In October the Mercantile Clubs B.D. Dalton of AMP Wealth Management won the "Connected Award" And was recognised as one of the most well networked people in Brum. His work with Mercantile Club, The Phoenix Lunch Club, Business Builders and the St Paul's Club made it out that he is a Person in the Know and Who you need to Know.

The evening was a great success and B.D. celebrated late into the night with beverages and some really bad Karaoke.

Pictured Here with Ed James of Heart FM and two lovely ladies to help him lift his trophy.

UK Law dictates that a trader is entitled to offset input tax (purchases) against output tax (sales), and that where the input tax exceeds output tax, the difference can be reclaimed from the Revenue, something deemed to be a right of deduction.

A new firm of financial advisers and stockbrokers made up of three former Edward Jones staff has launched in Birmingham.

It’s rare I’m struck by great thoughts or moments of clarity while sat in a traffic jam. But it happened on a recent Saturday as I headed into Birmingham to watch Aston Villa play Chelsea.

I was wondering where all the cars were actually going. I later discovered it was the queue for Strictly Come Dancing at the LG Arena.

Granted, congestion isn’t the best advert for Birmingham. But at least it shows the great British public will come to our city, even if it’s only to see pretty girls in spangly and revealing dresses. But it got me thinking… are new companies coming to Birmingham?

Read: Birmingham's great for business - so tell somebody

A team of professional ‘fixers’ in Birmingham are launching their company as a solo project, saying the turmoil in the legal sector meant rich pickings for business advisors. The Ortus Group was created by an MBO by its directors. It was previously part of the Network Group Holdings empire run by Midland entrepreneur Tim Watts, and was known as Ortus Professional Search.

But the directors of the group said the amount of activity, in the legal market particularly, had made striking out on their own the best thing to do.

Managing director Colin White bought the business outright after more than five years of running the company as a partially-owned subsidiary.

View: Legal 'fixers' Ortus strike out on their own

Former Edward Jones advisers have set up two separate IFA firms AMP Wealth and Loveday & Partners.

Advisers at both new firms used to work at US-owned IFA firm Edward Jones, which was taken over last year by Towry Law.

Birmingham-based AMP Wealth has been set up by Bart Dalton alongside partners Rob North and Anthony Levell.

Norfolk-based Loveday & Partners, which opened for business on Monday, has been set up by Mark Loveday, Deborah Bourassa, Simon Loveday and Alex Cutts.

Read: Ex-Edward Jones advisers spawn two IFA companies

It has long been accepted that improvements in medicine, lifestyle and an understanding of the effects which habits such as smoking can have on our health means life expectancy is increasing. Future generations will enjoy much longer and healthier lives on average than their predecessors.

However, figures released in April 2011 by the Department of Work & Pensions illustrate rather accurately exactly what that means. These figures suggest, of the under 16s already alive today, over a quarter are going to reach the age of 100 - and already, the average new-born female is going to live to over 90.

As Steve Webb, Minister for Pensions, commented at the time, this means that millions of people will spend over a third of their life in retirement. However, as the DWP were quick to point out, this news also coincides with a period during which pension savings are in serious decline.

An ageing population is putting our welfare system under significant pressure as more people need not only pension income but also healthcare, incapacity support and help within the home. You can therefore have no expectation that your State Pension will provide anything other than a safety cushion when the time comes. If your retirement plans include holidays, visiting relatives and treating yourself on occasion, then its time to take control of your savings and start building up a retirement fund of your own.

Talk to Bart Balton: AMP Wealth

Gary Wroe and Bart Dalton will be on the Great North Swim’s first ever 2 mile event on Lake Windermere.

They will be raising money for Edwards Trust. “We are really looking forward to the swim. It will be cold but it will be a great achievement.” Gary said. He is training hard to get back in to the flow. “I am not only looking forward to it I hope to put in a good time. The open water swim will be very cold but it will be fun! Cannot wait.” B.D. stated. B.D. is member of the Warley Wasps water polo club and loves his swimming.

Both of them will be joined by Gary’s daughter Hayley and B.D.’s business partner Anthony Levell.

June 17th at 3pm please think of us and pray for sun and no wind!

To give please visit the website: Just Giving

CORPORATE clothing manufacturers Trojan have won a contract to supply uniforms to British Gas after securing new funding from RBS and GuidingCapital. Sundernote Ltd, which trades under the Trojan name, operates from Garretts Green Lane, Birmingham, and was founded 24 years ago. It employs 22 people and supplies corporate clothing and workwear to major companies including TNT and the Morgan Motor Company.

View: Funding package strengthens Trojan

Bart Dalton of Edward Jones discusses the new networking kid on the block and the very successful first ever Birmingham Bull Run.

View: Elite Networking