Business

Landscape Innovation of Gilroy recently received three awards by the California Landscape Contractors Association. The awards were first place in design, Ken and Penny Perluss; first place in lighting, Goldsmith residence; and second place in renovation, Elks Lodge of Gilroy.

Kristi Ellington from Ellington Financial recently attended focus13, a financial services industry conference. Held in San Diego, Aug. 18-21, focus13 was one of the industry's premier sales and education events for financial professionals. More than 5,700 total attendees from around the country assembled to learn new strategies and skills, expand knowledge in numerous product areas and network with peers and industry experts. “Attending focus13 provided an exceptional opportunity for me to attend a number of business sessions, technology training sessions and continuing education classes to stay well-informed of financial trends and industry best practices,” Ellington said. “Most importantly, I also discovered strategies to continually improve my communication and engagement with my clients.”

Brenda Cullen has a killer deal on craigslist for a spotless, low-mileage Nissan Altima. But it won’t last. A job promotion, complete with company car, has left her family with one too many vehicles, so that’s why she’s unloading the Altima for not even a quarter of its true value.

How confident are you about your retirement savings? That might seem like a difficult question to answer. Maybe a better question is – do you own your home? If your answer is no, you're not alone. Retirement-age homeowners are more likely than ever to carry mortgage debt. According to a USA Today analysis of census data, more than 28 percent of homeowners age 65 or older owe on their homes. That might not seem like an outrageous percentage, but when compared to about 21 percent in 1990 and about 19 percent in 1980, the trend is obvious.