There is an interesting dynamic occuring with our clients, and its kind of fun and rather interesting - the fact that most of them seem to come from somewhere else! I've been thinking about this, as I think I think about everything, and I think there are a few clever factors contributing to this phenomenon. (got all that 'thinking'--it does actually make sense). We have clients from California, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Boston, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Missouri. I think its great! Its nice to see that CT is attracting the outside world for more than just its covered bridges and autumn foliage (great reasons both however mind you). As a native who has struggled with what CT was, is, and can be, though I don't question it much less now after having left and again returned, its refreshing to see that CT and more specifically, Hartford, really could be New England's rising star. I like that. Now this may not seem so interesting at first, but that is most likely due to one of the very factors of this trend--and that we're numb to it -- its a sign of the times! In this crazy competitive modern day existence we now live, thanks to talent distribution through world wide connectivity, it is more essential now than ever to go 'where the work' is. Companies are head hunting out of college now and it'd be wise to jump on every opportunity these days as not many come around. What I'm saying is that its not enough anymore to find a good job near home, wherever home may be. Because even if there is good jobs @ home, with the current state of things in the USA, a "good job" just won't cut it. To survive, to make it, to live with little financial worry, one must have a great job, a spectacular job, a magnificent job.

So after you consider A. , a sign of the times. We look to factor B. , why CT in particular is drawing so many professionals from across the country. Well, insurance, insurance, insurance is a good place to start. Travelers, The Hartford, ING, and Aetna employ more than half of our clientele if I had to guess, and if one was to extrapolate that into a statewide estimation, those 4 companies probably employ a good large # of corporate CT.
(Though I have been observing these trends throughout my day to day activities, I'm also partly thinking on the run here so pardon the lack of hard #'s). In a nutshell, CT is and always has been a very wealthy state. We actually rank #3 in the world in Hedge Fund accounts. I don't think that's necessarily evidence to prove we're a wealthy state, but I just read about it in an article over the weekend. Never would've thunk it till I thunk about it :-)...So as it is within the nature of the state to raise a healthy crop of big business, highlighted by corporate hubs and headquarters aplenty in CT, it makes sense that they call on the best and brightest wherever they may come from.

Now lets move on to factor C., the reinvention of the city of Hartford. Its one thing for these companies to head hunt the young talent in america, but it is another thing altogether to get them out here in an environment that they can thrive. Well, with the city of Hartford making strides to transform itself from pre-Robocop Detroit to the second coming of San Francisco, these young twenty and thirty somethings, are moving east (a new concept) in droves. Throw in the UCONN factor and there are lots of reasons for our generation to come to CT.

Wrap these fundamentals up in one big package and you've got a changing face of our wonderful state and it is a good thing. There are actually some young, relatable people out and about now and not the same ol' reg-lers that infested the local bar scene. Those who party in Hartford, live in Hartford, something that never occured before. No one ever really wanted to go into downtown because there was nothing going on and no one was going down there -- a vicious circle. Things have changed.

I suppose it would be best to wrap this observation up by saying, welcome statesman neighbors, and keep it going, CT. Keep these businesses alive, keep bringing 'em in, keep building new homes, apartments, and infrastructure, keep rising you little star you...and all you wonderful transplants...make sure you bring your pets!