The September 4th Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Construction has started on a Dairy Queen store at 13205 Millard Avenue. The site is on the southwest corner of the 132nd/Millard Avenue/L Street intersection and was the longtime home of Paul’s Millard Sinclair gas station. That building was demolished earlier this year. No timeline has been announced as to when the future Dairy Queen might open for business.

bb.q Chicken has opened its second Omaha location at 1028 South 74th Plaza, next to Eileen’s Cookies. The Seoul, South Korea-based Korean fried chicken chain debuted its first Nebraska location in February 2024 at 2521 South 132nd Street.

La Plaza Fiesta, a Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Mexican restaurant, has opened its first Omaha location at 12405 West Center Road in the former El Vallarta space at Westwood Plaza. Known for its margaritas and scratch-made menu, the restaurant is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Holy Grounds Coffeehouse & Gifts opened on August 8 at 19405 Polk Street near 194th & Harrison Street. The faith-based coffee shop and gift store sources locally roasted coffee and offers café fare alongside a curated retail selection.

The Peregrine Hotel at 18th & Douglas Street downtown plans to launch two dining concepts in late October. They include The Perch Rooftop, which will be open on top of the building year-round, and the Gilded Feather, a full-service restaurant.

Paper Crane Books & Tattoo plans to open Saturday, September 27 at 735 North 120th Street in the Skin Deep tattoo location. The business will be combined indie bookstore and licensed tattoo-and-piercing studio.

Riddle’s Jewelry Papillion has postponed its ribbon cutting from September 9th to October 14th from 12 noon to 1 p.m. The store will be located at 7902 Town Center Parkway in Shadow Lake Towne Center.

The Cannabis Factory has opened at 3434 South 84th Street in the Westgate area in a building that was once the Omaha Fire Department’s hazmat facility. More recently, it was a Midwest Medical Transport Co. location. The store is open daily and includes drive-thru open 24 hours a day. the Cannabis Factory has 22 locations in Nebraska and says its “Nebraska’s number-one cannabis dispensary.”

Buffalo Wild Wings reopened its Southwestern Plaza location at 4287 South 144th Street on August 29 following an extensive renovation. The update includes modernized décor, expanded seating, stadium-style LED screens and a refreshed menu with 30 draft beers, including local options.

Omaha Restaurant Week, “the city’s 10 tastiest days,” will take place September 12 through 21. Diners can explore the city’s culinary scene with three-course menus at four fixed prices: $20, $30, $40 and $50. This year, 55 restaurants are participating, including 15 newcomers.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

CLAAS of America Breaks Ground on R&D Center in Sarpy County

CLAAS Group broke ground last Friday on a research and development center on the southwest corner of its existing Sarpy County property near 132nd & Giles Road.

The 44,800 sq. ft., advanced R&D Center is needed to ensure CLAAS’ prototypes meet the demands of North American farmers and the fields they farm. The space will be more than 25 percent larger than the temporary off-site shop currently used for research and development.

Completion is planned for fall 2026.

Based in Harsewinkel, Germany, CLAAS manufactures LEXION combines for North American farmers at its Omaha plant. Omaha also serves as the company’s North American headquarters. Since the plant opened in 2001, it has manufactured 10,000 combines.

In addition to the future R&D center, the family-owned, global ag equipment company’s Omaha campus includes a 162,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant and the recently added CLAAS Training Academy. More than 250 CLAAS employees work on the campus.

“CLAAS is fully dedicated to building ag equipment that enables North American farmers to be the best in their fields – and that includes the corn and soybean fields of the Midwestern U.S., the wheat and canola fields of the northern plains and western Canada, the rice fields in the Mississippi River Delta and beyond,” CLAAS said in a press release.

The plans feature two stories of office space, an expanded room for instrumentation, greater utilization of space for logistics and an internal, heated wash bay. The facility will also provide greater physical and electronic security measures for protecting critical intellectual property.

The new CLAAS Research and Development Center will be the hub for all North American testing activities. While much of the testing will take place on farms throughout the country under various soil, weather and crop conditions, the analysis of those tests will be interpreted by engineers working in the new facility.

CLAAS stated that approximately 40 percent of the components used in its LEXION combines are made in America.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

An infill development is destined for a vacant .34-acre parcel at 32nd & Pacific Street. The Omaha Planning Department approved the planned unit redevelopment overlay district application from Scott Semrad for a 3-story apartment building. The first floor will house the parking garage. Twenty residences will be located on the upper two floors. The building will have two efficiency units, 16 one-bedroom units and two 2-bedroom units.

Semrad also has plans to build a 3-story apartment building at 3206 Leavenworth Street. The Omaha Planning Department approved rezoning of the 3.5-acre property in their recent meeting. The site is currently occupied by a used car lot. The Planning Department also approved Semrad’s rezoning application for a 15,726 sq. ft. lot just north of 29th & Jackson Street in the Park Avenue neighborhood. The property will be rezoned to TOD-2-MUR. The application indicates a planned proposal for a 16-unit apartment building.

Habitat for Humanity plans to build new housing on vacant lots near 26th Street and Corby Street in north Omaha directly east of the City of Omaha’s fleet maintenance facility. Plans call for 27 housing units, consisting of single-family attached and detached homes and townhomes. Building sized range from 1,000 sq. ft., 2-bedroom homes to 1,800 sq. ft., 4-bedrooms units. The for-sale homes will have an average appraised value of $230,000. Habitat for Humanity also applied for $1.7 million in TIF to support the $7 million project. Construction is set to begin this October and be completed by August 2026.

The Omaha Planning Department approved a preliminary plat for a 28-unit subdivision east of 40th & Franklin Street. Home Name Housing Corporation plans to build 28 two-bedroom townhome units on 2.8 acres of vacant land. One duplex is planned for a smaller lot off Decatur Street, while the other units will be in three- and four-unit buildings. The houses will be located adjacent to the NRD Beltline Trail.

Child Saving Institute and Children’s Square U.S.A. have announced a merger that unites two non-profit institutions with a shared history of more 275 years. The merger is expected to expand support for children and families across the metro. Child Saving Institute is wrapping up a major expansion of its facility at Saddle Creek Road & Dodge Street. The combined organization will operate under the name Child Saving Institute.

The City of Omaha will hold an official, ceremonial ribbon cutting event to celebrate the opening of the $7.5 million Baby Bob bridge on September 10 at 2 p.m. The 1,100-foot bridge has been open for several months now and connects North Downtown to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.

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Equity Bank of Wichita, Kan., announced this week that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Omaha-based Frontier Bank, marking Equity’s entrance into the Nebraska market. Frontier has $1.4 billion in total assets and operates seven locations in eastern Nebraska. Subject to receipt of customary regulatory and member approvals and closing conditions, the merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Bergman Incentives will celebrate a ribbon cutting for its new headquarters at 9700 J Street on September 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. The 44,000 sq. ft. space will also house fulfillment and distribution functions. Bergman Incentives provides branded merchandise and promotional items. In addition to Omaha, the company operates in Kansas City, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City.

HDR, in joint venture with Jacobs, has been selected to provide design and engineering consultant services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Interborough Express Light Rail Project, a transit line connecting communities across Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y. A major investment in New York City’s transit future, the project will deliver a world-class, light rail system to enhance mobility, reduce travel times and support sustainable urban growth. It will span 14 miles through one of the most densely populated corridors in the United States.

Union Pacific has reached ratified agreements with 11 unions that cover 12 crafts and represent 46 percent of the railroad’s craft employees. Additionally, two of the largest railroad unions have approved interim agreements that give their members 3 percent pay increases as negotiations continue on long-term agreements. The 12 ratified long-term agreements cover five-year terms and include wage increases, effective July 1, 2025, along with additional vacation time, health and welfare benefits and work rule changes.

For the seventh time in 2025, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, rose slightly above growth neutral in August. The index, which ranges between 0 and 100 with 50.0 representing growth neutral, climbed to 50.5 from 49.4 in July.

Silicon Prairie Startup Week 2025 is set to return September 27 and October 6-to-11, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and community leaders for a weeklong celebration of startup culture across Nebraska. With events in Omaha and Lincoln, this year’s program features competitions, industry-driven discussions and opportunities for founders to connect and grow. The Greater Omaha Chamber will host two sessions during the week on “Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Business” and “Talent Recruitment in a Competitive Market.”

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Lauritzen Gardens announced that the Marjorie K. Daugherty Conservatory will be reopening to the public on September 20 following a two-phase renovation, which upgraded the facility’s functionality and allows for a new collection of rare and remarkable plants.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands just launched the “60 Men in 60 Days” Recruitment Drive. The campaign aims to address the growing need for male mentors in the metro area. Currently, more than 70 percent of youth waiting for a mentor are boys, with some waiting mor ethan a year and a half for a match. After screening, training and matching adult volunteers with a mentor, the mentor and mentee meet at least four hours a month in the community to enjoy activities they both find meaningful and fun.

To commemorate Suicide Prevention Month, The Kim Foundation will host its annual Chalk it Up for Brighter Tomorrows campaign September 7-13, which invites community members and organizations to gather children, friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to chalk up driveways, sidewalks and parking lots with art and messages that spread hope and inspiration to someone who may need it. Each year, participants create hundreds of hopeful chalk messages across the Omaha metro to raise awareness about suicide prevention and education.

September is Hunger Action Month, and the Food Bank of the Heartland has launched a campaign to raise the equivalent of 1.6 million meals before the month ends. Tomorrow, September 5, the Food Bank is hosting a Stuff the Truck event at Baker’s Pepperwood location from 3 to 5 p.m.

Outlook Enrichment and Villagio Pizzeria are teaming up to bring the community together for Pies & Pasta with Purpose, a three-day fundraising event benefiting individuals who are blind or visually impaired. From September 9 to 11, a portion of all sales will be donated to Outlook Enrichment to help fund programs and resources for people living with vision loss. Villagio Pizzeria is located at 6922 North 102nd Circle.

Omaha STEM Ecosystem invites high school students, young adults and professionals to its upcoming STEM Connect Series event, “Lighting the Spark: H3 Careers.” This free event offers a dedicated space for high school students and young professionals to explore STEM career pathways in Omaha. The event is Tuesday, September 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community College CAM Building located at 2709 Edward Babe Gomez Avenue.

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History shows the housing market always recovers

By Jill Anderson

As the market is slowing down, homeowners who haven’t sold at the price they were hoping for are increasingly pulling their homes off the market. According to the latest data from Realtor.com, the number of homeowners taking their homes off the market is up 38 percent since the start of this year and 48 percent since the same time last June. For every 100 new listings in June, about 21 homes were taken off the market.

And if you’ve made that same choice, you’re probably frustrated things didn’t go the way you wanted. It’s hard when you feel like the market isn’t working with you. But while slowdowns can be painful in the moment, history tells us they don’t last forever.

History Repeats Itself: Proof from the Past

This isn’t the first time the housing market has experienced a slowdown. Here are some other notable times when home sales dropped significantly:

1980s: When mortgage rates climbed past 18 percent, buyers stopped cold. Sales crawled for years. But as soon as rates came down, sales surged back, and the market found its footing again.

2008: The Great Financial Crisis was one of the toughest housing downturns in history. Sales and prices both dropped hard. Still, sales rebounded once the economy recovered.

2020: During COVID, sales disappeared overnight, and many people had to put their plans on hold. Yet the recovery was faster than anyone expected, with a surge of buyers re-entering the market as soon as restrictions eased. The lesson is: no matter the cause, the market always rebounds.

Today’s Situation: Where We Stand Now

Over the past few years, home sales have been sluggish. And one big reason why is affordability. Mortgage rates rose at a record-breaking pace in 2022, and home prices were climbing at the same time. That combination put buying out of reach for many people. And when demand slows, home sales do too.

The Outlook: Things Will Improve

Here’s the encouraging part. Forecasts show sales are expected to pick up again moving into 2026.

Last year, just about 4 million homes sold (shown in light blue in the graph above). And this year is looking very similar (shown in dark blue). But the average of the latest forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) show the experts believe there will be around 4.6 million home sales in 2026 (shown in green).

And a big reason behind that projection is the expectation that mortgage rates will come down a bit, making it easier for more buyers to jump back in.

That means what’s happening now is part of a cycle we’ve seen before. Every slowdown in the past has eventually given way to more activity, and this one will too.

Just like the 1980s, 2008, and 2020, today’s dip in home sales is temporary.

What That Means for You

If you’ve paused your moving plans, you did what you thought was right. Your frustration is valid. But it’s also important to remember the bigger picture. Housing slowdowns don’t last forever.

Bottom Line

If today’s housing market feels stuck, remember it’s never stayed down for good. Slowdowns end, activity returns and people get moving again. So, let’s connect, because when the next wave of buyers shows up, you won’t want to miss it.

Grow Omaha Residential is developed and sponsored by Jill Anderson, President Residential Sales, NP Dodge Real Estate 402.255.5099 or jill.anderson@npdodge.com.

We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

Brian Rosen notched his first win as Creighton volleyball head coach Sunday after a grueling start to the season. The Bluejays fell to the reigning national champions, No. 2 Penn State and No. 5 Texas in their first two matches of the season before getting the job done against No. 14 Kansas. In that match, Creighton tied a school record, playing its fifth straight match against a ranked team, dating back to the NCAA Tournament last fall.

For its perseverance, Creighton moved to No. 13 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Top 25 poll, back one spot from No. 12. Creighton’s 64th consecutive week in the poll ties a program record from October 2016 to March 2021.

Eloise Brandewie, a middle blocker for Creighton, was named Big East Defensive Player of the Week for her performance to begin the season. Brandewie averaged 1.64 blocks per set over three ranked matches.

Omaha Storm Chasers catcher Carter Jensen made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels after his contract was selected by the Royals on Monday. He pinch-hit in the ninth of the 5-1 loss and struck out for the final out. Jensen is the 11th Storm Chaser to make his Major League debut this season, the eighth with the Royals.

Harold Castro was named the International League Player of the Month by Minor League Baseball for his performance in August. The Storm Chasers infielder batted 39-for-90 (.433) and led the league in batting average, hits, home runs and total bases and won two International League Player of the Week awards. Castro is the first Storm Chaser to win a monthly award this year and the first to be recognized as the International League Player of the Month since Vinnie Pasquantino in May 2022.

Omaha soccer played a doubleheader against Drake University last night in Des Moines, Iowa. The women were up first, and fell 2-1. Roughly two hours later, the men’s team played the Bulldogs to a 1-1 draw.

The Mavericks women will head to Norman, Okla., on Sunday to face the No. 20 Sooners. Then, next Wednesday, both teams will head downtown for a doubleheader against Creighton. The matches will benefit Kicks for a Cure, a local nonprofit that raises funds and awareness for local cancer research at Creighton University’s Lynch Cancer Research Center and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

Omaha volleyball took care of business to begin its season, sweeping Milwaukee in both matches last weekend. Now, it heads south for the Flo Hyman Classic hosted by the University of Houston. The Mavericks begin the event today against LSU at 4:30 p.m. Friday, they will take on the host, Houston, at 7 p.m. before capping off the event against San Diego State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Creighton soccer will host its 13th annual Socctoberfest Friday at Morrison Stadium, with both the men’s and women’s programs in action. The women will face No. 13 Arkansas at 5 p.m. to kick off the event. That match will be the women’s second in a row against a ranked opponent. They fell 1-0 to No. 3 Duke on Sunday. After the women’s match, the Bluejays men will take on Denver at 7:45 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

Creighton volleyball will continue its gauntlet this weekend in the Trojan Invitational hosted by USC. The Bluejays will face three unbeaten teams in the event, beginning with a match against San Diego on Friday at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Creighton will play UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. The biggest test of the weekend will come on Sunday, when Creighton will go head-to-head with the host, No. 22 USC. That game will begin at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha volleyball vs. LSU | Thursday, Sept. 4 | 4:30 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer vs. #13 Arkansas | Friday, Sept. 5 | 5 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball vs. San Diego | Friday, Sept. 5 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball vs. Houston | Friday, Sept. 5 | 7 p.m.
• Omaha Storm Chasers at Iowa | Sept. 2 to 7 | 7:08 p.m. Friday
• Creighton men’s soccer vs. Denver | Friday, Sept. 5 | 7:45 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball vs. San Diego State | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 1 p.m.
• Union Omaha vs. Texoma FC | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 2 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball vs. UC Santa Barbara | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer at #20 Oklahoma | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 1 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball vs. #22 USC | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 3 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer at Creighton | Wednesday, Sept. 10 | 5 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer at Creighton | Wednesday, Sept. 10 | 7:45 p.m.

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Opera Omaha’s annual kick-off to the season, “Opera Outdoors,” returns on Friday, September 5th at 7:00 p.m. Spread your picnic blanket, kick off your shoes and relax as the songs of birds and opera intertwine. This FREE, family-friendly concert, which has become a community favorite, is held at Midtown Crossing’s Turner Park and includes some of opera’s greatest hits.

The Nebraska Arts Council has announced the formation of The Arts Access Collaborative of Nebraska (AACoN), a virtual space where participants can learn what organizations and artists are doing to improve arts access, hear from expert guest speakers in the field of arts access, discover access-supporting grants and funding opportunities, enhance their skills through professional development and peer-to-peer learning, connect, communicate, share ideas or just “be” with like-minded individuals. AACoN’s first meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 4th from 2:00pm to 3:30pm over Zoom.
Register here.

Film Streams invites you to join them for Night School on Monday September 8th at 6:00 p.m. It’s an opportunity to learn more about Film Streams’ growing education program by experiencing a free School to Screen event for yourself. School to Screen is a free program that invites grades 6-12 to integrate film into their curriculum. Educators and their classes visit a Film Streams theater to attend a film screening, enjoy a free lunch and engage in a critical discussion about film as an art form. Complimentary snack will be provided. While this is a free event, you can RSVP here.

The Fred Simon Gallery’s new exhibition, ‘”In the Patterns of Being,” opened last week. Ilaamen Pelshaw and Oria Simonini, the exhibition’s artists, use the work in this exhibition to evaluate what they see in everyday life, their memories into childhood, and their studies into their heritage and background. The exhibition will be featured at the Fred Simon Gallery at 1004 Farnam Street until October 22nd.

Omaha Performing Arts has added two new events to the performance calendar:

Gasolina Reggaeton Party (18+) comes to Steelhouse Omaha on Friday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $24.40 and are on sale through steelhouseomaha.com.

bbno$ brings The Internet Explorer Tour to Steelhouse Omaha on Tuesday, March 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $52.30 and go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. through steelhouseomaha.com.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

A Wall Street Journal-NORC poll finds that the share of people who say they have a good chance of improving their standard of living fell to 25 percent, a record low in surveys dating to 1987. More than three-quarters said they lack confidence that life for the next generation will be better than their own, the poll found.

Nestlé fired CEO Laurent Freixe after an anonymous tip to the company’s internal hotline known as “Speak Up,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Freixe was having an intimate relationship with a marketing executive who reported to him, the tipster reported. The couple initially denied the relationship. It took two investigations, more hotline reports and a letter to the Nestlé chairman before the company acted, dismissing Freixe for breaking its conduct code.

Here are three good questions to ask your people during one-on-one meetings, according to author Kevin Davis:

1. What are you getting from me that you like and find helpful?

2. What are you getting from me that limits your effectiveness?

3. What are you not getting from me that would help you produce more? Why do you think that would help you at this time?

SALES

Fifty percent of buyers like speaking over the phone compared to 70 percent of sales reps, according to Spotio. The higher you go up on the ladder (i.e. VP level or C-suite level), the more buyers like talking on the phone.

Approximately 84 percent of all sales training is lost after 90 days. This is majorly due to the lack of information retention among sales personnel. How can you fight that? Use mentorship, coaching, one-on-one time with sales reps and online sales training programs to provides skill refreshers.

Attention sales leaders: You know it’s important to train your sales reps, but there’s probably something gnawing at you — How do you measure the effectiveness of training programs? How do you know you’re getting a good ROI? Here are six revenue metrics from Allego to evaluate the effectiveness of your sales-training programs:

1. Average offering price

2. Time to first deal (for new reps)

3. Average sale size

4. Percent goal achievement

5. Per capita number of deals

6.Sales team attrition

If these six metrics improve after completing the sales training curriculum, you know you got what you paid for.

WISDOM

“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.” – Phil Knight

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Did you know Omaha hosted a world’s fair in 1898, which was known as the Trans-Mississippi Exposition? More than 2.6 million people attended.

Did you know that students from 68 countries attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha?

Did you know that Omaha-based Union Pacific Railroad has 32,534 miles of track in 23 states? It will be about 50,000 miles once the planned merger with Norfolk Southern is approved and finalized.

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Opera Outdoors happening on September 5th: Opera Outdoors is a FREE, family-friendly outdoor concert featuring a sampling of opera’s greatest hits and previews of Opera Omaha’s upcoming season. The concert is open to the public; no tickets are necessary. This year’s event will be hosted in English and Spanish. In addition to spectacular singing, the evening will include pre-concert activities in the popular FREE Kid’s Zone, featuring balloon animals, arts and crafts station and lawn games for all ages.

Tacos and Tequila Festival happening on September 6th: Grab your crew and enjoy a night out kickin’ it at the Heartland of America Park with your favorite throwback artists while chowing down on Omaha’s best chef-inspired taco vendors throughout the festival. Wash those tacos down with some margaritas and tequila. Get your tickets now!

Smile Fest 2025 happening September 6th: Join in for Smile Fest 2025, Share My Smile’s biggest COMMUNITY event of the year! With more than 20 vendors, face painting, bounce houses and more, Smile Fest creates a fun day for families and the community to connect and create lasting memories. Smile Fest supports their mission by bringing families together in a joyful space that encourages genuine smiles, strong bonds and lasting support for children in foster care.

Rockbrook Village Art Fair happening September 6th & 7th: Join others for the 54th annual Rockbrook Village Art Fair. Shop all mediums of art from more than 120 artists around the country. Enjoy live music on the plaza and art activities for the kiddos from Doodle Art Studio. Don’t miss this two-day, outdoor Art Fair – It’s fun for the whole family!

All-European Show and Shine happening September 7th: See fine European cars and motorcycles on display at this year’s All-European Show and Shine at Lauritzen Gardens. Imagine models of Jaguar, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Ducati, BMW, Ferrari, Pantera, Alfa Romeo, Austin Healey and others surrounded by the beauty of the fall garden. Admission to the event is included with paid garden admission or membership.

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Bankers Trust has named Scott Leighton as its next Nebraska Market President. Leighton joined Bankers Trust in 2018, serving as a senior commercial relationship manager. He replaces Samantha Mosser, who recently became overall president of Bankers Trust. An Omaha native, Leighton holds an MBA from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Xavier University.

The Holland Children’s Institute has welcomed Omaha’s First Lady, Dr. Viv Ewing, to its board of directors. During her career, Ewing has served as CEO of Children’s Square, president of the Alzheimer’s Association, vice president of administration at PromiseShip as well as executive positions at Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army Kroc Center and the Omaha Housing Authority.

Schemmer, an Omaha-based architecture, engineering and construction firm, has announced the addition of three new shareholders: Jon Goldie; Steve Thompson; and Tyler Schmidt. In addition, Anthony Pospisil; Kevin Snook; Kira Strong-Gonzalez; Megan Starner; Reese Scarborough; and Rob McClenahan have been invited to join the associate incentive program.

Borsheims has added Afton Robertson-Kanne as its jewelry buyer. She joins Borsheims from Free People, where she began her career as an assistant buyer and advanced to the role of senior buyer. Robertson-Kanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University, where she majored in Apparel Merchandising and minored in Business and Marketing.

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Unless you’re off the grid, you know that football season has begun. Along with football season comes internet betting on the outcome of those games. Back in the day, betting on football involved two drunks in a bar betting beers on which team would win. But then the capitalists got involved and expanded the betting options from winning and losing, to the size of the difference between the winning score and the losing score – then who would win their league, who would go to a bowl game, who would play in the national championship, and ad nauseum.

Then the money-grabbing geeks who run the Wall Street marketing departments jumped into the fray. Barron’s reports that they cloned the on-line sports betting model and have created a gazillion ETF’s that are iterations of the simple buy-or-sell trade transactions. For example, you can purchase an exchange traded fund that buys Tesla and sells Ford puts. There’s one that buys Tesla stock and sells Ford stocks short. There’s another one that buys Tesla stock then sells calls on those shares. There’s one that buys Nvidia and buys an equal amount of Bitcoin. By now you get the point – the possibilities are endless.

Exchange rated funds are mutual funds that are bought and sold on the exchange just like an ordinary stock. The original ones were passive and mimicked the major market indexes. Currently, there are 2,400 stocks traded on the mainstream exchanges, and they are outnumbered by the 2,700 ETFs traded on those same exchanges.

The aforementioned Barrons article points out that this ETF imbalance creates a problem for individual investors; They have overload of possibilities. And according to Barrons (A major Wall Street brown-noser) the only way that individual investors can make sense of all of this smoke and mirrors is to hire a broker and have them buy and sell these stuff like crazy and charge a commission?

There may be many of you who may respond to this B.S. by saying, that’s not my problem. I only own index funds, and all this other falderol has nothing to do with me. Au contraire mon frère. When the snake oil salesmen of Wall Street put this crap together, they begin by with buying and selling the underlying stocks without any consideration to the financial value of those stocks.

Mr. Market is not a monolithic organization. There is no place where the analytic investors go to trade and another where the wackos go. So, if there are more wackos than rational market participants, the wackos win.

But don’t lose hope and fear that all is lost. There is one approach that the rational, disciplined retirement fund investor can take to rise above the brouhaha: Forget the needle and buy the haystack.

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