Join David Condon of Edward Jones and David Hiss of John Hancock as they discuss the new Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act.  This is the new law that requires employers with 16 or more W-2 employees to offer an employee-sponsored retirement program or the new Illinois Secure Choice program.  The law will go into effect for those with 5 or more employees starting on November 1, 2023.

Sit down for a quick chat with Jason Thompson of Edge Music Academy.  We learn about his passion for music and how he turned it into a business venture in Homer Glen, IL, creating the preeminent location for learning how to play an instrument.   Find out more about Edge Music Academy by visiting them online at https://edgemusicacademy.com/. This podcast is sponsored by My LHG Guide, the definitive guide to living in Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas.  Keep up to date with events, stories, and more in the area!  Visit mylhgguide.com today. A Quick Chat is a production of the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce serving Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas in Illinois.  Find out more by visiting us online at https://www.myhcba.com.

Farhan Ali is the new owner of Rosati's Pizza of Homer Glen.  Meet Farhan and learn more about this great pizza place and how he's working to improve the reputation of the restaurant. Find out more about Rosati's Pizza of Homer Glen by visiting https://www.facebook.com/rosatishomerglen or https://www.rosatispizza.com/location/homer-glen-il/ Find out more about the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce that serves Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding area, by visiting https://www.myhcba.com.

Are you a entrepreneur or future entrepreneur in Will County, IL (or close nearby)?  Today, HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka sits down to talk to Garry Reichert of the new Entrepreneur & Business Center (EBC) at Joliet Junior College. Learn more about their: - Free advising sessions and how they can help entrepreneurs (current or future) with business planning, financing consultations, and more. - Future location in Downtown Joliet at JJC's City Center Campus - How they can help you and the resources behind their success. Find out more about JJC's Entrepreneur and Business Center by visiting https://jjc.edu/jjc-entrepreneur-business-center-getting-started. Find out more about the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce serving Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas, by visiting https://www.myhcba.com.

Join Robert Masny, owner of Model Act Studios, as he tells us more about his business in this episode of HCBA Spotlight.  He'll take us around his Talent Agency in Lemont, as well as tell us how he got started in this business. Find out more about Model Act Studios by visiting ModelActStudios.com. Find out more about the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce representing Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas, by visiting MyHCBA.com.

Join Lana Thompson from BMO Harris for an interactive webinar as we go through the bank’s newest feature - BMO SmartProgress Digital Education.   This new tool will allow anyone with a smartphone, even non-BMO customers, the chance to have an interactive learning experience with short sessions that will help anyone with their financial well-being.

Whether you're looking to start a business or to expand, financing is paramount.  Lori Ritzert of Lemont Bank and Trust gives you information about business financing, including what banks are typically looking for when you go in for a loan. She also covers key reports that banks will want to see. Lori's contact information is: lritzert@hinsdalebank.com 630-655-8001 Find out more about the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Lemont and Homer Glen Chamber of Commerce, by visiting https://www.myhcba.com.

Eliminate the guesswork when it comes to growing your business. Partner with Lemont's own Mike Schields of Cultivate Advisors for 1:1 advising designed to help you identify the opportunities in your business and build a path for sustainable growth. More information can be found at cultivateadvisors.com.  Mike can be directly contacted at mikes@cultivateadvisors.com. Find out more about the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce serving Lemont, Homer Glen, and the surrounding areas by visiting https://www.myhcba.com.

You may be familiar with math's order of operations. When thinking about savings for retirement or college, Mike Pensinger, CFP® of Pensinger Financial takes us through the Financial Planning Order of Operations. Download Mike's one-page "Financial Planning Order of Operations" PDF, referenced in this Power Hour, at pen-fin.com/order. Find out more about Pensinger Financial by visiting pen-fin.com. Visit the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance online at myhcba.com.

BMO Harris' Lana Thompson sits down to discuss Credit Scores and Reports with HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka.  This is a great presentation, as credit scores have a major impact on our lives.   Lana touches on what is comprised of a credit score, the effect of co-signing, credit reporting bureaus, credit repairing scams, and more.   Visit the Episode Page at https://www.myhcba.com/2022/04/05/power-hour-episode-9-credit-scores-reports-lana-thompson-bmo-harris/

Welcome to our new podcast, "Less Than 90 Seconds" ... quick and easy bites into important business topics - ranging from marketing, finance, and more.   In today's episode, HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka quickly goes over the difference between vector and raster graphics.

Wills.  Trusts.  Probate Court.   Mark Berardi of Berardi and Associates takes HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka and other listeners through the basics of Estate Planning ABOUT BERARDI AND ASSOCIATES Estate planning tailored to your needs. We have crafted wills, trusts, and business succession plans for many different types of client needs. Our goal is to provide the best legal services to you as efficiently as possible. With offices in Homer Glen and New Lenox, we work where you live! https://berardilawoffice.com/

Join HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka for Social Media 102, where he discusses content (one-off vs. evergreen), programming events into Facebook, Meta Business Suite, and queue schedulers.   Take an extended trial of SmarterQueue by visiting our exclusive link - https://smarterqueue.com/?afmc=jr.  When you sign up for SmarterQueue, a portion of the proceeds goes back to the HCBA.   Visit the Heritage Corridor Business Alliance online at https://www.myhcba.com Check out the definitive guide to living in Lemont and Homer Glen at https://www.mylhgguide.com.

HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka talks with Cultivate Advisor's own Mike Schields about Social Media Marketing.  They talk about using your marketing and customer service to create social media superfans, and how they can propel your business into the stratosphere.   Mike Schields' Contact Info: MikeS@cultivateadvisors.com https://www.cultivateadvisors.com

Leading Solar Solutions is the area's premier provider of EV Chargers, Solar Energy Solutions, and LED Retrofitting.  HCBA Executive Director Dan met with Dean Fox at the Leading Solar Booth to learn more about EV vehicles, chargers, and the increased presence of electric vehicles. Contact Dean Fox: 877-727-7142 deanf@leadingsolarsolutions.com https://www.leadingsolar.com   We apologize for the audio on this.  It was our first time recording in a large setting like McCormick Place (and despite our editing efforts, still a lot of background noise).

The HCBA's own Dan Mulka takes entrepreneurs through a simple and easy introduction to Digital Media.  Find out why a web site is important, how to get online if you don't have a ton of time, and other steps introducing you to the world of digital media marketing.   Dan's Contact Information dan@myhcba.com 630-257-5997 https://www.myhcba.com

In this week's episode, HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka talks with Scott Zale (Shulman Zale Legal Group) about Real Estate Transactions and the important of having a lawyer on your team when making a life-changing purchase, whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced buyer. Scott Zale's Contact Info: 630-974-0614 scott.zale@szlegalgroup.com http://www.szlegalgroup.com

HCBA Executive Director Dan Mulka is joined by Lana Thompson from BMO Harris Bank.  The topic of the Power Hour is Health Savings Accounts.  Whether you are an employer or employee, you will want to listen to info about their new Health Savings Account being offered after a new partnership with Lively.  Lana Thompson's contact info: lana.thompson@bmo.com 312-909-2975

You are busy.  You’re running a business.  You're trying to do what you love, but you also have social media, taxes to file, three candidates to interview to try and fill a vacancy, the phone is ringing off the hook, and of course, a customer wants to speak to the owner.   Sound like you?  We're joined by Mike Schields from Cultivate Advisors who talks about time and priority management, and gives us a couple of "hacks" to help us focus on a to-due list.

We're joined by Larry  Swanson and Matt Friscia from Transworld Business Adivsors to discuss the steps in buying and selling a business, including why using a business broker (such as Transworld) can be to your benefit.