ATLANTA  – Morgan Stanley announced today that Ron Hart, a Managing Director, Wealth Advisor in the Firm’s Atlanta office, has been named to Barron’s annual list of America’s Top 100 Financial Advisors.

The “Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors” is a select group of individuals who are screened on a number of criteria. Among factors the survey takes into consideration are assets under management, revenue produced for the Firm and quality of service provided to clients. Investment performance is not an explicit criterion.

ATLANTA -- The owner of Manuel's Tavern in Virginia-Highland fought hard in 2005 when state officials were considering a ban on indoor smoking at restaurants.

Now, the watering hole established in 1956 is opting to go smoke-free.

Manuel's owner Brian Maloof and other business owners initially feared business would suffer if smoking was banned.

"We opposed it," Maloof told WABE. "I was down there myself speaking out against it -- an individual business rights to make a decision on their own. And the legislature came to that decision."

But there has been a shift in public opinion, Maloof said. Business is suffering because of Manuel's smoking policy, he added.

"I know definitely in January of 2014, we'll be 100 percent smoke-free," he said.

(ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE) -- Metro Atlanta leaders will seek to grow the region's global business opportunities through a new initiative kicked off Wednesday by JP Morgan Chase and the Brookings Institution.

The Global Cities Initiative, which is part of a five-year, $10 million multi-city effort ultimately will forge new city-to-city partnerships to create trade and economic relationships to prosper from the growing urbanization of the world's population. 

Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said the initiative takes advantage of growing businesses through exporting and by recognizing that the "Made in USA" brand is becoming increasingly valuable in the world. 

The two-day conference, held at the Academy of Medicine on the Georgia Tech Campus, will lead to a new Metropolitan Export Plan for Atlanta.