Cardiff, a fintech leader that has funded more than $10 billion in financing to small businesses across the country, released ten actionable strategies to help entrepreneurs maximize cash flow, reduce risk, and seize opportunity in the face of an evolving economy. These statistics reinforce the need for discipline. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that small … [More]
Valley Single-Family Home Sales Gain Footing in September
Closed sales climbed nearly 11% in September, a promising sign after a flat and dismal summer. The 10.8% rise over September 2024 topped a month of steady numbers and some bright spots for the residential real estate market, according to data from Phoenix REALTORS. “Closed sales were comfortably up last month compared to September last year,” said Christy Walker, … [More]
October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—Is Your Business Protected?
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and small businesses are primary targets. From ransomware that can shut down operations overnight to phishing scams aimed at stealing customer data, local Arizona businesses are facing threats that were once reserved for large corporations. Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October is a timely reminder that protecting your business online has … [More]
NFIB: Small Business Optimism Declines in September
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 2.0 points in September to 98.8. This was the first decline in three months, though it remains above the survey’s 52-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index rose 7 points from August to 100, the fourth-highest reading in over 51 years. “Optimism among small business owners decreased in September,” said NFIB Chief Economist … [More]
$6B at Stake as Court Weighs How to Unwind Google’s Ad Stack
While the Google antitrust case around search made a lot of headlines, the less watched case, focused on advertising technology, marches on. This past Spring Judge Brinkema found Google to be an illegal monopolist in this sector, with evidence they used their dominance in the publisher tools market (ad serving) to capture big swaths of the overall display advertising market. In … [More]
Capital in a Shutdown—Why Relationships and Readiness Win
When government shutdowns occur, small businesses face immediate financial hurdles as SBA loan approvals grind to a halt. During these uncertain periods, maintaining access to capital becomes critical for business survival and growth. As a lender with over 30 years in commercial banking, I've witnessed firsthand how these disruptions affect entrepreneurs and the creative … [More]
From Onboarding to Refunds: How AI Automation Is Rewiring Banking
Banks were among the pioneers of robotic process automation. Since the early 2010s, they have been deploying RPA bots that mimic human behavior to automate clerical, rule-based processes, such as data entry or invoice processing, helping reduce excessive workloads, minimize human errors, and lower operating costs. Today, the banking sector remains at the forefront of digital … [More]
CBRE Answers: How Is Semiconductor Growth Reshaping Metro Phoenix?
In a new report from CBRE, the firm outlines how Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem has matured from historic roots to a modern growth engine, underscoring the state’s long-standing strengths and its accelerating momentum. Drawing on industry data and recent project activity, CBRE details the factors that have elevated Arizona—its stability, talent pipeline, and coordinated … [More]
Their Take: Disability-Inclusive Hiring Drives Real Economic and Social Gains
Savvy employers everywhere are elevating their workforce and simultaneously driving positive economic growth by hiring from the one in four adults in the U.S. who have some type of disability. The benefits of enhancing your team with an array of abilities are well known, but there are still some misconceptions about hiring from that 25% pool. The Department of Economic … [More]
GENIUS Act Sets Rules for Stablecoins, Promising Quicker, Lower-Cost Payments for SMBs
Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to maintain a stable value by being backed by assets such as U.S. dollars or government bonds. This summer, the GENIUS Act became law and requires stablecoin issuers to be licensed, audited and backed by safe assets. Regulations will roll out over the next 12 months, with full implementation no later than January 2027. Under the GENIUS … [More]
Valley Housing Sends Mixed Message as Buyer Activity Ticks Up and Prices Ease
Active listings of homes for sale fell 1.4% month over month in August—the largest seasonally-adjusted decline since June 2023, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. They rose 9.7% from a year earlier—the smallest year-over-year increase since March 2024. New listings also cooled, falling 1.1% month over month to the … [More]
Valley Closed Home Sales Double National Rate
Greater Phoenix August home sales closed up 4.6% from July and up 2.8% for the first eight months of 2025 in year-over-year comparisons, according to the latest data from Phoenix REALTORS. Closed sales in the Valley were more than double the national rate. Nationally, sales were up 2% from August 2024 and 0.8% for year-to-date numbers comparing 2025 over … [More]
Report: Home Inventory Peaks and Competition Eases Mid-October
The best time to buy a home in 2025 is fast approaching. According to the Realtor.com 2025 Best Time to Buy Report, the week of October 12–18 will be the year's sweet spot for home shoppers, with a rare combination of higher inventory (32.6% more active listings from the start of the year), lower prices (a potential savings of $15,000), and less competition (30.6% lower) that … [More]
CBRE Ranks Tech Talent, Phoenix Lands among Top 20 Markets
Phoenix ranks No. 20 overall in CBRE’s 2025 Scoring Tech Talent report, as tech talent hiring in North America slowed despite strong growth in artificial-intelligence specialty talent, according to a new report from CBRE. Phoenix saw strong tech talent job growth from 2021 to 2024, expanding its tech talent labor pool by 5.6% to 102,540 people. From 2021 to 2023, the city … [More]
Canadian Buyers Pull Back from U.S. Market, Trend Aligns with Tariff Timeline
According to the latest report by Redfin, he number of Canadians searching for U.S. homes started dropping significantly in February, when the White House implemented 25% tariffs on imports from Canada. The steepest decline was a 34.2% year-over-year drop in April, the month the Trump administration announced its global tariff policy. The declines have shrunk since then … [More]
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Business Owners and Operators Need to Know
On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. The sweeping piece of legislation included an array of provisions that impact both individuals and businesses. If you’re a business owner or leader, it’s important to understand what these changes could mean for you. For many businesses, the OBBBA changes how certain expenses are taxed. Specific … [More]
Labor Concerns Loom amid Slight Optimism Uptick
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.5 points in August to 100.8, nearly 3 points above the 52-year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, four increased, four decreased, and two were unchanged. The increase in those expecting real sales to be higher contributed the most to the rise in the Optimism Index. The Uncertainty Index fell by 4 points to 93 but … [More]
NFIB Report: Labor Quality Remains Top Issue as Openings Moderate
NFIB’s August jobs report found that 32% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in August, down 1 point from July. The last time unfilled job openings fell below 32% was in July 2020. Twenty-eight percent have openings for skilled workers, down 1 point, and 13% have openings for unskilled labor (up 1 point). “While the economy … [More]
