Wintrust Business Lunch

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. McDonald’s reported positive sales growth in the second quarter as it expanded its menu in an effort to bring back customers who are concerned about rising prices. Global sales are up 3.8% year-over-year as of June, well above market expectations. McDonald’s […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the vibe shift happening surrounding the strength of the economy, the uncertainty over tariffs and how they will impact consumers, the softening of the job market, the latest on student loans, and what to know about interest rates and T Bills. Terry also answers […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen to talk about how some workers today are more concerned about individual wants rather than what is necessary to achieve. Tom says sometimes you just need to put your head down and work and success will come. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Hoffman Estates-based Claire’s is closer to filing for bankruptcy. Bloomberg says the teen accessory chain missed June and July rent payments on some stores. The bankruptcy filing may come as soon as this week. Claire’s has also been exploring restructuring options […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. There’s some improvement to report in the retail vacancy rate on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Crain’s reports the rate dropped to 29.3% in July. That’s down from 34% in 2023. The report says it’s the first year-over-year drop in a decade. New […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins Jon Hansen to talk about Fridays job report, revisions, the importance of getting real data, President Trump firing Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer, if she believes prices are going to rise, and what you should know about the recently passed “trigger leads” law. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director […]

Segment 1: Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor and recent President at WorkingNation, joins John Williams to breakdown the July labor report, why the monthly revisions were so concerning, and if the numbers will put more pressure on the Fed to cut rates. Segment 2: Matt Adams, principal at Deloitte Consulting specializing in retail, gives John all the details […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Lollapalooza is back in Chicago and its economic impact is expected to be nearly a half billion dollars. Festival organizers say that figure was $440 million in 2024, including a $10 million rent payment to the city. Lollapalooza also generated about […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about Mayor Johnson’s efforts to tax the ultra-rich, the economic data released today including a strong GDP report, why the housing market is a cause for concern, the dilemma the Fed is facing about cutting rates, and what she expects from Friday’s labor report. Terry […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the death of Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, how great chemistry is key to building a good team, the value of an internship and getting your foot in the door, and the importance of building bonds with your co-workers. Segment […]

Segment 1: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins John to talk about the markets being impervious to economic uncertainty, if it’s too early to assess the impact of tariffs, where he’s telling clients to park their money, what he expects from the Fed meeting this week, when the Fed should start cutting interest […]

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, talks to John about today’s market rally, the Trump v. Jerome Powell feud, why he thinks interest rates should be lower, why Powell might be hesitant to lower rates, his thoughts on the trade deals and what that could mean for the market, the rotation into the […]

Dave Schwan has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. A governmental agency, one year older than the country, turns 250 tomorrow. The Postal Service was formed July 26, 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as postmaster general. Nearly every American gets some sort of mail daily, despite the service’s financial problems. The […]

Ryan Burrow has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The destruction of the old Sears headquarters in Hoffman Estates was completed this week. It took just under a year to demolish the nearly 2.5 million square-foot former home of the retail giant. That 273-acre site will soon become the home to […]

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, talks to John about a new Bankrate survey that shows nearly 1 in 2 workers plan to search for a new job in the coming year. Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about President Donald Trump unveiling a new plan for […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about how how the market has performed since President Trump’s tariff announcement, what that market swing means for your 401(k), why it’s a good time to revisit your asset allocation, and what it means that 401(k) plans have caught the eye of Wall Street insiders. […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ couple and how to handle these situations when they show up in the workplace. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the peril that often comes with more power. In a quest for […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo just held its 48th annual Zoo Ball and the event was the highest-grossing ball in the zoo’s history. Crain’s reports the ball raised $1.8 million. The event helps fund animal care, conservation and education programs. The money […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about home inventory hitting a 5-year high, and the latest ping pong game of ‘he said-he said’ between President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about the big events happening for TechChicago […]

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to ‘color in’ the details surrounding what the markets have done this past week. Segment 2: Dave Charest, Director of Small Business Success for Constant Contact joins John Williams to talk about how small businesses stay on top during summer, the slow season. Dave […]