Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about some great advice about word choice that he received when he was just starting his career. And what’s the latest on return to office mandates?

 Segment 2: Matt Adams, principal at Deloitte Consulting specializing in retail, gives John the details on Deloitte’s 2025 Retail Outlook.

Segment 3: Michael Edwards, President and CEO, Chicago Loop Alliance, talks to John about Chicago Loop Alliance’s State of the Loop quarterly report details for the 4th quarter of 2024.

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about the number of immigrants in the building trades, why she’s not panicking about today’s market dip, the impact of AI on the market, the latest on existing home sales, and what is going to happen to hazard insurance after the recent wildfires in California.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about AI leading the way in US venture funding last year, an AI insurance startup raising new seed funding, and a handful of Chicago startups heading to pitch their companies at SXSW in Austin.

Segment 3: Mac Stevenson, GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association) Senior Program Manager, tells John Williams everything you should know about this weekend’s annual “Sleds Are Coming” exhibition sled hockey event at the Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse & Ice Rink at Lake Forest College.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Brick and mortar didn’t pan out for Chicago’s Radio Flyer. The company has closed its only physical sales location at Woodfield Mall. Radio Flyer’s CEO says the store was an experiment and was just not profitable. The store opened in 2023. It covered about 15,000 square feet and allowed customers to test Radio Flyer’s products, including the iconic Original Little Red Wagon. The company’s products will still be for a sale at other stores, including Target, Walmart and online at Amazon.  

Also, a Chicago-based physical therapy chain is expanding. Listen for more below:

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

The W Hotel in Chicago’s Loop is being re-branded. Crain’s reports it’ll be accompanied by a renovation of the property. The 403-room hotel is located at 172 W. Adams and will now be called Midland Hotel Chicago. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that’s the old name of the hotel before it became a W in 2001. The renovation will happen in two phases that will include an overhaul of the lobby and updates to all of its rooms. 

Also, there are new leaders of one Chicago’s wealthiest families. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Best-selling financial author Jared Dillian joins John to talk about what he expects from the Trump administration and the impact new policies will have on the economy.

Segment 2: Bill McHenry, member of the IHA (International Housewares Association) Board of Directors and long-time exhibitor at The Inspired Home Show, talks about the upcoming show (March 2nd-4th), the economic impact of the show, the types of things that will be at the show, and the current trends in the industry.

Segment 3: Kara Demirjian Huss, Senior Vice President at TCCI Manufacturing, tells John about the International Day of Clean Energy, what clean energy means to TCCI, how business has been going, the trends she sees in the industry, her thoughts on the policies of the new administration and how that will impact manufacturing, and how they are continuing to grow their footprint in Illinois.

Segment 4: Michael Muser, co-owner of two-Michelin-starred Ever and Jean Banchet Awards director, joins John to talk about the upcoming Banchet Awards, Chicago’s great culinary scene, and how restaurants are the heart of many communities.

Dave Schwan has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Do you have an iPhone with TikTok installed?  They’re fetching a lot of money on eBay.  After the TikTok ban last weekend in the U.S., those who deleted or never downloaded TikTok are in the dark, since it’s not available on Apple and Google app stores in this country.  Some iPhone owners who kept TikTok downloaded are selling used or brand new phones.  One eBay user listed a phone with TikTok for $10,000.  Other listings range from $500 to $25,000.

Also, the Stellantis Plant at Belvidere near Rockford will be reopening. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist for Wintrust Wealth Management, joins John to talk about the healthy trend in the markets, Trump ‘demanding’ lower interest rates, the Fed removing itself from politics, what he expects from the Fed and rate policy, and what will happen if tariffs eventually get put in place.

Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about the future of TikTok, Samsung’s latest phones coming with new AI features.

Segment 3: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, joins John to breakdown Bankrate’s 2025 Emergency Savings Report. Mark says we are now living in a ‘paycheck-to-paycheck’ nation.

Segment 4: Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer, Jackson Hewitt, tells John what taxpayers should know before filing this year.

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about President Trump’s ambitious AI infrastructure investment, the S&P hitting all-time highs, and why she recommends Quicken’s new product called LifeHub. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about how companies are cutting the bottom 10 percent of workers based on performance.

2nd Segment:  Phillippe Weiss, President at Work Right Solutions, joins John to talk about President Trump’s proposed budget and job cuts along with hiring freezes in the federal government and how that is affecting other work forces.

3rd Segment:  Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer, Cresset Capital, talks to John about how the markets have faired since election day. And how a Trump presidency will affect them

4th Segment: Lou Manfredini joins John to talk about how the cold is affecting your pipes and the precautions you should take to prevent them from bursting.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Layoffs are being considered by Endeavor Health, the third largest hospital operator in the Chicago area. Crain’s reports the health system is also considering other personnel changes as it deals with budget constraints and economic headwinds. It’s unclear how many of Endeavor’s 27,000 employees might be affected. A spokesperson says the number would be limited. Endeavor operates nine hospitals and 300 care sites in the Chicago area. 

Also, Walgreens shares are falling again after the company was sued by the U.S Justice Department in a case involving prescriptions. Listen for more below: