​Brian Wesbury

One of America's Top Economic Forecasters and Chief Economist for First Trust Advisors

Meet ​Brian Wesbury

​The chief economist for First Trust Advisors, LP, Brian Wesbury has been ranked the #1 US economic forecaster by the Wall Street Journal and one of the top 10 forecasters by USA Today.

After receiving his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, he began his prominent career in economics, beginning with work at the Harris Bank of Chicago. He has since served as vice president and economist for the Chicago Corporation, senior vice president and chief economist for Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson, and from 1995-96, worked as chief economist for the Joint Economics Committee of the United States Congress. In addition to his work with First Trust, he also is a member of the Academic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and an adjunct professor at Wheaton College.

A frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and the economics editor for the American Spectator, financial speaker Brian Wesbury is well known for his commentary on FOX, Bloomberg, and CNBC.

His newest book, It’s Not As Bad As You Think, published by John Wiley & Sons in 2009, is an upbeat antidote to today’s negative economic forecasts, revealing why capitalism will survive and how the United States will recover.

Speaking Topics

The Plow Horse Economy Trudges Forward
The traumatic economic upheaval of 2008 caused many analysts and investors to believe that any recovery would be fragile, short-lived and volatile. Instead, while the recovery has been relatively slow, it has been both persistent and consistent. Brian Wesbury, calls it a Plow Horse Economy. It's not going to win any races, but it's not going to keel over and die either. This recovery is not a new normal – something different than we have seen before, but in fact is being driven by new technologies – the same thing that has driven growth in the US for more than two centuries. This does not mean all is well. Large debt, big deficits, bad policy, high government spending and problems in Europe are all things to worry about. But, putting them in perspective is the key to successful investing and business management. Just maybe things aren't as bad as you think. Brian Wesbury, a winner of The Wall Street Journal's annual economic forecasting award, nationally acclaimed speaker and author will help navigate these confusing and volatile times.

It's Not as Bad as You Think
Wesbury shows that the future may be scary to ponder, but it will ultimately be profitable, globally and over the long haul. He reveals the real reasons behind the "Panic of 2008" and why it seems so much more severe than past crises. He uncovers a history of entrepreneurship that you should trust, as well as explains how a V-shaped recovery can take place and how wealth you had thought you lost can be found again.

Inflation, Deleveraging and Recession
The unemployment rate is rising, the auto and housing markets are in shambles. The government is bailing out banks, printing money with abandon and handing out billions in stimulus checks. But is the economy as bad as people think? Is a government rescue going to work? How long and deep will the recession be? Should we fear inflation or deflation? What about excess debt versus de-leveraging? Brian Wesbury, an internationally known economist, will address these questions and more in what should prove to be an entertaining and informative event.