The Social Security Act was signed into law on August 14, 1935, and it didn’t take long for people to start asking questions about the program. While Social Security might seem straightforward at first—contribute during your…
Thought Leadership
We believe communication is the key to successful client relationships. While sharing useful information is beneficial, regardless of source, Oakworth believes in the value proposition of developing and having its own experienced financial professionals and ideas. By generating our own market commentaries, economic newsletters, topical subject analysis and serials, and even conversational podcasts and videos, our clients know we are using our knowledge, creativity and experience to help them succeed.
Great news, no one is getting a new job! This year marks my 30th year in this industry, and I am still sometimes caught off guard when bad news for the economy is good news for…
This past Saturday, a friend of mine asked if the recent events in the markets were as exciting as they seemed to be. She was more than a little surprised when I told her they were…
Around 9:00 am CDT this past Friday, I watched Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell deliver a speech about the economy and monetary policy. He was perfectly starched in a suit and tie, and you wouldn’t have…
For years, financial professionals have closely monitored the scheduled expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), anticipating how its sunset at the end of 2025 might impact planning strategies. Now, with the…
August is recognized as National Make-A-Will Month, an annual campaign that reminds us of the importance of having a will or estate plan and the importance to make sure all details are up to date. When…
This past week, I told people on several occasions the administration’s tariffs are not necessarily inflationary. They aren’t. As such, the Federal Reserve shouldn’t be horsing around waiting to see what tariffs will do to consumer…
Listen to the full episode, here. Key Points The GDP report for the second quarter of 2025 showed 3% growth, but the underlying data suggests a more moderate pace of economic growth, around 1.5%. The Federal…
I am currently almost finished with the third of four books I bought about the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (Cultural Revolution) in China. Admittedly, this is not the topic of discussion at cocktail parties in my…
This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released “The Employment Situation – July 2025.” In it, the BLS reported the U.S. economy created 73K net, new payroll jobs, and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly,…