GUEST POST: Why You Can’t Afford Not to Invest in your Health

Many of us try and try again to improve our health. We try to eat healthier, exercise regularly, or commit to healthy living and only a small percentage succeed.

So why do so many people fail to live a healthier lifestyle:

They believe they have no time. If you exercise 1 hour every day of the week, you are only exercising 4% of your time. Are you worth 4%???? During this small time investment, you manage your weight, increase your stamina, ward off viral illnesses, reduce conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain types of cancer. You are also strengthening your heart, keeping your arteries clear and it reduces stress. Only 4% of your time gives you all these benefits. Don’t have 1 hour per day? Break in up into 10 minutes segments, it gives you the same results as a full hour.

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Matthew Sapaula on Garrard McClendon LIVE: What the New Credit Card Laws Mean to You

Tonight on the Garrard McClendon LIVE show, I will share what the new credit card laws mean to you on Chicago’s CLTV broadcasting 6pm & 9:30pm CST.  President Obama signed the Credit Card Act of 2009 into law May 22, 2009 where a majority of these laws take effect beginning February 22, 2010.

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Real Estate Investors and Wealth Building Networking Event hosted by “Uncle” Frank Montro

Would you like to know how to get involved in real estate investing?  Would you like to connect the dots with your financial plan and how to take advantage of the opportunities existing right now in the current real estate market?  Do you want to really know what it means to buy low and sell high?

Would you like to learn from a successful Chicagoland real estate investor who sold over 280 properties last year, in the middle of a recession?  Don’t be fooled in thinking that no one is making money right now…Frank wants to share his ideas, his contacts, his systems for FREE.  Learn from the “Uncle” who help put money in your pocket and not take it away!

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College Financial Planning: How to Find Money When Your Savings are Down

Most high school students and their families get through their financial situations by “wingin’ it”.  That was me.  Never did college financial planning, scholarship planning or simply planning for college get any in-depth discussion.  I thought that since I was an All-Conference high school athlete that colleges would be sending me applications. WRONG!  In fact, I didn’t start thinking about planning for college until my senior year in high school…way behind the curve.  Ultimately, my college plan ended up enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, out of lack of knowing all my options, rather than making the right choice.

In 2009 alone, over 130,000 Illinois students got DENIED college financial aid. Over 40% of students alone who depended upon the MAP grant where threatened, to not get the money for college they needed to stay in school. 1 out of 10 students today have their education threatened to an already difficult financial milestone in life, which is finding the money for college. Lack of college financial planning and not having enough money is the #1 reason why students drop out of college and never finish their college education.

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Illinois Earthquake: Wake Up Call to Four Key Areas of Your Financial Plan

At approximately 4am, a third earthquake has hit Illinois since 1999.  I recall the one in 2008, 3 weeks before I was to conduct a financial planning workshop during Money Smart Week sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.  It changed the information I was going to deliver at this workshop.  In fact, I broke down in the middle of the presentation to re-enact how one of my close friends thought Jesus was coming.

And it is a good time to bring it up again.

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New Orleans Saints: Catastrophe to Champion – 3 Quickies to Victory in Personal Finance

Several years ago, Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans in a devastated situation.  New Orleans, LA and surrounding cities in the wake of this natural disaster are still rebuilding their communities, local economy and way of living in the bayou.

But as of last Sunday’s Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints won something even more…world-class confidence.

They brought a huge victory to the people of New Orleans, a story of inspiration and courage, that many of us can follow even if we aren’t Saints fans.  What a great American story…to rise up from destruction and become a champion!  Well how does that relate to personal finance?  Simple. Any Wall Street executive, day trader or financial planner can easily tell you that the markets rise and fall on one major factor…consumer confidence.

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Chris Searcy: How an Indie Artist Turned His Passion into Profit

Podcast: Download (Duration: 14:21 — 19.7MB)

Once a week, we profile an entrepreneur that has taken the courage to go way past their comfort zone to achieve the dream that God has placed solely in their heart.  This week’s featured entrepreneur is, Chris Searcy, an indie (independent) artist who produced his own hit song, Addicted.  By continuing to follow his passion, in the midst of a recession and amongst naysayers or “haters”, his song Addicted has climbed up the charts to #14 on the Gospel Music Channel’s top 20 songs.  His story and example is truly one that exemplifies an individual that has found their passion and found a way to turn it into profit.

What does an indie artist have to do with being an entrepreneur? Everything!  Without a major music label backing him, Chris not only has created his own hit song, but his own music label My Radio Records and is responsible for the management and marketing of his work.  Enjoy this video highlight of Chris Searcy and be sure to download the full interview below.

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Matthew Sapaula appears on Chicago’s WLS 890 AM Real Estate on Radio Show

After a couple “Tweets”, mentions by common clients and a power lunch with Ron Vergara and Sebastian Walas, co-hosts of Chicago’s WLS 890 AM Real Estate on Radio Show, it became apparent that the worlds of Chicago financial planning and real estate investing needed to combine.  While reviewing the show strategy and business alignment over oxtail potstickers, chicken adobo and a Thai omelet at Sunda downtown, Ron Vergara states in his own words, “Matthew Sapaula completes me!”

Okay, stop with the snarkled laughter…

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PODCAST: Why Getting a Large Tax Refund Puts the Joke on You

Podcast: Download (27.0MB)

This is the time of the year where most people will head to their local H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax offices to get their income tax return.  Some who anticipate a large tax refund and will even pay extra, or a premium, in order to get their money now via an income tax loan. Others will consider a large income tax refund as their forced savings plan, their vacation money or get-me-a-new-flat-screen-TV-now, fund.

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How to Cut Your Credit Card Debt in Half with Debt Settlement – is this all hype?

One of the biggest questions I get via email or comments on our Facebook page is how to get out of credit card debt the fastest.  In addition to all the Debt Snowball strategies we’ve mentioned on past shows (Waging a War On Debt!), many have been very intrigued in the area of debt settlement.  I mean, who wouldn’t like to take $50,000 of debt, get someone to negotiate for you and bring down the final bill to $25,000 or lower?  Sounds to good to be true?  Perhaps.  Just like anything, do your research.

I’m glad we can bring another friend of Money Smart Radio and fellow Facebook friend, Jesse D. Niesen aka. The Debt-Go-to-Guy, to write a guest post on this particular topic…which happens to be his area of expertise.  By the way…he is also a former jarhead, as in…a United States Marine! OOOORAAAAH!

If you like his article as I do, you outta give this guy some props and enter a comment below saying, “SEMPER FI!”  This means, “Always Faithful”, the Marine Corps motto.  I’m sure it would mean a lot to him!

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