Florida Outlook Weekly “FLOW”.
Weekly Financial Summary of Florida
Week Ending Dec 21st, 2025.
Florida’s financial landscape remained vibrant in the week ending 22 December 2025, reflecting a mixture of global capital commitments, real‑estate transactions and policy initiatives. A standout development was Related Ross securing a record US$772 million construction loan from private‑credit lenders led by Ares Real Estate to build twin office towers at 10 and 15 CityPlace in downtown West Palm Beach. The financing surpasses previous state records and underscores private credit’s growing role in major developments. M&A activity was equally robust: Core Investment Management bought the 175,084‑sf Jacaranda Plaza in Plantation, which is 98% leased to tenants such as Publix and Ross Dress for Less, with JLL arranging financing, while Jamestown was tapped to provide leasing for the redevelopment of Sarasota Square, a project adding 200 luxury apartments and 530,000 sf of retail with anchors including Whole Foods and Charles Schwab. In another industrial deal, private equity firm MiddleGround Capital sold Gainesville‑based Lindsay Precast to TJC LP, completing its investment cycle and highlighting demand for infrastructure manufacturers.
Talent flows and corporate relocations continued to draw attention. Rockefeller Capital Management lured a bi‑coastal UBS wealth‑management team that manages US$3 billion in client assets, including Florida‑based advisers from Coral Gables and Winter Park. GAIA Real Estate moved its national headquarters from New York to Miami, taking additional office space to pursue Sun Belt opportunities, while Cushman & Wakefield hired seasoned broker Ryan Phillips in Boca Raton to bolster office tenant representation. In venture funding, Vitalis Ventures invested US$15 million in Miami‑based, whose AI‑powered platform aims to streamline patient navigation and clinician workload. The capital markets also saw Florida‑based HoldCo Asset Management release a hard‑hitting presentation urging Comerica shareholders to vote against the bank’s planned merger with Fifth Third, arguing that the sale process was rushed and undervalued and emphasizing that only 17 days elapsed between initial talks and the agreement. This activism underscores how Fort Lauderdale hedge funds are influencing national banking deals.
Regulatory developments dominated the policy arena. Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia unveiled legislative proposals to standardize local‑government budgets, requiring online publication of proposed budgets, pre‑hearing disclosure and a compulsory 10% spending reduction before adoption. Ingoglia separately proposed codifying the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight (FAFO), mandating training for officials and whistle‑blower protections. Meanwhile, the Florida House advanced House Bill 527, which would prohibit insurers from relying solely on artificial‑intelligence tools to deny or reduce claims, requiring a licensed professional to make the final determination. Governor Ron DeSantis followed with an “AI Bill of Rights” that would ban state agencies and insurers from using generative AI to settle claims without consent and provide privacy protections. These proposals, combined with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation recommending a statewide average rate reduction of 2.6% for 2026 after transferring hundreds of thousands of policies to private carriers, indicate a more consumer‑friendly regulatory environment. Collectively, these trends suggest Florida remains a magnet for investment while regulators seek greater transparency and oversight, balancing growth with consumer protection.
Outlook – Next 30 Days
Florida’s financial ecosystem is likely to remain active through early 2026. Regulators will refine the AI claims bill and AI Bill of Rights proposals, with insurers lobbying for workable frameworks. Expect legislative hearings on CFO Ingoglia’s budget‑transparency and FAFO bills; local governments may push amendments to mitigate administrative burdens, but investor sentiment should welcome greater clarity. M&A activity should continue as year‑end deals close, particularly in middle‑market niches such as construction services, healthcare and technology, while private credit will remain pivotal for large real‑estate projects. Capital‑raising efforts by Florida startups—especially in AI‑enabled health and fintech—should attract new funding rounds. Talent inflows from traditional financial centres will likely accelerate, evidenced by continued relocations and team lift‑outs. Investors should monitor macroeconomic conditions: higher interest rates could temper deal valuations, but Florida’s demographic growth and business‑friendly policies may offset cyclical headwinds. Overall, the state appears poised to enter 2026 with momentum in investment, regulatory reform and talent acquisition.
About this report: This weekly summary highlights major deals, adviser moves, policy developments and market data for Florida’s wealth‑management and insurance sectors. For questions or media inquiries, please contact the author.
