New Financial Company Offers a Wealth of Services

Keeping up with financial issues in this economy isn’t an easy undertaking for many people.

That’s one of the reasons why Jodi Perez and Jeannie Holliday decided to join forces to create Independent Financial Services. The new Land O’ Lakes firm provides a variety of services to its clients, including financial planning, insurance, portfolio management and more.

“(We offer) full financial services — stocks, bonds, insurance, investment management,” said Holliday, who is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.

Perez is a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in helping people prepare for retirement, establish estates, fund educational pursuits and more.

While Independent Financial, 20635 Amberfield Dr., Suite 102, officially opened its doors in June, Perez and Holliday had been working with each other off and on for years. They originally launched the firm on Erhlich Road in the Carrollwood area, but wanted a more centralized location and thought Land O' Lakes provided the perfect place for a new office.

Both women started in the business in 1982 and had entertained the idea of merging their operations in the past.

Before recently, however, “the timing wasn’t right,” Perez said.

Even so, having the ability to play off of each other’s strengths to provide a broader array of coverage for clients was an idea that appealed.

“(It’s a) good pairing — financial planning with investment,” Perez said.

The new partnership enables both Holliday and Perez to provide more expertise for their clients while ensuring there’s always a backup to assist people with their financial needs, Perez said.

“It’s such a relief to have someone else,” Holliday said, adding that existing clients like the idea, as well. “They just want to know there’s going to be someone there.”

Independent Financial Services works with clients not only in Land O’ Lakes, but also all over the country. Perez and Holliday have established clients throughout Florida, California, New York, Georgia and beyond.

“We have a lot of great clients,” Perez said.

Investing in This Economy

While current economic conditions make investing and protecting assets a daunting prospect for some, both Holliday and Perez say there are opportunities to be had.

“We’re a little more optimistic” about the economy, Holliday said.

“There are a lot of reasons to be in the market right (now),” Perez agreed. “There (are) so many great opportunities out there that we’re seeing.”

Since Independent Financial is able to offer both financial planning and investment management, the women say clients benefit from a well-rounded approach.

“We really take a look at the whole picture,” Perez said.

Shred Fest 2011

Giving back to the community is something both Holliday and Perez say is important to them. That’s why they’re playing host to today from 3-6 p.m. Anyone in the community is invited to stop by their offices and have their personal and confidential documents professionally shredded by ShredGreen.

For more information about what documents should be shredded, visit Independent Financial online.

Perez and Holliday also give back in other ways. Holliday is a board member for Dress for Success, and Perez serves on the board for the PACE Center for Girls.

Donations for both causes are accepted during normal business hours at their office. PACE is always in need of school supplies and items for teenage girls. Dress for Success accepts new and gently used business suits for women searching for employment.

For more information about Independent Financial or to schedule a free consultation, call 813-908-2701.