Executive Insights

A recession can be foreshadowed by many symptoms, such as falling stocks or closing businesses. Lately, though, one particular recession indicator has caught my attention: employment numbers. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a rash of employment data released that means lagging employment numbers could be the first domino to fall in the…

Did you know? While we celebrate July 4, 1776, as the birth of our nation, it was actually two days earlier, on July 2, that the Second Continental Congress voted to adopt a resolution for independence—one that was originally put forth on June 7! July 4, 1776, is the day the Congress approved the wording…

On June 12, 2024, Federal Reserve officials announced that the central bank had not yet seen enough progress on the inflation front to cut interest rates, and they lowered their projections for the number of rate cuts this year from two to one. This was big news because only a few months ago, expectations were…

In less than one month, an entire network of hospitals—140 facilities in 19 states—was compromised by hackers. It was revealed that healthcare provider Ascension, which ran this network of hospitals, became the victim of a ransomware attack on May 8, 2024. The attack prevented nurses and other healthcare workers from accessing patient records, severely encumbering…

You’ve probably wondered how much gold is left in the world, but have you ever wondered how much gold there is beyond our world? As it turns out, there’s a giant asteroid that contains enough gold and other metals to make everyone on Earth a multibillionaire. And NASA uses gold to protect spacecraft from radiation.…

Here’s something I learned while I worked in Washington, D.C.: When everyone seems to agree on a “fact,” it’s time to get skeptical and go to the data.  For example, if you follow business news, you know that consumer debt has climbed to levels that warn the economy is headed for trouble.  But what do…

According to recent data compiled by Bloomberg, China sold a record $53.3 billion worth of U.S. Treasury and agency bonds in the first quarter of 2024. On May 21, 2024, Business Insider reported that “China seems to be accelerating its step back” from dollar-denominated assets because of tense trade relations between China and the United…

As the head of a company with over 400 employees working from multiple office buildings across two states, I probably take a keener interest in banking and commercial real estate matters than your average citizen. That said, I think it’s important for Americans to know that we may be teetering on the brink of a…

On Monday, our nation will observe one of its most significant holidays: Memorial Day. While many will spend the day relaxing or taking part in recreational activities, this holiday is really all about honoring sacrifice—specifically, the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women while serving in our nation’s armed forces. Without their dedication to…

I recall first hearing concerns about the financial viability of Social Security when I was in my 20s. At the time, the prospect of that problem affecting me personally seemed pretty remote. 45 years later, I’m now receiving Social Security benefits—and this prospect no longer seems so remote. The loss of benefits would pose a…

When you invest in a gold ETF, what exactly are you acquiring, and how does it differ from possessing physical gold? First and foremost, investing in a gold ETF does not grant you actual ownership of any physical gold nor a direct claim over any physical gold. This is a common misconception many customers have:…

One of my first challenges as U.S. Mint Director was developing a marketing plan for a commemorative coin program that would help fund the staging of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. There is a long history of Congress mandating the minting and sale of commemorative coins for public or private purposes like this. In…