When tariff uncertainty means nixed retirement plans

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of tariff uncertainty on small business owner Joann Cartiglia's retirement plans and financial situation.

We've talked a lot about the rollercoaster of tariffs. But behind every economic story is a human one, too. This morning, we check in with Joann Cartiglia, who runs a toy and doll shop in upstate New York. She's looking at around $15,000 in tariff refunds. Still, uncertainty, precarity, and debt have put her in "the scariest financial situation" of her life and mean that retirement has “been kind of taken off the table.” But before that conversation: a Federal Reserve meeting and a royal visit with the president.

People in this episode

Guest: Joann Cartiglia

Topics covered

• tariffs
• financial uncertainty
• retirement plans
• economic impact
• small business
• personal finance

Keywords

• tariffs
• retirement
• financial situation
• small business
• economic uncertainty

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Federal Reserve

Places: upstate New York

More episodes of Marketplace All-in-One

• Who's getting those tariff refunds? · May 8, 2026 · 25 min
• Kimberly's final cheers on "Economics on Tap" · May 8, 2026 · 36 min
• Care to invest in the U.S. during a trade war? · May 8, 2026 · 9 min
• The context behind 115,000 new jobs · May 8, 2026 · 7 min
• Anthropic’s new, powerful allies: Elon Musk and SpaceX · May 8, 2026 · 10 min
• The erosion of the American tax base · May 7, 2026 · 25 min