Local Stock Market 📉 … Good time to buy

Owens Corning | $OC ( ▲ 0.87% ) 

Dana Incorporated | $DAN ( ▲ 5.95% ) 

The Andersons | $ANDE ( ▲ 1.57% ) 

Owens Illinois | $OI ( ▲ 1.2% )

Welltower Inc. | $WELL ( ▲ 1.13% ) 

Marathon Petroleum Corporation | $MPC ( ▲ 2.94% ) 

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

36th Annual| NWO Prayer Breakfast

The 36th Annual Northwest Ohio Prayer Breakfast is back and bigger than ever, kicking off bright and early at 7:00 AM on May 1st, 2025, at The Premier in Toledo. This year’s keynote speaker is none other than Rennie Curran, a retired NFL linebacker, award-winning Hall of Fame athlete, and business leadership coach. If there’s anyone who knows how to tackle life’s challenges (literally), it’s him. Expect an inspiring morning filled with wisdom, motivation, and probably a lot of coffee.

But wait—there’s more! Stick around for Overtime, from 9:00-10:00 AM, where Rennie and a panel of local experts will answer your burning questions about employees, customers, finances, and more. It’s like a free consulting session, minus the hefty price tag. Don’t miss this chance to get expert advice, network, and maybe even find someone who can finally explain your Wi-Fi bill to you. For details, registration, and to prove to your boss that this counts as “professional development,” visit www.NWOPrayerEvents.org.

Retail Sector Changes

Franklin Park Mall is getting a makeover—because let’s face it, malls aren’t what they used to be. With Forever 21 and Macy’s saying their goodbyes, you might be wondering, “What’s left? An echo?” But fear not! The mall is revamping the scene with fresh additions like JD Sports, Lovisa, Dunkin’, Miniso, and the intriguingly named Saucy Slamwich (which, let’s be honest, sounds like it could change lives).

Of course, this isn’t just a Toledo thing—the whole retail industry is going through a bit of an identity crisis, with experts predicting up to 15,000 store closures in 2025. But hey, maybe this just means fewer places to impulse-buy things you don’t need and more room for innovative spots that give us what we really want—coffee, sneakers, and sandwiches with attitude.

Money Confessional | Local Jeep Veteran Keeps a Budget in His Notebook

Age: Early 50s

Children: Two kids, both over 18 and living on their own. No longer paying child support, which has been a financial relief.

Living Situation: Owns a home in the Trilby neighborhood. Bought it in the early 2000s with a 30-year fixed mortgage. Refinanced once to lock in a lower rate. Worried about rising property taxes and gentrification pushing out longtime residents.

Job: Works at the Jeep factory in Toledo. Been with the company for over 25 years—union job, good benefits, and solid pay.

Salary: Around $90K with overtime and bonuses. Base salary is closer to $75K, but putting in extra shifts helps boost earnings.

Salary Journey: Started at Jeep in his early 20s making closer to $40K. Steady raises, union negotiations, and overtime opportunities have made a big difference over the years.

Other Income: No side gigs, but thinking about renting out a portion of the house to supplement income, especially with property values rising. Also looking at investing in a rental property in the neighborhood.

Work/Life Balance: Factory work can be tough on the body, especially after 25+ years. Overtime is great for the paycheck but exhausting. Trying to balance that with enjoying time off.

On Your Mind: Retirement planning. Trying to figure out if it makes sense to work another 10-15 years or retire earlier. Also worried about how Trilby is changing and whether he’ll be able to afford to stay there in the long run.

Debt: Just the mortgage. No car loan—paid cash for a used Wrangler a few years ago. Avoids credit card debt but keeps a card for emergencies.

Budgeting: Old-school—uses pen and paper to track expenses. Keeps a notebook with bills and income written down each month. Doesn’t use apps or spreadsheets, but knows exactly where his money is going.

Best/Worst Recurring Expense:

• Best: Bowling league dues—$50/month. Keeps him connected with old friends and is a stress reliever.

• Worst: Rising property taxes—every year, they seem to go up, and it feels like longtime residents are getting pushed out.

Splurge: Takes one solid vacation a year—usually a road trip or somewhere warm in the winter.

Toledo Money Hack: Knows where to find the best deals on cars from local dealers and private sellers. Also has connections for auto repairs that save a ton of money compared to big-name shops.

Toledo Restaurant: Rudy’s Hot Dog—classic Toledo spot. Order: chili dogs and a side of fries.

Total Savings/Investments: Has a pension through Jeep and a 401(k) that he’s been contributing to for years. Keeps savings in a regular bank account—doesn’t mess with stocks or anything complicated.

Savings Goal: Wants to build up more in savings before retirement. Also thinking about setting aside money to help the kids with a down payment on a house one day.

Total Net Worth: Around $400K between the house, retirement accounts, and savings. Built through years of steady work, avoiding unnecessary debt, and home equity.

Retirement: Would like to retire by 60, but it depends on how things go with work and the economy. Plans on staying in Toledo but maybe downsizing to something smaller to cut down on property taxes.

Toledo Wealthy: Anyone making $150K+ or with a net worth over $1M is doing really well in Toledo. That kind of money here stretches a lot further than in other places.

Knowledge: Learned money management from parents, union coworkers, and trial and error. Biggest lesson: avoid debt and always have something saved for a rainy day.