Noon Business Lunch

Craig Bolanos, Co-founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the markets, President Trump’s handling of the housing assistance bill and the gradual impact on housing inventory and borrowing costs. Craig and John also cover gas prices, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, SK Hynix and SpaceX.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to share tips on how to ace an interview and the truth about sales and why it seems so discouraging when you start off.

Segment 2: 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. To request a Free Tech Check from Harvey, you can email: [email protected] or call 312-307-1700.

Segment 1/2: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to discuss how recent economic data show real wages have risen about 2.2% over the past two years, meaning Americans are, on average, keeping up with or slightly outpacing inflation despite higher costs in areas like housing and energy.

Segment 3: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about how artificial intelligence is driving a surge in commercial office demand, with AI firms rapidly expanding physical office space in top hubs like Silicon Valley and New York while Chicago’s AI-related office footprint, though much smaller, has grown about 45% year over year.

SEGMENT 4: Ron Saslow, Founder and Managing Partner of Thirty-5 Capital and Co-Owner of the Chicago Slice, chicagoslice.com joins John to talk about how Chicago’s professional pickleball team, the Chicago Slice, is hosting Major League Pickleball’s first Chicago tournament, with an exhibition at Wrigley Field’s Gallagher Way followed by a four-day tour event at Lifetime North Shore in Northbrook. For more information, go to www.chicagoslice.com

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the markets, President Trump’s handling of the housing assistance bill and the gradual impact on housing inventory and borrowing costs. Craig and John also cover gas prices, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, SK Hynix and SpaceX.

Segment 2: Matt Schultz, LendingTree chief credit analyst, joins John to discuss a new survey on businesses optimism and how different states stack up.

Segment 1: Katie Notopoulos, senior correspondent at Business Insider, joins John Williams to talk about a new study that suggests women had an easier time getting hired after losing weight on GLP-1s.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Meta’s smart glasses privacy problems, and why game consoles are getting more expensive.

Segment 3: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about the ups and downs of the market this week, why the market is rebounding today, what to expect from earnings season, and his thoughts on what the Fed will do with interest rates.

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about why the stock market is tumbling today, why people should not use AI for financial advice, the importance of setting a financial plan and not changing because of emotions, the health of the housing market, the latest on Trump Accounts for kids, and to answer all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the economic impact of the World Cup. Tom also shares his thoughts on last week’s June labor report, and the importance of teenagers having summer jobs.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about Chicago area homes selling fast, the health of the downtown condo market, and Tiger Woods’ former coach selling his Glencoe home.

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media, and publisher of Love, Money + Real Estate on Substack, joins John Williams to talk about Trump Accounts for kids and what you need to know, job creation cooling, and a new survey that showed 20% of Americans have reduced or stopped contributing to savings or retirement in 2026.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about online payments company Stripe expanding its Chicago office, an Austin, Texas company bringing its battery systems to Illinois homes, and Philip Makotyn joining the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park after spending two decades helping build Colorado’s quantum technology ecosystem.

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, author of ‘The Hamrick Brief‘ on Substack, joins John to talk about the June monthly job report coming in below expectations, the Federal Reserve’s ongoing quest to combat inflation, and if we are likely to see interest rate hikes in 2026.

Segment 2: John Frank, Founder and CFO of Third Road Management, joins John to talk about how the company provides fractional management services, how the business has grown over the last 10 years, how AI has impacted their business model, and Third Road’s Future Business Leaders program at Innovation DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Segment 3: Shruti Patel, Chief Product Officer for Business Banking at U.S. Bank, tells John the results of U.S. Bank’s Small Business Survey.

Segment 1: Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the benefits of opening a Trump Account for kids, and to answer all of your financial questions.

Segment 2: Jeff Nydegger is the Co-Founder & CEO at Jeff Buys Your House, the leading
house-buying company in Chicagoland, joins John Williams to talk about how an appointment typically works and the areas they serve, the importance of being an integrity band, the importance of listening to find the clients needs, and how experience informs what they do. Jeff also talks about his military service, how his military service helps him in business today. Jeff will buy your home, no matter the condition. Call or text 630-552-6603 for more information or visit jeffbuysyourhouse.com