You know the expression “youth is wasted on the young.” Sometimes it is, and sometimes youth is exactly what we need to get us going and kick us into the next century.

Air & Energy has been one of the Island’s premier air conditioning companies on Anna Maria for 30 years this month. For more than 20 of those years, the company has been owned and operated by Trudy and Stewart Moon who have continually expanded and refined the level of service and products they offered.

Now with the addition of the Moon’s son, Stewart, Jr., who joined the company on a full-time basis two years ago, the company has taken on a whole new look, feel and energy. Stewart, Jr., who is now the license holder for Air & Energy, has become the face of the company.

He meets with customers to discuss solutions to their specific problems and brings a holistic approach to keeping their homes comfortable. He is also proactive in researching and adding new and innovative products to their already long list of services.

With the addition of electrical services in 2010, Air & Energy is a full service company handling not only air conditioning, but plumbing and electrical services as well. One of their newest products is NEXIA Home Intelligence, undoubtedly the wave of the future in its ability to monitor your home from wherever you are.

The hi tech system can remotely control thermostats, lights, doors, appliances and more from your iPhone, iPad, Android smart phone and other wi-fi devices. The system provides peace of mind to part-time residents, especially during the hot and humid summer months, avoiding expensive repairs by keeping humidity and mold from invading your property.

Stewart, Jr. says the industry is smarter than it once was, as are their customers who require state of the art equipment and services. Air & Energy has the ability to package services based on its customer’s needs whether they need a new air conditioning system, a new water heater, electrical surge protection and panel upgrades or the sophistication of a home monitoring system. Of course, it offers service contracts, which include professional cleaning of air conditioning systems, discounts and fast response when you have a problem, and it services all of Manatee County.

In spite of the recession, Air & Energy’s business has expanded an average of 15 percent per year during the past five years. It adds 50 to 100 customers a month, 80 percent from referrals. Trudy says they never lose a customer because of their personal touch. In fact, she personally reviews every service invoice the company generates to verify the service provided was the absolute best.

Air & Energy’s comfort specialists are always attending advanced training and are totally automated and sophisticated. Air & Energy has 35 employees most of them long term and all of them dedicated to doing the best job they can.

Trudy and Stewart have always been involved in the community, donating time and funds to a variety of charities including the Anna Maria Island Community Center, St. Stephen’s School, Manatee County Animal Services and many, many more. Stewart, Jr. is certainly following in his parents' footsteps and is currently on the board of the Anna Maria Community Center and is active in Leadership Manatee, Realize Bradenton and Manatee Young Professionals. Air & Energy and the Moons have won many awards for both their volunteer work and company including Bradenton Herald People’s Choice and the Anna Maria Island Sun Reader’s Choice both for more than 10 years as well as being named Manatee Small Business of the Year.

Although Stewart, Sr. is semi retired, Trudy is still very active in the company and is proud of their son, who has learned the family business from the ground up. She is excited about the growth of the company and credits Stewart, Jr. for his analysis and ultimate change in the company. When asked, Stewart Sr. says his son does “everything” and he does “nothing” which is exactly the way he likes it.

Air & Energy sells a lot of air conditioning equipment plumbing and electrical services during the course of the year but what it really sells is customer service.

The next time you need air, plumbing or electrical services ask yourself, “When’s the last time you had good customer service?” If you can’t remember, then it’s time to call Air & Energy with its 30 years of experience in customer service and youthful point of view.

AIR & ENERGY AIR-PLUMBING-ELECTRICAL

3018 Ave. C
Holmes Beach
941-778-0773
AirandEnergy.biz

MasterCard & Visa accepted
Financing Available

There are smart ways for single, divorced, and widowed women to capture more Social Security income over their lifetimes. Because women tend to outlive men, by four to five years, on average, it is important they be informed and smart about the choices that are available to them. Since they tend to collect benefits for a longer time, the right choice can mean tens or even hundred’s of thousands in additional benefits

A single woman who has never married may be able to collect greater cumulative lifetime income by examining her top earning years and trying to further build her projected Social Security income benefit. Generally, she will collect more income by delaying the age at which she starts collecting benefits from eligibility at 62 up to the full retirement age (FRA) of 66.

For those born between 1943 and 1954, they will receive 100 percent of their Social Security income benefit at age 66 (source: Social Security). And if she thinks she will live past age 78, it could be to her advantage to keep working and delay claiming benefits until age 66 or even age 70.

As a single, divorced woman, there may be several strategies available to get more income. She may be eligible to collect off her ex-spouse’s earnings, if those benefits are greater than those of her own earnings. In addition, she may start to collect these benefits off her ex-spouse as early as 62 while her own earnings benefit record continues to grow in the background

By waiting and then switching to the higher benefit from her own earnings at a later time, a single, divorced woman can potentially collect tens of thousands of additional income over her lifetime. Note that this technique may work in some, but not all, situations.

A single, widowed woman can receive full survivor benefits when she reaches FRA or reduced benefits as early as 60. Her benefit amount will depend on her age and on the amount her deceased husband was entitled to when he died. If he was already receiving reduced benefits, her survivor benefit will be based on that amount. However, as a widow, if she waits to begin survivor benefits until her FRA, she is entitled to his full benefit, including any delayed retirement credits, if he passed away prior to claiming his Social Security.

By the way, these last two strategies for widowed or divorced women also effectively apply to men. If the man in a married couple was the lower wage earner and subsequently has lower Social Security benefits, these strategies still work as they are gender agnostic.

As outlined, each woman will have circumstances that are unique to her own situation. The important point is that she needs to understand there are rules and techniques to learn that can possibly help her get more Social Security income over her lifetime. The rules are complex and unique to her own situation, so she may wish to contact a financial advisor proficient in the area of Social Security income planning to help guide her with these decisions.

If a woman has claimed Social Security income within the last 12 months and feels she may have made an incorrect income election, there still may be time to fix it and execute an election re-do. If she is approaching retirement age, becoming informed will help her make a more beneficial decision.

Tom Breiter is president of Breiter Capital Management, Inc., an Anna Maria based investment advisor. He can be reached at 778-1900. Some of the investment concepts highlighted in this column may carry the risk of loss of principal, and investors should determine appropriateness for their personal situation before investing. Visit www.breitercapital.com.