Weekly Market Report: February 6, 2025

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Interior renovations are nearly done at Cilantro’s Mexican Bar & Grill’s new space near Oakview Mall. The restaurant plans to open in mid-February at 3309 Oakview Drive, Suite 101, which is immediately east of Reveal Salon & Spa. Cilantro’s had operated at 144th & F for many years but closed that location back in October.

Isla del Mar Restaurante will open a third location at 7902 Towne Center Parkway in Papillion’s Shadow Lake Towne Center, replacing the former Mas Chingon. An opening date has yet to be announced. The family-owned Mexican seafood and sushi restaurant also operates at 5101 South 36th Street and 2502 South 133rd Plaza.

Otoro Sushi & Ramen will open in mid-February at 14459 West Center Road, replacing the former Panda House Chinese Restaurant. The new Japanese eatery will offer sushi and ramen, focusing on high-quality ingredients and traditional flavors.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen opened this week – Monday, February 3rd – at 17373 Chicago Street in Village Pointe Shopping Center. The 7,500 sq. ft. building is east of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and west of Scheel’s. Cheddar’s has an existing Omaha location at 120th & L Street. The brand is owned by Orlando, Florida-based Darden Restaurants, which also owns Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris.

Dumpling Empire is expanding with a second location at 15825 West Maple Road, taking over the former Dickey’s Barbecue Pit space next to Wingstop. The new spot, just north of Hy-Vee, is expected to open in April or May. The Chinese restaurant currently operates at 5413 South 72nd Street.

HomeGrown, a breakfast-and-lunch eatery featuring locally sourced dishes, has opened at 3555 Farnam Street on the ground floor of the 15-story Blackstone Plaza building. The Wichita, Kansas-based restaurant now has 12 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Arkansas.

Copps Pizza recently held a soft opening for its newest location at 21209 Nebraska Crossing Drive in Gretna. The family-owned restaurant also operates in Papillion at 7474 Towne Center Parkway in Shadow Lake Towne Center. Copps recently closed two Omaha locations at 2829 South 181st Street and 7204 Jones Street. Zaytuna now occupies the Jones Street location.

Rally Coffee Co. has opened a second location at 17878 Oakmont Drive in Gretna. That’s just north of Highway 370 in the same newly constructed retail strip where Net Par recently opened. Interior build-out is well underway. Rally Coffee’s current location is at 749 North 14th Street in North Downtown.

La Michoacana Plus Nebraska will hold a soft opening on February 8 for its second Omaha location at 5101 South 36th Street inside Isla del Mar South. The California-based brand, known for its Mexican ice cream and antojitos, opened its first Nebraska location in July 2024 at 2502 South 133rd Plaza inside Isla del Mar Restaurante 2. La Michoacana Plus has more than 80 locations worldwide.

The Spice and Tea Exchange plans to open this April between Chico’s and Garbo’s at Village Pointe Shopping Center. The locally owned retailer will offer more than 140 fine spices, 75 hand-mixed spice blends, 80 premium loose-leaf teas, gourmet salts, infused sugars and gift items. A tea bar will be included. The store’s mission is “to provide customers with a unique and interactive shopping experience that inspires creativity in cooking and wellness.”

Cabin Coffee has opened its first Nebraska location at 99th & Portal Road in Papillion. The drive-thru coffee chain is based in Clear Lake, Iowa and currently has 24 locations in eight states. The closest previously existing locations are in Winterset, Iowa and Savannah, Mo.

Tikka Talk, an Indian street food truck, will host its grand opening and ribbon cutting on February 14 at 6212 Maple Street outside The Waiting Room Lounge in Benson. Founded in 2010, the Iowa-based concept specializes in tikka dishes, wraps, and fusion snacks with Indian-inspired flavors.

Box Lunch, a national specialty retailer, will hold a grand opening event for its first-to-market store at Westroads Mall this weekend – February 1st and 2nd. The California-based retailer donates one meal to a local food bank for every $10 spent on their pop-culture products. In Omaha, Box Lunch will partner with Foodbank for the Heartland.

Corkscrew Wine & Cheese – Blackstone at 3908 Farnam Street is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2025.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina has permanently closed its only Nebraska location at 8810 South 71st Plaza in Papillion. The Dallas-based restaurant chain had opened the Papillion store in July of 2023 in a former Pizza Ranch building. On the Border has approximately 150 locations worldwide. No reason was provided for the closure, but the restaurant had a Google rating of only 3.7 and a Yelp rating of 3.1.

The “Restaurant & Retail Updates” section is sponsored by Anderson Convenience Market, featuring Quality AMOCO Fuels and serving Omaha since 1952, and proud to announce the return of Quality Amoco Fuels. Look for changes this Summer at Anderson Convenience Market – 8 Omaha area locations!

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

Drama Heats Up in Gretna District

By Isaiah Ang, Trenton Magid and Jeff Beals

Just when you thought Gretna’s Good Life District could not get any more bewildering, we’ve got a message for you: “Hold my beer.” The sprawling, 2,000-acre district is generating a lot of drama, and Gretna City Council meetings are becoming must-see events.

Rod Yates, the real estate developer who originally created the district, recently backed away from the project, but the latest alternative proposal is no less fantastical. The district stretches from Capehart Road on the north to just south of Platteview Road. It includes Nebraska Crossing and straddles both Interstate 80 and Highway 31.

At this week’s Gretna City Council meeting, the owner of Omaha-based Woodsonia Real Estate revealed new plans to build a blockbuster project on just part of the overall district.

Woodsonia would team up with a Kansas City-based developer that has ties to the Sporting KC Major League Soccer team. Their plan encompasses 700 acres within the district. The most imminent portion includes a $400 million retail center anchored by Look’s Marketplace and a Wally’s gas station on an undeveloped parcel northwest of Interstate 80 & Highway 31.

To the north of Nebraska Crossing, Woodsonia’s plan shows a $125 million, 15,000-seat outdoor amphitheater (something akin to a Live Nation venue), a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a huge multisport facility known as The St. James and a JW Marriott Hotel.

Look’s Marketplace is a large-scale restaurant and store from Sioux Falls, S.D. It was once featured on the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives television show. Wally’s is a massive gas station and convenience store very similar to Buc-ee’s, the popular Texas-based chain. Wally’s is a relatively new concept with locations in Pontiac, Ill. and Fenton, Mo. The St. James is a comprehensive sports and recreation complex with two locations in the Washington, D.C. area. JW Marriott is a more upscale version of a full-service Marriott Hotel.

Woodsonia’s plans will be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development along with Gretna’s study to prove the viability of the Good Life District. Because Yates, the original applicant, claimed the district is “no longer financially viable,” Gretna needs to prove otherwise if it wants to keep the district alive.

The purpose of Good Life Districts is to create transformative projects that provide new entertainment and retail options while attracting a large number of out-of-state visitors.

Meanwhile, Yates told Nebraska Examiner that he is transitioning his project to a much smaller development than originally proposed. He now needs only 1,000 acres. Yates said previously that he would build a $5 billion, 4.500-acre project called “Collegiate Crossing” that would include a National Hockey League arena, U.S. Olympic Volleyball headquarters, a youth sports complex and multiple office, retail, hotel, entertainment and residential buildings.

Yates wants to build his latest version of the project under the Destination Nebraska Act, not the Good Life District. The Destination Nebraska Act is a bill currently in the Unicameral submitted by State Senator Beau Ballard that includes modifications to the Good Life District Act. It would remove city involvement in the development and financing of projects within district boundaries.

To make matters even more intriguing, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen wants to remove the Good Life Districts from his proposed state budget. In addition to Gretna, there are approved districts in Bellevue, west Omaha and Grand Island. Those districts are already moving forward. If the program were to end, it is unknown what would happen to those districts and all the money that has so far been invested in them.

Are you confused yet? If so, you’re probably not alone.

Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Omaha’s office-to-residential conversion pipeline ranks near the top among some of America’s largest real estate markets, according to apartment research website, RentCafe. A report on adaptive reuse of office space shows that Omaha’s gross number of office-to-apartment units in the 2025 pipeline ranks 16th at 1,294 units. The pipeline includes projects under construction, planned or prospective.

Omaha’s pipeline reflects major projects spearheaded by NuStyle Development, which is converting the Central Park Plaza towers and the old FNBO main bank building to residential units. Nationally, the 2025 pipeline will be record-breaking and the highest ever with 70,000 apartment units created from former office space.

Eppley Airfield broke its all-time passenger record in 2024, and it had more passengers than many other medium-hub airports. Omaha’s 5.28 million passenger count was more than Buffalo (5.0 million), Memphis (4.9 million), Louisville (4.8 million), Reno (4.8 million), Oklahoma City (4.6 million), Grand Rapids (4.17 million), Tulsa (3.25 million), Des Moines (3.18 million) and Wichita (1.81 million).

Omaha ranks #8 among the nation’s top cities for growth in cybersecurity employment and wages, according to Upwind, which examined 44 U.S. cities. From 2022 to 2023, Omaha had a 10.6 percent increase in wages and 5.8 percent in employment. Here’s the top 10 in order: 1. Indianapolis; 2. Raleigh, N.C.; 3. Cleveland; 4. Kansas City; 5. San Francisco; 6. Columbus, Ohio; 7. Pittsburgh; 8. Omaha; 9. Cincinnati; 10. Seattle.

Crews have erected some of the steel structure for a building under construction on a 40,000 sq. ft. site southeast of 12th & Nicholas Street. That’s where White Lotus Development and Ronco Construction are building NOVA a 5-story building with street-level retail and 74 apartment units. The building will include 20,000 sq. ft. of street-level retail space for lease. It’s one of several new buildings planned for the Millwork Commons district north of Charles Schwab Field.

Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, a nationwide change effective February 8. The new name reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth and family and coincides with its 115th anniversary. The Omaha location at 12401 West Maple Road will host a grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 10.

Grow Omaha Snippets are brought to you by Baird Holm LLP, the Exclusive Legal Partner of Grow Omaha. Baird Holm’s dedicated team of real estate lawyers has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, including purchases, sales, construction, zoning and land use, leasing, and dispute resolution. Click HERE for more information.

The Omaha metro area is home to nearly 70,000 teleworkers, representing 13.5 percent of the total workforce, which is close to the national average of 13.8 percent, according to report from CoworkingMag. Women make up 54 percent of Omaha’s remote workforce. Millennials and Gen Xers account for 40.4 and 38.4 percent respectively. Omaha’s remote workers tend to be college educated, and nearly half of them (47.9%) earn $75,000 or more. More than 28.2 percent of Omaha’s remote workers are in the finance, insurance and real estate sector.

Berry Law plans to open a Papillion office at 312 Olson Drive. The space is being remodeled now with opening planned for early May. Berry Law is a personal injury and criminal defense firm with a downtown Omaha office at 1414 Harney Street.

Cellar 426 Winery in Ashland, Neb., earned top honors at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest wine competition in North America. All four of its entries received medals, including a Double Gold and Best White Blend under $23 for Linoma Lighthouse, a semi-sweet white. Snowbound, an off-dry white, also received Double Gold, while Apollo’s Blend, a dry red, took silver, and Big Dry Red earned bronze.

Caring Transitions of Greater Omaha, an estate liquidation company, recently opened a studio in Bellevue. The studio will serve as the base for their operations and online-auction services – CTBids.com. The studio allows the company to expand its consignment services for clients without a household full of items to sell or those just looking to sell high-value or unique items like jewelry, coins and art. The local franchise is part of national network of estate liquidators.

Scoular is the new formalized supplier of grain and logistics to Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland’s ethanol plant in Madrid, Neb. Omaha-based Scoular operates an extensive origination network in western Nebraska, including a grain elevator network in the vicinity of and across the road from the ethanol plant.

AMCON Distributing Company, an Omaha-based convenience and foodservice distributor, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share. This cash dividend is payable on February 28, 2025 to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2025.

After 50 years in business, Miller Orthopedic Specialists is permanently closing February 28th. The practice has locations in 16221 Evans Plaza in Omaha and One Edmundson Place in Council Bluffs.

After seven readings below growth neutral in 2024, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Minnesota to Arkansas, began the year with an index above the 50.0 growth neutral threshold. The index climbed to 51.1 from 48.7 in December.

Dean Snyder Construction (DSC), founded in 1958, is a family-and-employee-owned general contractor and design-build firm. We serve the commercial, food and beverage processing, industrial, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare markets. Our commitment to hard work, direct communication, owner involvement, and exceeding client expectations ensures long-term customer satisfaction. Contact us at www.deansnyder.com

Does the Housing Market Really Pick Up After the Super Bowl?

By Jill ANderson

It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but the months after the Super Bowl tend to show a noticeable uptick in activity.

1. Post-holiday season: Many people are busy with holiday commitments and may not be focused on buying or selling homes in December or January. After the Super Bowl, there’s a shift as people settle into the new year and begin planning their next moves, including house hunting.
2. Weather: Generally, the weather in Nebraska and Iowa begins to improve after February, which can make it easier to view homes, handle inspections and move.
3. Tax season: Some buyers start their home search around tax season when they may have received their tax returns, or they know their financial situation for the year.
4. Spring market: Traditionally, spring is a busy season for real estate, and many sellers start to list their homes right after the Super Bowl to capitalize on that peak season.

January stats Omaha area region:

New listings: +23.5 percent

Pending sales: +5.6 percent

Months of supply (new and existing houses): +16.7 percent

In our current market, there’s still cautious optimism, and some buyers are holding off until they see further stability in the economy. Some buyers may have adjusted to higher rates, but affordability is still a major concern. Inventory is still somewhat tight, although we’ve started seeing more listings come online as sellers return after holding off last year.

Just like the Super Bowl, the real estate market is all about making the right moves. If you’re thinking about buying or selling, this could be a good time to get things moving.

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

Creighton Men’s Basketball tied their best start in Big East play (10-2) since joining the conference last night, beating Providence on the road. The Jays started the season 9-6 but have since erupted for eight straight wins, tying another program record eight straight Big East wins and grabbing sole possession of 2nd place in the conference.

There have been many contributors to the blossoming Bluejays, but Ryan Kalkbrenner is carrying the load averaging 27.3 points and 9.5 rebounds over the past four games. Next is a date with Marquette at the CHI on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles are the last team to figure out Greg McDermott and the Bluejays and are in third place in the Big East at 9-3.

The Omaha Supernovas play at the Indy Ignite tonight at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on the Pro Volleyball Federation’s YouTube channel and broadcast on KCRO 660 AM. Omaha, the defending PVF champions, sit at 4-3 and are tied with Grand Rapids and Atlanta for third place in league standings.

Speaking of the Supernovas, they were recently named as Major League Volleyball’s founding franchise. MLV, a new league backed by more than $100 million, includes founding members Danny White, Jason Derulo and Kerri Walsh Jennings. League play will open January 2026 with a minimum of 10 teams from around the country.

In case you missed it, UNO Hockey beat defending national champions Denver in a shootout last Friday after 16 (yes, you read that right) rounds. It was ruled a tie since both teams failed to score in the 5-minute overtime following regulation, but UNO gained an extra point in the NCHC standings after winning the prolonged shootout. Next up is Minnesota Duluth at 7 p.m. Friday at Baxter Arena for ‘Cowboys and Cowbells’ night.

This April, get ready to hear former Omaha Burke superstar and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts’ name called – early. In multiple mock drafts, he’s projected as a late-first to early-second-round pick and a year-one starter. Watts was a 2024 consensus All-American, a 2023 unanimous All-American, and the 2023 Bronko Nagurski Award winner, crowning him as the top defensive player in CFB. After helping lead the Irish to the CFP Championship game this year as a team captain, he declared for the NFL Draft and will hear his name called April in Green Bay.

Joe Lunardi, ESPN’s lead college basketball analyst put out his most recent NCAA Bracketology on Tuesday and projects Nebraska as the last team in the dance. Lunardi also has the Huskers and UNO in the two “First Four” games in Dayton in the 11 and 16 seed play-in games, respectively. He projects Creighton would have the privilege of meeting up with former point guard Ryan Nembhard and Gonzaga in the South region’s 8/9 game. With just over a month until selection Sunday, don’t expect these matchups to come to fruition. But have your popcorn on standby.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Leadership Language – Consider these two messages a leader could say to the team: 1. “We have a problem, and I don’t know how we’re going to fix it.” 2. “We have a challenge, and I’m confident we’ll find a solution together.” Both acknowledge difficulties, but the second statement conveys a belief in the team’s capabilities, making it more likely to inspire action. Source: Forbes

“Extinguishers” are leaders who sap energy from their teams and put up roadblocks, according to Fast Company. “Generators” are leaders who inspire people to reach their full potential. Any guesses as to which one people want to work for?

“Time sickness” was coined by Dr. Larry Dossey to describe the potential health consequences arising from the belief that time is constantly slipping away and that one can never accomplish enough. According to Forbes, you can fight this tendency by refusing to “compete” with time. Don’t see time as an “enemy.” Time is your valued partner, not your rival. While time is precious, your use of it does not have to be perfect. But it does have to be good.

Global life expectancy is only 72 years, but as a reader of this column, you’ll likely live much longer than that. Because you’ve already reached adulthood, you made it past many of life’s early-death risks. Plus, educated/successful people tend to live longer. Nevertheless, time is a finite resource. Even if you live to 98, you still only have 5,096 weeks and 1,176 months on this planet. What’s the single best way to make it count? Manage the urge to procrastinate.

This might fit into your advertising budget but definitely not mine – Some of the 30-second ad spots during this year’s Super Bowl broadcast are going for $8 million. According to The Guardian, 123.7 million Americans tuned into the big game last year. This year’s game between Kansas City and Philadelphia takes place Sunday at 5 p.m. CST in New Orleans.

SALES

People buy from people they like and trust, so it’s important to engage all buyers to create strong connections, says sales trainer Sarah Greer. You can do that by making positive comparisons to someone you admire or respect. A response to something your prospect says or does could be: “You know, you remind me of one of my favorite bosses; you both have the same great respect for your teams.”

Sales Statistic – The use of collaborative words had a positive impact on sales calls, according to HubSpot. Using “we” instead of “I” increased success rates by 35 percent.

What’s one of the negotiating mistakes sales reps make? Neglecting to negotiate with limited authority. Sales expert Kelley Robertson says, “Don’t hesitate to tell a prospect that you need to check with your boss before you agree to a concession. This gives you wiggle room and allows you to appear that you are working on behalf of your customer.”

WISDOM

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that they will somehow connect in your future.” – Steve Jobs

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Did you know the Greater Omaha Chamber represents more than 12,000 professionals across 3,000 member businesses?

Did you know that Omaha-based Blingle! was ranked number 30 on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2024 Top New & Emerging Franchises? The company provides outdoor lighting services.

Did you know that 29 tour groups with a total of 529 tour-group travelers officially visited Omaha last year? These tour-group visitors came from Midwestern states such as Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota, as well as states outside of the region like Texas and South Carolina.

This section is sponsored by Lockbox Storage, an affiliate of Omaha-based McGregor Interests Inc. We provide storage solutions for all of your storage needs. Our facilities have full-time managers and bright lighting to provide superior security for your belongings. In addition to space for rent, we also provide packing supplies, protection plans and locks along with complimentary handcarts and dollies. Visit LockBox Storage and let us help you with all your storage needs.

FLiCKER: A Heartfelt Evening happening on February 8th: This Valentine’s Day season, step into a world of warmth and music at FLiCKER: A Heartfelt Evening. Let the Nova String Quartet take you on a journey through unforgettable songs, bringing timeless hits to life in a way you’ve never heard before. The music wraps around you, creating an experience of rich emotion, powerful connection and melodies that will linger long after the last note fades. Get your tickets now to experience this heartfelt evening where magic meets the charm of candlelight!

Cupid’s Market, presented by Metronet happening on February 9th: Love on your local favorites just in time for Valentine’s Day! You can expect 30+ curated local vendors, themed signature drinks, a full cash bar and more. This event is free and open to the public – make sure to explore the Midtown Crossing neighborhood for a tasty bite to eat afterwards!

Missing: Astronaut Exhibit Opens recurring until May 18th: Welcome to Mission: Astronaut, a hands-on experience where visitors learn about space exploration, the technology that makes it possible, how it benefits life on Earth, and more through astronaut training challenges. Each section presents interactive tasks that require an astronaut’s mindset to solve and focus on engineering, physics, teamwork and fun!

MAC Roll Call | Thriving in 2025 – Strategies for Success in Business, Career, and Life happening on February 12th: The Midlands African Chamber is excited to present Roll Call, a premier networking event designed to empower and inspire professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders. This dynamic evening features keynote insights from BC Clark, president of the Metro Omaha Women’s Business Center (MOWBC), and Marcos Hernandez, market president of AltCap NE, who will provide practical strategies and tools for thriving in 2025. Whether you’re navigating career challenges, growing a business or looking to enhance your leadership skills, this event is packed with value to propel you toward success.

Love it or Leave it: Modus’s Valentine’s Happy Hour happening on February 13th: Join Modus Coworking for an evening of tasty bites, fun games and a little self-care magic. Bring your partner, your bestie, or just yourself— come ready to celebrate love in all its forms. Expect good vibes, fun themes and the perfect way to let loose!

This section is sponsored by Eagle Mortgage, a locally owned, full-service mortgage company helping you with Conventional, VA, FHA and USDA loans in both Nebraska and Iowa. Learn how Eagle Mortgage helps people afford the home of their dreams by clicking HERE!

Lutz, an Omaha-based business solutions firm, recently added Joscelyn Hynes and Alex Kuhnemann and transitioned Will Frei to a new position. Hynes is a graphic designer, while Kuhnemann is a service desk technician. Formerly an audit manager, Frei is now a business development manager.

Frontier Bank has made three hires for its treasury management team. Jessica Wurtele has been promoted to the team lead position. Regina Quint has been hired as treasury management sales officer. Amber Holmberg has joined the bank as a treasury management specialist.

Completely KIDS has appointed four new members to its board of directors: Warren Whitted III from Mutual of Omaha Advisors; Boyce Voorhees of Bankers Trust; Eduardo de la Vega from PayPal; and Drew Clark from Valmont Industries.

Cornhusker Bank has added Michael Matejka to its Omaha Advisory Board. Matejka is a real estate attorney with Woods Aitken.

Longtime WOWT anchor John Knicely has announced he will retire from television on March 12. He has worked on camera for 50 years, 40 of them at WOWT.

The Greater Omaha Chamber is a catalyst and connector, advocating for businesses small and large. Learn, share and grow with more than 12,000 professionals from 3,000 member businesses across Greater Omaha. Click HERE to see our latest events.

TV ads reveal a lot about consumer preferences. Back in the day, there were ads touting the alleged prowess of the Wall Street legacy firms. The most egregious one promoted the now defunct, EF Hutton. Their ads featured well-dressed business types proudly proclaiming “My broker is EF Hutton.”

Then a booming voice announced, “When EF Hutton talks, everybody listens.”

I saw an ad on television the other day signaling that the financial services industry is headed in a new direction. It starts out with Carl, the iconic, loud-mouth, know-it-all broker. He’s in a cab with a couple of twenty-somethings. The cab gets stuck in rush hour traffic, and suddenly a woman shouts, “There’s a Schwab office!”

She jumps out of the cab and proclaims, “This is where I can manage my own investments and make my own trades.” Carl slams the dash and bemoans, “Not Schwab again?!!?”

My spouse will tell you I have no social life. Whenever I come in contact with a fellow human being, a discussion of the stock market breaks out. I usually walk away flummoxed by how little investors know about the current state of the financial services industry.

The Schwab ad is significant because discount brokers are announcing to the world that there’s a new sheriff in town. The discount firms are brokerage firms that allow their clients to make their own trades and manage their own money without the involvement of a license broker. They are small in numbers, but big in size.

The clients of the Wall Street legacy firms pay substantial fees in order to receive their brokers’ council and advice. The clients of the discount brokers make their own trades and manage their accounts without professional advice and their associated fees.

This begs the question, is the juice worth the squeeze? The discount brokers have 120 million clients and control $30 trillion in assets. The legacy Wall Street brokerage firms manage $10 trillion for 20 million clients.

Obviously, some do and some don’t feel that the juice is worth the squeeze. But investing is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. If you’re fully aware of how much you are paying to have someone squeeze your oranges, and are content with the juice, I wish you Godspeed.

Hubbell Realty Company is a full-service development company providing construction, development, homebuilding and management services since 1856. Click HERE for more information.

Quantum Fiber in Omaha, Nebraska, is super-fast, reliable internet. We did away with data caps, bundles, and pricing gimmicks because you don’t want them. Instead, you get game-changing customer service, transparent pricing, and a powerful app for freedom, simplicity, and control over your internet. Quantum Fiber is what internet service looks like when it’s built for the world of you.

The Grow Omaha radio show broadcasts live every Saturday morning at 9:00, but now you can watch videos of each episode instead of just listening.

Grow Omaha’s brand-new website features video footage shot inside the radio studio during each week’s show!

Videos include News of the Week, Lightning Round, guest interviews, and “Grow Omaha Uncut,” a behind-the-scenes look at what happens during commercial breaks.

Support the Grow “O” Mission

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