by June Portnoy

From the outside, Finkles Hardware looks like a small community hardware store, but don’t be deceived by its exterior appearance! Inside, you’ll discover a world of hardware, consisting of everything you need to renovate or update a home or commercial building.

Neatly organized from floor to ceiling along its two fully stocked floors is a diversity of products ranging from decorative and industrial hardware to electrical, heating and plumbing supplies. Why go all the way to a big box hardware store in a generic strip mall miles away when you can drive just minutes over the bridge to Lambertville’s central business district where Finkles main building is located?

Finkles, established in 1917 by Joseph Finkle, has evolved over the years. Although Joseph started it as a junkyard, he later transformed it into the hardware store at its current location. His son, Abe Finkle, added several additions to its main building and later added an additional three separate buildings all in walking distance along the same block. “Together these four buildings occupy over 30,000 square feet,” says Rachel Finkle, Abe’s daughter and third generation storeowner.

Directly across the street from its main building is its lighting showcase and warehouse. Next door is “the theater,” named after the Strand Movie Theater, which once occupied this location. This warehouse consists of a variety of merchandise that does not easily fall into one particular category, like electric heaters, toilets and canning jars. Take a few steps from “the theater” and you’ll find yourself at “the warehouse.” This old timber frame structure is filled with large, bulky items like gutters, pipes, steel and pallets of concrete and mortar mix. You’ll also find free parking at this building when shopping at Finkles.

Don’t let the size of Finkles four buildings overwhelm you, because unless you’re a regular customer who knows your way around, you’ll take a number when you first enter the main building. Within minutes you’ll by assigned a personalized shopping assistant who will serve as your guide. Your assistant’s job is to help you with your entire shopping experience by interpreting what you’re asking for and helping you find exactly what you want. If you need an item not in stock, your assistant will refer you to a specialist, who will special order it for you.

If you’re accustomed to shopping at the big box hardware stores where employees often give you blank stares when you ask questions, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find experienced, knowledgeable employees at Finkles who will understand what you’re asking. Finkles has very little turnover of employees. Much of the staff have spent their entire careers here, some of whom have worked at Finkles for over 40 years.

Finkles is multidisplinary, selling to many contractors and electricians, as well as to residents wanting to fix up their homes. “We’re considered the neighborhood hardware store, as well as a more in-depth supply house,” says Rachel. “We have a community of loyal customers who shop here routinely and repeatedly. We wouldn’t still be here after all these years if we didn’t continue to offer a valuable service to the community.”

For more information about Finkles, located at 7 Coryell Street, call 609-397-0415 or visit www.finkles.com.

by June Portnoy

At 1776 Capital Management Group, you’ll find professional staff committed to helping its clients achieve financial success. Its parent company, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, a Philadelphia-based firm, provides infrastructure and support to 1776. Janney has a long and stable history with roots dating back to 1832.

1776 Capital Management Group has branch offices in Yardley and Blue Bell. It provides successful individuals, families, business owners, professionals and institutions with comprehensive consulting services related to wealth preservation and growth, estate planning and retirement planning. At 1776, the staff strives to achieve lasting client relationships that result from its investment planning process supported by solid resources and its highly experienced team members.

As a client at 1776, you’ll receive sound advice from experienced, knowledgeable professionals who have an unsurpassed understanding of the financial industry. The team at 1776 has an exceptional command of the pressing financial issues taking place worldwide and how these issues could potentially affect your individual financial situation.

“We draw upon a lot of resources to stay on top of the most important issues in the global economy,” says Michael A Blatz, CFP, a founding member of 1776. “We also take the time to educate and explain these issues to clients. One of the developments we are most concerned about is the prospect of significantly higher inflation. Although it may or may not occur, one has to acknowledge this risk and plan accordingly. The credit crisis may have passed, but some of the most serious issues still remain. One of the biggest issues is that of the level of sovereign debt in industrialized countries, such as those in Europe, the U.S. and Japan. Clients need to understand this potential connection to inflation and diversify accordingly.”

“When investing, clients really need to subscribe to the belief that there is no such thing as risk-free asset,” says Daniel S. Levin, CIMA, First Vice President and a founding member of 1776. “This includes cash whether in the bank or under the mattress. We believe when you treat investing like risk management, the returns will take care of themselves over time.”

“With that said, it is important that you avoid allowing predictions to drive the financial planning process – no matter how compelling a particular argument might be,” says Mike. “We focus on the things we can control, such as knowing our clients, focusing on investments that produce cash flow and eliminating unnecessary costs from the investment implementation process.”

Although the financial professionals at 1776 might not know for sure whether inflation or deflation is coming in the years ahead, you can be sure that they will make it their mission to understand the investment implications of each economic scenario and what it means to you. Unlike other businesses in the financial services industry, 1776 is selective about the clients they represent. “We don’t take on a lot of new clients,” says Mike. Their ideal client has at least $1 million to $2 million dollars in investable assets. They are typically individuals who are nearing the time when these assets will need to produce income to support a significant percentage of their lifestyle.

For more information about 1776 Capital Management Group of Janney Montgomery LLC, call 267-685-4211. Its Yardley branch is located at 1020 Stony Hill Road, Suite 150. Also visit www.1776cmg.com.