Mutual Admiration Society

Forget a Styrofoam cup of coffee from the pot that has sat for hours.

At the Northwestern Mutual office in Clearwater, run by longtime financial adviser Hollee Kier, the goal is to raise the Cup o Jo a notch. Employees and financial planners there don't only want to know the client's favorite Starbucks beverage, they will go get it and have it waiting when the client shows up for an appointment. “We want to create an experience that allows clients to feel great about coming here,” Kier tells Coffee Talk. “We want to set ourselves apart from other firms.”

Kier's office, which specializes in working with business owners, female professionals and Tampa area physicians, is on its way toward fulfilling that mission. A big step is a recent move to a new office on U.S. 19 in the Colonial Center Bayside Building II. The new digs, from 6,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet, serve dual purposes. For one, it's a central Pinellas County location that's easier for most clients to get to. And it's also a chance for Kier and her team of 35 employees to create a workspace that — what else? — is more open and inviting for younger employees.