Are Business Owners Too Optimistic?

In today’s Dashboard podcast, Gene Marks questions whether business owners are being realistic about 2025's economic outlook.

Good Morning! And welcome back!

I hope you enjoyed a nice break over the holidays. Just in case you were fortunate enough to be able to unplug last week, here’s a reminder that we published a year-end-review Morning Report that highlighted the most important stories of the year for business owners. Lots of important news and smart thinking there.

Here are today’s highlights:

• Two domestic manufacturers are hopeful that Trump’s tariffs will help their businesses.

• The owner of a government contracting business is preparing for the end of minority set-asides.

• You might want to go ahead and file that Corporate Transparency Act report.

• The owner of one of NYC’s best restaurants explains why he closed it, raising the question yet again: Why are private businesses responsible for their employee’s health care?

THE 21 HATS PODCAST: DASHBOARD

This week, in our first Dashboard conversation of 2025, Gene Marks talks about why he and other owners are excited about what they think will be a more business-friendly environment this year. But Gene also warns that tariffs and deportations are likely to drive inflation higher and discourage the Federal Reserve from cutting rates, which may not produce the economic growth owners are expecting. Plus: There are big changes coming to retirement-plan rules that owners should know about.

• You can subscribe to the 21 Hats Podcast wherever you get podcasts.