Money Smart Guy Going Hollywood! The First Breakfast Movie directed by Christian Moffitt

Nah, no plans for the West Coast, but who would have thought I’d be in a movie?  God always has His ways…and this time it was to cross paths with Christian Moffitt.  I was introduced to him by Christian Hage of City Church Chicago who discovered him, literally on the side of a street.  This guy is SUPER TALENTED and I couldn’t believe he is only 19 yrs old!

Christian Hage, Pastors Kent and Alli Munsey arranged for a special movie production to be created for last week’s Easter service.  What a treat for City Church Chicago…church was packed Easter morning.  Below is a replay of that production, The First Breakfast by City Church Films.

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Mortgage Payoff: Why Your Mortgage is Your Friend and How it Can Help You

In a time of change, it is critical to rethink why we believe what we believe.  Mortgages have always been a target of negative financial thoughts and something most traditional financial planners would suggest be paid of sooner than faster. After all, you don’t “want all the interest” to be going to the banks! Is it possible to have a mortgage become a wealth-building tool, rather than just the biggest piece of debt we will ever get into?  Right?  Well, one of the topics of great debate, “paying off my mortgage is a mistake” has revealed certain truths through this recession.

Five years ago, we began a movement called “home equity management“, encouraging homeowners and real estate investors to rethink about leaving home equity dormant within a property that ultimately wastes the value of this asset over time.  In fact, I helped illustrate this with a “pitcher and goblet” analogy during my workshops held during Money Smart Week with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

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VIDEO: Rollin’ in Chicago with Real Estate on Radio’s Ron Vergara – WLS 890 AM

Would you like to accelerate your financial goals, dream towards financial independence and create a lifestlye of freedom and choice by 100 mph?  That can readily be accomplished by surrounding yourself with the right people.  Jim Rohn, Mark Victor Hansen, Anthony Robbins along with the rest of the personal development gurus will tell you that you are a product of your environment.  Choosing your friends, associates and advisors is directly related to the enjoyment, fulfillment and happiness you experience throughout your life.  Here’s a quick peek into one of my Friday afternoons with good friend, Ron Vergara of the Real Estate on Radio Show.

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City Church Chicago: Happy Three Year Birthday!

It was about two years ago, that my friend Jose Rodriguez invited me to watch a play in Munster, Indiana at Family Christian Center, called Jesus of Nazareth.  I had been struggling at that point with many decisions and relationships that I had in my personal and business life.  We took our kid’s there to watch this amazing play during Holy Week and thought it was just another “church play”.  Boy was I surprised!  It had a full on professional production, hundreds of actors, live animals and pyrotechnics you wouldn’t believe.

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How to Build a Tax-Free Retirement with a Roth IRA Conversion

Podcast: Download (Duration: 12:42 — 17.5MB)

The year 2010 marks a decisive year in which IRA owners may take advantage of a tax-planning opportunity yet unseen.  Every time a “change in the tax code” occurs, I ask myself, “What is the IRS and our government trying to get us to do?  What is their incentive to give US an incentive?”  Well, for one, our government both federal and state have major cash flow issues.  Instead of waiting until you are 59 1/2 years old to collect income taxes from your IRA or 401(k) retirement plan as you withdraw cash for retirement income…they’d like your money now within the next couple years.  A Roth IRA conversion may just be what the doctor ordered so you can take your tax-deferred retirement savings and pay taxes NOW, so you won’t have to later.  … Continue Reading

Behind the Scenes Footage with Matthew Sapaula on the Garrard McClendon LIVE Show!

Just a little sum-sumthin’ for ya…and yes, don’t let the suit and tie fool ya, I bust out in many corny moments to break the tension! Here’s a short video sharing with you about what goes on behind the scenes from a recent appearance on the Garrard McClendon LIVE show on Chicago’s CLTV.

As you can see, I VALUE your comments from our blog, Facebook and Twitter connections.  Keep them flowin!!

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How This Laid Off Worker Handles a Major Financial Challenge

As the economy continues to rebuild and small businesses reinvent themselves, laid off workers have had to weather one of the worst economic and financial times of their lives.  At at time where most feel financially isolated and confused, people like Bob and Mary Jo have become more proactive in taking control of their financial future.  A few years ago before the recession, I met them while speaking for a Chicago real estate investing club.  As a financial strategist and wealth-building coach specializing in the specific needs of home owners and real estate investors, I had the opportunity to not only help Bob and Mary Jo weather a personal economic collapse, but brace for a recession.  Sure enough, right after we had met, Bob had gotten laid off after being promised a company pension after 20+ years of committed, loyal service to his company.  No monthly pension income payments, no health insurance, no company benefits as previously promised…Bob was on his own.

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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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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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