spend every month.
We're told that only 30% of upper- and upper-middle class men enjoy similar leeway.
This is one of the first pieces of credit crunch marketing I've seen. Stand by for much more in a similar vein, mostly without the humour of this effort.
It also points to a truth that's instinctively understood but rarely articulated about cash-poor middle class males who cannot escape the tyranny of their own aspirations. (By contrast, Rosie Millard at The Sunday Times — and many others — routinely give us the female side of this equation.)
A few more of these, and the Sport's agency sales team (if it has one) might even be allowed to buy beers fora few of those cash-poor middle class ad planners who live and work in the Big Smoke. . .
(Does The Sport have a web site? I can't find one. But Brand Republic does carry a story on The Real Bloke Report here — registration reqd.)


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A gift toward the Vision Fund will help Camino launch new transformation initiatives, improve services for our members, and significantly expand our global reach.
The Camino Vision Fund represents an investment in growth that supports the bold vision God has given Camino Global: Serving the Church, Camino Global will journey with Spanish speakers everywhere to transform communities, equip believers, and reach the world.
Your gift to the Camino Global Vision Fund...
- has eternal impact!
- will accelerate Camino's efforts to resource, equip and catalyze a missional movement globally.
- will enable Camino to improve services for members and partners.
- will help launch transformation initiatives on several current fields.
- will expand ministry to new fields such as the Philippines.
- will significantly expand Camino's reach and impact among Hispanics in the United States.
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Journey with spanish speakers. Transform the world.


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Ugg Australia Announces Upscale Men's Collection Line
Posted by Stephen Allen on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 Under: New of UGG
With Tom Brady as the brand's endorser, Uggs Australia has announced the launch of an upscale men's line of shoes, boots, and gloves under the Ugg Collection moniker. Produced in Italy, the high-end line is following in the footsteps of the successful women's line they launched last fall.
According to Leach Larson, Vice President and creative director of the Santa Barbara based company, "We wanted to take the brand up a notch and celebrate the craftsmanship that comes out of Italy. There are some core Ugg customers that will be interested in the Collection product, but it will also bring in new customers for us."
Ranging from $325 to $795, the footwear is pricier than the Ugg For Men footwear collection, which ranges from $90 to $325.
The new lineup, which was inspired by musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and The Beatles' rugged, rock 'n' roll-inspired look, will incorporate hand-dipped cachet leathers, stacked leather heels, and Italian wool shafts and will look more broken-in and masculine but still offer a sophisticated, hand-crafted look.
According to WWD, these boots will look nothing like the Ugg's we all know. Some pre-fall styles include a dressier aesthetic with suede chukka boots and lace-ups in bright colors of teal, blue, and green, with contrasting painted out-soles.
In another move to bring more awareness to the men's line, Ugg will open a men's only store at 600 Madison Avenue in New York, on June 5, directly next to their Ugg Australia store. It will appear much more masculine and feature a unique interior to appeal to men only.
Although the company is making moves to bring about a new clientele, it doesn't seem like they're struggling in the least. Last year, the wholesale sales of Ugg increased 38% to $915.2 million, up from $663.9 million in 2010. The company has 31 full-price worldwide stores, including 13 in North America, in addition to 14 outlet stores. Another seven full-price stores and 13 to 17 outlets are also planned to open this year.
In : New of UGG
Tags: ugg ugg shoes


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Product Description
Sherbet Berry – New Exotic Fruit!
(Grewia asiatica) Sherbet Berry is native to Southern Asia from Pakistan to Cambodia where it is known as Phalsa or Falsa. Sherbet Berry has a 1/2 to 5/8 inch round fruits that are purple to black when ripe. Fruit ripens over an extended time. Pleasantly sweet/sour with a grape sherbet-like flavor. It makes an excellent thirst quenching juice that has a cooling effect. It's also very nutritious with lots of Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, fiber and loaded with antioxidants. Easy to grow will tolerate light frosts and is drought tolerant. Good container plants for northern areas. Grows to 6-15 foot. Ripens August through September. Zones 8b-11.


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Negativity affects more than the people around the negative person, it also affects the person themselves. I'm an optimistic person, so I tend to see what things could be, the people I appreciate are those who do not get down on me, but help me to stop and see the details. If you're your young, you'll experience a lot of negativity, the hard part is not allowing yourself to fall into that.
Now, people tend to mix up realistic and negative, even those who are negative. Negativity is putting someone down because their statements seem wrong, realism is getting all the information before forming a judgement. Negativity is seeing optimism as naive and unintelligent whereas realism sees optimism as big picture and will guide that picture in the right direction.
I understand that life can throw hard things our way, I had a surgery that took the opportunity to go to the olympics right out of my hands. That surgery, helped me to meet God, my life changed for the better once I had that opportunity ripped from me. My parents got divorced and have been fighting in so many ways my whole life. That fighting, gave me the chance to speak to them in more ways than I could have before.
Life throwing us the hard things, can bring the light into our life. If we allow the negative and the bad to infect our life, instead of trying to heal and see the good, we start to be negative to all the other people in our lives. We think, "that couple is too young for this or that etc" or "that person needs to sit down and see all the bad things that could happen" and even this, "I should just stop trying" we say things like this that just aren't fair.
That young couple, may have financial problems but, they are able to provide just fine for their newborn and their marriage, is better than half of the people who got married later in life. That person who is excited or interested in something new, has the chance to change their life or even, the world. You may have been trying hard to do something, but failing doesn't make you useless, it just means you have to get on your feet and try again. Don't beat yourself up, and don't beat up the people around you.
I think sometimes we get so caught up in the negative things in life that we don't recognize when we project that negativity onto the people around us. It's not fair to ourselves or the people around us. Just because life has been hard on you, doesn't mean you get to put down the people around you.
We focus so much on our differences, and that is creating,mi think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world. I think if everybody focused on what we all have in common-which is- we all want to be happy. -Ellen Degeneres
Much love,


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Keely & Kyle - Headingley
You couldn't meet a nicer couple...
Keely & Kyle are clearly very much meant for each other. Two genuine people who have had a tough year and if any deserved a fantastic wedding it was them! - THEY GOT IT !!
A fantastic day all round, the weather was so kind but that wasn't going to dampen the mood.
Thanks to both of you, here's how we got on...
(great news by the way, you know what i mean)
A RARE SHOT OF ME.... ! (thanks Tom, the video man)
Keywords: Leeds wedding photographer, Red Snapper Photography, West Yorkshire wedding photographer, last minute wedding photographer, photographers, wedding, wedding photographer Sheffield, wedding photography blog
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Last Minute Wedding?
Sheffield wedding photographer Rob Wilson's relaxed wedding photography style is very much in demand throughout Sheffield, Chesterfield, Yorkshire and Derbyshire - and beyond
Our wedding photography package prices start from only £395 for a 4 hour package, Monday-Thursday.
Getting married very soon? If you are looking for a last minute or short notice wedding photographer, call Rob on 07814488911. Subject to availability, we may be able to offer a fabulous deal!
We have special offers for winter weddings and week day weddings (Monday-Thursday).
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Being the variation of modern backgammon, tavla is a fabulous game that is a real delight to play. The game was founded in Turkey and it is still widely played in this country, but these days it is also becoming more and more popular across the globe as well. It is interesting to mention that in Turkey tavla is mostly played by men, but women also know the rules and adore it.
In general, this state of the art game is played by two players. Frankly speaking, this fancy Turkish backgammon has similar rules to the standard backgammon with some small differences only. For example, the Turkish variant does not feature the doubling cube or any backgammon in the meaning of a triple game. Plus, the gamer will not be able to hit and run for cover in his or her home board. Besides, he or she is not allowed to play a smaller number and use the rest of the pips to move a checker forward while bearing off.
To begin playing, the player rolls one die and the higher number should go first. The one who manages to first bear off all fifteen checkers is regarded as the winner. People call a checker that is sitting alone on a point a blot.
Overall, tavla promises hours of pure fun and entertainment. Once it was founded it continues challenging between "men" not only in Turkey, but around the world. But, still women also adore this fancy game. Today, you can play free tavla games for fun at many online casinos. As a simple example, it can be enjoyed on facebook. Besides, in general, free tavla games no download requiring machines can be started right away since they do not need any special software and or registration. The real mode requires creating a casino account. But before you get started, it is highly advisable to look through the particular game reviews and offered bonuses.
So, if you are looking for the best types of tavla games online, we recommend you taking closer look at casinobedava.com. Apart from excellent reputation, wonderful graphics, Vip treatment, lots of payment alternatives, as well as a wonderful variety of generous and intriguing bonuses, this award-winning gaming portal boasts an impressive array of casino table games, including tavla. The demo mode along with the real money mode are at your disposal.


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Saving Cash While Getting to See the Country
Sometimes life gets you down and you just need to go away for a bit – and sometimes you just feel like getting away for a bit even if life is treating you just fine. It's not really a big deal sometimes and you can do a little road trip up the coast or across the desert or wherever, just go get some space from your current life and live a little, expand those horizons, and be the best new you that you can be. So, think again; here are a few tips you can take along with you so that you know you're going to have a great road trip if you're itching for a road trip but think you can't afford it or that it's not for you.
First, of all, you need the right car for the trip. You don't want to be in something that is either too uncomfortable or a car that is too hard on gas mileage. These days, a lot of cars are getting to have better and better gas mileage which comes in handy when you're thinking of doing a long road trip. If you head to the Nissan dealer San Bernardino and look at cars, you'll see that almost all of them are above 30 for the highways miles, at least all of the ones that are sedans and hatchbacks. This is great news for you – you should feel comfortable to invest in a car like that because it'll be good for your road trip and also for your daily life thereafter. Start looking for a great car for you and yours at http://metronissanredlands.com.
Next you're going to want to save your money on the foods that you can easily spend a ton of money on when you're on a road trip. We're talking things like water and other snacks – these really add up if you stop at a Love's or a Pilot every time you're thirsty or hungry. You may think it's not a big deal, and it isn't – at first – but then those $2 waters start being more like $20 worth of water over a few days. That money is much better spend on pretty much anything else, like a local beer at a cool new pub in some town you've never been to. If you get yourself to a CostCo or any other wholesale place like that and just load up your back seat of the car with waters and snacks, you'll be thanking yourself all the way up and down the interstate system. Granola bars are a good choice for sure.


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Reliance Entertainment to release War Horse on 10 Feb
MUMBAI: Reliance Entertainment will release Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg?s War Horse on 10 February.
Co-produced by DreamWorks and Reliance Entertainment, the film is set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during World War I. A story of friendship and war, the film has been inspired by a book, which was made into a stage play that has now been turned into a big screen adaptation.
The movie, set in World War I, begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, played by Jeremy Irvine, as he tames and trains Joey.
When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets - British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter - before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man?s Land.
War Horse released in the US on 25 December last year.


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Here's How To Host A Queen-Approved Tea Party
Story goes that Anna Russell, the Duchess of Bedford and lifelong friend of Queen Victoria, was the creator of the English "Afternoon Tea". She wanted a light meal to curb her hunger between lunch and dinner. Soon after, she began inviting her companions to socialise over tea and pastries. And thus, the Afternoon tea tradition caught on and gave the the English people a legitimate reason to snack. And boy do they take it seriously!
High Tea, Low Tea?
In today's terms, high tea and afternoon tea are used interchangeably. In actuality, high tea refers to a heavier meal, more specifically, dinner. Despite so, many restaurants and upscale cafes still label it as "High Tea". Afternoon tea is also called "Low Tea", mostly because it takes place in sitting rooms with low tables.
The Wares
The tea wares are the backbone to recreating the most authentic afternoon tea experience. These wares are intricately designed with some fetching upwards of $50,000 to a few Mils. When planning to host a tea party, don't forget the following or you might be thrown into the dungeons for crime against the English national pastime.
- Teapot, cup and saucer: A formal tea would use matching teapots and cups while an eclectic mix for an informal tea would do just fine.
- Milk jug: Milk before or after the pouring of tea is debatable, but entirely to one's preference.
- Sugar bowl and tongs: Use cubes for a more refined tea session.
- Hot water pitcher: Used for weakening a strong brew.
- Tea strainer: To catch loose leaves
- Napkins: For spills, cleanups and signalling the end of the tea session.
- Silver Tray: Serving tray that is reserved for the most formal afternoon tea.
- Tiered cake stand: An essential in formal and informal tea sessions.
- Plate: To place lemon slices or food.
The Fares
Afternoon tea served are often less robust than the morning brews. Black tea like Darjeeling and Lapsang Souchong or blends like Earl Grey are the go-to staples.
When it comes to nibbles, the menu traditionally consist of 3 courses: scones, savoury sandwiches and sweet pastries or cakes. These snacks are served on tiered stands in this particular order: top layer for scones, middle for savoury and the bottom for sweets. Etiquette dictates that it should also be consumed in that order. But to be honest, nothing can stop a sweet tooth from reaching for that piece of macaron.
All poised with the basics of hosting your first proper tea party, now you'll be all ready to entertain whenever the kettle's whistles. Of course, with the Queen's seal of approval.


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What would you ask? Let's hear what you want to know from President Obama.
Maybe some reporter who will get called on will read this and ask it. I mean, okay, I doubt it, but who knows?
So ask!
What were your exact movements and briefings on the day and night of Sep 11, 2012?
Do you still think the Muslim call to prayer is one of the prettiest sounds on Earth?
"The Secret Service keeps incredibly detailed logs of your whereabouts which include the time you enter and exit rooms here in the White House. Do you have any objection to them releasing those records from 7pm September 11, 2012 through 7am September 12, 2012 and if so, why?"
Do you feel your recent leadership failures regarding foreign policy are due to your ignorance or incompetence?
or both?
Since you are in favor of distribution of wealth, that the "have" should give to the "have nots," why don't you give all of your salary, offshore account holdings, and your millions to these "have not" people?
Yes–Do you have a figure in mind when YOU will have made enough money?
Why did you cancel the mtg with Putin the day after you told Jay Leno that you were 'frustrated by Russia's decision to grant Edward Snowden asylum but the two countries must work together".
You also referred to the fact that Russia was helpful in the Boston Marathon attack, along with the missile defense treaty.
Is it because of Russia's persecution of Gays?
Inquiring minds would like to know, Mr. President.
Mr. President, is your refusal to admit Obamacare is a disaster due to the fact that you don't want to embarrass yourself, or is it just your inpenetrable arrogance?
If possible, could you keep this to 140 characters–but….
"Mr President … can you tell us what you will be doing on the night of September 11th next month? If you tell us now, you won't have to dodge the question for the next year."
Very good question which is likely to be asked by a brave reporter who 'accidently' get called upon. Be prepared for a 'new take' on bho's whereabouts on Sept. 11th.
Q: (Will never be asked…) Since you have little appreciation for America's Judeo-Christian foundational principles and values and laws as delineated (Congress/Judicial/Executive) in the Constitution, do you believe that your Prez Edits, daily mis-leading and mis-information utterances, and outright power-grabs from the citizens' elected officials are 'possibly' WHY your approval numbers are on a downward spiral?
Hummmmm? jb
What do you do for ALL those HOURS you fly around the country and/or world on Air Force One? When does the plane ever go in for maintenance?
Are all these scandals Bush's fault?
Mr. President, Have you read the comments by locals in the two Martha's Vineyard newspapers suggesting you try Nantucket next time!
Also, I read MV is half black, half white, in sep areas. Would he call that segregation?
Interesting article on race from NY Magazine
Black and White on Martha's Vineyard
Mr obama: How many hours do you work in the capacity of president during the week?
Why does my health care premium now cost me more than my mortgage, when you said it would go down by $2500?
No, the rebate doesn't come close to covering the price increase.
Mr. President,
Given the state of affairs in the Middle East, with the closure of US embassies within that region, do you still support the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that has had direct ties to terrorist organizations?
As a follow up, how do you think it possible that a two-state solution of the manufactured concept of a Palestinian people can work, given the extremist attitudes by a majority of the Palestinian leaders?
Mr. President,
Since you have insisted that the NSA's metadata mining operation is not a domestic spying program, would you be willing to release the phone, email, and other information gathered by the NSA to the respective owners of said phone numbers, emails, etc.?
Mr. President, have Sasha and Malia ever asked you to teach them to play golf?
Question 1: When are the people responsible for the deaths of Ambassador Stevens and company going to be put on trial, beginning with Hillary Rodham Clinton?
Question 2: When is Eric Holder going to be held accountable for 'Fast-N-Furious' gun-running program, and why is he still the US Attorney General?
Question 3: Since you believe in 'distribution of wealth' and 'distribution of income' – when I am going to get my share in order to secure a mortgage for the home I am presently renting?
What role did Valerie Jarrett play in your decision making regarding incidents in Benghazi on September 11-12?
Are you capable of taking responsibility for anything as President? How
can you look the relatives of those 4 dead souls from Benghazi and lie?
How surprised were you to hear Putin sent best wishes to George W Bush after his heart surgery when he won't speak to you? Did you wish
him well?
Oh, that's right, Lizzy! The classless cur didn't have the decency to wish President Bush well after his surgery! Rude and obnoxious. Thumbs up to Pres. Putin!
Dunno about thumbs for Putin, but it was a pleasant gesture and it wold not have hurt the president to send a note to a former president.
Yes we can question Putin's motive but it was a slap in the face to Obama. I do think Putin does have some small measure of respect for Bush at least they're both men able to
stand on their own unlike our cowardly lion.
Agree, but I don't think Putin would be a fun date.
You might have to talk to his gorgeous 30 y.o. gymnast g/f about that. The love bug must have affected his brain – he thinks he's Tarzan, King of the Apes (lions and tigers).
I am going to let her have him.
"Classless cur"–two thumbs up.
Why do you feel it necessary to lock down any access to your records ?
What are you afraid of ?
He's afraid of everything especially Michelle:-)
If he is ever taken to task, she will be also.
If it wasn't for his thugs, they would never have gotten where they are now.
There is an immense house of cards supporting them.
As CIC did you give the Benghazi stand down order? If so, why? If not, who did? Did you authorize that power to issue a stand down order be given to that person?
Again, on the Middle East. You advocate the removal of Assad from power in Syria. Will you support the Syrian rebels? If so, which faction of the Syrian rebels do you support? Are you aware that AQ is infiltrating the Syrian rebels and are a faction thereof? Are you aware that by supporting the removal of Assad and supporting the Syrian rebels there is great potential for your position to be one of supporting AQ who is our sworn enemy?
And finally, are you aware that John McCain is a jackass aka donkey?
On the lighter side,but no less important to the nation, what does Mooch think of Beyonce's new short hair cut? Will she do the same now that she has tired of the bangs?
Why do you hate America so much?
Kim Strassel's piece in the WSJ today talks about one out of 143 refineries that was exempted from the Ethanol mandate. It's a huge financial windfall to that refinery and the EPA won't say which one got the exemption or why. Perhaps Obama could clear up the mystery for us.
WHEN and WHERE will you be TAKING your NEXT VACATION ?
Hopefully Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Gitmo ?
LOL, rich fantasy life there.
Fox is also doing the suggest a question thing right now–and theirs are if anything are not quite as good as ours.
I think we're better I'd also like to ask why we find out more from
the British papers than ours or should I say yours.
There have been more 21,000 Islamic terror attacks worldwide since 9/11, when will the Tea Party and veterans be delisted as terrorist threats and ISLAM designated THE global terror threat?
What do you think has been your greatest achievement so far as President of the best country on the planet??
Since you are an avid viewer of Fox News, do you know how Megyn Kelly received Hannity's time slot?
I do watch Fox. Watched MSNBC until the nite Olbermann berated Hillary. Now I dislike her, too, for going to the admin. Never liked CNN. What is left? I am not thrilled with Megyn going to Hannity's slot–Hannity was Johnny one-note, but he was an OK backup channel during commercials on the evening entertainment shows. I like Megyn, but her noon show had way too many commercials–it they do that, how can I use her as a backup channel.
Mr. Pinocchio who is your puppeteer?
1) Do you still condemn the comment of Rep. Joe WIlson, now that you have proven it to be true?
2) (Of course) Why can't you manage to get to your own scheduled speeches on time? What do you do during the time you are supposed to be on stage, and why do you have such little respect for the time of others?
Do you really think Savannah, Charleston, and Jacksonville are on the Gulf coast?
What was the name of your uncle who helped liberate Auschwitz?
[…] of distorted reality will be emitted. We don't expect Big Media to ask Obama a question about how life is in Elysium with once pretty boy Matt and his private school kids […]
Why is it that Congress can enact laws for the citizens of this country but find it acceptable to exclude themselves from these laws?
Q: How many millions of dollars have you and your family spent of the 'struggling' under/unemployed tax-payers' on vacations since you took office?
Q: Do you think you and future presidents should pay for their own vacations, along with limiting the number golf outings per month, especially during a national and inter-national crisis?
Q: If you had to pay for your own vacations, would you limit the expenses to a mere $2 million, or less?
Do you ever think about the boys and girls far away from home in
a dangerous country starting their day without a hot meal as you start yours with a bounty of whatever you want?
Sobering and appropriate question, Lizzy.
Why is it that Congress can pass and force the implementation of laws for the citizens of this country but find it acceptable to exclude themselves from these laws, especially as it relates to the subsidies granted to Congressional members and their staffs.
What considerations were made,as far as having the necessary amount of medical practioners, before you added 35 million more people to your bill? Also, at this late date, I still do not know, if undocumented alliens will be added to this plan.
Great questions gang! We should make this a tradition before every press conference :D
Can't link Twitchy, but you have a moment go over and read some of the questions. Laff riot!
Don't despair, WH reporters: Tweeters think up more questions for Obama presser
Barry. Since you don't know anything unless you read it in the papers, here's something you might have missed in today's Chicago Tribune. " Whitaker… released a statement following the indictment of Quinshaunta R. Golden who was his C. of Staff at the IL. Department of Health.
Golden is accused of conspiring with state grant recipients to divert federal money into their own pockets, then trying to cover it up.
You remember Whitaker don't you? You golfed with him last weekend on your birthday. He also worked with Michelle the University of Chicago in 2007.
Certainly you must know Golden, she's the niece of U.S. Representative Danny " Hoodie " Davis, and is the 13th person to be charged.
Any comments? Conspiracy and cover up, sound familiar?
Well, too late. I found something better to do than listen to Obama today. I watched the PGA. But if I could have asked a question, it would have been "Who made the decision not to relieve Ambassador Stevens and the others who were murdered in Benghazi?"
One question with two follow-ups:
1) What is your name?
2) What is your quest?
3) What is your favorite color?
If only it were that easy…
What are the names of the other seven states?
Dopey, Doc, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, Happy, and Grumpy
Classic !
I would not ask Obama any questions, because I know that all of his answers would be lies. Instead, I would like for Obama's supporters to address all of the things on this list: Here are 239 examples of Barack Obama's lying, lawbreaking, corruption, cronyism, etc. http://danfromsquirrelhill.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/obama-239/
Simple question Mr. President, "Why are you black?"
And, "are you on Tiger watch?"
glad to see that "Where were you on the nite of September 11, 2012, while our consulate in Benghazi was under siege?" is getting a lot of votes here.
too bad none of the reporters had the chutzpah to ask it today.
cheer up tho folks, we'll have plenty of time to ask Hillary about that and more during the 2016 campaign, starting any day now!
Will you consider playing more golf? Please!
Why after your golf instruction with Tiger Woods in Florida ,teaching him how to play the game is Tiger 10 shots behind at this year's PGA Championship.?
Obama seems to have the same effect on companies also.
Why was Lolo Soetoro still acknowledging Barry Soetoro (Barack) as his son in August, 1980?
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3. The parties have 1 child(ren) below age 18 and 1 child(ren) above 18 but still dependent on the parties for education.
Love the Obama File ! Nice to see you here beckwith ;)
Unscrambling Obama's questionable background is a herculean feat, Beckwith. The Obama File is a treasure trove of information.
It's water under the bridge now…but doesn't the Constitution clearly state that a President must be a 'natural-born citizen' -not native-born? Any way you slice it, neither BHO, Sr or Lolo Soetoro were U.S. citizens.
If one of Bin Laden's many ex-wives happened to be a U.S. citizen and she gave birth to a son on American soil, would that child ever be eligible to run for President? Just sayin'…..
Have you and Reggie Love set a wedding date yet?
Sure I have questions, but I wouldn't ask Obama. Why would I want to be insulted and belittled with lies?


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So, a huge thank you to those of you who responded to my Twitter poll and told me that you wanted me to start a new post series dedicated to bloggers and blogging. Because almost all of you voted 'yes' to the series, I have happily been writing away and now have seven posts ready especially for you lovely lot.
Now, I don't profess to be the Queen of Blogging - far from it. But in my day job I work as a Social Media & Digital Marketing Manager, so blogging and social media is in my veins. I live and breathe it - sad but true...and I wouldn't change it either! Although Lady Writes was only fully launched last August (five months ago) I've got five years blogging experience through my first blog as a parent blogger for several years, and through my job too. So, I really want to share with you guys some of the things I've learnt along the way, either through my daily work, or through trial and error as a blogger myself.
This post in the series is all about writing the best blog post possible...
Framework is key in any piece of written content, and by framework I mean something as simple as: a beginning, a middle and an end. It sounds simple but break down your post slightly more and you've got a ready made template. So - the beginning. It's your introduction. Don't dive straight in - you wouldn't want a guy to try and passionately kiss you the very second you met him on a date now would you?! So don't jump straight in with the content either! Soften it, slowly ease in, give some background - use a bit of 'fluff' as us copywriters call it. Fluff is good. Fluff is your friend. Then when you've used a generous amount of fluff - but not too much that you disengage your audience - then introduce your topic fully.
Then there's the middle - the juicy bit. Here you want to make sure you cover the facts. If it's a product or brand review - you want the details here. It's up to you how you lead this, but make a check list of things to cover and use the order that makes the most general sense. Don't jump from price to colour then back to postage cost and back to product quality. Stick the prices and practicalities together and group things into semi sections - it rolls better that way.
The end - this needs to be your conclusion. Your thoughts and opinions can take the lead here. This is where you recap your post as well as your key points. I don't recommend you repeat yourself (whether facts or feelings) at any other point in the post - but in the conclusion, it's fine to revisit key points. Just remember to change the wording a little. Repetition is not good with written content.
Your Voice
Tone of voice is key when building your brand, and I'm going to write a whole blog post on this in the coming few weeks, but for now just remember that your voice is what makes your blog unique. Don't write like everyone else - write like you. If you talk in short, snappy sentences generally then make sure you write like that. If you tend to be a thought-train writer (like me) and go off on lots of tangents, then write like that. Your voice is your brand. BUT, do NOT write as if you're speaking. Literarily speaking what works verbally doesn't always work when written and can sound horrible when read, so make sure you're using your voice to dictate - but your knowledge to write. Remember - 'Be you - everyone else is taken.'
Use emotive photo's in your posts. Visual content is HOT right now in every type of online content from websites to social media and blogging. People want content delivered through imagery as much as written content - if not more these days. So you need - not want - you need, your images to reinforce your blog post. If you're writing about something fun then use bold, bright colours with a twinkle - it's emotive. If you're writing about something more serious then set the tone with your pictures. A good tip too (and sometimes I rebel against myself on this!) don't mix using black and white images and coloured images in the same post. It's not visually cohesive - it just doesn't sit right. Go for one colour palette and stick to it.
You want to keep your audience engaged, so make sure you reference them directly in the post. Use 'You might be the same" or "If you're like me...". However you use it, make sure you're talking to them - it's written for them after all! You want to make it sound like you're speaking directly to every individual person who's reading your post, so make it personal - talk to them. You wouldn't go on-and-on about yourself if that blog reader was sat in front of you now would you? No. So make sure you're always flipping it back to them - how do they feel? What might they think?
...This leads nicely to questioning. I use a lot of rhetorical questions in my blog posts. It keeps the audience engaged but it doesn't have that awkward pause in the blog post where the topic just stops...a bit like an awkward silence. Change "What do you think?" to "I'm sure you'll agree, but...?" - the latter is easier for you to continue writing than the former.
...However, I do recommend one place that's good for a true question - the very end of a post. If you want to encourage blog comments, to keep the reader engaged then ask their opinion to do so. It's fully acceptable at the end of the post, but avoid it elsewhere.
When giving your blog post a title go for something that is self-explanatory. This is because in the world of blogging and online media, if people don't know what you're writing about then you're risking them not reading it at all. Keep the headline fun and punchy, use that title box to draw them in. Give them a hook, the post is the catch.
If you're talking about other brands, bloggers, places, people or sources - then link to them in the post. It's not just good for them, it's good for you too as your post looks well researched and thorough and keeps the reader thinking about your topic even when they've moved on to linked webpage. Also, it gives you an excellent promotional key - it means you can tag every brand, person or blog etc. that you've linked too when you go on to promote your blog post. For example if you mention a brand in your post - Tweet or Instagram them and tell them they're mentioned, it's only a good thing and you might even get a retweet out of it too - taking your post to a greater readership.
This is so important! Always proof read your posts! I know the odd uncapitalised 'I' quite often sneaks into my blog posts thanks to an iffy tab on my Mac, but I also know that because I get so excited about writing, sometimes I get caught up in it and have to just get the words out - then I go back and check for spelling or grammatical errors. It's also through proof reading that you'll notice if something doesn't flow or gel the right way - however it's more likely to stand out as something that needs amending if you proof read out loud - that's a key tip. In your head, when proofing, you can make the content sound how you want it to, not necessarily how it does. So always proof out loud - it's okay, it's not the first sign of madness....I hope.
So there you have, these are the top ways to write the best blog post. I hope they help you and have given you at least a pointer or two on ways to writing an even better blog post!


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Personal Advisor Services, the hybrid automated advice offering from Vanguard, has mimicked the success of the firm's mutual fund offerings with its rapid growth.
By the end of 2015, it counted approximately $31 billion in total assets under management; that total stood at $7 billion in March, when it was still a pilot program. Of that total $21 billion is from new money, Vanguard says, with the remainder from its wealth management and trust and estate planning service. (Clients in that service are being moved to the hybrid platform.)
Tom Rampulla, who returned from Europe to become the new head of Vanguard Financial Advisor Services, is quick to point out that Vanguard doesn't see its digital offering as a replacement or competition for its advisors.
But it has put it in a dominant position among a pack of longstanding firms with new digital offerings — including TD Ameritrade and Schwab's Intelligent Portfolios. So what can the firm do to extend its growth into digital advice? Consider buying Wealthfront or Betterment?
Rampulla notes the Valley Forge, Pa.-based firm has never done an acquisition. "That being said," he tells Re: Invent|Wealth, "it's not out of the realm of possibility."
What are the makings of a good digital platform?
The way we look at it is we want to support advice in multiple channels. Whether you're a direct client of ours, we want to help you, or if you're one of our great advisor clients in our trillion-dollar-business, we want to help you. When you think about how something's delivered, whether it's advice or not, I often think about, 'Who do I like often dealing with?' When I purchase something — I love Amazon. It's easy. I don't want to talk to anybody; I don't have to talk to anybody.
I am certainly not a millennial — I wish I was — but that's the way they like to be served. So, if you can have an experience, we'll call it the "delighters at Vanguard," that delights your client and gets what they want to get done in an accurate, smooth, seamless way; that's good digital.
Is there room for a direct-to-consumer digital automated service company or companies in this industry?
Yes, there's a spectrum and there are different needs along the spectrum. I don't want to imply that it's a waste and that it's not going to serve anybody — I don't want to imply that at all. I think you've got a very digital to a very complex in-person wealth manager and there are needs all along that spectrum.
In fact, if you're in one of those buckets of needs over time you could change for different reasons. Whether it's your complexity that increases or decreases; so I absolutely picture there being a place for digital.
Will digital advice providers die off over time because they're not able to grow at the scale needed to compete with firms like Vanguard, Fidelity and Schwab?
That's just an industry lifecycle. You get a bunch of smaller startups at the beginning. As the market matures you get some consolidation and then you have some winners and losers that shake out. I don't see why this would be any different to the general dynamic of industry maturity.
With the way that technology is today, the small startup has a pretty good shot of being a disrupter for the long term. You have a lot of smart people in Silicon Valley thinking about different industries ripe for disruption and they're going at it.
What's the strategy when it's clear that the digital space cannot be confined and the target is the marketshare of traditional providers?
Vanguard was a virtual company before people even talked about virtual. We never had bricks and mortar. We didn't have digital back then — it was mail and telephone — so we have embraced that virtual model for a long period of time.
If you look at our web experience, if you look at our digital experience with apps and what we're doing with the digital space, we've evolved over time and we continued to do that and become a major player.
We have an interest in staying with the market, being successful in the market and we think we serve our investors very well. We also happen to have some scale that is helpful. We think that brings a fair amount of benefit to reduce cost over time. We want to be a major player and we want to continue being a major player.
Would Vanguard consider Betterment or WealthFront as an acquisition target?
In our 40-year history we haven't done a single acquisition. We've had a couple of minor investments here and there, but we've never done an acquisition. We've looked at acquisition over the years and we've tended to go with organic growth. That being said, it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Did you interpret BlackRock's acquisition of FutureAdvisor as a sign that industry peers are thinking about their existing business models? Is that something Vanguard needs to do too?
We are always looking at ourselves and challenging our business model. We rolled out the Personal Advisor Service recently and that was something we looked at for a very long time and felt it was a good thing for our clients and filled a real need in the marketplace. We looked at ETFs. We had one ETF in 2002 and we just kept challenging ourselves and now we're the second largest provider. So we do constantly challenge ourselves.
We keep an eye on the competition, but I will tell you that we're not obsessed with what's happening with our competitors. We're thinking about our clients and what we should be doing.
I'm not going to say we don't look at them; it's that it wouldn't prompt us to necessarily move. But we are thinking about these things.
Is it inevitable that a financial advisory firm will eventually, sooner than later, have to have some sort of digital overlay for combination of onboarding automated services for ETF-type products that are probably more geared for clients with lower access?
If I were an advisor, I would think about the things that cause friction in my business. It's a lot of this stuff. As an advisor my value is actually on the relationship, since I want to scale my business and not just for lower-end clients.
If I'm an advisor, I would love to have a great backend that helps me do this. The engine of our PAS system has great technology behind it, but I'm still out front adding a great deal of value there. Perhaps if I had a robo, and it were a way for me to get a client engaged, it might get them in and as they grow and move up the maturity line, maybe that's a way to start acquiring at a time when I couldn't acquire because they were small amounts of assets.
I would be thinking of that, and boy that would make me more efficient. That should reduce my expense and it should help me compete on price a bit more because that's probably one of the things that's going to happen out of all of this; there is probably going to be pricing pressure over some period of time in this industry.
A number of these robos actually have Vanguard ETFs in their underlying baskets. What do you think about that?
It's smart.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for advisors right now overall?
If I were an advisor, after I got over the shock of what's happening, I would probably see this as an opportunity. I will draw a little bit of a parallel to the U.K. when I was there in 2012, when all commissions and payments were banned in the industry.
Advisors were in shock. They had to move pretty quickly and there was a lot of disruption. Some advisors fell out of it and couldn't compete. Successful advisors thought about it and saw that time as an opportunity and came out in the end stronger. They had folks see their value proposition.
If I was an advisor, I would look at this as an opportunity to, one, make myself more efficient and, two, really define my value proposition and stand out. You can really stand out from the robo crowd as a digital advisor.
So I would actually look at it on the positive side. Once I would get over the shock I would look at it as an opportunity to distinguish myself.
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Just wondering what percentage of nett income do you manage to save every month? I've started saving for us as much as I can. Have managed 18 percent of income so far each month but I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
just finished with cr che and childminding fees forever but saving now for dd1 going on o third level in Sept 12 months hopefully. Can't afford a car.
Also live on one wage and save the other. Savings used for holidays, christmas and college fees etc.
we dont have cr che fees or a huge rent bill thank god so we're able to do it.
Post Deleted Because: The OP deleted this post
We also live on one wage and save one wage. Its the fastest way for us to save up and live our life within our means. Before my wage goes into our savings pot I take 10% and move it into my own pot which is my personal pension pot. I was a SAHM for many years so I'm making up for lost time. So our savings is 30% + 10% pension.
We have one wage only I manage to save from that.Life may be short but it's a long time if you have no savings and need them. I know only too well how quickly things can go pear shaped. I've set myself a savings goal each month and hope to have 10k saved by the end of the year.
Zero savings for now, all going to college expenses x 2 and mortgage.
We did when we saved for our house years back. Paid he bills and lives in one salary
No savings here for the time being, until we're done with cr che fees and car loan we haven't a hope of saving anything
does anyone else save like this, live on one wage?
we are living on dp's income and saving all of mine including cb. we are saving for a house and to get married so after that we'll focus on putting money away for retirement. They said 10% is a good amount, obviously if you can save more that's brilliant.
love our holidays here too! we try to save around 100 monthly but secondary costs always something they need between books etc. So I have dipped into that money. Ortho work on the cards too always something isn't there.
We save 7% per month, but dip into it occasionally.
We save a bit, no idea what percentage it is but it's building up slowly. Life is too short to be saving and saving.
Roughly 50% at the moment but we are really pushing it. We hope to buy again and want to greatly reduce what we need to borrow!
typically savings are about 35-40%
we save separately for Xmas. We save just to save, we have no end goal as such! Pensions are as organized as possible. We enjoy life. While in all for saving I'm too selfish to do it if it meant we had no life so mommyals I'm with you on the holidays lol
We don't have any savings for the future. We save every month and book a holiday at the end of every year. We live year to year. Yes awful parents to put a holiday before our retirement but that's what we do
just made mine up there aprrox. 35%, though that's credit union and bank savings, christmas savings, and it pays for my holidays, tax and insurance every year to.
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