Investing for Impact

August 13, 2018, by John Norris

Socially conscious investing isn’t a new concept. In fact, it has been around for a long time. Initially, it was mainly a way for faith-based groups to shy away from things like alcohol, tobacco, and even pornography. However, it has morphed over time to include geopolitics, environmental causes, and a litany of other topics or areas of concern. However, due to the nature of corporate America, sometimes it isn’t easy to determine whether a company...

Common Lira on August 10, 2018

August 10, 2018, by John Norris

Today, the markets are all aflutter over tensions between the US and Turkey. Various peccadilloes over the last several years have grown into some pretty major problems. So much so, and you can decide for yourself where to cast blame, the Administration declared some pretty stiff trade tariffs on Turkish metals. Frankly, you could have seen this coming with your eyes closed. Interestingly enough, I have read some analysis on how Washington’s ham-fisted approach with...

Introducing Trading Perspectives Podcast with John Norris

August 8, 2018, by Lindsey Owens Krausen

Trading Perspectives is a podcast designed to provide clients with education and a unique insight into specific factors that are currently driving our nation's economy. It is hosted by Oakworth Capital Bank's Chief Economist, John Norris. Welcome to the 1st episode of Trading Perspectives! Statistics show that only a very small amount of people think the world is becoming a better place. In this episode our host John Norris and co-host Sam Clement will be...

Common Cents on August 3, 2018

August 3, 2018, by John Norris

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Employment Situation report for July. The economy created 157K net, new payroll jobs during the month and the Unemployment Rate fell to 3.9%. In so many words, it was a pretty dull report. There wasn’t anything particularly bearish or bullish in the release, even if plenty of seemingly intelligent people will spend hours overanalyzing and commenting on it. Yep, as Forrest Gump might say: “That’s...

Meet the Oakworth Summer Intern Associates

July 31, 2018, by Lindsey Owens Krausen

Alexander Mitchell This summer at Oakworth I was able to truly be a part of the team and see all the different facets and roles of each department. Over the course of the internship I took on various projects and was given real responsibilities. In my first rotation I was able to dive into the three different financial statements paired with Moody’s Analytics software for asset base lending. This project was something that I found...

2nd Quarter Economic Update

July 31, 2018, by John Norris

As a general rule, I liked roller coasters when I was a kid. The Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia was a favorite, as were just about any other traditional wooden ones. If you aren’t familiar with the one in Atlanta, think of the Cyclone at Coney Island or the Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park. Closer to home, the Rampage at Alabama Splash Adventure in Bessemer is a surprisingly good ride....

Dear John

July 31, 2018, by John Norris

Chief Economist, John Norris, answers the most commonly asked questions. Dear John, It seems like all the companies you read about being so-called disruptors are just tech stocks. So, why do we even worry with calling them disrupters and just call them what they are? This is a great question, and the easy answer is: it just seems like they are all tech companies, but they aren’t necessarily. After all, Tesla makes cars. For its...

Millennials: Is It Time for a Plan?

July 31, 2018, by John Norris

Millennials often get an undeserved bad rap. Older folks call them entitled and lazy, just like the prior generations call them. However, let’s face it: our young people are growing up in a hypercompetitive world, and our society arguably hasn’t done a great job indoctrinating them into the free enterprise system and stacking the deck against them. We can point our fingers of blame any which way, but it won’t solve anything. At some point,...

Getting the Financing Your Business Needs

July 30, 2018, by John Norris

Borrowing money can be intimidating for business owners, particularly small business owners. The last thing any entrepreneurs want to be is beholden to the bank. That is a fate worse than debt, but sometimes it is an economic necessity. What can you do to minimize the bank’s hold over your business? The best advice I can give starts by being prepared during the loan process. By that, I mean having all of the proverbial ducks...

It Might Be Common Cents – You Decide On July 27, 2018

July 27, 2018, by John Norris

Something kind strange happened this morning. After 8.5 years of economic expansion and almost 3 years into a Fed tightening cycle, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the best quarterly GDP (Gross Domestic Product for those keeping score at home) report in recent memory. To be sure, ‘you’ have to go back to 2Q and 3Q 2014 to find comparable quarterly results, and I might still argue this was a better report. The only...