The Fed is holding rates steady at 3.5%–3.75% heading into its March 17–18 meeting, where another pause is all but certain, but keep your eyes on the projections that come out of this one because they could start painting a picture of rate relief later this year. Prime sits at 6.75%, with markets pricing one to two cuts by year-end, likely starting mid-year, meaning borrowing costs could get even friendlier for small business clients. The NFIB Optimism Index slipped to 98.8 in February, but context matters here: It's still sitting above the 52-year average, and the Uncertainty Index actually fell three points to 88, which tells me owners aren't panicking. They're settling in. The real story is in the fundamentals. Profit trends surged 7 points to their highest level since December 2021, and actual sales hit their strongest reading since May 2022. Yes, headwinds remain: competition from large businesses reached a five-year high, expected sales volumes pulled back 8 points, and 34% of owners are raising compensation to retain talent. But businesses that are profitable and investing through uncertainty need smart financing partners, and right now there's a real opportunity to be exactly that. As of March 1, the SBA expanded allowable base rates for 7(a) loans to include SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) and Treasury benchmarks alongside Prime, giving brokers new pricing flexibility to bring better deals to the table.

The window is open. Show up this month with clarity on the new SBA rate structures and a plan for helping clients capitalize on strong profit trends with growth financing. That's how you become the advisor they call first, not last.

_{Rates as of March 2026. For informational purposes only. Actual rates vary by borrower qualifications, lender, and loan terms. Not a guarantee of rate or approval.}

_{Patterns & insights that our experts are seeing within the industry from their day-to-day}

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