Investing for better times: We ask five experts five questions about how they're preparing to take advantage of an economic recovery -- and what they're doing just in case.

By most accounts, the recession is (technically) over. But for the past few months, the economic reports coming out of Washington and Wall Street have featured a mixed bag of good, bad and confusing news.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Temp labor may be bridge to recovery

Florida's jobless rate ticked up to 11.2 percent last month. But employers are starting to hire more temps nationally, so they may start hiring more permanent workers in the months ahead.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Florida aims to boost credit to small businesses with `Economic Gardening'

Florida's Economic Gardening Program -- designed to help high-growth companies with loans and training -- is now taking applications.
JOB LOSSES

Boston Scientific to close Doral plant

Even as Miami-Dade officials try to build the county's life sciences industry, Boston Scientific is planning to close a plant in Doral and send the jobs overseas.
TAXATION

Study calls Florida tax system unfair

Because Florida mainly depends on sales taxes and property taxes, a study says the tax system is unfair to people with low or moderate incomes.
BANKING

Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida seized, promptly sold

Banking regulators seized Commerce Bank of Southwest Florida and sold the tiny Fort Myers bank to Central Bank, of Stillwater, Minn., marking the 124th U.S. bank to fail during 2009 and the 12th in Florida.
THE ECONOMY

Data show weak recovery

Economic indicators suggest that the lack of job creation is dampening consumer expectations.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Film shows South Florida students shooting for moon

Three South Florida students are featured in a new documentary film about budding entrepreneurs.
HOTEL INDUSTRY

Study: Minority hotel workers face more risks on the job

A study finds female, Hispanic and Asian hotel workers more likely to be injured on the job.
REAL ESTATE

Florida still leads nation in foreclosures

A rising proportion of fixed-rate home loans made to people with good credit are sinking into foreclosure.
ECONOMY

As the South Florida economy slows, so do divorces

With the economy sputtering, South Florida couples are staying together more or attempting do-it-yourself divorces rather than paying pricey divorce lawyers.
SMALL BUSINESS

Entrepreneurs seek success in a minute

Entrepreneurial UM students and alumni competed this week in a contest of `elevator pitches' -- 60-second explanations of their businesses.
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

Prepare business to grow, women are told

Speakers at a conference for women entrepreneurs urged their listeners to get ready now for the coming economic recovery.
HOUSING

U.S. home-building falls sharply

Housing starts took a surprise dip in October, highlighting how reliant the sector recently has become on government stimulus programs.
SCOTT ROTHSTEIN SCANDAL

Other law firms scoop up Scott Rothstein's colleagues

Being a former employee of Scott Rothstein isn't proving to be an obstacle for some of those attorneys who are now looking for jobs.
Jackson Health Systems chief charts hospital's rebound

Chief Executive Eneida Roldan wields her knife at losses at Jackson Health Systems.
AIRLINES

South Floridians get new California flight options

Two airlines are offering new flight paths between Fort Lauderdale and California.
AUTOMOBILES

Cars prices climb sharply

A government report says prices for new and used cars rose considerably in October, partially reflecting a whiplash from the government's `cash for clunkers' program.
INVESTMENT FRAUD

Man to settle charges he stole millions from Haitian Americans

A self-proclaimed investment guru has agreed to a settlement with federal securities regulators over charges he bilked hundreds of fellow Haitian Americans out of $23.4 million, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday.
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

Business leaders share their success stories

Although it's one of the most difficult times for start-ups to find financing, entrepreneurs gathered at UM to encourage students to pursue their dreams.