Public radio program encourages listeners to "spend less, have more"
Co-hosts Greg Pangallo (left) and Kevin McKinley share their financial expertise with listeners on "Kevin McKinley On Your Money" heard on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio. Photo by The Snapshot
"Spend less, have more." That's the trademark phrase for "Kevin McKinley On Your Money," which can be heard statewide on Wisconsin Public Radio's (WPR) Ideas Network 7-8 a.m. Sunday.
Saving, investing, spending
"Money - and talking about money - should be fun," says McKinley, a certified financial planner from Eau Claire and author of the book Make Your Kid a Millionaire: 11 Easy Ways Anyone Can Secure a Child's Financial Future (Simon & Schuster). "We answer questions about saving, investing and spending while sharing useful news about money. We do it all with a sense of humor, and try to bring a smile or two to our listeners."
Broadcast statewide
McKinley and co-host Greg Pangallo began the show in 2003 as a regional program on WHWC, the Ideas Network station serving west-central Wisconsin. The program was elevated to the full network lineup in July 2006, and in the Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay areas the program is already attracting 8,600 listeners (Arbitron ratings for fall 2006; statewide ratings will be available later this spring).
Everyday advice
McKinley offers tips on heavy topics like managing retirement plans, saving for college, insurance and identity theft, but also finds time to work in everyday advice like the best deals in weight-loss plans, and why you might want to wait to buy a new TV.
Additional resource
For those interested in world business and finance, "Marketplace" from American Public Media airs at 5:30 p.m. weekdays on WPR's News and Classical Music stations. —Dean Kallenbach
For more information: www.wpr.org, (800) 747-7444
Training enhances workers' bargaining skills
As the oldest continuously operating, university-based labor-education program in the United States, the University of Wisconsin-Extension School for Workers (SFW) provides 150 programs to 4,000 union representatives, officers, members and employer representatives each year.
Tough times for workers
Recent research by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) shows today's workers are receiving less health-care and pension coverage through their employers than in 1979. The EPI also reports from 1992 to 2005, median workers' wages rose only a little more than 7% compared to median CEOs who saw their pay increase by more than 185%.
How-tos for improving wages and benefits
"The School for Workers provides employees with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively bargain for contracts to improve wages and working conditions and increase benefits," explains SFW Assistant Professor Corliss Olson.
Class offerings include labor and employment discrimination law, collective bargaining, arbitration, organizing and steward training, strategic planning, contract administration, ergonomics, and developing and facilitating union-management partnerships.
"Valuable" training
The United Steelworkers Union District 2, with membership throughout Wisconsin and Michigan, has worked with the SFW for 61 of the School's 82 years. Organizing Coordinator Doug Drake confirms that SFW training programs are valuable in helping the union negotiate better wages and benefits for employees. "But beyond the dollars and cents aspects, union members have more control over their destinies," Drake says. "They have a formal opportunity to address their concerns on the job, should it be necessary."—Amy Pikalek
For more information: SFW Assistant Professor Corliss Olson, corliss.olson@uwex.edu, (608) 265-4923; schoolforworkers.uwex.edu
Grants available for business development
For Wisconsin entrepreneurs eager to start a business or develop a growth plan for their existing businesses, assistance is just a mouse click away
Grants from the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN), part of the University of Wisconsin-Extension Entrepreneurship and Economic Development division (formerly known as the Business and Manufacturing Extension), can be used to develop a plan for business creation or growth and to employ the professional services necessary to apply for federal funding.
Early Planning Grants
The Early Planning Grant (EPG) program provides funds to entrepreneurs and small businesses so they can hire consultants to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed start-up or expansion. In addition to grant information, applicants can also find business advisors and consultants listed on the WEN Web site.
Mark Westfall, owner and founder of an electronic health records company in Neenah, successfully applied for an Early Planning Grant (EPG) in 2006. "We found that the market for our products had significantly changed since we last wrote our business plan," explains Westfall. "The grant helped us to rewrite the business plan focusing on new markets and to create a presentation for investors."
Technology Assistance Grants
WEN also administers the Technology Assistance Grant (TAG) program to assist small high-technology businesses in their efforts to obtain seed, early-stage or research-and-development funding.
Up to $3,000 is available under each program.
High return on investment
"Even though the amount is not very large," says Westfall, "the result is ten times its value."
—Ashwini Rao
INVESTING IN SUCCESS
Since June 2006:
- A total of 66 Early Planning Grant applications have been submitted and more than $80,000 committed.
- More than 500 hours of assistance (on average 7.8 hours per case) Ð including one-on-one counseling, research and preparation, and grant reviews Ð have been provided to applicants by the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network review team.
For more information: www.wenportal.org; Wisconsin Business AnswerLine, (800) 940-7232