We recently connected with Isabel Alcantara and have shared our conversation below.

Isabel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

Well, it depends on how you define what a vacation really is. Many years ago, I thought of a vacation as a time where you truly disconnected from work and school. It usually consisted of going to the beach and happened once or twice a year. As a business owner, I have a different idea of what a vacation is. I still get to the beach and take trips from time to time, but I usually do check my email and work on some client matters while I am away. Some matters require immediate attention so it doesn’t matter if I am on a trip or not. Those matters usually involve a client that has received an inquiry from a federal or state regulator and the client has been given a deadline to respond. If I am on a “vacation” and I receive an email from a client with a regulatory deadline that is coming up very soon, then I will address the matter right away. However, if the deadline is two weeks or a month away, then I will tell the client that I have received their email and I intend on getting back to them in two days when I am back in the office. Unless a business owner has an employee that they trust can respond to inquiries while the owner is away, I don’t think you can disconnect completely from your duties to customers. It all depends on how long your vacation will be and what the nature of your business is.

I was recently in Puerto Rico for business, but I also took advantage of some down time and went to the beach. I toured Viejo San Juan as well. If you can do business and take some time out for yourself as well, then that is the best of both worlds. I also recommend that if you are on vacation, designate a time in your day that you will check your emails or touch base with employees. Tell them when you plan on being available to them instead of keeping your business phone line on at all times. Check your emails only during that designated time and turn off alerts outside of that window.

Finally, if you can’t travel, take a staycation and intentionally plan what you will do to relax during it. Perhaps you will read that book you have been meaning to read. Maybe you will wake up late and apply a face mask while listening to spa music. I have taken very few vacations or trips since I started my business, but I have noticed that I feel recharged and ready to give 200% of myself to my clients when I come back from a vacation.

Isabel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I graduated from law school in May of 2020, only a few months after quarantine began. I was brought onboard at an Interactive Brokers subsidiary that provided registration and compliance services to investment advisers. However, the subsidiary was disolved one year later. I decided to hang my shingle and Alcantara Law was born. Alcantara Law, LLC provides registration and compliance services to investment advisers registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Exempt Reporting Advisers. We provide a range of services relevant to financial advisors, such as SEC exam support, compliance policy drafting, annual updating amendments, other-than-annual amendments, and investment management agreement revision. Generally speaking, these services are available to financial advisors globally because the SEC allows financial advisors based abroad to register with the SEC as a Non-U.S. adviser. I draft private fund documents for funds meeting exemptions from the Investment Company Act of 1940. Alcantara Law provides comprehensive E-2 and EB-5 visa services. Alcantara Law, LLC also provides USCIS audit compliance services to EB-5 Regional Centers.

In 2024, I organized Severin, LLC to serve investment advisers that are not eligible for registration with the SEC. Instead, Severin serves advisers that are eligible for registration with their State Securities Division. We serve advisers based in any State or U.S. territory.

I am also a Realtor at KW Capital Realty in Coral Gables, FL. My mission is to connect Spaniards with real estate opportunities in Miami and vice versa, connect people in Miami with opportunities in Spain. I speak Spanish and I am passionate about the expression of hispanic culture. Many Spaniards export products to Miami and there is also a lot of appreciation for Spanish culture in Miami. For example, in March of this year, an event called the Feria de Sevilla en Miami (https://www.feriadesevillaenmiami.com/) will be taking place in Miami. The Feria de Sevilla is one of Spain’s most iconic and vibrant festivals, held annually in Seville, Spain. You’ll see horse-drawn carriages parading through the streets and people dancing Sevillanas, a regional folk dance.

Although I am in tune with my hispanic roots, I welcome customers from all national origins, ages, genders, religions, and sexual orientations.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Referrals from current clients. There is no better source than that. I would say the majority of my clients were referred to me by my initial clients.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been to give my best to current clients. When current clients are happy, they will refer their colleagues and friends to you. Focusing on current clients and making sure that they are satisfied will naturally cause your business to grow. Your clients know someone that will benefit from your services. Think about the day-to-day conversations your customers have. They meet and know other people in their industry that need your services. Their contact might ask them if they know someone that can help them. If you did a good job, they will put you two in touch. I think that is wonderful and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the referrals my customers have sent me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: 305Spain and alcantara_law_llc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabel-alcantara