Wintrust Business Lunch 5/15/25: Home affordability survey, RTO and layoffs, Clearbrook, micro-apartments

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, talks to John about a new survey that shows nearly half of current homeowners say they have at least one regret about the purchase of their current home. Mark also offers some tips on how you can save money on your home purchase.

Segment 2: Aki Ito, Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, joins John to talk about how RTO mandates are a stealth alternative to layoffs.

Segment 3: Jessica Smart, President and CEO, Clearbrook, joins John to talk about the work that Clearbrook does, their mission to support children and adults impacted by intellectual/developmental disabilities, how cuts to federal programs might impact what they do, her thoughts on RFK Jr.’s thoughts on autism, and their annual fundraiser, The Shining Star Ball, happening tomorrow.

Segment 4: Wes LeBlanc, Strategy Director and Principal, Gensler, joins John to talk about a new report that shows office-to-co-living conversions could revitalize downtown Chicago and increase affordable housing supply.