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.

Segment 2: Mike Long, Owner of LightQuest Outdoor Illumination, joins John to talk about why he made the decision to rename his company, how the rebrand has worked for the business, the typical client for what they do, the time he’s spent learning how to properly design lighting, the benefits of having lighting on your property, how business has been going, and the special offer they have right now for WGN listeners!

Segment 3: Rich Gentile, Founder, Santa for a Day, tells John about the mission of Santa for a Day, what sets Santa for a Day apart from other charities, and their second annual Christmas Tree Sale. Click here to order.

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 Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center will use Argonne’s artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to screen billions of molecules in the search for new treatments. UChicago Medicine says the goal is to find a treatment that slows or stops the growth of tumors that don’t respond to current medications. They’re hoping AI accelerates discovery.

Also, an update on the E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s. Listen for more below:

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 the books as the fiscal year ended in June, up from 382. Crain’s reports the biggest project was Gotion’s $2 billion battery assembly plant in Manteno. Corporate relocations and expansions have gone up three years in a row. 13,000 jobs are tied to the 2024 projects. 

Also, JPMorgan Chase will build a new facility in Winnetka with a retail branch and private banking offices.

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 market.

Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the U.S. election, European Union regulators hitting Facebook parent Meta with a fine of nearly 800 million euros for what they call “abusive practices” involving its online classified ads business, and Disney’s earnings beating Wall Street’s expectations.

Segment 3: Aki Ito, Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, joins John to talk about why more and more professionals are stepping off of the corporate ladder.

Segment 4: Matt Adams, principal at Deloitte Consulting specializing in retail, gives John all the details on Deloitte’s 2024 Holiday Retail Survey.

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. Dr. Bob also discusses the federal deficit, immigration, tariffs, inflation, interest rates, and if he’s optimistic about 2025 (hint: He is!).

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 Policy. Chicago’s Black population has dropped by one-third since 1980 but the Black population in the greater metro area has remained stable. The study, reported by Crain’s, shows 9% of Black residents who left Illinois moved to Texas. Houston and Dallas were the most popular cities for those who moved to Texas. 6.8% of black movers went to Atlanta. White movers chose Phoenix. Latino movers most frequently chose Houston. 

Also, there’s a new publisher at the Chicago Reader. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: WGN Radio Business Reporter Steve Alexander gives an update on the top business stories of the day.

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. Harvey talks about holiday scams, the best deals for Black Friday, and answers all of your tech questions.

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins John Williams to talk about why the markets are moving so well, why she believes this is an ‘owner’s economy,’ Tesla joining the 1 Trillion Club, and why we should be concerned about our public debt.

Segment 2: Chip Lupo, Writer and Analyst, WalletHub, tells John the results of WalletHub’s 2024’s Best & Worst Places for Veterans Report and Military Money Survey.

Segment 3: Dawn Melchiorre, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Chicago, joins John to talk about Cradles to Crayons and their 2024 Gear Up for Winter campaign that hopes to collect 50,000 coats to keep Chicagoland children warm this winter.

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

Shares of AbbVie have dropped sharply after disappointing trials for its drug to treat schizophrenia. The drug, emraclidine, failed to meet the primary goal of treating symptoms of the mental illness. The drug was part of two mid-stage trials which shows no statistically significant improvement in the severity of symptoms. AbbVie says it needs to analyze the data to determine next steps. The North Chicago-based company’s shares fell as much as 12% at one point, the biggest decline in three years. The stock had been up nearly 30% this year as of Friday’s close. 

Also, car-maker Stellantis, facing a strike by workers at its Belvidere plant over a stalled reopening of the facility, says it will cut hundreds of workers at a warehousing facility in Detroit. Listen for more below:

Segment 1:  Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John Williams to talk about why the markets are continuing to rise, what he reminds investors when the market is high, the potential trade issues in 2025, his reaction to yesterday’s Fed decision, and the economic risks we need to watch moving forward.

Segment 2: Kathy Scherer, Managing Partner, Deloitte Chicago, tells John about their new home for business innovation, the NextGen Greenhouse. Kathy explains how the immersive space helps clients, the new technology used that allows clients to see things differently, some of the highlights of the space, and how the space has helped their clients so far.

Segment 3: Jennifer Frank, Insulators Local 17, Part Time Instructor, Apprenticeship School, talks to John about what insulators do, what an apprenticeship program is like, who they would like to see working in the trades, the typical wage of an insulator, the types of jobs available, and how their industry is faring right now.