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In HelloNation, Luxury Real Estate Expert Jud Whitlock Explains Why Local Expertise Still Wins in a Global Luxury Market

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The article examines how neighborhood knowledge helps buyers and sellers make informed decisions in an increasingly connected luxury real estate market.

ATLANTA, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Why does local expertise matter in luxury real estate? A recent HelloNation article answers this question, featuring insights from Luxury Real Estate Expert Jud Whitlock of Atlanta Fine Homes/Sotheby’s International Realty. In a HelloNation article, Whitlock, a 3rd-generation Atlantan, discusses why, despite the rise of global exposure and online access, local knowledge remains the defining advantage in high-end real estate. His analysis shows that understanding the nuances of a community continues to separate good investments from great ones.

The article explains that while the modern luxury market is increasingly international, success still depends on localized understanding. Buyers can now explore properties across the world with a few clicks, but they rely on professionals who know the rhythms, people, and history of a city. Whitlock notes that in Atlanta, this knowledge makes a tangible difference. Agents who live and work in the community can interpret data in context, identifying factors that numbers alone cannot show.

Local expertise, he explains, goes beyond familiarity with listings. It involves recognizing the subtle shifts that define value over time. A home’s orientation, elevation, and surrounding development can all influence its performance. Professionals with local roots can read these details intuitively, guiding clients with precision rather than guesswork. They understand how market conditions fluctuate with the seasons and how cultural or lifestyle patterns affect demand.

Whitlock highlights that both buyers and sellers gain significantly from this level of insight. For buyers, local professionals identify homes that align with both lifestyle and investment goals. They anticipate practical concerns such as commute routes, community restrictions, or long-term maintenance requirements. This perspective helps clients make decisions grounded in reality, avoiding costly surprises. For sellers, local agents know how to position properties strategically, choosing the right timing, presentation, and pricing for maximum impact.

Global marketing networks remain valuable, but Whitlock stresses that global reach must be supported by local understanding. A property can attract international attention, yet its success depends on how it is represented within its immediate environment. The strongest agents bridge these two worlds, using global tools alongside neighborhood-level insight. Whitlock explains that this combination allows listings to reach broad audiences while maintaining authenticity and precision.

Atlanta’s luxury market provides a clear example of this balance. From Buckhead’s historic estates to the mountain retreats of North Georgia, each area reflects its own culture and buyer profile. Global exposure can draw attention to these listings, but only a local expert can interpret the subtleties of value between communities. Whitlock observes that knowing how design, location, and lifestyle interact is what allows agents to serve clients effectively across price ranges and regions.

Local professionals also bring a deep understanding of zoning, taxes, and regional development that global data cannot capture. Whitlock points out that this awareness allows agents to advise clients on growth areas, infrastructure improvements, and neighborhood stability. Such insights turn single purchases into informed, long-term investments. The most successful advisors use this foresight to help clients build wealth and confidence in an evolving market.

Relationships further strengthen the advantage of local representation. Whitlock emphasizes that trusted connections with inspectors, contractors, and designers ensure quality at every stage of the transaction. Local networks simplify repairs, staging, and closing procedures. These partnerships create a seamless experience that builds trust among buyers and sellers alike. The consistency and accountability developed through local collaboration set a high standard of service that benefits the entire community.

For international buyers entering Atlanta’s market, Whitlock explains that local guidance provides cultural and procedural clarity. Real estate practices vary around the world, from negotiation styles to closing timelines. Local experts act as interpreters, explaining how the Atlanta market functions and how its values differ from other regions. This insight gives foreign investors the confidence to act quickly and wisely, supported by a professional who understands both global expectations and local realities.

While technology has transformed how buyers discover properties, Whitlock notes that it cannot replace the human insight that local professionals bring. Virtual tours and online data reveal only part of the story. Understanding what those metrics mean within the context of a specific street, neighborhood, or school district requires lived experience. Local expertise makes digital tools more effective by grounding them in a firsthand perspective.

The most successful transactions, according to Whitlock, combine global exposure with local depth. This partnership ensures that wide visibility is matched by credibility and precision. Homes marketed through international platforms attract attention, but those represented with authentic neighborhood insight inspire confidence. In a competitive market, this balance gives both buyers and sellers an enduring advantage.

Atlanta’s continued rise as a global destination underscores the value of local expertise. Whitlock concludes that no matter how advanced technology becomes, the human element remains at the heart of real estate. Advisors who understand both the world and their own city deliver the results that matter most. In an age of digital convenience, local knowledge keeps the process grounded, informed, and deeply personal.

Why “Local Expertise” Still Wins in a Global Luxury Market, features insights from Jud Whitlock, Luxury Real Estate Expert of Atlanta, Georgia, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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Rocket Money’s Rowan Rewrites What AI Can Do in Personal Finance

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Rocket Money’s new AI financial assistant, developed with Anthropic, takes money management out of apps and dashboards and puts it into conversational texts

DETROIT, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rocket Money, part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), today launched Rowan, an AI agent that goes beyond analysis, monitoring consumer’s finances and even acting on their behalf, all through simple text messaging.

Rocket Money’s AI financial assistant puts management into conversational texts.

Powered by Anthropic, Rowan watches spending around the clock. When it spots a way to save, it sends a text. The consumer replies in plain language and Rowan handles the rest. It can renegotiate recurring bills, cancel subscriptions and even create automated savings transfers.  

Most personal finance apps are passive, showing a dashboard that leaves the real work up to the consumer. Rowan does the work for them.

“What we’ve built with Rowan wasn’t possible even 12 months ago,” said Aaron Dignan, VP of Agentic Products at Rocket Money. “It finds the money slipping through the cracks, the forgotten subscriptions, the bills that creep up, and it actually does something about them. That’s the difference between knowing and acting.”

Rowan is built on a sophisticated stack of AI agents trained with Rocket Money data. The result is something unprecedented: a system that monitors your finances, applies advanced reasoning, and proactively engages to give you knowledge and control over your personal finances. Rowan identifies opportunities and executes complex tasks in the real world based on your instructions.

Consider a client that signs up for a free month of streaming that then goes unused.  Rowan doesn’t forget, three weeks later it will send a text asking the consumer if they are enjoying the service or if they would like to cancel before incurring a charge.  If the member replies “cancel” Rowan contacts the service, cancels the trial and confirms when it is done. One word, no logging in, no lengthy conversations and no hold music.

Maybe someone wants to save money while still enjoying their morning coffee. They simply text Rowan: “Every time I buy a coffee, round up to the nearest dollar and put the extra change in my high-yield savings account.” Rowan sets up the process. From that moment forward, every coffee purchase triggers an automatic rounding and transfer.

That is a monumental leap from passive to proactive financial management, going from “here’s what you spent” to “here’s how I can help.”

The system is also constantly improving. When Rowan encounters something unexpected, such as a subscription service with an unusual cancellation flow, it learns. It diagnoses the issue, finds a solution and deploys it across the entire system. Each edge case solved becomes a permanent improvement for every consumer.

“This architecture moves us from ‘this is cool’ to ‘this is incredibly powerful and can help me maximize my money,” said Chase Adams, VP of AI Engineering at Rocket Money. “We built it with adaptable agents where you need flexibility and strict code where you need certainty, and our team is engaged throughout to provide human verification.”

Rowan is available to select Rocket Money subscribers now as part of a new Premium Plus tier, with broader availability coming later this year.

ABOUT ROCKET MONEY

Rocket Money is a personal finance app designed to help people manage their money, track spending, monitor subscriptions, build savings, and improve their overall financial health. Originally founded as Truebill and acquired by Rocket Companies in 2021, Rocket Money helps users understand where their money is going, identify opportunities to save, manage recurring expenses, track net worth and credit, and take action through features such as subscription management, budgeting, bill negotiation, automated savings, and Rowan, its AI-powered financial agent. Rocket Money is part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), a Detroit-based fintech platform company.

For more information, please visit www.rocketmoney.com.

ABOUT ROCKET COMPANIES

Founded in 1985, Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) is a Detroit-based fintech platform including mortgage, real estate and personal finance businesses: Rocket Mortgage, Redfin, Rocket Close, Rocket Money and Rocket Loans. With insights from more than 160 million calls with clients each year, 30 petabytes of data and a mission to Help Everyone Home, Rocket Companies is well positioned to be the destination for AI-fueled homeownership. Known for providing exceptional client experiences, J.D. Power has ranked Rocket Mortgage #1 in client satisfaction for primary mortgage origination and mortgage servicing a total of 23 times, the most of any mortgage lender.

For more information, please visit www.rocket.com.

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Veridian Credit Union launches Money Moves to help members build financial confidence, achieve goals

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WATERLOO, Iowa, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Veridian Credit Union has launched Money Moves, a new financial empowerment program designed to help members build confidence, strengthen financial habits and take meaningful steps toward their financial goals.

The program combines financial education, personalized coaching and financial incentives to help participants increase savings, improve credit and reduce debt. Through one-on-one guidance and practical tools, Monday Moves helps participants create a personalized plan that works for their unique circumstances and long-term goals.

“Financial success should be within reach for everyone,” said Ana Hernandez Eveland, Veridian’s Financial Empowerment Strategist. “Money Moves is about meeting people where they are and giving them the guidance, resources and encouragement they need to move forward with confidence. Whether someone is focused on building savings, improving credit or paying down debt, we’re here to help them take the next step.”

Participants who successfully complete the program may qualify for a $250 matching incentive that can be used toward a secured credit card, starter certificate of deposit or debt repayment, helping reinforce the financial progress they make during the program.

Money Moves is free to attend, though advance registration is required. Individual sessions begin mid-September in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Omaha, and Oct. 1 in Des Moines. Details are available at veridiancu.org/moneymoves.

Founded in 1934, Veridian Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative dedicated to improving the financial well-being of its members. With 32 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Twin Cities metro area, Veridian provides a full range of personal and business financial services desigened to help members build confidence and reach their goals. As a not-for-profit credit union, Veridian returns value to its members through competitive products, trusted guidance and a commitment to helping people ahcieve lasting financial success.

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Cresset Expands to Boca Raton, Welcomes $4 Billion Advisory Team

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Led by Michael Bober and Ed Ventrice, the team previously managed approximately $4 billion in client assets at UBS and has deep connections to the Boca Raton community

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cresset announced today that it is expanding to Boca Raton, Fla., with the addition of a 16-person advisory team led Michael Bober, and Ed Ventrice. The team previously managed approximately $4 billion in client assets for UBS. The team also includes Michael MacDonald, William “Billy” Marino, Sarah Ponczek, and Alex Santos.

Bober and Ventrice each bring more than three decades of experience advising corporate executives, business owners, high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families, foundations and endowments, and professional athletes. Together with their team, they specialize in comprehensive wealth management, institutional consulting, business succession planning, and addressing the complex needs of families with significant wealth.

Prior to joining Cresset, Bober and Ventrice both served as Managing Directors with UBS Financial Services. Before transitioning to wealth management, each worked as a Certified Public Accountant with a national accounting firm. Their accounting backgrounds have helped shape the team’s integrated approach to wealth management and its focus on delivering coordinated advice across every aspect of a client’s financial life.

“We are excited to join Cresset and gain access to the breadth of resources and capabilities available through its independent, client- and employee-owned model. Cresset’s family office approach closely aligns with how we have always believed wealth should be managed—with a comprehensive, long-term perspective that extends well beyond investment management,” Ventrice said.

Cresset offers a comprehensive suite of family office services designed to address the interconnected needs of individuals and families with significant wealth. Its capabilities span investment management, private markets, tax preparation and planning, estate and trust services, business succession planning, property and casualty insurance advisory, and philanthropic planning for families, foundations, and endowments. Cresset also provides access to medical and travel concierge services through its expansive network, helping clients coordinate support across their financial and personal lives.

“Joining Cresset represents an exciting next chapter for our team and our clients. Cresset has built an exceptional platform around an integrated approach to wealth management, and we look forward to offering our clients those capabilities while continuing to provide the highly personal advice and service they expect,” Bober said.

“We are also proud to continue serving the Boca Raton community we know so well and to build upon the relationships we have developed here over many years,” Ventrice added.

Cresset’s open-architecture, multi-custodial model provides clients with access to leading custodians. This flexibility, combined with Cresset’s extensive wealth management and family office capabilities, allows advisory teams to deliver highly customized solutions based on each client’s specific needs.

“We are thrilled to expand our presence in South Florida to Boca Raton. Michael, Ed, and team have deep and longstanding relationships throughout the Boca Raton community, and we are honored to welcome them to Cresset and look forward to introducing more successful families to Cresset’s comprehensive family office offerings,” said Cresset CEO Susie Cranston

About Cresset
Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award-winning* multi-family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized**—integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client’s vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single-family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client-first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm—one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron’s and Forbes among the nation’s top multi-family offices,* Cresset is guided by long-term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

*Disclosures related to awards, recognitions, and rankings available here. Forbes Top RIA Firms (issued 10.2025). Based on data from April of the prior year through March of the award year. Rankings are determined by SHOOK Research using a proprietary methodology that considers qualitative and quantitative factors. Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms (issued 09.2025). Based on data from July of the prior year through June of the award year. Rankings are determined using a proprietary methodology that considers qualitative and quantitative factors. Cresset paid a licensing fee to use the Forbes and Barron’s award logos.

**Wealth Optimized, Life Elevated refers to the firm’s philosophy and process in providing advisory and planning services and is not intended to convey a guarantee of results. 

Cresset refers to Cresset Capital Management, LLC and its respective direct and indirect subsidiaries and controlled affiliates. For a full list of Cresset subsidiaries and controlled affiliates, please see cressetcapital.com/disclosures/

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