Noon Business Lunch

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins Jon Hansen to talk about why AI should be part of every curriculum in high school and college.

Segment 2: Katie Simpson, Central Regional Executive for the U.S. Bank Institutional Client Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a recent survey of CFO’s that shows sentiment is muted short term, but CFO’s have a strong feeling about the economy long-term.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a dip in the market the last couple of dates, if he thinks this will be a major pullback, the disconnect between how the consumer feels and how the economy is performing, what he expects the Fed to do with interest rates, and what he’s telling his clients right now.

Segment 1: Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, talks about the top business stories of the day including DraftKings closing it’s retail sportsbook at Wrigley Field.

Segment 2: Ted Rossman, Bankrate.com Senior industry analyst, joins Jon to break down the Wells Fargo/NAHB Housing Market Index. Ted talks about how the report showed modest month-over-month improvement in current sales conditions, traffic of prospective buyers and sales expectations in the next six months.

Segment 3: Maria Thomas, GM Technician Excellence Manager, tells Jon about the shortages of skilled trade worker in the auto industry. Maria explains what’s behind the shortage, how people are getting trained and hired faster, what the EV market means for employment growth, and why this matters for drivers, repair wait times, and local economies.

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins Jon Hansen to talk about the economic impact of President Trump’s visit to China, the fragile nature of the job market, if he’s concerned about the ongoing war in Iran and the possibility of stagflation, the three things he’s currently worried about in the economy, and the importance of continuing to contribute to your financial plan.

Segment 2: Morgan Lerner, Co-Founder, GoNanas, talks to Jon about creating their banana bread company and how they’ve grown over the 10 years they have been in business. Morgan tells Jon about their partnership with Target, how the company remains innovative, and their plans for future growth.

Segment 3:  Sarah E. Needleman, Leadership & Workplace Correspondent at Business Insider, joins Jon to talk about the most layoff-prone job in tech right now.

Segment 1: Stephen Kates, CFP, Financial Analyst, Bankrate, joins Jon Hansen to talk about how persistent inflation is impacting the housing market.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins Jon to talk about how Google is looking to shake up the laptop market with Googlebooks.

Segment 3: Michelle Reisdorf, Chicago-based hiring and consulting expert, Robert Half, joins Jon Hansen to talk about their new study on the health of small businesses in the Chicago area.

Segment 4: Christy George, President and CEO of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, talks to Jon Hansen about Governor Pritzker and IBM announcing a major investment at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park that will bring 750 new full-time jobs in fields like AI, cybersecurity, data science and quantum computing to Chicago’s South Side. Christy tells Jon what types of jobs will be available, the commitment to hiring students from Chicago city colleges, and the importance of bringing good jobs to the community.

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about a Social Security “con job” and constant debate over when to take yours out. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John Williams to talk about positive affirmation in the workplace and how it’s not always great to surround yourself by people who only tell you what you want to hear.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the closure of Spirit Airlines and how the spike in oil prices had an effect on Spirit going out of business.

Segment 3: Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, Founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about how he helps customers lower their internet, cell phone, and television costs. Want Harvey to help you lower your tech bills? You can email him at [email protected] or phone / text him at 312-307-1700. Harvey gives an update on how you can watch your favorite sports teams, and AT&T now offering a senior plan that was recently only available in Florida.

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, joins John Williams to discuss rising household debt, climbing FHA mortgage delinquencies, continued home price increases across the country, and what the latest jobs report signals about the economy.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications at TechNexus Venture Collaborative, talks with John about how University of Michigan and other university endowments are cashing in on AI investments, the growing number of AI startups and tools, Uber’s $600 million acquisition of Chicago-based SpotHero, and startup InstaSwitch opening a new Chicago office.

Segment 3: Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins the show to explain how inflation and rising gas prices are impacting Chicago consumers, why small business foot traffic is declining, and how spending habits are shifting as people adjust to higher costs.

Segment 1: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, joins John to talk about the ‘green on screen,’ why the stock market continues to break records, the better than expected job report, and what he’s telling investors about this rally.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, tells John about some great items they have for the mom in your life. Carl also gives John the details on Abt’s third annual Grill Fest.

Segment 1: Georgiaree Godfrey, director of public information for the Chicago Department of Aviation, tells John everything we should know about the upcoming Airport Small Business Summit + Job Fair.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John to talk about Google’s newest health announcements including the new Fitbit Air.

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to talk about the health of the labor market and how few people are being laid off right now, the connection between working and cognitive health, and study that showed illegal immigration had no significant effect on local wages.

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the stock market being all-time highs despite signs of a fractured economy, and why she believes there are two economies right now. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.