President and Owner
Matthew Sapaula, President of MatthewSapaula, Inc. began his career with a large brokerage firm in southern California after service in the military. Since then, he received instruction at DePaul University’s Financial Planning program and has been trained by senior experts in the financial planning industry. He was personally mentored in financial strategies involving real estate equity management by Douglas R. Andrew, author of Missed Fortune 101 and the New-York Times best-seller, Last Chance Millionaire. MatthewSapaula, Inc. leads the Chicago region as part of the national network of Missed Fortune TEAM providers by helping implement creative strategies with clients.
Matthew Sapaula has been nominated by his peers to Advisor Today magazine as one of the Top 40 Financial Advisors Under 40 and to Allianz’s Top 5 Who’s Who. He also contributes articles to newspapers and publications and wrote the foreword to Discovering Life’s Hidden Financial Treasures, authored by James Kraiss, CFP™.
For over nine years, MatthewSapaula, Inc. has educated the community, helped clients identify hidden assets and devise progressive strategies that turn missed opportunities into a second chance. The MatthewSapaula, Inc. Team holds complimentary financial seminars that explore the myths and misconceptions of traditional wealth-building strategies. These topics include whether choosing IRAs and 401(k) s as the proper savings vehicles and deciding whether to payoff your mortgage. These public seminars also explore the benefits of innovative financial systems and management of dormant real estate equity. Matthew Sapaula has also developed internal training systems, called Xtreme™, for financial and mortgage professionals aligned with his team of industry specialists.
Matthew Sapaula is a decorated military veteran for his service in Somalia, Africa and the Persian Gulf as a member of the United States Marine Corps. He credits his 10 years of service for the values, discipline, and organizational skills that he brings to the financial services industry.
Matthew Sapaula is also a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Chicago Executives’ Club, and American Cancer Society Planned Giving Network. He is a father or three who spends much of his free time with his children in various sporting and church ministry activities.
Managing Director
As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) for over 20 years, James P. Kraiss scrutinizes financial investments with the dedication, thoroughness and discipline of a scientist and mathematician. He was studying for a doctorate in microbiology when he discovered the science of money. He was licensed in securities (Series 7 and 63) and variable insurance for more than 15 years, and has been licensed in life, health, disability and long-term care insurance since 1977. He has been member of The Financial Planning Association and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors for over 25-years. Mr. Kraiss coauthored The Road Map to Financial Freedom in 1981 with R.T.Lessner, The Zero Tolerance Factor in 2003 with K.I.Niew, Mutilply Your Money, Minimize Your Risk in 2005 and Discover Life’s Hidden Financial Treasures in 2006. In 1983, he founded Financial Fulfillment, Inc., a financial planning firm, in Wheaton, Illinois.
His experience in working in collaboration with Certified Financial Planners, Certified Public Accountants, attorneys, insurance brokers and money managers is the value he now brings to MatthewSapaula, Inc. For over 30 years, he has provided clients with unique real-world financial plans. Mr. Kraiss combines the experience working in securities and insurance to give him a solid background enabling him to compare the performance of the stock and bond market indexes versus fixed-indexed life insurance and annuities. He presents financial planning, life and annuity seminars, teleconferences for banks, financial service firms, pension funds, insurance brokerages and insurance companies throughout the United States.
Managing Director
As a retirement planning specialist, Alma has undergone strategic training to serve the needs of her clients. She services her clients from the corporate office, as well as her satellite office in Northwest Indiana. Alma has 35 years of business experience in which she helps clients in capital preservation, protection and growth. She also works with the community and church groups on various charity issues. Mrs. Wiers is dedicated to helping her clients obtain financial security and control specializing her practice in helping retirees.
Director of Operations
Maddie Figueroa graduated from Concordia University with a degree in Business Management. Maddie oversees client services and educational workshops. Her commitment to helping our clients through the MoneyInMotion process allows them to benefit from a unique experience, gaining further confidence and clarity in their financial decisions. Maddie recently completed a term in serving Chicago’s Young Democrats of the 30th Ward and has a passion for community service. She is married to a decorated Chicago police officer while raising their “kids”, two pit bulls named Tuffy and Baby.
