Wintrust Business Lunch

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about why today’s terrific labor report is bad for the market today, what this means for a long-term investor, how the Fed will react to this data, how many rate hikes he expects next year, his thoughts on cryptocurrency, […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Deerfield-based Walgreens had a better-than-expected fiscal first quarter. Shares rose as the company outlined ongoing plans to revive its struggling business. Walgreens says its made progress on improving shrinking prescription reimbursement and closing stores. The company has also been exploring strategic […]

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, joins John to talk about jobless claims this week, inflation continuing to be sticky, what he expects to see in tomorrow’s labor report, investors not anticipating the Fed cutting interest rates later this month, and Bankrate’s Q4 Economic Indicator Survey. Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the Social Security Fairness Act passing, why interest rates are creeping higher, ongoing inflation concern, and what you should know about the January Stock Market barometer. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. A Chicago-based company that makes gluten-free snacks and baking mixes is being purchased by a Georgia company. Simple Mills will continue operating as is after the deal closes, according to Crain’s. Flowers Foods, whose brands include Nature’s Own and Wonder Bread, […]

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about what he expects to see from the upcoming labor report, and his thoughts on labor and the economy in 2025. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about what you should know about a new Illinois law that […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The New York Times has named Loaf Lounge in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood as one of the 22 best bakeries in the country. The Times singled out Loaf Lounge’s sandwiches, oatmeal cream pies and sourdough bread. The bakery went viral when it […]

Segment 1: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about what he expects of the economy in 2025, why there is a lot of optimism in the air, and the latest on President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff plan. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about LanzaTech […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago-based United Airlines has set this spring for the launch of new in-flight WiFi using the SpaceX Starlink service. According to Bloomberg, the rollout will happen earlier than expected. United says the service will be available free to members of its […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about how 2024 was a great year for the financial markets, the amount of credit card debt we are carrying, and how you can get yourself out of debt in the new year. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Companies that make products with alcohol, including Chicago-based Molson Coors, are seeing dropping share prices. The declines follow an announcement by the U.S. Surgeon General that alcohol products like beer and wine should carry warnings about links to cancer. Surgeon General […]

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago-based Vivid Seats, the online ticketing marketplace, is exploring a sale. Bloomberg reports the company is working with an advisor to gauge interest from buyers. So far, there’s been interest from private equity firms. Vivid Seats went public in 2021 and […]

Segment 1: Matt Schultz, LendingTree chief credit analyst, talks with Jon Hansen about a new Lending Tree survey that shows 36% of Americans Took on Holiday Debt, Averaging $1,181. Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins Jon Hansen to talk about Tesla’s global sales rising 2.3% in the fourth quarter, President-elect Donald Trump asking the Supreme Court […]

Dave Schwan, in for Steve Grzanich, has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Chicago Business Barometer, released yesterday, slipped over three points to 36-point nine in December. The monthly business survey, produced by the Institute For Supply Management and MNI showed the third consecutive decline, the lowest index since […]

Dave Schwan, in for Steve Grzanich, has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Big Lots has reached a deal keeping hundreds of stores open. The discount chain will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which specializes in distressed companies. Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September. And, the man […]

Segment 1: Trevor Wagener, Chief Economist and Director of the Research Center, Computer & Communications Industry Association, joins John to share the latest report on retail shoppers and the role the internet plays in their decisions when shopping. Segment 2: DCASE commissioner Clinée Hedspeth joins to talk about Chicago’s New Year’s Eve celebration and where […]

Segment 1: Steve Bernas President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois joins Wendy Snyder to talk about the resolutions people can make that will help them avoid being victim to scams in the new year. Segment 2: John Furlan of Furlan Guitars joins to talk about how he started his business from a […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the end-of-the-year market numbers, solutions to credit card debt, and the latest on Social Security. Later Savage answers texts and caller questions on the show.

Dave Schwan, in for Steve Grzanich, has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Mastercard SpendingPulse is reporting Holiday sales rose at a faster pace from a year earlier. Sales from last month through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8 percent, up from 3.1 percent last year. SpendingPulse tracks all kinds of payments […]

Dave Schwan, in for Steve Grzanich, has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. We could see record highs for holiday purchase returns. A report by the National Retail Federation and the company Happy Returns expects this year’s returns to hit 17 percent, or 890 billion dollars. That’s up two percent […]