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 and 743 billion from las…

Segment 1: Reed Simpson joins Dane Neal to talk about the upcoming Winter Classic on January 31st. Hosted at Wrigley Field, Simpson shares what fans can expect the night before to celebrate the event. Segment 2: Tim Shanley joins to talk about the Bears tailgate and the process that starts early in the morning to bring the best tailgates for Bears …

Segment 1: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, talks to Dane Neal, in for John Williams, about a number of auto industry related stories such as details surrounding the confirmed plans Honda and Nissan have to merge into the 3rd largest automaker and what we learned about the auto indust…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Chicago metro area was home to the third most porch thefts in the U.S. in 2023. The website Safewise analyzes data on home safety and says the Chicago area had 2.7 million porch thefts last year, involving nearly $262 million in stolen merchandise. Chicago is the…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Bolingbrook-based Hyzon, which makes hydrogen-powered trucks, says nearly all of its employees could be laid off earlier next year. The company is running out of cash and customers are delaying orders. A company that produces sustainable aviation fuel will make Illin…

Segment 1: Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins Wendy to talk about the latest student loan debt relief and who is entitled to them Segment 2: Carl Prouty from Abt electronics shares some last minute Christmas gifts and how you can get them with same day delivery Segment 3: Dave Dumas, Administrative Director for Share Food Share Love Food …

Segment 1: Paul Nolte, Senior Wealth Advisor and Market Strategist, Murphy & Sylvest, joins John to talk about the market rebound after the rough start it had to the week, and the latest on the inflation numbers. Segment 2: Lizzy Lopez, Founder & CEO of Tequila 1349 comes to share the latest information on their newest product that will be availabl…

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, talks to John about what caused yesterday’s market sell off and today’s rebound, and what he expects for the market and economy in 2025. Where can we find some buying opportunities moving forward? Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams t…

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about charitable giving this holiday season, the overall market performance recently, how much the market is up this year, how you should be thinking about your investments right now, her thoughts on the Fed cutting rates again, a new BMO survey that shows…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. New York developer 601W, the owner of the Old Post Office in Chicago, reportedly has a purchase contract for the 30-story office building at 303 E. Wacker. Crain’s says the purchase price has not been disclosed but people familiar with the deal say it could be about …

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Trinity Hospital on Chicago’s south side will be the centerpiece of an investment project spearheaded by Advocate Health Care. The company will invest $1 billion over the next decade and plans to build a new hospital and 10 small care locations. The focus will be on …

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about employees ‘revenge quitting,’ and the latest on ‘return to office’ mandates. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about employment liability and what companies can expect under the next Trump administration. Segment 3: Lo…

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about Think Glink’s 2025 Personal Finance Resolutions, Home Buyer Resolutions, and 2025 Housing Trends. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about IBM joining the quantum computing effort in …

Dave Schwan has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. A two-day meeting by the Federal Reserve starts tomorrow talking interest rates. We’ll know Wednesday if rates will be cut. If so, it’ll be the third and final rate cut of the year. Most economists expect a reduction of a quarter of a percentage point. Also, no holiday …

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the market, why he’s optimistic about the end of 2024 and into 2025, how transformative big tech has been to the market, why it’s okay to have a pullback occasionally, the strength of the economy overall, why he believes the soft landi…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Chicago City Council has approved a zoning change that clears the way for a quantum computing campus in South Chicago. Tech startup PsiQuantum plans to build the world’s first quantum computer there. The quantum park will eventually be home to other companies and…

Segment 1: Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer, Cresset Capital, talks to John about how investors should approach a market in which valuation says “sell” but momentum says “buy”? Jack tells us where he thinks we should be putting our money now. Segment 2: Luke Carlson, CEO, Discover Strength, joins John to talk about their fitness model of time e…

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the healthcare conversation and the rage that has risen since the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, what to know about managed care in Medicare Advantage plans, last minute tips on RMDs, and if you should buy a car before the new administration p…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Deerfield-based Walgreens is reportedly in talks to sell itself to a private equity firm. The move could take the company private and analysts say it could lead to a sell off of pieces of Walgreens. The company’s in talks with Sycamore Partners about a possible deal,…

Segment 1: Ted Rossman, Bankrate.com Senior industry analyst, joins John to talk about a new Bankrate survey that shows 4 in 5 tippers just want to say thank you this holiday season Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John to talk about a number of his recent stories including JB Pritzker’s property tax bil…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago has a new Michelin star restaurant. It’s Cariño at 4662 N. Broadway in the Uptown neighborhood. The eatery features Mexican and Latin American inspired dishes prepared by chef Norman Fenton. It opened in 2023. The Michelin stars were awarded Monday night in N…

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about how mass deportations will directly impact the home-building industry, and new credit numbers data that explains why many people feel broke. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about a…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. McDonald’s is bringing back its popular Snack Wrap next year. Details are sketchy, but the company’s president let it slip during a TV interview. He says the Snack Wrap has a cult following and he gets many emails asking when the item will return. It was removed from…

Segment 1: Jane Oates, Senior Policy Advisor and recent President, WorkingNation, talks to John Williams about the November labor report. What were Jane’s major takeaways from the data? Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, talks to John about an number of auto industry related …

Segment 1: Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John talk about how the market typically performs in December, what he’s expecting from tomorrow’s labor report, if the Fed will reduce rates again later in the month, and the impact tariffs might have on the economy. Segment 2…

Segment 1: Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about what you should know about your charitable gifts. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions. Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, tells John about the decline of on-the-job training. Segment …

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Centers for Disease Control says the E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s is officially over. No new cases have been reported. The outbreak was likely caused by fresh, slivered onions at McDonald’s and sickened 104 people in 14 states. CDC says the actual number of peo…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Chicago’s @properties is being acquired by New York-based Compass real estate in a deal valued at $444 million. Compass also gets the Christie’s brand, which was previously acquired by @properties. Full terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed. It’s expected to be fi…

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about how a company should best handle a situation when their needs to be a change in leadership. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about what companies need to know about using AI in the workplace. Segment 3: Mark Hamrick, …

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. There’s a new list of the largest nonprofits in Chicago. Crain’s list puts Feeding America at the top with $5 billion in expenses and revenue last year. The Big Ten Conference is second on the list with about $897 million in expenses and $880 million in revenue. At n…

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about a new poll that shows 44% of Americans say they will make a big purchase before tariffs go into effect, how and when prices would rise if tariffs are implemented, the best deals for Cyber Monday, and the importance of protecting your personal …

Segment 1: Ted Rossman, Bankrate.com Senior industry analyst, joins John to tell us what we can expect from holiday shopping this year. Has Cyber Monday become more popular than Black Friday? Segment 2: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John to talk about what the city of Chicago can do to better su…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Governor Pritzker has bought two floors of a 38-story north side Chicago building from fellow billionaire Ken Griffin. The deal for the property at Nine West Walton is an estimated $19 million according to the Chicago Tribune. That’s the highest anyone has paid for a…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Illinois Center office complex in Chicago is heading to foreclosure. Crain’s reports the building’s owner has been hit with a foreclosure lawsuit. The Illinois Center complex is at 111 E. Wacker and 233 N. Michigan. The lawsuit was filed by Deutsche Bank and it a…

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to give us tips on what it takes to be an effective leader. Segment 2: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, tells John about the current market rally, why expects the rally to endure, his concern over President-elect Trump’s tariff proposals, why h…

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about the stock market reaching record highs, and why people are moving in 2024. Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about a Chicago startup raising $25 million to improve access for dementi…

Segment 1: Jared Dillian, Best selling financial author of the new book, “No Worries: How to Live a Stress-Free Financial Life,” talks about stock servitude and how to make the best decisions when deciding on buying popular stock options. Segment 2: Segment 3: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, talks to John about the b…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. A Dallas-based developer is planning a new business park in Merrillville that could create up to 800 new jobs. It’s the same developer that brought a giant Amazon distribution center to town. the 63-acre business park site is located at the southwest corner of East 7…

1st Segment: Ron Onesti, CEO of Onesti Entertainment, joins Wendy Snyder, filling in for John Williams, to talk about his entry into his business and how his business can help people see the musical acts that people may not have been unable to see. 2nd Segment: Bree Fowler, Senior writer from CNET, joins Wendy to talk about the Justice Department c…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The Goddess & Grocer is moving its Gold Coast Chicago location to a larger space and Crain’s reports the market will have more food options. The new location is 845 N. State and is expected to be open in mid-January. The Goddess & Grocer’s current location is at 1127…

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about what you need to know about Medicare Part D, how I-Bond rates have fluctuated since 2022, and how she feels the economy will perform under the next administration. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions. https://serve.castfire.c…

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about what companies need to do in order to retain employees, the rise of people jumping off the corporate ladder, the risks of declining a promotion, and tips for getting your best employees to stay. Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins Jo…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. The chef behind Chicago’s Italian-Croatian eatery Rose Mary is planning a new restaurant in Fulton Market District. Chef Joe Flamm and restaurant company Day Off Group have selected space in Flora tower, the new apartment building at Carroll Avenue and May Street. Cr…

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about the cars that people keep for more than 15 years, a new survey that shows 40% of young adults get their news from social media influencers, and a new Redfin survey showing that people that earn under $50,000 a year struggle to avoid housing. S…

Segment 1: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about why the market has been volatile since the election, what sectors of the market will do well under a new administration, how tariffs could impact the economy, the likelihood the Fed cuts rates again in December, and his market outlook for 2025. …

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Two Chicago area powerhouses in science and medicine are teaming up to use artificial intelligence to find new treatments for drug-resistant cancer. UChicago Medicine and Argonne National Laboratory will work together on the project. Researchers at University of Chic…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. Illinois saw an increase in corporate relocation and expansion this year. According to Intersect Illinois, the state saw a 15% increase in both in 2024. Intersect Illinois is the state’s public-private economic development partnership. Illinois had 440 projects on th…

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, talks to John about the current market run, why today’s pullback is healthy, what concerns him moving forward, prices continuing to be high for basic necessities, when he sees costs finally coming down, and why he believes it’s a positive environment for the mark…

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage and very special guest Dr. Bob Froehlich, expert money manager and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President & Owner, Kane County Cougars Baseball Club, join John Williams to talk about Dr. Bob’s prediction in January 2024 that the Dow Jones would hit 44,000 by the end of the year…

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute. New research shows Atlanta is the top city destination for Black residents who’ve decided to move out of Chicago. Texas is the top state destination. The findings are included in a study by the University of Illinois Chicago Institute for Research on Race & Public Po…