58 | DECEMBER 12 • 2019
business SPOTlight
brought to you in partnership with
B I R M I N G H A M
Metro Detroit wealth
management firm Bloom
Asset Management
recently celebrated its 35th
anniversary with more than
400 clients at an event at the
Cranbrook Institute of Science
in Bloomfield Hills. Clients
enjoyed special planetarium
showings and private tours
led by museum docents while
having direct access to the
firm’
s advisers and leadership.
Founded by brothers Rick
and Ken Bloom in 1984,
Bloom Asset Management
serves more than 1,200
clients across the country with
a portfolio that has grown to
more than $1 billion.
“Reaching 35 years of
successful advising for our
clients is a celebration of our
dedicated employees, many
of whom have been with us
since the early years of our
business,” said Rick Bloom,
co-founder of Bloom Asset
Management and former
radio host of MoneyTalk on
WXYT.
The anniversary event also
served as a welcome to the
firm’
s newest employees,
Jennfer Bloom and Stephanie
Bloom, who joined this year
from diverse backgrounds
as directors of client
engagement.
BLOOM ASSET MANAGEMENT
CELEBRATES 35 YEARS
The JN chats with Ben-Ezra about fi
nding his
niche working on repurposing big-box stores.
B
randon Ben-Ezra, 23, was born and
raised in Michigan. He is currently a
retail sales and leasing associate at NAI
Farbman, where he is rapidly learning and
growing his business. Some notable transac-
tions this year were the sale of two Toys ‘
R’
Us
and four Kmart stores. Brandon enjoys being
active and spending his free time with his five
younger siblings.
1. Where did you go to college and what
was your major?
I am a graduate of Michigan State
University — “Go Green!” I attended the
Eli Broad College of Business and was in
the Residential Business Program where
I received my bachelor of arts degree in
finance.
2. How did you find your niche working
with repurposing big box stores?
I joined NAI Farbman in June 2018 as a lease
and sales associate in the retail sector. My
mentor, Ron Goldstone, specializes in retail
and in the repurposing and disposition of big
box retail such as Toys ‘
R’
Us, Sears, Kmart,
Babies ‘
R’
Us and Kroger.
Times have changed in the retail industry
and there is a huge surplus in the mid- to
big-box category without enough retailers to
utilize this glut.
It is so much easier to shop online nowa-
days. However, brick-and-mortar stores can
give the consumer a valuable experience that
websites cannot duplicate. I love a great expe-
rience such as a trampoline park, go-karting
or axe throwing! I feel the future of retail is in
entertaining and engaging the consumer that
is different from the online experience.
The retail sector is not dying — it is just
evolving from the traditional department
store and mall. There is the need for creative
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRANDON BEN-EZRA
Schmoozing
with Brandon Ben-Ezra
TOP: Ben-Ezra with Jason Hanson, former Detroit
Lion. BOTTOM: Brandon with his father Phil and
siblings Maelani, Logan, Zayn and Aiden.
Hot Topics
BLOOM ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rick and
Ken Bloom