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Time Business News
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Risk Manager's Advantage: Samuel Dixon Combines Academic Preparation With Real-World Solutions Aimed at Long-Term Retirement Success
Retirement planning has changed. Tax laws are complex. Life expectancy is longer. The old models may no longer hold up for today's high-net-worth individuals. What they need is not another traditional plan, but a method containing academic rigor and tested in real life. Samuel Dixon offers exactly that. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Oxford Advisory Group, Dixon has taken his academic background in risk management, plus his experience, and shaped them into a real-world Retirement Navigation Map process. Through his work with retirees, business owners, and corporate executives, he has helped redefine what retirement planning looks like for those with more to protect and more to lose. Samuel Dixon holds a degree in Risk Management and Insurance from the College of Business at Florida State University. He holds his Series 65 and is licensed for insurance in Florida and South Carolina. He's also a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) and contributes articles that are featured in financial publications such as Kiplinger Financial, Newsmax, and The Street. His advice is often cited in articles with titles like 'The Dos and Don'ts to Help Safeguard Your Retirement Future' and '3 Moves Millennials Must Make to Retire Early.' And perhaps most importantly, he's also a teacher. He routinely leads educational sessions on taxes in retirement, social security timing, and income reliability. At Oxford Advisory Group, Dixon focuses on retirement planning, IRA legacy strategies, and investment planning according to each client's goals and financial complexity. Oxford Advisory Group is one of the few firms in the country with a trademarked process for retirement planning: the Oxford Retirement Navigation Map®. This is a structured and personalized approach designed to answer the questions most retirees face: How can I make my money last? What's the best way to draw income without a big tax bill? How do I protect my assets from market dips and medical costs? Dixon's background in risk management is his daily lens. That edge helps him look at retirement through a different frame: Evaluating Risks like market downturns, inflation, and long-term care. like market downturns, inflation, and long-term care. Building Layered Income Streams so clients aren't relying on one source. so clients aren't relying on one source. Planning for Tax Shifts in retirement, when income sources change. in retirement, when income sources change. Legacy Structuring to ensure that wealth isn't lost to probate or avoidable taxes. Clients appreciate that this is not guesswork. It's planning based on numbers, law, and experience. He has a passion for keeping things practical. He focuses on consistent, long-term strategies that are according to the client's goals. Oxford Advisory Group offers a vast range of financial services for the needs of individuals at every stage of their financial journey. It helps business owners and entrepreneurs structure their finances for long-term growth, guides corporate executives through complex compensation planning, and delivers strategic support. Their focused planning encompasses estate planning, investment strategy, tax preparation, and personal financial advice, all designed to better protect assets, minimize tax burdens, and align financial decisions with life goals. The goal is to help clients retire with intention. While Dixon is all about strategy, he's also a vibrant part of the community with his steady presence and ethical standards. He teaches youth at his church, coaches his son Clark's sports teams, and often spends weekends boating with his wife and four children on Lake Butler. He understands that clients aren't just file folders. They're families. With multiple locations across Florida and South Carolina, and recognition from media outlets like ABC 10 and FOX 13, Oxford Advisory Group looks like it is a go-to firm for retirement planning in the Southeast. The firm made the Inc. 5000 list, awarded in 2024, based on growth from 2021–2023*, signaling success in both reach and results. Oxford is also a proud sponsor of university athletics at Florida State, UCF, and USF, highlighting its community roots and broad impact. Retirement isn't a finish line… it is a new phase. Samuel Dixon has built his career on helping clients enter that phase focused on better providing confidence, preparation, and structure. His combination of academic discipline and practical strategy has been shared with thousands of families. With the Oxford Retirement Navigation Map®, he aims to give clients a clear plan in a world that too often offers guesswork. *Inc. 5000 was not compensated for consideration of this award; Oxford did pay for the use of marketing materials. **FSU Athletics, USF Athletics, and UCF Athletics are not current clients of Oxford, Oxford has a paid sponsorship with Florida State Athletics, University of Central Florida Athletics, and the University of South Florida Athletics Oxford Wealth Group, LLC ('Oxford Wealth') is a federally registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. Form ADV Part 2A for Oxford Wealth Group can be found by visiting the SEC site and searching by Oxford Wealth Group. We are a financial services firm that utilizes insurance and investment products. Oxford Advisory Group and Oxford Wealth Group, LLC are affiliated yet separate companies. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Texas floods teach us how to come together, to really love our neighbors
It's been a week since the devastating flash floods tore through Kerr County in Texas. For many who were directly affected by the flood, these post-flood days have been like waking up from a horrible nightmare. They are trying to make sense of the disaster while grappling with the horrific loss of loved ones. It is still hard to believe the seemingly serene Guadalupe River would rise so swiftly and violently and sweep away people in the cabins and RVs situated along its banks. The furious river waters — which rose to 26 feet in 45 minutes in the predawn hours of July Fourth — decimated Camp Mystic, an all-girls' Christian camp that generations of young girls have gone to over its 99 years. Rebecca and Hanna Lawrence, 8-year-old twin granddaughters of David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of the Herald and an advocate and friend to all our children, are among the dead. Another granddaughter, Harper Lawrence, 14, was found alive. As of Friday morning, more than 120 people have been confirmed dead, including 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic. Another 160 people are missing, authorities say. The wife and daughter of the dean of FIU's College of Business, William 'Bill' G. Hardin III, are among the missing. Bill, his wife Alyson and their daughter Josephine, an Atlanta attorney, were staying in their Texas Hill Country home in Hunt, Texas, when the floods hit. He survived; the bodies of his wife and daughter have not been found, according to a letter to parishioners from the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida. 'This is an unfathomable loss for the Hardin family, for All Saints, and for our diocese,' wrote the Right Rev. Peter Eaton in his July 6 letter. READ MORE: Wife and daughter of a key FIU dean are among the missing in Texas floods In the aftermath of such tragedy, I am amazed at how fast we Americans can forget our politics and differences and become one nation under God. Instead of fighting among ourselves, people are fighting for a righteous and just cause — that of saving lives, giving comfort and simply loving our neighbors. At a time like this, we are not ashamed to come together and pray. We lock arms in our grief and sing praises through our tears. With outstretched arms, we offer comfort to the families of those who are still missing, for the families who are hanging on to the last thread of hope that their loved ones will be found safe. We pray for those families whose loved ones won't be coming home again. Yet, watching the news, hearing firsthand accounts of those who are still wading the dark waters of the Guadalupe River and digging through debris and mud as they look for their loved ones, the tears still fall fresh. We cry for our fellow human beings who are hurting. And we pray for those who have already received the word that their loved ones did not make it. At times like these, we can truly say life is hard. Yet, in such times, we don't wait to learn if the person we are crying for, or with, is a Republican or a Democrat. We don't ask if the person is Black, white or Mexican. We don't ask if they are a racist or a believing Christian. We don't care. What we care about is what we see: Human beings who are suffering. Times like these also make us more thankful. We reach out to others more. We hug and tell our family members that we love them. When our nation suffers a catastrophic disaster like the Texas floods, it humbles us, making us more aware of our own mortality, our own vulnerability. Unfortunately, the feeling doesn't usually last for too long before we are back to the business of hating and bickering and strife. Even so, I personally, have found a 'Noah' moment in the aftermath of the Texas floods. Just as the people didn't heed Noah's preaching in the days before the Biblical flood, it appears that some Texas officials didn't think it feasible to put in place life-saving procedures like building a grid-based alert system and outdoor sirens that could have improved flash flood warnings significantly. Just like it was in the days of Noah, the warnings were brushed aside. Some thought them to be too expensive or not really needed. That is, until the early morning of July Fourth. Hindsight is always 20/20. This was evident as I watched the latest flood news, where weary Texas officials have seemingly grown short-tempered when questioned about an alarm system that could have saved lives but was not put in place. As usual, we see some 'passing the buck' and playing the 'blame game' going on during the interviews. But the gruesome truth remains — more than 120 are people are dead, including children. And while nothing can be done to bring them back, we can learn from this horrible lesson. Meanwhile, there are families to comfort, memorial services to be held and more tears to shed. Through it all, let's find some real comfort in reaching out to someone today. Let's lay aside our differences and, along with our prayers, give out some hugs. Somebody out there is really in need of a good hug today, ya'll. I believe that we shouldn't wait for something bad to happen to someone else before it dawns on us that the tragedy happening to them could also happen to us.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Wife and daughter of a key FIU dean are among the missing in Texas floods
The wife and daughter of William G. Hardin III, dean of the College of Business at Florida International University, are among the dozens of presumed dead after catastrophic flooding swept through Central Texas in the predawn hours of July 4. According to multiple sources, including a letter from the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida and a statement from The Webb School, a private college preparatory school in Tennessee, the Hardin family's home in Hunt, Texas, was washed away by floodwaters while the family was inside. Dean Hardin survived the disaster, but his wife, Alyson, and their daughter, Josephine, were lost and are presumed dead, the bishop wrote. William 'Bill' Hardin has been dean of FIU's College of Business since May 2021. 'This is an unfathomable loss for the Hardin family, for All Saints [Episcopal Church], and for our diocese,' wrote the Right Rev. Peter Eaton in a message to parishioners. Alyson had served as senior warden at All Saints, Fort Lauderdale, and was a longtime leader at her church, the diocese and a trustee of the University of the South in Sewanee, the Episcopal college where Josephine was an undergraduate. 'The bodies of Alyson and Josephine have not yet been recovered,' Bishop Eaton wrote in his July 6 statement. Josephine, a 2015 graduate of The Webb School and an attorney at Huff Powell Bailey in Atlanta, was known for her work in medical malpractice and long-term care defense. She was a 2023 graduate of Emory University School of Law. 'Our hearts are with the Hardin family as the search for Josephine '15 continues,' read a statement from Webb School. 'Please keep them in your thoughts.' Alyson Hardin was a financial consultant with Equitable Advisors, based in Fort Lauderdale, per her LinkedIn page, and was deeply involved in community and church life, according to Bishop Eaton's statement. More than 100 confirmed dead As of Thursday, at least 120 people have been confirmed dead from the flooding, including 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a girls' Christian camp that sits along the banks of the Guadalupe River. The river rose to 26 feet — the height of a two-story building — in about 45 minutes in the early morning hours of July 4, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a news conference. Authorities are searching for more than 170 people who were still missing as of Thursday. The Hardins are not the only South Florida family who lost loved ones in the central Texas floods. The twin 8-year-old granddaughters of Miami childhood education advocate David Lawrence Jr. died in the floods. Hannah and Rebecca were among the girls staying at Camp Mystic. READ MORE: Granddaughters of Miami childhood education advocate David Lawrence die in Texas flood Hunt, a community in western Kerr County, is where Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Urban Search and Rescue Florida Task Force One is deployed alongside federal, state and local emergency responders near a vacation camp along the Guadalupe River. 'Please keep him [Bill Hardin], his family, and everyone touched by this disaster in your thoughts and prayers,' FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez wrote in a July 5 email to students and faculty.
Qatar Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
UDST concludes graduation ceremonies for Class of 2025
Tribune News Network Doha Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) successfully concluded its 2025 graduation ceremonies. Held over three consecutive days, the celebrations commenced with a ceremony honouring high-achieving students, followed by separate events for graduates of the College of Business and the College of Computing and Information Technology. The final day was dedicated to the graduates from the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Health Sciences. The ceremonies were held at the Qatar National Convention Centre marking the graduation of 426 students from the College of Business, 164 from the College of Computing and Information Technology, 328 from the College of Engineering and Technology, and 248 from the College of Health Sciences. A key highlight of the occasion was the recognition of 32 exceptional students by Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater. The honourees included students who maintained a perfect GPA of 4.0 throughout their academic journey, as well as recipients of the President's Award for Academic Excellence. These ceremonies served as a proud milestone for the Class of 2025, celebrating their academic excellence and reaffirming UDST's steadfast commitment to applied education and workforce readiness. In his address, Dr. Rachid Benlamri, vice-president, Academics, expressed deep pride in the graduates, stating: 'Today, our graduates step confidently into a new chapter, equipped with knowledge, hands-on experience, and the skills needed in a digital world. As you transition from students to professionals, I encourage you to remain true to knowledge, uphold your values, and embrace lifelong learning. You are the generation entrusted with shaping the future. 'The knowledge and expertise you possess are more than professional tools—they represent a responsibility to your nation, your community, and the world. You are in a position to lead change, so be innovative in your thinking, generous in your contributions, and inspiring in your humanity. We are proud of you and confident that you will represent UDST with distinction wherever you go.' On the second day, the valedictorian Hafsa Hassan Diriye addressed her peers, saying: 'Today, we stand at the gateway to the future, ready to transform challenges into opportunities. Nothing can stand in our way. True success is not measured by titles or awards, but by the impact we make and how we choose to show up in the world. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our faculty, who supported and believed in us throughout this journey. To my fellow graduates, you have been a genuine source of inspiration. We've come so far together, and this moment is just the beginning.' Valedictorian Baraa Suleiman, speaking on the final day, reflected on her experience, stating: 'Each of us has followed a unique path, yet today we unite in this shared moment of pride and achievement. As a chemical engineering student, my journey was filled with challenges, long hours solving technical problems, analysing safety data, and grappling with complex systems. 'But during our capstone project, when we designed a sustainable chemical plant from concept to implementation, everything came together. Each late night, failed attempt, and moment of doubt has become a source of pride. This is what distinguishes UDST, not just academic instruction, but a mindset of learning, adaptability, and perseverance in the face of adversity.' Through its applied learning philosophy and deep commitment to sustainability, UDST continues to embrace innovation with an open mind, integrating advanced technologies across research, education, and community engagement. The university remains dedicated to supporting national development, addressing societal needs, and launching impactful initiatives that promote long-term self-sufficiency. To date, UDST has graduated more than 10,000 students who actively contribute to the advancement of Qatar both locally and globally. With over 8,500 students currently enrolled across diverse academic programs and representing more than 85 nationalities, UDST fosters an inclusive and vibrant educational environment rooted in a shared commitment to learning and excellence.
Qatar Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
UDST celebrates 323 students at Class of 2025 graduation ceremony
Tribune News Network Doha Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) held a one-of-a-kind graduation ceremony for 323 Honours graduates at the Qatar National Convention Centre on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by Speaker of the Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim,Minister of Education and Higher Education Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater as a guest speaker; ministers, UDST Board of Trustees' Chairman His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada and the board members, President of UDST Dr. Salem Al Naemi, the university's staff and faculty, and graduates' families. The university is hosting three graduation ceremonies for its students this week. The first ceremony, held on Tuesday, celebrated the outstanding graduates of the Class of 2025. This year's cohort includes 426 students from the College of Business, 164 from the College of Computing and Information Technology, 328 from the College of Engineering and Technology, and 248 from the College of Health Sciences. On Wednesday (today), the university will host the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 from the College of Business and the College of Computing and Information Technology, followed by a ceremony on Thursday for graduates of the College of Engineering and Technology, and the College of Health Sciences, bringing the total number of graduates this year to 1,166. The university celebrates a milestone achievement with the graduation of the inaugural cohort of the Postgraduate Diploma in Interprofessional Neonatal Intensive Care, as well as the first cohort of the Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management. During the ceremony, Al Khater recognised 32 distinguished students who earned academic honours by maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA with an 'Excellent' standing throughout their studies in addition to the recipients of the prestigious President's Award for Academic Excellence. In his remarks, UDST President Dr. Salem Al Naemi affirmed the graduates' readiness to lead today and in the future. He noted, 'The future promises rapid and unprecedented advancements in technology and artificial intelligence developments that challenge educational systems to adapt, integrate, and prepare future generations to use these innovations responsibly and sustainably, in service of humanity. 'Today, we proudly reaffirm that the University of Doha for Science and Technology, through its applied learning philosophy and steadfast commitment to sustainability, embraces technological progress with an open and forward-thinking approach. We harness these developments across our research, teaching methodologies, and daily engagement with students, partners, and the broader community to support national development, address sector needs, and build impactful initiatives that will contribute to long-term self-sufficiency and progress.' Dr. Al Naemi also shed light on the university's strategic direction and ongoing efforts to align academic offerings with evolving market demands, both locally and globally. This academic year witnessed the launch of several new programmes. He extended heartfelt gratitude to the wise leadership of Qatar, led by the Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for their constant guidance and support in elevating the university and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Addressing the graduates, Dr. Al Naemi said: 'I extend my warmest congratulations to each of you on this remarkable achievement and encourage you to continue striving forward. I take great pride in celebrating this moment not only with this cohort but with all graduating generations and age groups who have chosen knowledge as their path and embraced innovation in its many forms throughout their journey at the University. The outcome is one and the same: excellence, commitment, and a collective determination to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of our nation and to proudly represent Qatar on the global stage.' The Class of 2025 valedictorian, Hamad Al Sharshani expressed his happiness to be representing all his fellow honour graduates during the ceremony. He said, 'I am pleased to stand before you today as a doctor and as the first Qatari man to graduate from a programme that is the first of its kind in Qatar and the region: the Master of Science in Diabetes Care and Patient Education. I am also proud to be the first Qatari man to work in the field of Diabetes Care and Education at Hamad Medical Corporation. 'Graduating from this esteemed institution is a proud moment for all of us. It marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. To my fellow graduates, let us remember that today is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter. Every one of us carries the promise of achieving extraordinary things. Let us continue to innovate, grow, and strive towards the betterment of our society and our beloved homeland.'
