Ready or not, what does the future hold?
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The landscape for drivers is changing dramatically now that it is becoming commonplace to ignite a vehicle – and hail a vehicle through a mobile app. In fact, the future is arriving sooner than expected. In the next few years, you may be able to “drive” a vehicle without worrying about speed limits, traffic congestion or having an accident. The software in public-beta prototypes is still being perfected; however, many of the major automakers are gearing up to introduce cars and SUVs with autopilot systems that control speed and steering and provide significantly intuitive safety features.

According to experts, auto-piloted vehicles make remarkable economic sense on a personal and global level. They are expected to save lives and fuel while reducing stress. The research on the benefits of having fleets of autonomous vehicles via Uber-like taxi services is even more impressive. Extremetech.com professionals believe this on-demand availability of self-driving cars could cost as little as .35/mile and half the cost of a personal car. In addition to being less expensive, a fleet service would be convenient, environmentally desirable and allow prime real estate used for parking areas to be reclaimed for housing, parks and business use.

Negotiating the rules for this new normal will be tricky with insurance entities, organizations and individuals hesitant to adopt this once-unimaginable scenario. Several questions remain: 1) How difficult will it be for us to trust this new technology to the point we could just relax on the way home or over-indulge at the bar, knowing we did not have to drive home? 2) How hard will it be to give up our love of driving – and control? And, 3) Are we willing to “ride-share” on a larger scale to achieve significant savings for our wallet and planet?

At the very least, it seems a “driver-assisted” version of the futuristic automobile promises to be safer on average than the purely human-powered care of yesteryear. Exciting stuff coming our way!

The unprecedented nature of the Brexit, June’s so-called decision by British voters to exit the European Union, clouds predictions on how economic events will ultimately affect the U.S. Most certainly, there are important implications to foreign policy because Britain long enjoyed the role of “transatlantic bridge” between Europe and America.

The negative aftermath seems to be manifested in these ways:

The Brexit vote was symptomatic of the Brits’ frustration with losing control of the governance of their country. This has become a common issue around the world, and parallels the popularity of Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s “Take Back our Country” message. This message resonated very sharply with the roughly 50% of our country concerned with the fallout from our free trade policy and our broken immigration system.

Since global business is so interconnected, the worldwide slowdown is on the minds of economic analysts who see investors turning to safe haven assets during these times of economic upheavals. But Britain’s economy has been much more resilient than most experts predicted, even in light of recent currency fluctuations. Click here to read article.

The Brits will also be happy to see an increase in American tourists who capitalize on the bargain vacations available now. Americans will likely move to the top of the visitor list since traveling is more of a hassle for European tourists post-Brexit. So, bon voyage!

Daniel Martinez has always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

In high school, he and a business partner sold cell phones to everyone they knew. After that, still in his early 20s, he managed a printing business with 12 employees and a multitude of clients.

His experience as a business owner – in addition to his years working as a commercial banker – has been a valuable asset in his role as Regional Market Manager at Amerisource corporate headquarters in Houston, where he helps entrepreneurs find working capital for their operations.

“My passion is helping business owners,” Martinez said. “I understand what it’s like to wake up every day and realize that it’s make-or-break. I love to be able to help them when it feels like they’ve exhausted every other avenue. I enjoy educating them about asset based lending options so they have another resource for financing their business.”

Before joining Amerisource in June, Martinez was in the banking business for 12 years. He worked his way up from a teller all the way to managing the largest Houston branch for BBVA Compass.

When he’s not helping business owners, Martinez – a Bolivian native whose parents moved his family to Texas when he was three – loves to spend time with his wife and two children. He coaches soccer, enjoys bowling and has a passion for baking and cooking. His favorite item to bake: cookies. “I haven’t met a person yet who doesn’t love cookies,” he said.

Martinez is also an avid sports fan, rooting for Houston teams with a flair that’s unmistakably Texan. When asked his prediction for the Houston Texans in 2016, he said without hesitation, “They’re going all the way. That’s what I say every year.”