If You Can Pay Off Mortgage, Should You?

Paying Off Your Mortgage is a Mistake

If you are even thinking about paying off your mortgage, think again. Why is the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reporting that Americans are making the "wrong choice" when it comes to pre-paying their mortgage and saving for their retirement? Find out EXACTLY why and how you can empower your financial future. Live event and financial workshop April 22, 2008, 7 p.m., Oakbrook, IL.

Oakbrook, IL  -  April 21 -- MatthewSapaula, Inc. will host an event April 22nd, 2008 to help middle class homeowners and real estate investors better manage their money more wisely. They will review strategies on how to maximize a homeowner's greatest asset-their home, protect them from dropping property values and explore options on how to secure their financial future during uncertain economic times. This event is one of more than 350 free classes, seminars and activities promoting financial education that will take place during Chicago's Money Smart Week April 20-26th, 2008.

"Many people today are feeling more isolated, confused and powerless as they are bombarded with negative news about our country and economy," says Matthew Sapaula, President of MatthewSapaula, Inc. "Our workshops will help shed a different light to allow attendees to rethink and redefine how to maintain control of their financial future during these unique times."

Their workshop, titled House Rich, Cash Poor…American Dream to American Trap and How to Avoid It, is sponsored by Wachovia and will be held at 7 p.m. CST at the Oakbrook Marriot, 1401 W. 22nd St., Oakbrook, IL 60523, intersection of Cermak and Route 83. Special guest book signings will be held by financial authors James Kraiss, CFP and David Muti, JD who wrote Discovering Life's Hidden Financial Treasures and Mortgages: What You Need to Know, respectively. For seat reservations, free report and audio download, call 800.955.0589 or visit http://www.moneyinmotionseminars.com

Coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its Money Smart partners, Money Smart Week is designed to educate consumers about money management and create awareness of financial education programs on a wide range of topics such as budgeting, retirement savings and using credit wisely.

The educational activities will be carried out by more than 200 local community groups, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.

"Money Smart Week celebrates its seventh anniversary in Chicago and continues to provide many different opportunities for people to learn about managing their personal finances," said Chicago Fed President Charles Evans. "This year's calendar features diverse and numerous events for a broad range of consumers. During this week, attendees will have many chances to learn where good personal finance information is available."

Additional information and a calendar of events for this year's Money Smart Week are now available at http://www.moneysmartweek.org/chicago

Press Contact: Matthew Sapaula
Company Name: MatthewSapaula, Inc.
Phone: 708.236.1720
Website: www.matthewsapaula.com

Commercial Division Launched By Keller Williams Realty

Keller Williams Realty Launches Commercial Division

San Antonio, TX, September 12, 2008 -- Residential real estate firm Keller Williams Realty International announced plans on August 19, 2008 to launch a commercial division titled KW Commercial. Keller Williams, one of the largest real estate companies in North America, plans to become the company of choice in both the residential and commercial worlds by providing its associates with the technology, marketing tools, and resources to succeed in the commercial business. "We want to create synergy and referrals between the residential and commercial sides of our Keller Williams offices, increasing the income and production potential of all our agents," said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty International.

Commercial real estate veteran Tom Phillips has joined KW Commercial to assist in the launch of the division in the Texas marketplace. Phillips, a Realtor®, former broker with Marcus & Millichap, member of the Realtors Commercial Alliance and a CCIM Candidate is looking forward to the launch of the new division. "I am extremely excited about the launch of KW Commercial and the untapped commercial real estate opportunities that will be derived by networking with the more than 2,800 Keller Williams agents throughout Texas. Equally appealing is the opportunity to recruit other commercial brokers to a great company that offers much more attractive commission splits than traditional commercial brokerage shops and the ability to earn passive income."

Phillips serves on the newly created Commercial Leadership Council (CLC) - a group of 25 top Keller Williams commercial brokers from across North America selected to guide the launch and implementation of the new division. He will also serve as a KW Commercial Director in the IH-10 Keller Williams office.
For further information, contact Tom Phillips at 210-857-2375, or visit www.alamocommercial.com.

Contact Information

KW Commercial
Tom Phillips
210-857-2375
tomphillips@kw.com
http://www.alamocommercial.com/

 

Farmers Insurance Claims Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers

Farmers Insurance Claims Teams and Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers Suffering Damage from Hurricane Gustav

LOS ANGELES-- September 01, 2008 --Farmers® Insurance Group of Companies claims teams are preparing today to move into areas stricken by Hurricane Gustav. Once the areas are identified, the teams will deploy along with 2 Catastrophe Claims buses and 5 Customer Care Claims Vehicles.

"Our claims personnel and fleet of claims vehicles are gearing up to assist our customers in Louisiana, Texas and any other areas suffering damage from Gustav," explains Paul Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance.

The Mobile Catastrophe buses are equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; claims stations; water, supplies; laptop, satellite telephone capability; and have a built in grill to serve meals to Farmers' customers and others in need.

The Customer Care Claims Vehicles are smaller versions of Farmers claims buses and are ready to assist with claims and supply needs of Farmers' customers and others in need.

Note to Media: A press release listing exact locations of the claims vehicles will be issued as soon as locations are selected. For questions or information at any time, please contact the Farmers Media Team listed above.

Farmers Insurance customers who have suffered damage should contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

"Farmers' customers who have moved to evacuation centers in Texas, Louisiana or other states, should keep the HelpPoint number handy if needed, when they return to their homes.

Foremost Insurance customers should file their claims by calling: 1-800-527-3907.

Flood victims who have flood insurance should contact the National Flood Program at www.floodsmart.com

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Contacts

Farmers Insurance Group
Jerry Davies, 213-400-4459
jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com
or
Michelle Levy, 512-791-7445
michelle.levy@farmersinsurance.com
or
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com

Residential Solar Shade Structures Create 1.4 Kilowatts

Solar Power to the People: Modular Residential Solar Shade Structures Created by Envision Solar

LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT Solar Kit-Build Structures Offer Stylish Outdoor Living Space

LA JOLLA, Calif.-- September 01, 2008 --Envision Solar, the La Jolla, California based firm best known for its award-winning design of the Solar TreesT in Kyocera's landmark Solar GroveT, has expanded its product line of photovoltaic shade structures to include two "flat-pack" easy to install modular shade structures, each with eight solar panels providing 1.4 kilowatt of clean energy.

The LifeTreeT is a single post steel structure with a cantilevered canopy, and the LifeShadeT is a four-post structure made of Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified sustainable wood. Both are an attractive and functional application of solar power that provides recreational shade, without a requirement for a complex and invasive rooftop installation. The structures are shipped in easy to assemble components and include solar power modules, micro-inverters, and access to an online real-time tracking system to monitor production of clean energy. The structures are anchored in post-holes by concrete, in much the same way that basketball hoops or flagpoles are installed, and a local electrician can connect the AC wiring from the structure to the house meter.

At a price point of $15,500 for the LifeShadeT and $18,500 for the LifeTreeT, these new products offer a lower cost solar power option for homeowners and businesses. Envision Solar designers have focused on modularity as an important goal, because it offers price efficiency and accessibility to clean energy to more people. CEO Robert Noble adds, "We are committed to massive retail deployment of this product in a flat-pack format for local assembly and installation."

In addition to their attractive design and low price, The LifeTreeT and LifeShadeT products offer state of the art technical features; they were designed specifically for photovoltaic modules made by Suntech, and both the LifeTreeT and the LifeShadeT are equipped with "micro-inverters" from Enphase Energy. Micro-inverters convert the energy from the sun into usable alternating current at each module, eliminating the need for a bulky inverter on the side of the building at the meter and making connection to the meter a less costly undertaking. Enphase Energy also offers online access to a real-time monitoring package so that owners can track their clean energy production.

Noble describes the company's mission to employ the principles of sustainable design to innovate in the solar power sector: "We see renewable energy as an architectural element that be integrated into our spaces and our lives."

About Envision Solar International, Inc.

Envision Solar International, Inc. is a turn-key, solar integrated building systems developer. The company's mission is to provide aesthetically pleasing photovoltaic systems to increase the worldwide use of renewable energy. Led by a group of visionary architects, builders and engineers, Envision Solar transforms heat-absorbing parking areas into beautiful, efficient solar power plants. Learn more about us at: www.envisionsolar.com.

Contacts

Envision Solar
Pamela Stevens, 858-768-5151
pstevens@envisionsolar.com