Should You Borrow Early From Your 401(k) Plan?

Tough economic times have caused many to tap into any financial resource they have.  Burdened with debt, job loss, supporting kids through school along with other financial pressure make more difficult to get by each month.  For many, an employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan has been a source of forced-savings and therefore, tempting to touch.  But should you?  Is it a good idea?

Also, have you thought about cashing out completely, your 401(k) plan?  Have your heard that fellow co-workers, family and friends have done the same thing?

Here’s how we addressed this question with Tera Williams, reporter and journalist,  from FOX Chicago:

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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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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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Go Green Appliance Rebate Program Hopes to Stimulate Economy in New Year

My co-host on our Monday Morning Show “Making God First Mondays”, John Heerhold, brought this up since he just bought new appliances and didn’t know there was a government rebate program starting.  I thought I’d share with you all too!

With the new year, Illinois residential consumers may qualify for a new rebate program if they buy energy efficient appliances. This is a national program but each state has it’s own rules and ways to administer the appliance rebate program.

Last year’s federal stimulus package set aside $300-million for the appliance rebate program.  Illinois with get about will get about $12 million of that.

Here is what it says on the U.S. Department of Energy’s website for Illinois residents:

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WGN’s Chicago Now Talk Radio Show: Money Smart Tips to Build Again in 2010

Let’s Build Again in 2010…so what better way than to share some Money Smart Tips during the Chicago Now Show on WGN Radio 720 AM, TODAY (1/2/2010) from 11:30-Noon!

Here are some of the tough questions I will attempt to cover, regarding strategies in planning for retirement and finding money for our kid’s college education:

What does the President Bush’s Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 have to do with the way American’s are planning for retirement today?

Why is traditional ways of financial planning wasting time?

What are the 3 most fearful trends affecting our financial security and what should we do about it?

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Building True Wealth throughout the New Year

We wish you all well throughout the New Year!  I know 2009 was rough…but we’re still standing!  2010 brings us a great fresh start and new beginnings.  We closed out our 2009 with an event we consider “Building True Wealth”.  The financial strategy of GIVING, never goes out of style and continues to reap dividends long-term.

Know that we are constantly praying for you all and if you have specific questions, prayer requests or would like to volunteer at our next event…give us a call 708.686.2000 x8

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($)SMART MONEY Choices Equal a Brighter Future

NFCC Announces Annual National Financial Literacy Poster Contest

Silver Spring, MD – Financial experts agree that starting early is one of the keys to financial success.   Thus, $mart Money Choices = A Brighter Future was selected as the theme of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s (NFCC) 2010 Poster Contest.  In an effort to increase interest in financial literacy to our nation’s youth, the NFCC is once again sponsoring the Be Money Wi$e National Financial Literacy Poster Contest for 2010. The contest is designed to get young students thinking about how to manage money effectively and offers them a creative outlet to demonstrate their knowledge. It also provides the opportunity for local and national recognition for student artwork and rewards winners with U.S. savings bonds and other prizes.

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Chicago’s New Media and Old Media Converge over the Weekend!

I had the pleasure of being invited by Chicago Now’s Fernando Diaz to the Chicago Association of Hispanic Journalists, blog publishing workshop.

Masterminding with Chicago’s finest journalists and bloggers was a phenomenal experience in being able to share in a community of “new media” revolutionaries.

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