01/16/2019

You Had the Question… YBAA Found the Answer

By: Vince Morvillo, CPYB, PMO e-Seminar Moderator and Member of YBAA Board of Directors

What was the question? How do you get information that is vital to and can help your business move forward? YBAA’s answer … YBAA’s Principal, Owners and Managers e-Seminars. These e-Seminars are exclusive to and aimed at the needs of the dealer/brokerage owner.

Many PMOs of their businesses, like most small business owners, need sound advice in specific areas of business such as making their presence more visible on social media, protecting assets, IRS rule changes, succession planning, and work force structuring, just to name a few. Although this information is available and offered by private sources, the costs are usually high and the question is how do I find the right person to give me the right information? As a result, 7 years ago, the Principals, Owners and Managers e-Seminar series was born. These e-Seminars are free to YBAA member businesses. The topics are delivered by experts in the field and are driven by the requests of YBAA’s business owners.  When you look at the cost of membership vs. the value of the information available through these e-Seminars at no cost, the return on the investment is off the charts. The seminars are powerful, educational and timely. I will point to a few from the past 2 years as examples.

On your minds this year was controlling the rising cost of MLS services.  YBAA held 2 e-Seminars to discuss the problem with attendees. As a result, YBAA leadership listened and is investigating a possible solution, but it will rely on the full support of YBAA members to be successful. Stay tuned for more information on this new YBAA member benefit.

In addition, YBAA held an e-Seminar on “Asset Protection” by Chris Turner,  hans@americansocietyap.org . Chris detailed how to set up your business to protect yourself in the event of a law suit and in addition, covered ground on IRS savings as well.  Chris also offered to evaluate members’ business structure and assets to offer the best way to protect yourself.  All this at no charge!

Another topic that often comes up is “Employee vs Independent Contractor.” Todd Lochner and Eugene Samarin, Annapolis attorneys (tlochner@boatinglaw.com) discussed the “ins and outs” of making a decision on how to best structure your work force.

The internet is the life line of dealers/brokerage business.  YBAA’s e-Seminars on how to set up your web presence were insightful and detailed. Nina Ruiz and Courtney Chalmers of YachtWorld taught attendees the tricks of the trade for bringing hits to your site.

In December, like every year, YBAA held an open e-Seminar to learn what topics YBAA PMOs wanted on the schedule for the coming year.  A long list was developed and as a result, YBAA will be arranging speakers to present on the topics requested.  Be sure to plan on attending all 5 PMO e-Seminars that YBAA has scheduled for 2019.