Local Stock Market 📈 - All The Way Up

Owens Corning | $OC ( ▲ 0.69% ) 

Dana Incorporated | $DAN ( ▲ 2.61% ) 

The Andersons | $ANDE ( ▲ 1.73% ) 

Owens Illinois | $OI ( ▲ 2.26% )

Welltower Inc. | $WELL ( ▲ 0.52% ) 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation | $MPC ( ▲ 1.56% ) 

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company | $CTB ( ▼ 0.05% ) 

🎓 Congratulations to the University of Toledo Class of 2025! 🎉

This spring, over 2,100 freshly minted degrees were handed out at the University of Toledo—proof that late-night study sessions, group projects with freeloaders, and overpriced parking permits do eventually pay off. Among the grads? The future CEOs, operators, and idea-machines from the Neff College of Business and Innovation, now stepping into the professional world with clean resumes and even cleaner ambition.

To the Class of 2025: congrats. You’ve earned more than just a diploma—you’ve earned a front-row seat to Northwest Ohio’s economic evolution.

And if you’re serious about turning that tassel into long-term success, we’ve got something for you: Toledo Money. It’s your local cheat code for:

• 🎯 Business trends shaping the region

• 💼 High-paying job leads in real time

• 💸 Financial tips tailored for folks early in their careers

• 🤝 A community of professionals, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers who are actually doing the work here

You’re already part of the Toledo story. Let us help you write the next chapter—wittier, wealthier, and well-connected.

Since 1984, Bionix has quietly built a $12 million medical device company from right here in Toledo. Founded by Dr. Andrew Milligan and Dr. James Huttner, the company started with a simple mission: make healthcare better with practical tools doctors actually want to use.

Their first big hit? The Safe Ear Curette, born when Dr. Huttner got fed up with old-school wax removal during his pediatric residency and MacGyver’d a better solution with fishing line and metal tubing. It’s now a staple in clinics worldwide.

Fast forward to today—Bionix employs around 100 people, holds ISO 13485 certification, and has expanded into ear, nasal, wound care, and radiation therapy tools. They even caught the eye of Argosy Private Equity, which recapitalized the business in 2021 to fuel growth.

What sets them apart? A no-nonsense approach to solving real problems, paired with just enough humor to make earwax removal feel like less of a chore. In a city known for manufacturing, Bionix proves innovation doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

Money Confessional | DINKs with Dollars

Real people. Real money talks. Learn & Grow from one another. Interested in sharing, here is a 100% confidential form to do so.

Age: Early 40s

Children: No kids—and that was an intentional decision. The tradeoff? We get to invest in our careers, travel often, and avoid the stress of daycare logistics or future tuition bills.

Living situation: We own a place in Ottawa Hills. Bought in 2018 with 20% down and refinanced during the 2020 rate dip—now locked at 2.875% on a 15-year. My tip? If you’re DINK (dual income, no kids), be aggressive on the mortgage while your expenses are lean.

Job: Financial Director at Owens Corning—global finance and strategy for a key product line.

Salary: Base around $185K, plus bonus and stock options that usually push total comp into the $240K–$260K range depending on performance and equity vesting.

Salary journey: Started as an FP&A analyst at $65K, worked my way through three companies before landing here. My biggest jumps came from changing firms—not roles. Tip: loyalty is great, but don’t be afraid to take a call.

Other income: We each have passive investments—mainly a mix of REITs, index funds, and a small stake in a legal tech startup (via my wife’s network). Nothing massive, but adds ~$6–8K a year in dividends/distributions.

Work/life balance: Pretty solid. Q4 gets hectic with end-of-year targets, but OC emphasizes flexibility and leadership by example. We protect weekends and try to take one big unplugged trip per year.

On Your Mind: Whether to buy a second property—possibly a short-term rental in northern Michigan. Market timing and interest rates are the two devils on my shoulder.

Debt: Just the mortgage, no student loans (paid off early), and zero credit card balances. If we can’t buy it outright, we don’t buy it.

Credit Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve. The points-to-travel ratio is unbeatable, and we lean into experiences over things.

Budgeting: We “reverse budget.” Fixed savings rate goes out first (25–30%), then we live off the rest. I use a combo of Excel and Personal Capital. My wife uses Post-its and vibes.

Best/Worst Recurring Expense?
Best: Equinox membership—even if it’s in Detroit, we use it when traveling. Worth every cent.
Worst: Streaming services we forgot to cancel. At this point, I think we fund half of Hulu’s ad-free plan.

Splurge: Flights and hotels. We’d rather fly business class once than fly coach four times. Call us spoiled—we call it recovery.

Toledo Money Hack: Watch for downtown commercial space under $80/sq ft—it’s still undervalued compared to peer cities and poised to pop with the Glass City Riverwalk investments.

Toledo Restaurant? The Heights. Pricey, but you can’t beat the view. My order: wagyu sliders and a barrel-aged old fashioned.

Total Savings/Investments?
Combined around $750K across 401(k), Roth IRAs, brokerage accounts, and ESPP. We max tax-advantaged options and do quarterly rebalances. 70/30 equity-to-fixed income split. No financial advisor—yet.

Savings goal: Eventually a lake house. Also keeping powder dry for a possible business investment in the next 2–3 years.

Total Net Worth: Roughly $1.5M. Mostly built through salary savings, equity growth, and property appreciation. My advice? Save more than you think you need and automate everything.

Personal Financial Freedom: $4M. That would let us work purely for purpose, not paycheck—and say “yes” to anything without checking the spreadsheet first.

Retirement? Targeting 55, earlier if the market's kind and health holds. Dream scenario: financial consulting part-time + international house-sitting gigs.

Toledo Wealthy: $3M+ in liquid assets. That lets you live freely here, give generously, and stay insulated from most economic curveballs.

Knowledge: I started with The Millionaire Next Door, then dove into Bogleheads and real estate investing forums. Honestly, working in finance helps—but discipline matters more than spreadsheets.