Banking & Financial Services


DED Awards $15.8 Million to Missouri Development Projects

The Missouri Department of Economic Development it will be spreading $15.8 million across 38 different community development projects across the state. The focus is to improve infrastructure such as damaged streets and drainage improvements, but the projects vary across the… more

In a Nutshell: What’s Up With Our Dollar?

Why has little attention been given to the rather sudden 3% exchange pullback for the dollar (versus the utilized basket of currencies)?  During the past 12 months the cumulative dollar value drop has been over 10%!  Currency exchange rates are… more

In a Nutshell: Higher Interest Rates on The Way!

Inflation exploded higher during April.  Base effects added to the year-on-year figures had only a little to do with the unexpected inflation jump from March to April of this year.  Instead, blame a combination of government stimulus, reflation, bottlenecks and… more

In a Nutshell: Rapidly Rising Prices Increase Many Concerns

Rising prices are intensifying inflation realities throughout the economy.  A growing number of companies are warning that supply shortages and increasing demand will result in higher prices.  In fact, tight inventories have already generated price surges for raw materials, ranging… more

In a Nutshell: It’s Costly to Listen to Negative “News”

This past week the financial media highlighted one guru after another calling for a market correction to the tune of anywhere from 5% to 20%!  They cited “peak earnings” comparisons, rising inflation data, and the inevitability of the Fed having… more

Kansas labor department reduces claimant backlog

A large portion of Kansas residents expecting federal unemployment benefits originally meant for the self-employed have been moved to other unemployment programs as the labor department works to reduce a backlog. The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) announced changes in… more

Missouri lawmakers pass gasoline tax increase under statewide transportation investment bill

Republican lawmakers in Missouri have passed a bill to raise the gas tax for the first time since the 1990's. Now, it's headed to Governor Mike Parson's desk. The GOP-led House voted Tuesday 104-52 to raise Missouri's 17-cent gas tax… more

Kansas invests over $5B in economic development

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced Kansas will participate in Economic Development Week, also announcing that since 2019, the state has pumped over $5 billion into new capital investment. “Over the last two years, we’ve rebuilt the Department of Commerce and… more

In a Nutshell: Who Will Pay for Growing Federal Government Spending?

Certainly the rich are expected to pay heavily!  So much tax increase news quickly and significantly hurt sentiment on Wall Street. The markets turned south towards the end of what had been a positive session (due to unemployment claims reaching… more

Latest acquisition delivers $5B to Creative Planning

Overland Park-headquartered Creative Planning Inc.’s latest acquisition adds $5 billion in assets, the second-largest deal in the company's history. Creative Planning made eight acquisitions in all of 2020, adding $4.92 billion in assets. Founded in 1991, SBSB has 62 employees… more