As the Federal Reserve signals the nearing end of its Quantitative Tightening (QT) program, headlines celebrate the possibility of stabilizing markets. Analysts predict that the balance sheet drawdown — the process of shrinking the Fed’s holdings of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities — could end by December 2025 or early 2026 ( Reuters, 2025 ). For Wall Street and investors, this is welcome news. But for Main Street — everyday Americans, small business owners, and work

As the Federal Reserve signals that its Quantitative Tightening (QT) cycle is nearing an end, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are entering a pivotal period. Since June 2022, the Fed has been reducing its balance sheet — allowing Treasury and mortgage-backed securities to mature without reinvestment — in an effort to reduce inflation by absorbing liquidity from the financial system. Now, as Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggests that the “end of the balance sheet drawdown

As the nation faces yet another U.S. government shutdown, millions of Americans are reminded of a harsh truth — financial security can vanish overnight . From furloughed federal workers to contractors and small business owners depending on government contracts, the ripple effects of political gridlock are wide and deeply personal. But beyond the headlines and politics lies a crucial takeaway: depending on one source of income — even one that feels “secure” — is a financial ri