Financial Advising Company Banks on Growth with help from the Florida SBDC at PCED

Safe Harbor Financial Advisors of Pinellas County  

Running a small business comes with unique financial challenges, and Jody Zellner, owner of Safe Harbor Financial Advisors, understands that firsthand. As a full-service financial advisory firm, Safe Harbor Financial Advisors specializes in helping small and independent business owners achieve both their personal financial goals and establish strong financial plans for their employees.

Zellner launched Safe Harbor Financial Advisors with a passion for supporting entrepreneurs, recognizing that financial stability is key to long-term business success. However, like many growing businesses, marketing and strategic planning were crucial for expansion. That’s where the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) came in.

With the guidance of business consultant Kurt Forster, Zellner received professional advice on marketing strategies, business growth planning, and even information on potential grant opportunities.

“As you get through the basics, the SBDC and Kurt Forster will help you grow. You go from stage one where you’re learning what you don’t know to stage two where, okay, now you know what you don’t know and it’s a little overwhelming, so they help bring you into managing your business. Things like having a marketing calendar. Knowing who your experts are. Knowing where to turn,” Zellner said.

Since partnering with the Florida SBDC at PCED, Safe Harbor Financial Advisors has experienced significant growth, expanding its client base and enhancing the services offered to small businesses. “Since working with the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County my business has grown tremendously. To measure, I would probably to say it’s grown at least 10 times over the initial start. When I started getting help from them, I was an independent financial advisor, but I was working for other firms,” Zellner said.

“I think my biggest success so far has been being able to go out and start a brand and a company that I believe in that represents who I am. Not everybody is designed to market to every group of people. I specifically like working with my small business owners,” Zellner added.

Looking ahead, Zellner plans to continue leveraging the Florida SBDC at PCED’s resources to navigate future growth opportunities.

“As I continue to grow my business, I plan on continuing to use the Florida SBDC at Pinellas

County to refine my business marketing. I no longer have to tell people who I am. Now it’s more of refining the message to telling people what I do – getting that target market down. Like we said before, as you grow you have more problems and now, I need them to help me manage those problems, whether it be taking on a virtual assistant, a full-time employee or just even helping me manage my social media marketing which is a whole other issue,” Zellner said.

To fellow business owners, Zellner offers this advice: “If I were to talk to other small business owners about Kurt Forster and the work he does at the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County, I would say there’s no bad time to use this asset. As I’ve mentioned before, they’ve helped me from formation through growth. Even through succession if that’s what you’re looking for. As somebody who invests assets for a reason, you have to look at return on investment and you’re investing nothing but time and gaining the knowledge that they provide to you. I don’t see how you can afford not to use the Florida SBDC,” Zellner expressed.