Quiet Money, Louder Moves | Kevin Szymczak Takes His Talents to Danberry

When you’re the top producer in the city, people tend to notice your next move.

Kevin Szymczak — the #1 agent at Keller Williams Citywide — just took his Integrity Home Group to a new stage: Levis Commons. The team has officially joined forces with one of the region’s most established names in real estate, Danberry Realtors.

If you’ve been following along, you might remember our feature on Kevin earlier this year; the guy who quietly topped sales charts while building a reputation for empathy over ego. Now, he’s betting that pairing a modern, client-first culture with a legacy brand like Danberry will be the spark for something even bigger.

The move cements Danberry’s continued dominance in the market; and underscores a larger trend: the region’s top performers doubling down on local partnerships rather than chasing national headlines.

For Kevin and the Integrity Group, this is more than a brokerage shift. It’s a signal that Toledo’s brightest talent doesn’t need to leave home to make major moves.

Because around here, quiet money still speaks volumes.

Quarterly Earnings | The OC Report - Strong Cash, Soft Demand

Owens Corning’s latest earnings show a company still flexing its balance sheet even as the housing market cools. The Toledo-based building products giant posted $2.7Bn in Q3 sales, down 3% year over year, and recorded a net loss of $495M, largely tied to a $780M noncash write down in its Doors division.

Despite the headline loss, the core business remains strong. Adjusted EBITDA margins held at 24%, and free cash flow jumped 35% to $752M. Owens Corning also returned $278M to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, part of a $2Bn plan to return cash by the end of 2026.

Chief Executive Officer Brian Chambers said the results prove Owens Corning can “perform at a high level even in the face of challenging market conditions,” noting weaker residential demand across both repair and remodel and new construction product lines. Chief Financial Officer Todd Fister echoed the sentiment, pointing to continued “strong cash flows in weaker markets.”

The company continues to invest for the long term, announcing a new shingle plant in Prattville, Alabama, expected online in 2027, to expand capacity in the Southeast. It is also on track to exceed $125M in cost synergies by mid 2026 and capture another $75M in structural savings through operational improvements.

Market Context
The softness Owens Corning is seeing in new home construction is not isolated. It is a broader signal about where the economy stands today. Housing starts have slowed nationwide as high interest rates keep builders cautious and buyers on the sidelines. When new construction and remodeling both ease, it usually points to a consumer environment tightening its belt and an economy cooling off after years of heavy stimulus and inflation pressure.

In that light, Owens Corning’s ability to stay profitable, delivering 24% margins and hundreds of millions in free cash flow, looks less like luck and more like discipline.

For Toledo, it is another reminder that while the national housing cycle may ebb and flow, the city’s flagship manufacturer continues to play the long game with steady cash, smart investments, and a resilience built for every season of the economy.

💼 The Advisor’s Desk

Welcome to The Advisor’s Desk, where the professionals of Northwest Ohio pull up a chair and share their best kept secrets; the kind that save you money, protect your business, and make you sound like the smartest person in the room. Each week, we tap into local expertise, from tax advisors and attorneys to commercial real estate pros and insurance veterans, to bring you practical tips that matter.

Do not worry, The Money Confessional will be back soon to spill the beans. For now, consider this your weekly dose of free consulting without the billable hours.

So, you want to start investing?

This week’s expert: Your friendly Perrysburg financial advisor.

Remember when you first heard someone say “you should invest your money” and your brain immediately thought, “Cool… how?”

Yeah, we’ve all been there. Investing sounds like something that happens on CNBC between commercials for golf tournaments. But the truth is, building wealth isn’t about timing the market or finding the next Tesla. It’s about structure and consistency.

So here’s the starter kit I’d give anyone looking to finally put their money to work:

1. High Yield Savings
Before you invest a dime, build a safety net. Think three to six months of expenses sitting in a high yield savings account (many pay >3% right now). This is your financial foundation; not glamorous, but essential.

2. Open a Roth IRA
This is your long term freedom machine. You invest post tax dollars, and when you’re older and wiser (and hopefully still rocking those Toledo roots), your withdrawals are tax free. Contribute regularly; even $100 / month adds up faster than you think. You can even automate it!

3. Take Advantage of ESPPs
If your employer offers an Employee Stock Purchase Program, pay attention. Many let you buy company stock at a discount (typically, 15%); essentially free money if managed wisely. Just don’t let too much of your portfolio live in one company.

4. Max Your 401(k) Match
If your employer matches contributions, that’s an instant one hundred percent return on your investment. At a minimum, contribute enough to capture the full match; it’s the easiest money you’ll ever make.

5. Start a Brokerage Account (and Keep It Simple)
Skip the hype. Focus on broad market index funds like VOO, which tracks the S&P 500. You’re buying a piece of hundreds of top U.S. companies, and history has shown that patience pays dividends (literally).

The takeaway? Wealth isn’t built by guessing right. It’s built by showing up early, often, and consistently.

Because when it comes to investing, the hardest part isn’t understanding it. It’s just starting.

Local Angle
Across Northwest Ohio, more young professionals are beginning to take this advice to heart. Local banks and credit unions have rolled out higher yield savings products and simple investment options to make the first step less intimidating. Companies like Owens Corning, Dana, and Marathon Petroleum continue to expand employee stock purchase programs and 401(k) matching incentives. And local advisors from are seeing a new generation of investors asking smart questions about long term wealth instead of short term gains.