A few years back, someone smarter than me started this column to help explain the finances of Heritage Palms. It was going great – until life got in the way and the column took an extended vacation. That’s where I come in. With a background in accounting and finance – and a moment of weakness where I said, “I’ll do it!” – I’ve volunteered to bring it back.
Now, before your eyes glaze over at the word “finances,” stick with me. Understanding the money stuff starts with knowing why an organization exists in the first place.
Take General Motors, for example. Their mission? Build cars people actually want and make a nice profit while doing it. Then there’s the American Red Cross – they’re here to save the day after disasters, not to rake in profits for stockholders. Any extra money they get goes right back into helping people.
So where does Heritage Palms fit in? Somewhere in the middle – but with less drama and more golf carts. We exist for the benefit of our members (that’s you!). Any “profit” we make doesn’t go into anyone’s private yacht fund – it goes right back into the community. That could mean improving services or saving up for big project – like the Oasis/Tiki redo. (Yes, that Tiki bar won’t build itself.)
Like any organization, we need to be smart with our money. That means earning more than we spend. Thankfully, Heritage Palms usually does just that, and the extra funds are used to improve life here, not to buy executive jet skis to cruise around for golf ball target practice on the lake. In the next few columns, I’ll dive into the numbers (don’t worry, I’ll keep it painless) and answer questions you may have. Got a burning finance question? Shoot me an email – unless it’s about cryptocurrency. Then we both need help.
Looking forward to learning more right alongside you – and maybe sharing a few laughs along the way.
Have a great summer, and don’t forget to tip your bartender!
