Banking & Financial Services

U.S. Job Report Strong Amid Coronavirus Concerns

The global coronavirus outbreak hasn't hurt the strong U.S. labor market ... yet. Unemployment in February dropped slightly, to 3.5 percent from 3.6 percent in January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, national payrolls rose by 273,000… more

Waddell & Reed Signs Lease to Move Downtown

Waddell & Reed has signed a lease to move its headquarters from Overland Park into a yet-to-be constructed building in Downtown Kansas City, and company management expects construction to start within two months. The plans, forecast for completion in 2022,… more

Schulte to Join Jackson County Administration

     Troy Schulte's retirement as city manager of Kansas City won't be much of a retirement: A week after he leaves City Hall, he'll mosey across the street to the Jackson County Courthouse, where he'll serve County Executive Frank… more

Creative Planning Purchases D.C.-Area Firm

Creative Planning has made its third acquisition of the year, this time buying OptiFour, an investment adviser with $400 million in assets under management, based in McClean, Va.  In February it bought the Minneapolis-based Johnston Group, which had $500 million… more

Q&A: Chase Exec Outlines KC Expansion Plans

JP Morgan Chase & Co. has started its expansion into the Kansas City area. Last week was the official opening of a retail branch in Leawood, and another location, on the Missouri side in Kansas City, will open at 7701… more

Ferrellgas Lands Lending Agreement in Face of Defaults

Ferrellgas, L.P. has reached a lending agreement with TPG Specialty Lending to address "alleged events of default" that occurred under its current credit facility, the propane distributor said. The $300-million revolving credit facility sub-limit for the issuance of letters of… more

Strata Office Tower Proposal Could Face City Council Today

The City Council could today vote on a long-planned Downtown office tower known as Strata, a 250,000-square-foot development at the southwest corner of 13th and Main streets. It is across the street from the world headquarters of H&R Block, which… more

Creative Planning Grows Overland Park Headquarters Campus

Wealth-management firm Creative Planning is set to break ground on its Overland Park headquarters-campus expansion. The company is adding 108,000 square feet to its footprint, bringing the total square footage to 335,750 square feet. Creative Planning moved into its current… more

Kansas’ Biggest and Costliest Export? Its Talent.

Kansas is great at educating its young people and getting them prepared for the work force. But when they leave for other states, Kansas employers are stuck looking for talent. "Our most valuable export is our educated kids to companies… more

Lockton Taps Company Veteran Clune as New CEO

Peter Clune will be the next chief executive officer of with Lockton, Inc., world's largest independently owned private insurance brokerage, starting in May. A 13-year company veteran, he's currently president and chief operating officer, and he'll succeed Ron Lockton, who… more