Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Joyce Edmondson | 12/29/2010

Raymond James Acquiring Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett Inc.

Raymond James Financial is buying the Chicago brokerage firm Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett Inc., giving the St. Petersburg financial services company nearly $2 billion more in assets under management. Raymond James CEO Paul Reilly said the merger announced Wednesday bolsters its expertise in the financial institutions sector. A middle-market broker, Howe Barnes focuses on depository institutions, providing its clients with equity research, sales, trading, and investment banking services. The company serves more than 4,500 private wealth management clients with more than $1.9 billion in assets under management. Prior to this acquisition, Florida Trend rated Raymond James the 23rd largest public company in Florida, based on 2009 revenue. [Source: St. Petersburg Times]

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MUST-KNOW FLORIDIAN Meet Carol Brooks, President and co-founder Continental Real Estate Cos., Miami. Carol is one of several CEOs that are featured in an article titled "CEO Hobbies." Carol manages her stress by tending to her organic vegetable garden after work. She's also helping her employees be aware of healthy eating. More.

Column: In 2010, Central Florida Business News Begins and Ends on Positive Note

Today's Top 10 list comes from Beth Kassab, columnist at the Orlando Sentinel, who names the top 10 business stories for Central Florida in 2010.

1. Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens
2. Real estate crisis continues
3. Unemployment
4. SeaWorld trainer's death
5. Southwest- AirTran bought by Southwest
6. Teresa Jacob elected Mayor of Orange County
7. Rick Scott's election
8. Passenger rail
9. BP oil spill
10. Amway Center built
    

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Analysis: Economy Took Toll on Crist's Term as Fla. Governor

In 2008, when McCain bypassed Charlie Crist and selected another fresh-faced governor as his running-mate (Alaska's Sarah Palin), Crist's luck began to change. Crist miscalculated by assuming it would be an easy walk to the Republican nomination. He upset many Republicans when he joined newly elected President Barack Obama on stage to rally support for a $787 billion stimulus package that most in the GOP opposed. Crist supporters failed to force former House Speaker Marco Rubio out of the race. As the economy grew worse, Rubio repeatedly criticized Obama's spending policies and linked Crist to them. "You had a governor that has had a very difficult economic time to deal with and has shown nothing to really counter the bad economy except platitudes - 'I love Florida, isn't she great?'" said David Johnson, a Tallahassee-based Republican strategist. "The clock ran out on his good time because he was governor during a very bad time." [Source: AP]

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Advice: Workers Need Help to Cope with Stress

In most workplaces, 2010 proved to be a strange year -- painful and rewarding, trying and exciting. The topic of work/life balance became more relevant than ever. Almost universally, stress hit an all-time high, fueled by heavier workloads, fear of job loss and 24/7 connectivity. "Workers are being pushed and pushed and they lack the energy to deal with it," was how Joyce Gioia of The Herman Group summed it up. Experts say it will be difficult for the economy to fully recover until employers find a way to help workers cope. The best advice for a worker or business owner: Take breaks throughout the day; be physically active; consider yoga or meditation and, most important, always cool off before answering an e-mail or phone call. [Source: Miami Herald]

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Video: Manatees Swim to Warmth

In chilly Florida, manatees are on the hunt for warmth. Some have found respite from the cold Gulf waters in pools beside a power plant, where generating electricity warms the water.

PARTY TIME Send Off the Old Year in Style Maybe it's because of cost, space or just overall effort, but many people prefer hosting a smaller New Year's Eve get-together rather than a grand affair. Here's some tips for planning a simple, festive New Year's Eve get-together: • Use e-vites, which are free, immediate and can help keep track of RSVPs. • Be clear about details, including what will be served — is it dinner or just appetizers? • Decorate - at least a little. You can use a color scheme, a countdown theme, festive party ware (such as Pier1's colorful striped stemware, shown at right.) • Have some games or activities, to prevent lulls. Instant photos are neat, and can be a souvenir of the evening. • Set some fun-sounding alarms to go off at midnight. Have everyone set their phone alarms too -- go ahead, create a cacophony! [Source: TampaBay.com] Tomorrow: Party Time, Part 2 -- Food and drink!