A New Day

First and foremost, I would link to say "Thanks" to all who have expressed support toward Building America's Foundation's mission. You all are truly inspiring and make it easier to get going each day to move our mission forward. Secondly, I would like to apologize for being the worst blogger in the history of blogging. While I may have many years of banking and investment experience, it is quite obvious that I really need to work on my social networking skills. I am the kind of person who would rather talk in person or over the phone. My promise to you is that over 2013 I will make it a priority to update the blogs at least once a week and aim for twice a week. As businesses and people make donations and we are able to provide assistance,I will be posting more often. Now for the important news of the day. Our first formal fund-raising drive has begun. We had hoped to have our IRS letter concerning tax-exemption before having a formal fund-raising drive. Unfortunately, the IRS is backlogged on applications to process and our first approved recipient, Sheila Aay, has been formally notified by her bank that they have started the foreclosure process. Therefore, we are unable to wait any longer. Sheila has been battling breast cancer for the last few years. She underwent a double mastectomy in June 2012 and has been working on recovering since. While Sheila looks forward to returning to teaching special needs kids, she understands that she will need to wait until fall 2013 as her recovery is slowly progressing. We all can relate to Sheila. People working hard day in, day out many times living paycheck to paycheck. I have lost a few co-workers to cancer in my life. Each and every one of those people helped me along my path and touched me and my family. Saving Sheila's house from foreclosure is not the end all in her battle but rather a giant helping hand that lets he know that "We the people care". Please tell family, friends and co-workers and most importantly donate. Here is a link to our formal press release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10409883.htm Together we can make a difference, Todd Schuerman- Founder

In December 2008, I was enjoying a glass of red wine and watching tv. I was hearing about companies planning to layoff workers just before the holiday. Unfortunately, 2008 seemed to have wave after wave of corporate layoff announcements. In August 2008 Lehman Brothers went bankrupt over a weekend and chaos seemed to take over the financial sector. I just remember thinking that night about the families of people who were being laid off. Please understand that I was working as an investment representative at the time, ShareBuilder. The days were wild as the stock market in the fall of 2008 would literally lose 300 points one day, gain 100 the next day and lose another 200+ points the following day. Nobody knew what was happening on a day to day basis. The news stations (CNBC, CNN, etc) highlighted the rollercoaster and downfall with unbridled enthusiasum though. Back to that evening, I was thinking of, basically visualizing, the families in where the main person bringing home the income had been laid off and realizing that no corporations were hiring. People were losing good paying jobs. How does a person replace the $80,000/yr income delivering pizzas and expect to keep paying their bills, mortgages, put food on the table for their families and themselves? I was envisioning families that were sitting in their homes feeling the walls of bills and debt closing in around them. All of sudden it was like a lightbulb went off in my head, someone needs to be there to throw families a lifeline. Some type of funding that would not require families to pay it back just to get their families through for 1-2 yrs. Millions of families were about to lose their homes on top of already losing their jobs. I came up with a possible solution. I mean why not me. I had been in banking for 5+ yrs then passed the series 7 and 66 test and had been working in the investment field for 3+ yrs by that point in time. I understood how the financial community worked and knew there was not going to a rescue coming from the financial corporations especially when they could barely keep themselves afloat at the time. Literally, I went to my computer and purchase the website payoffthemortgage.org that night not knowing what I was going to do or how to proceed. Needless to say, but the recession worsened in early 2009 and the stock market was crashing. The train had officially come off the tracks. I went on to create the initial website myself for payoffthemortgage.org and marketed it as a gifting website. I tried advertising on craigslist until I got my posts deleted so many times that craigslist banned my email address. Dead end until December 5th 2011. My employer, Pacific West Securities (independent broker-dealer), was having the best year ever revenue wise. We had a staff meeting that day and the owners of the company announced they were closing the company. Basically, the owners signed an agreement with another larger independent financial company to help recruit their reps and move over client assets. Everyone had until mid-March 2012. While I eventually stayed until June 2012 one of about 6-7 employees out of the original 44 from December, I knew what I was going to do. Now was the time. I can always go after another job. I just want to make that difference and Building America's Foundation is the dream realized. Please join me on this journey. Contribute generously and we, together, will help families all over America. Thanks for your support, Todd Schuerman Founder CEO Building America's Foundation

Summer days are here again

Wow, I can hardly believe that August is already here. Seattle is celebrating Seafair this weekend. Lots of city activities which lead up to a weekend of hydroplane racing and an air show by the Blue Angels. I always love it when the Blue Angels come to town.
So last I posted was just over a year ago in which my wife and I paid off our mortgage. I decided to take a break and relax some but in reality real world work took over and kept our office busy (which in this economy is a good thing). I also wanted to see how the economy would progress over the next few months.
I have to say that this time last year the US economy was plugging along albeit not at a brisk pace but at least there was growth. Oh how things have changed. Add new congress members and partisan politics and Jobs everyone was concentrating on last November somehow took a backseat to Obomacare (which has not started yet), financial reform (much ado about nothing) and lastly the debt ceiling. Just when you think we could move on after a last minute compromise S&P downgrades the US rating one notch from AAA, the first time in our history as a nation.
Disappointing to say the least. I truly believe the politicians have absolutely no clue on what to do so it is up to the citizens to take back our country and start to turn things around ourselves.
I have a sense of renewed vigor to be helpful in turning the economy around with PayOffTheMortgage.org. Maybe 2011 can still end on a good note. Keep believing.

Mission Accomplished

On July 29th 2010, I walked into Bank of America and wired funds to payoff my mortgage held at Chase (formerly Washington Mutual). The excitement/nervous wait then began until official word was received on Friday July 30th 2010 from a Chase representative that our mortgage balance was considered "Paid In Full". Thus marked a milestone in my wife's and my own financial education and growth. We took out our 30 yr mortgage in February 1999 a few years removed from college. Looking back over the years, we like all young couples made many foolish spending choices. Over the course of the last 11 years, we have grown immensely in our financial lives. We are living debt free: no credit card debt, no home equity loans, no mortgage. Please understand that we have made many sacrifices along the way to achieve our current state. Our vehicles are 1998 model years (Acura & Honda). Plenty of Home cooked meals. We purchased our first flat panel tv last year, a 32in from Costco for about $600, obviously far from big screen luxury.
My occupation in the financial services field often (Securities/Wall Street)focuses on investments. Many working families can get better returns by reducing debt, owning their cars and home all the while reduce their cost of living.
The one thing I am very proud of is that my wife turned 40 in July and I just turned 40 at the end of August. We paid off our mortgage at/before turning 40 yrs old. A little piece of mind with the state of current economy is priceless. May peace of mind be with each of you in the future.

Mother's Day 2010

What a nice day our family is having. My first post for 2010 is happening on Mother's Day. Here in Issaquah, Washington, the sun is shining bright with just a few clouds in the sky. Personally, I have not posted since around November 2009 due to the holidays, a change of employment and because a break was needed. This mission of helping people to payoff their mortgage is in it's third year. In that time my own mortgage has gone from $88,000 to $16,145 as of today. My wife and I are just being disciplined and practical about our money. Just as a note, we have not collected any gift contributions in our journey paying down our own mortgage only our paychecks and bonuses over the last few years.
Those people that know me know about my background in the Financial Services field ( banking & brokerage). While I work in the investment field and watch Wall Street everyday, I believe that owning your own home offers diversification (outside of mutual funds, stocks) and peace of mind.
2010 is proving to be a slow march toward a recovery of the economy in the US but unemployment and foreclosure rates remain high.
Payoffthemortgage.org will be taking a slightly different direction this year. We are going to offer one slot per state for any organization that has over 1,500-2,000+ members. So the 10 slots for each of the 50 US states, could go to only 10 organizations in each state. The goal of helping homeowners in paying down/off their mortgages can grow exponentially through the support of organizations. The time has come to build stronger communities, families and organizations through North America.

New Beginnings

Well a few weeks have passed since my last post. My family and I escaped to Whistler, BC for our annual vacation. Some much needed rest and relaxation was in order, as much as 2 kids will let us get away with that is. We hiked many trails and swam with the little ones at the outdoor pool (heated) and took in the beautiful surroundings.

I was able to get some time to send out my first major e-mail to the Individuals that follow payoffthemortgage.org. The response that followed by one person was unanticipated but led to some excellent insight about how a person views the website and interprets the meaning/mission.

Since I came back from vacation, my commitment to get the newer version of the website online has been almost tireless. I do hope that all who visit receive the impression that the website is one of Goodwill and are able to understand the mission of creating a community dedicated to helping people/families to pay down/ pay off their mortgage balances.

The aim is to have the new version set for viewing by October 17th 2009. So I encourage everyone stopping by the blog to check on or after that date. There will be 11 mortgage listings for every US state, each of the Canadian Provinces and Puerto Rico. Overall more than 600 mortgage listings will be available.

A toast (feel free to raise a glass of your favorite beverage), Here is to looking forward to a new beginning and journey ahead.

One Million Samaritans Needed

This past week we have celebrated my daughter's birthday, turned 6 years old. Kids are so honest and simple at her age. Recently this got me thinking about the situation we are in as a nation. Now I am not one for gloom and doom but a news release just stated that 42 states reported higher unemployment for August.

I feel relived to know thatat least this website is attempting to turn this situation around in any manner I can. Now being only one person who believes is difficult enough but figuring out what kind of action it will take to turn things around is like looking for the provebrial needle in a haystack. I guess you can say that I was shown a way forward: Good Samaritans are what is required. In essence, people who are willing to step up to the plate and offer help to others they see in need.

How many? 100; 1,000; 10,000; 100,000 each number would lend an impact to move forward in a better direction but one million 1,000,000 Good Samaritans would start a serious movement towards a new future. Now the question is: Are you one of the Good Samaritans?

The Good Samaritan:

The parable is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 25-37.
[the preceding context of the parable here]

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

[the parable starts here]

Jesus replied with a story:
“A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” New Living Translation