My Illinois Savings Retirement Program

Learn about My Illinois Savings, a state-facilitated retirement savings program that makes it easy for Illinois workers to save for the future through payroll deductions and straightforward for employers to facilitate.

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Make the Most of Every Season of Life

I choose to remain a Midwesterner for many reasons, but one of them is that I really appreciate having four seasons. That doesn’t mean that I like all four seasons equally. In Illinois, spring holds the promise of warming days. It also frequently disappoints us with cold, rainy days and the occasional snowstorm.       I’m guessing most people look forward to warm summer days. As someone who often wears a suit to work, anything over 80° can leave me a sweaty mess. I do enjoy freshly fallen snow,…

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What Keeps Us Up Can Also Move Us Forward

When you have a problem, people often tell you to “sleep on it.” But what happens when an inability to sleep is the problem? The last few decades, I have suffered from frequent bouts of insomnia. Like many people who have trouble sleeping, I worry about my children, my parents as they get older, and challenges at work. When this happens, rather than getting worried about a lack of sleep, I have learned to accept that my mind will be active, and to direct it to creative thoughts. It’s not…

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Treasurer Frerichs as a boy, around age 8, climbing the stairs to exit a swimming pool

Helping You Build Good Money Habits

The 1980s seemed to be peak suntanning culture in America. In movies, the cool kids had a deep, dark tan. The ads for sunscreen focused on getting a nice even brown. In the summer, it seemed like everyone was grabbing some rays, and in the winter, tanning beds were a thing. I got caught up in the craze. I never visited a tanning salon, but I also rarely used sunscreen. I don’t think the sun’s harmful effects were clear to me until one particularly long suntanning session on our deck. Sure,…

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Twin toddler boys sitting on a chair, each holding a book

Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

After I wrote about the boys’ birthday, a few people asked me what their favorite toy was. It’s different every day, but without question their current favorite toy is the one their brother is playing with. And we often experience a meltdown when their brother does not relinquish it to them. The toy could have been sitting at the bottom of the toy chest for months, out of sight and out of mind. But as soon as their brother has rediscovered it and starts to play with it, that toy…

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two men in suits standing in front of the illinois flag and united states flag

New Name, Same Mission to Help You Save

I recently spoke with an employee of the park district and mentioned how much I enjoy our neighborhood parks. She asked me which one was my favorite, and I realized I didn’t really know the official names of any of them. They all have names to honor important people, but for me, the location is more important. For my boys, each one has earned a nickname based on a special feature in or near the park. We frequently choose between “Ropes Park”, “Metra Park”, “Sand Park”, “Church Park”, and “Choo-choo…

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