Making Cents of Money

Do you have questions about health insurance or where to sign up for it? Health insurance can be a complex issue, so that's why in part 2 of our insurance series, we talk to Laura Pellikan from the Illinois Department of Insurance about the basics of health insurance and how to make sure you get covered. Online Resources: Get Covered Illinois - https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/getcovered/Pages/defa...

Insurance is one of the most complex financial topics out there – so we’re doing TWO episodes on our Making Cents of Money podcast to make sure we cover it all! In Part 1 (now available online), we talk with Patrice Dziire, Deputy Director of Consumer Education & Protection at the Illinois Department of Insurance, about auto, home, renters, and life insurance. Part two will tackle health insurance...

Student loan repayments are just a few months away from starting back up for federal borrowers. Check out our latest episode of Making Cents of Money for information on payment updates, scams, and servicer news!

Building an emergency fund is a crucial step towards building a secure financial future. Listen to our latest episode of Making Cents of Money to find out why you should have an emergency fund and how to start saving for one!

Choosing a financial professional can be a tricky process. Check out our latest episode of our Making Cents of Money podcast to find out where to look and what to ask when you're considering beginning this important financial relationship! Additional resources mentioned in the episode: • Choosing a Financial Pro webinar recording: https://youtu.be/PrhWdm-ALX4 • Illinois License Lookup Tool: https:...

Ever wonder why everyone is talking about Bitcoin, Ethereum or all the other cryptocurrencies? Check out our latest podcast with Lamont K. Black to find out what they are, how they work, what they do, and how to purchase them if you're interested! Additional resources mentioned in the episode: Bitcoin: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf IDFPR Blockchain Report: https://www.idfpr.com/Forms/2020%2001%2...

How are our financial behaviors shaped and molded? What type of money personality do you have and how does it affect your habits and attitudes? In our latest episode of Making Cents of Money, we take a look at several, FREE online tools available to you! Resources mentioned this episode: • Literature Review: “Family Financial Socialization: Theory and Critical Review” by Clinton Gudmunson & Sharon...

Thinking of buying a vehicle? You never know when you might need a new set of wheels, but it's always good to be prepared. From loans and leases, to titles and insurance, we cover the basics of the entire buying process in our latest podcast! Additional resources mentioned in this episode: True Cost of Car Ownership Calculators: • Department of Energy Calculator: https://afdc.energy.gov/calc/ • Ed...

With travel resuming, it's important to set attainable travel goals, just like with your finances! In this episode of Making Cents of Money, our hosts break down strategies and tips they use, how to prioritize and maximize money on trips, and steps you should take to protect your money. Additional resources mentioned in the episode: • Fuel Economy Trip Calculator: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/trip/...

Whether you call it a budget or a spending plan, making and sticking to a financial plan can be challenging. On this episode we discuss a few of the most popular budgeting methods to see what might work best for you to turn your goals into realities.

What are we looking to cover in our Making Cents of Money podcast? Why did we create the podcast? Check out our latest episode to see what’s next!

Did you know our Division of Professional Regulation regulates hundreds of different types of professional licenses and oversees approximately 1.2 million licensees in Illinois? If you're looking to become licensed yourself or want to learn more about how DPR regulates all our licensees, tune in to our latest episode of Making Cents of Money!

Looking to buy a home but aren't sure who's who in the real estate industry? What different professions are there, how can they help you, and what regulations do they have to follow - especially if you're looking to join the industry yourself? Jeremy Reed, Chief of Licensing and Education from IDFPR's Division of Real Estate, answers those questions - and more!

Student loans are a growing part of US Household debt; as of 2021, Americans hold over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. On this episode of Making Cents of Money, we welcome Brad Fletcher from IDFPR to talk about student loan options and important protections for consumers. Make sure to check it out! We mentioned many statistics surrounding student loans and student loan debt in this episode. Fo...

Credit can be a confusing topic. Building credit, credit scores, credit invisibility - what do all those terms mean and what steps can you take to have good credit? We're joined by Camaya Wallace Bechard from the University of Illinois Extension and Natalie Daniels from DePaul University to answer those questions (and more!) in this episode of Making Cents of Money As mentioned in this episode, ch...

Short-selling has been in the news a lot recently and we wanted to explain exactly what that is. On this episode of Making Cents of Money, we welcome back our Director of Banking, Chasse Rehwinkel, to explain what short-selling is and how that played a role in the recent GameStop news.

One of the best ways to prepare for your future is to invest your money. In this episode of Making Cents of Money, we're joined by Sasha Grabenstetter from University of Illinois Extension to break down the most common forms of investment, how they work and how you can start, the advantages and risks you need to know. Additional resources mentioned in the podcast: -Sign up for the Investing Basics...

For many, saving for retirement can be daunting. In fact, according to the Federal Reserve, a quarter of Americans don’t have any retirement savings. However, saving for retirement can be much simpler than you would think and in Illinois, Secure Choice is an excellent way to get started. On this episode of Making Cents of Money, Courtney Eccles from the Illinois Treasurer’s office joins us to brea...

Does saving for your children's college have you worried? In this episode of Making Cents of Money, we introduce you to 529 plans: how they work, how they differ from other types of saving accounts, what options are available in Illinois, and how you can use the money without incurring penalties. Featuring two special guests from the Illinois Treasurer's Office: Fernando Diaz, Chief Financial Prod...

Tax season is here! Do you have questions about your taxes? What are exemptions and deductions, where can I file, and how do stimulus payments effect your taxes? We cover all of that in this episode of Making Cents of Money, check it out! Links Referenced in the show: Taxes Webinar: https://go.uillinois.edu/getsavvywebinars IRS Free File: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-...

Financial education is essential for our children & their future. On this episode, we discuss financial literacy in the US & programs for ages pre-K through high school. Teachers, school administrators, and parents, this episode is especially for you! Resources discussed in the episode: Economic Awareness Council - https://www.econcouncil.org/ Check you stimulus check status - https://getmypayment...

Holiday spending have you stressed out? Check out this week’s episode of Making Cents of Money to hear all about some holiday savings tips and tricks and basic financial goal setting for the New Year. Happy Holidays!

This week on the podcast we discuss predatory lending and the Anti-Predatory Lending Database. Our special guest, Katie Liss from IDFPR Division of Banking, breaks down everything you need to know about predatory lending in mortgages and how the APLD helps to mitigate some of these predatory practices. Make sure you check it out so you know how to protect yourself from predatory lending practices!

This week is International Fraud Awareness Week, so we're breaking down what you need to know about fraud. In this episode, we break down what fraud is, the different types scammers might try to pull on you (especially during the COVID-19 pandemic), how to prevent it, and what to do if you do become a victim.

You hear the terms all the time: credit score, credit history, credit report. But what does each mean for you? In this episode, we break down each while also taking a look at the benefits of building and managing good credit – and what you can do if you need to rebuild yours. Links referenced in this episode: -Check your credit report free once a year: annualcreditreport.com -Signup for the Consci...