Blogs

Between costs like rent, inventory, and payroll, it can be hard for businesses to cover expenses. Even if you have enough cash on hand to fulfill your obligations, an unexpected cost could derail your operation. Could a business credit card help? High interest rates might make you hesitant to open up a credit card for your business; however, obtaining a business card can be advantageous in certain circumstances. But before determining if this financial tool is right for your business, you first need to know its ins and outs. Why Should a Small Business Have a Credit Card? The idea of charging...

Quarterly Market Review: Q4 2023 By: Paul Dickson, Director of Research and Giri Krishnan, Senior Portfolio Manager The “Soft-Landing” Has Become the Default Scenario The Federal Reserve signaled that it is likely done with rate hikes. The markets responded favorably, nearly doubling the annual return on the S&P 500. This signaling also moved the U.S. Aggregate Bond market from being in the red to having a decisively positive year. The pivot in policymakers’ outlook was somewhat of a surprise given that the data-informed policy has not improved nearly as much as their stance has changed. While...

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve witnessed a revitalization in American industrial policy. The economic ripples of the pandemic highlighted the precarious nature of long-spread supply chains and outsourced labor; now having internalized these lessons, many firms are re- or nearshoring their operations instead. Accordingly, experts may believe US manufacturing is poised for growth in the coming years as jobs come back home. But the post-pandemic era isn’t the only thing paving the way toward growth. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology have allowed...

Going green has the potential to be a wise business decision for the manufacturing industry. In fact, it seems many manufacturers are making the jump to more sustainable processes and business operations. Traditional manufacturing processes are based on a linear model of consumption—that is, finite energy resources are consumed during the production process and many products are often discarded. But as concern grows regarding these finite resources and as costs go up, pivoting to green manufacturing is one way businesses can preserve these resources and keep costs down. Resources aside, we’ve...

Anybody can make money in a thriving economy—but can they maintain profits during an economic downturn? As a small business owner, worries of an economic downturn might keep you up at night. Do you have enough cash on hand to cover your bills? Will next quarter’s product launch fall short of projections? Can you last for months on end if the market doesn’t recover quickly? Most likely, you want to avoid navigating economic uncertainty without a plan. One of the most proactive steps a business owner may take is to develop a strategic plan for challenging times. Imagine you’re a football coach...