Because of increasing costs associated with the very successful Bright Futures Scholarship program, there are concerns qualification requirements - such as a higher grade point average - will continue to become harder to meet.

If you’re worried about what will happen to your child’s bright future, take a breath. There are alternatives available for funding a college education in Florida.

Recently, the State of Florida has made great strides in their university system and currently has many nationally-recognized colleges and programs. With the advent of the Bright Futures Scholarship program, many more graduates of Florida high schools have had the opportunity to get the majority, if not all, of their college tuition paid for.

Unfortunately, the program has been so successful that the total cost to the state–through lottery revenues has grown immensely. Coupled with major budget issues has caused the Florida legislature to implement several changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

In addition, every time the state increases credit hour tuition rates at its universities there is an unintended effect of increasing the projected future scholarship program costs as well.  This is one reason more colleges and universities are increasing “fees” rather than credit hour tuition rates. Expect this trend to continue as total enrollment continues to increase and strains on the state budget continue to divert Florida Lottery revenue to other state programs.

The Bright Futures Scholarship program continues to offer three award levels based on academic standing.  To learn more about the program, check out the link at the end of the article. There are many scholarship specifics, so read and plan carefully.  For those who qualify, Bright Futures will continue to be the best source of funding for a college education, because someone else is paying for it.

In the event that a Bright Futures Scholarship is not in your future, or is insufficient to cover college expenses, below are some of the more popular options for covering the costs.  These alternatives can typically be used to augment any college costs not paid for by the Bright Futures program. As a reminder, most of the available tax deductions/credits at the federal and state level are subject to family income limits, proof of residency, academic standing and more, so plan effectively to maximize the benefits available:

1.)    Tax Credits - The federal government currently has two main tax “credits” available today to help offset current college tuition expenses known as the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits. Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions to your overall income tax liability - a great deal. The American Opportunity credit is new (valued at up to $2,500 per return) and basically replaced the Hope Credit.  The Lifetime Learning credit is available for all years of post-secondary education and courses which improve job skills. A taxpayer can claim a tax credit for 20% of their tuition and fees of up to $10,000 per year with a maximum credit of $2,000.  You can’t claim both credits for the same student during the same tax year so there is some planning involved. Check out IRS publication 970 for all of the details on these credits.

2.)    529 Plans - When the Federal government made withdrawals from the “529″ college savings plans exempt from taxes in 2002, the market for these accounts exploded into a multi-billion dollar business for the financial services industry.   These plans are run at the state level and administered by a third party.  The plans come in two basic types - pre-paid college tuition plans and college savings plans.  The main advantages to these plans are that there are no income limitations for contributions, the accounts grow tax free and the money can be used for many college expenses. In addition, many states allow residents of other states to enroll in their college savings plans. This is important because some states’ savings plans are better than others with regard to savings options, administrative expenses and what have you so you should shop around.

Don’t forget grants, other types of scholarships, student loans, ESA’s, IRA withdrawals, education savings bonds, work-sponsored programs, etc.  Be sure to consult your financial and tax advisors for the most appropriate overall college savings strategy when considering your goals, income level and timeframe.

There are options available to you, so get planning today before it’s too late.

Bright Futures Information: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/BF.htm

State of Florida Prepaid and College Savings Fund: www.myfloridaprepaid.com

Article by Barrett Haus, owner of Haus Financial

Barrett Haus provides independent (through his own companies) financial and tax advising for businesses and individuals. He can be reached at 407-222-5120 or barrett@hausfinancial.com. Check us out on the web at www.hausfinancial.com.  If you would like to receive my email newsletter (every 2-3 months) send me an email and I will add you to the distribution.

Along with my husband, David, I am co-publisher of the monthly publication you’re holding in your hands right now, Insight Magazine. Our baby. Our pride and joy.

To us, the magazine represents much more than just a smattering of articles. You see, Insight is designed to be more than just a collection of issues and advertisements. More than just a coffee table read. Really, it’s more than a magazine in our eyes. Insight represents an ideal. A way of thinking.

In the dictionary, the term “insight” is commonly defined as “an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing” or “an understanding of relationships that sheds light on or helps solve a problem.” That’s what we try to do each month.

Our goal is to offer you, our readers, a unique, unbiased perspective on the issues that affect our community of East Orlando in the hope that it will give you a greater understanding of what’s going on around us. But more than that, our hope is that it will help cultivate a heightened sense of community to make this a better place to live, work and play.

The fact is, tighter knit communities lead to better, stronger communities. We’d like to think that insight is one of the vehicles we can all use to get there.

A Brief History

Being so connected to the community doesn’t happen by mistake, or even coincidence. David and I are always out, always meeting new faces that make up the patchwork we like to call home. Some of the more common questions we’re asked is, “How did Insight Magazine get off the ground?” or “Why did you guys want to do this?” In case you’ve ever wondered why we decided to leave our comfy corporate jobs, venture out onto our own and tackle the beast that is entrepreneurship, the answer is a few paragraphs away.

Essentially, Insight Magazine got its start from a visioning study to, believe it or not, offer insight to local leaders and business owners. In 2003 while I was volunteering as president of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce (EOCC), our community conducted a 10 month visioning study to find out what was needed to make our businesses, our neighborhoods and our communities stronger.

Each month we went out and discussed an issue - be it education, transportation, the environment, public safety and even architecture - with members of the community. We always made sure to talk about where we were then, where we wanted to be in 25 years and how we were going to get there.

The end result was writing a 74 page document, with my good friend Jim Spaeth, that became known as the East Orlando Visioning Report. The report was a huge success and it created a lot of buzz among the business community and residents on this side of town. So much so in fact, that in 2005, Orange County Mayor Richard Crotty announced his vision for a high-tech corridor called Innovation Way that would link UCF to the Orlando International Airport. This report was extremely similar to the document we produced a short time earlier.

I remember it like it was yesterday. A very good friend of mine and a former Stoneybrook resident, Linda Shroll, saw that there was a need and an opportunity to create a community-based magazine that built upon our original visioning study to provide us with access to the news, views and issues that meant the most to us - the things that were going on right in our backyard.

So, one night about 25 of us, including local elected officials and grass roots advocates, met for dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. Two hours later we emerged with full bellies and a concept for starting a new business. Partnered with the EOCC in the first year, we gave away free advertising to chamber members who would then promote the new publication to their member base.

That’s how the publication itself got started in 2004. Insight Magazine was created as a continuation to the efforts by this community to create a dialogue about the issues that are important to us. That’s why each month, Insight is focused on a particular topic.  This month it is construction and growth.  Last month it was our local economy.  Next month we will focus on education.

Meanwhile, David and I were still at our corporate jobs. Fast forward to 2005 - I was beginning my efforts to get elected as our next Orange County Commissioner for District 4, the region we all live in. Linda was looking to move onto her next challenge and raise a family. David and I both were looking to move into a more flexible environment that would allow us to grow professionally and personally as the campaign revved up. We were already heavily involved in nonprofits and community events, but taking over the magazine seemed like the next logical step to become further invested into the community and really make a difference.

The stars aligned and we purchased the magazine in mid-2005.  It was a whirlwind of excitement. Anticipation. Independence. We took the leap and became small business owners.

It’s a decision that has shaped just about every aspect of our lives to this day. We wake up, eat breathe and sleep this community. It’s a move that neither of us regret and it has allowed us to meet hundreds of extraordinary people and experience some of the area’s most incredible experiences.

It seems like the past years have been a blur. When we started, we relied on a lot of interns and a lot of very late nights. Our time was scarce and those first few months were more of a learning process rather than anything else.

Since purchasing the magazine, we’ve been fortunate to more than quadruple our distribution list, have sponsored dozens of community events and have grown into the area’s leading community magazine.

But at the end of the day, it all goes back to one thing: providing you, our readers and our community with insight in the hope that we can better our community for the future generations.

What Will Tomorrow Bring?

What does the road ahead hold? That’s a good question and one that I cannot answer for certain. The magazine is doing well and it continues to turn heads and profits, despite a less than stellar economy. It finds a way to survive, much like you and I do.

We are directly affected by the ups and downs in the economy. David and I take our commitment to our community very serious and we pride ourselves on getting out there and getting to know the people that make our region such a great place to live.

I look back on the things we’ve done since we’ve been publishers of the magazine and one of our prouder moments was starting Coffee Club in January of 2007. Since then we have welcomed more than 3,000 Central Florida businesses to our weekly free networking event. We call them our Coffee Clubbers. Their will to grow, learn and take on the world with, sometimes, little more than a passionate ideal inspires us every day.

In our very near future, it’s my belief that our community must make progress towards diversifying itself and bringing real jobs and real opportunities here so that people just like us have the chance to start a business or offer better career choices for the next generation. My insight on the issue is this: we must recognize and gain a clear understanding of the environment that the business community needs in order to recruit and retain workers.

In business, one must always be moving forward.  Just because the economy is slow does not mean that we can slow down.  Small business owners must think outside the box when finding solutions.  The ability to find those solutions is what makes us unique. It’s what makes us entrepreneurs.

Insight is what you make it, both in terms of the magazine and, on a grander scale, your career and your day-to-day life. Insight can give you understanding, but it’s up to you to determine what to do with it, where to put your efforts and, ultimately, how to determine and support the choices you make.

We thank you for your tremendous support throughout the past five years. Without you, your family and your efforts - there would be no community here to call home. Hopefully, we’ve been a small to help to your family in because you’ve become such a big part of ours.

Here’s to an insightful tomorrow!

Article by Jennifer Thompson

White sandy beaches. Breathtaking oceanfront views. Live music with chef-prepared cuisine. Paradise? It just might be. And the best part is - it’s a lot closer than you think.

I recently found out that my own little slice of perfection is a mere two hour drive away, hidden - among all places - in Jupiter, FL. The quaint beach town just north of West Palm Beach is home to the cozy yet elegant Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa. It was here, on a whim, my girlfriend and I decided it was time for a little vacation to unwind and bask in the Florida sun our pale exteriors so desperately needed.

We were met with one of the rarest occasions life has to offer: when something actually lives up to the hype. It fit the bill. Exceeded our expectations. Unassuming from the exterior, the resort is magnificent from the interior, transporting you to an island hideaway the moment you walk in with its warm colors and designer mahogany furnishings.

When I go on trips, I always notice the little things first. My parking-to-walking ratio, how big the plates at the restaurant are, what the elevator smells like - call it what you want but those things make a difference to me. My girlfriend on the other hand? She immediately noticed the 7,500 square-foot, full-service spa. Mainly a hotel for destination weddings, the spa, I found out somewhat reluctantly firsthand, offers a marbled steam room, aromatherapy, Swedish massage and even stations for manicures. Never having a real spa treatment before, I don’t really have much to compare my experience to; but I can tell you that whatever they did felt right (read: sign me up again).

After a brief elevator ride to our room on the sixth floor, I opened the door to a majestic view. The curtains were open, as if to say, “Welcome Home” exposing the foamy white waves of the warm Atlantic before I even had a chance to put my bags down. Talk about your first impression.

Once we had fully explored the resort and its 10 meeting rooms, we sat down for dinner at their signature restaurant, Sinclairs Ocean Grill. Offering up dishes inspired by local ingredients and international flare, we enjoyed a wonderfully prepared, made-to-order five-course meal. Typically not big seafood eaters, I may have been converted that night. It’s hard to describe, but I’ve never eaten anything so “fresh” before - and trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of things. I’m usually the guy who orders the weird thing on the menu just to see what the fuss is about.

Our next morning began with a gentle nudge from the sun set to the soundtrack of breaking waves just outside. We decided to take in some of the sights Jupiter has to offer. Our first stop was a trip to the Jupiter Lighthouse, the oldest structure in Palm Beach County. We took a guided tour up the 105 step spiral staircase and emerged with a panoramic view of the Jupiter inlet, the mansion-studded Jupiter Island and more yachts than you could shake a stick at. At just a few dollars per person, it’s  a trip, and a view, that’s definitely worth taking.

After the near vertigo-inducing climb down, we headed off to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Attracting more than 225,000 visitors a year, this completely free to attend, interactive center tells the story of some of the area’s most famous amphibian residents. The work that this beachside facility does to educate the population and rehabilitate turtles back into the wild is nothing short of inspiring. Not to mention it’s right on the beach, which happened to be our next stop.

As our day came to close, we headed back to the resort’s secluded beach to catch the last bit of sun before we had to leave the next morning. Our surprise weekend getaway ended just as relaxing as it started - lazily swaying back and forth in a beachside hammock, surrounded by palm trees, engulfed by tranquility.

When you’re planning your vacations this year, remember that a weekend can be just what you and your family need. It’s about making memories, so do what we did and make the most of yours.

Vacation doesn’t have to mean some faraway, amenity-laden land of the lost. No, there are plenty of places to go right here to fill all of your sand-soaked dreams. After all, life’s a beach and we’re in Florida.

Ironically, I found my piece of heaven on Earth in Jupiter. Where’s yours?

Article by Corey Gehrold

(Orlando, FL) March 24, 2010 - Insight Magazine announced today that they will host the consumer-focused Second Annual East Orlando Community Health Fair on April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Waterford Lakes Town Center. The event, held in conjunction with the popular Waterford Lakes Farmer’s Market, will feature free screenings from area specialty doctors, prize giveaways, an opportunity to donate to Florida’s Blood Centers and more.

The health fair is designed to connect the East Orlando community to local healthcare providers in a one-stop, event styled environment. Vendors for the fair include professionals from various healthcare industries ranging from chiropractors to orthodontists, as well as local health-related small businesses and even non-profit agencies, such as the American Lung Association.

“The idea behind the health fair is to promote not only healthy families, but a healthy community,” says Jennifer Thompson, co-publisher of Insight Magazine and health fair co-creator. “A lot of people get intimidated in a typical office setting and that’s why the health fair is such a popular alternative because it allows you to meet a wide range of healthcare professionals in an environment that is laid back, informative and fun.”

To learn more about the health fair or to see how your business can participate, click here.

Hard work. Sweat. Desire. Those are some of the words associated with any good fitness routine. Kicking. Punching. Grueling. Those are some of the words associated with training alongside Matt Hughes, nine time welterweight mixed martial arts champion. When you combine the two you’ve got Cage Fitness, one of the newest fitness crazes sweeping across the United States and the world.

Taught locally at Championship Martial Arts, found throughout East Orlando, Cage Fitness is a complete fitness system for women and men designed to give participants a total body workout throughout five, five minute rounds with one minute breaks in between each round. Sound intense? Well, it is.

“If you really push yourself, it will kick your butt every single time,” says Mike Metzger, managing partner of Championship Martial Arts. “Everyone can go at their own pace which is what makes it so effective, it’s a great workout and it’s one of those things where you get out what you put into it.”

Metzger describes the 30 minute workout as exciting, challenging and rewarding. “It’s designed to be anerobic and aerobic with the different exercises in the program; so, while you’re doing cardio and you’re burning fat, you’re also building muscle with some of the other exercises,” he says. Round one is a warm up round; round two focuses on the upper body; three focuses on the lower body; round four is a combo round; and round five is the cooldown. “What’s great is that every class can be a little bit different, if the instructor wants it to be fresh,” he says. “Each round has about thirty or fourty different exercises to pull from that can be arranged in different orders for different time periods. Matt Hughes even releases new exercises every four months so there is more variety.”

Since starting the Cage Fitness classes in early January, Championship Martial Arts has expanded into multiple classes to offer more times and room for class participants. “It’s been incredibly popular so far. People love it because they can go at their own pace and do as much as they can do and still see results,” Metzger says. Thanks in part to the patented Cage Fitness bag classes are centered around, both men and women are able to use the same equipment without having to shift any weights  or share any type of machines, making it a big hit with both.

“There’s just nothing out there like it at all,” Metzger says. “There’s a lot of cardio karate or kickboxing classes where people are kind of punching the air, which is great. But this program is just so different from any of that.”

Cage Fitness classes focus on endurance, strength, power and core. “It’s one of the most complete programs I’ve seen in that time frame, and it’s a lot of fun to boot.”

Article by Corey Gehrold