Noon Business Lunch

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, joins John to breakdown the conflicting signals in two different snapshots of the job market, the big jump in job cuts, how tariff uncertainty has been impacting the economy, when we might see the Fed cut rates again and what he he expects to see in tomorrow’s February labor report.

Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, tells John how WFH has made people NSFW. How has working from home changed people’s habits as more people are returning to the office.

Segment 4: Business leader Bill Mass joins John Williams to talk about the work he’s done with Keshet, a non profit whose mission is to create an inclusive community of belonging where people of all abilities learn, play, work and live together. Keshet will will hold its biggest fundraiser of the year on Sunday, March 9th, at Ateres Ayala, Skokie, IL, at 4:30 p.m. Find tickets here.

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

A new report names Chicago as the top U.S. metro for corporate relocation and investment. The ranking was made by Site Selection Magazine and it’s the 12th year in a row at the top for Chicago. The magazine says there were 140 pro-Chicago business decisions in 2024 that led to the creation of nearly 15,000 new local jobs. The report says Chicago is a global hub for business, innovation and investment. 

Also, Chicago-based Kraft Heinz is marketing a new alcoholic drink tied to a popular low-calorie beverage. Listen for more below:

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about it being a politically charged time, how the government is impacting your personal finances, the concern about a possible recession, what we should know about recessions, how tariffs could impact the economy, and why now is the perfect time to get your financial house in order. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about what you can do if you are worried about AI reducing your job.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the mass firings of federal employees and how private employers are taking advantage of a sudden surplus of highly skilled experts.

Segment 3: Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about why it’s never too late to being retiring planning, the importance of tax diversification, Illinois being a friendly state when it comes to taxes and retirement, why the market is tanking right now, and what he’s telling his clients about their money right now. Tom reiterates the importance of not making emotional decisions.

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow tracker of incoming data indicating that gross domestic product is on pace to shrink by 1.5% for the first quarter, and what she expects to see in this week’s labor report and what we are likely to see when the March labor report is released next month. Is a recession in our future?

Segment 2: Pat Fowler, Owner, Candelite Pizza, joins John Williams to talk about their new location in Lincoln Park, the iconic Candelite sign (which will also be at the new location!), their famous tavern style pizza, the importance of using high quality ingredients, and how business is going in the new location and the original location in Rogers Park.

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

New York City bagels are coming to Chicago. H&H Bagels is planning to open its first Midwest location in May or June. The location is Fulton Market at 164 N. Peoria. The outlet is an institution in New York City. Over the years it’s made cameos in Seinfield and Sex in the City. H&H’s expansion plans also include new stores in Boca Raton and Santa Monica. A total of six new locations are planned this year. 

Also, Grubhub is laying off about 20% of its global workforce and the cuts will impact workers here in its hometown of Chicago. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Paul Nolte, Senior Wealth Advisor and Market Strategist, Murphy & Sylvest, joins John to talk about CPI data released today, consumers starting to pull back on spending, the ongoing inflation concern, the Fed’s current pause on interest rate cuts, what to look for in next week’s labor report, the current doom and gloom some are feeling about the economy, and what he’s telling his clients right now.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive, and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about the general health of the auto industry right now, why there is a certain amount of optimism for 2025, what cars are hot right now, and Tesla sales being down dramatically.

Segment 1: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John to talk about Governor Pritzker’s effort to help small businesses in the state, if the state’s policymakers are doing enough to assist small business, and his thoughts on tomorrow’s planned economic blackout.

Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Amazon updating Alexa, Nvidia’s earnings topping analysts forecasts, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright saying it’s critical that the nation be out in front when it comes to artificial intelligence.

Segment 3: Tim Paradis, Future of Work Correspondent, Business Insider, joins John to talk about how RTO mandates might hurt worker engagement.

Segment 4: Jay Hedges, Village Manager, Village of Hampshire, joins John Williams to talk about his work in the village, how rewarding this part of his career has been, what he does in his role as the village manager, and why businesses should be coming to Hampshire.

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

Chicago’s startup incubator 1871 is giving up its office space at the Merchandise Mart. The group’s CEO says 1871 continues to perform but not at level that allows the organization to sustain its real estate footprint in the city. A letter to members says 1871 has not been immune to post-COVID challenges, so it has to adapt to an evolving landscape. 1871 launched nearly 13 years ago to bring startup founders together. It offered them an affordable space to collaborate on a short-term basis. There are currently 15 tenants down from 52 before the pandemic. 1871 has become a mostly virtual incubator which has allowed it to expand its reach nationwide. 

Also, The popular Italian restaurant Carmine’s is preparing to reopen in Chicago. Listen for more below:

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about to talk about the impact of bird flu on the price of eggs, the ongoing concern over inflation, consumer confidence dropping significantly, if she believes a recession is coming, and what you need to do to prepare. And as always, Terry answers all of your financial questions.