First Trust economist Andrew Opdyke (bio below) joins Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers Chief Investment Officer John-Mark Young as they discuss how the economic backdrop shaped up in 2023 and they discuss thoughts for where they economy may go into 2024, including will there be a recession? Andrew Opdyke Bio: Andrew is a Senior Economist and a member of the First Trust Economics Team that Bloomberg has ranked as one of the top forecasters of the U.S. economy over the past several years. At First Trust, Andrew is responsible for analyzing economic indicators, writing economic commentaries and producing articles on the First Trust Economics Blog. Andrew regularly presents economic commentary to financial professionals, CFA Societies, and Financial Planning Association (FPA) chapters across the United States. Andrew also provides research and analysis to Chief Economist Brian Wesbury, Chief Market Strategist Bob Carey, and First Trust CEO Jim Bowen. Cogent’s 2017 Survey of Advisors rated First Trust’s thought leadership material as number one for most read and most shared by financial professionals with colleagues or clients.* Andrew received an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in Business and Economics from Hope College. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Chicago. *Cogent Reports conducted an online survey of a representative cross section of 1,078 financial professionals in April through June 2017. Survey participants were required to have an active book of business of at least $5 million and offer investment advice or planning services to individual investors on a fee or transactional basis. John-Mark Young Bio John-Mark Young understands that serving clients’ financial and investment needs begins with building solid and lasting partnerships. He focuses on listening to each client because he believes everyone’s needs and financial goals for the future are unique. As a Financial Advisor & Chief Investment Officer for Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers he puts his clients—and their needs—first. John-Mark is committed to helping you achieve your financial goals by offering a wide range of investment services and alternatives. Specializing in a planning-based approach to your money, he works with clients to design investment portfolios to meet their individual needs. Additionally, John-Mark is one of Dave Ramsey’s Local Smartvestor Pros because, like Dave, his focus is on helping clients live their lives debt-free and financially independent. In 2019, Dave Ramsey invited John-Mark to join as a member of his Investing Advisory Council. Through this, John-Mark helps Dave and his team direct other advisors in serving Dave Ramsey Listeners. Before joining Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers as a Financial Advisor, John-Mark worked at PNC Wealth Management and Private Client Group for seven years, where he served as a Relationship Manager for affluent families in Northeast Ohio. John-Mark graduated from Campbellsville University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management. He additionally completed his MBA in Finance from Ashland University in 2012. To live out our belief in running Whitaker-Myers Wealth Managers as a fiduciary-based firm, John-Mark completed his AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) and RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) designations in 2023. A firm believer in continuing education, John-Mark is working towards completing his Certified Financial Planner and Kingdom Advisor designations. John-Mark lives in Ontario, Ohio, with his wife Megan, Bella, Nash, and Landrie, their three children.
