Continue reading »]]> It seems not a single major news media source has written about the very serious and extended outage of the BillPay service provided by major U.S. Banks. Bank customers throughout the U.S. are complaining and being held hostage for nearly two days now. Evidence of this can be seen in Twitter.

This began with my own unhappy experience of not being able to log into my Suntrust BillPay on Monday night around 8pm. I tried a couple more times with no success.  On Tuesday morning, there was no error message. Only the inability to log in to my BillPay from my Suntrust Online Banking Account.

As I stayed in my home office working patiently waiting for an opportunity to input some urgent payments in addition to checking on what payments should be coming out tomorrow, I finally called the toll-free number customer service number and was politely informed that BillPay was down since 3pm on Monday afternoon. Tuesday has come and nearly gone. We are headed into Wednesday with no indication when the BillPay service will be available again.

Because there seems to be zero coverage of this extensive and widespread BillPay outage, I took to Twitter to do my own research and write this update. Hopefully, Google will pick this up and disseminate to BillPay victims being held hostage.

It appears many people are blaming their bank for the BillPay problem when in reality the BillPay problem is actually larger than any one bank.

From my Twitter research and my own accounts with four of these banks, the following banks are suffering from the same BillPay outage:

• Bank of America
• Bank Atlantic
• Charles Schwab
• First Tech Federal Credit Union
• ING Direct
• Suntrust Bank
• Synovus Banks
• Wells Fargo

There are probably many, many banks that I have not listed but affected and simply not showing up on the Twitter feed but I will add those names as I find out about them.

It tells me that the BillPay service is larger than any one bank. I am unsure if BillPay is being provided by a single vendor of which the various banks and credit unions purchase and use.

It seems apparent to me, there is going to be hell to pay because of the resulting late fees that will be incurred by the tens of thousands (perhaps even hundreds of thousands) accounts nationwide. It seems no one in customer service knows anything. The online customer service rep I spoke to said this afternoon that there were hundreds of complaints already.

Myself alone I have quite a few large payments that were due today and tomorrow. I question whether those payments will be made now despite the fact they were put in two weeks ago.

This has got to be the most severe BillPay outage that I can recall. I am still monitoring my Twitter feed in hopes there is some indication that BillPay service will be restored. I hope to provide an update later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Continue reading »]]> For nearly 5 years, this website has hosted the well-read “Incredible Discoveries” Information Page. I have had mixed emotions hosting that page but a lot of people have thanked me for it over the years. It is fundamentally related to consumer complaints and really not something I want to host on my personal site anymore.

I finally decided it was time to make some changes. Effective immediately, I have moved the Incredible Discoveries Information Page to ExtortionLetterInfo.com where we discuss legal controversies, extortion letters, and complaint matters there.There is an entire Category devoted to the Incredible Discoveries.

Once there, you can access most of the information as you have before. It is essentially the same content as before but rearranged into a blog article format.

Continue reading »]]> In the Spring of 2006, Matthew Chan was invited to deliver a very special, hard-hitting, no-bull, powerful 2-day seminar to the Coleman Federal Correctional (Low) facilities in Coleman, Florida.

This hard-hitting 2-day seminar (using Rated-R language) was intended to deliver income creation principles and paradigm shifts within a short amount of time to a very different audience.

After waiting for special clearance for over one year, the photos of this 2-day seminar have been released to the public.

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Continue reading »]]> Read the Advanced Reader Comments of The Intrepid Way before it was published.

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Knowing and working with Matthew has been a true inspiration that has changed my life. He has been the fuel that has sustained my entrepreneurial flame for the last few years now. He opened up my mind to The Intrepid Way lifestyle that I never knew existed. I was 22-years old looking forward to being 65 so I could finally retire like all the other people I worked with. Two years and many real estate transactions later, using the principles of The Intrepid Way, I am unemployable and looking to bring retirement a lot closer. Matthew has shown me the power of income layers and how it could buy me the most precious thing money could buy and that was my personal time!

Wes Weaver, Real Estate Investor
Columbus, GA

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Finally, a book that gets to the heart of the matter! If you aren’t living the life of your dreams or reaching your goals, then who is responsible for making it happen? Only you! Clear and easy to understand, The Intrepid Way outlines the choices Matthew made and lessons he learned on the road to Personal Freedom. He shares his knowledge with you as a guide for anyone who is willing to step up to the plate and be responsible for designing their own life – the way that they want it to look!

Melita Hunt
Cary, NC

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The Intrepid Way is a must read! I loved every chapter! Last night after the children were in bed, the one powerful lesson I learned from the book is the attainment of personal freedom. I loved it because many, many books out there will tell you all about financial freedom and how to gain that, but yours is the first to uncover the hidden motive behind most people’s drive for financial freedom in the first place… the attainment of true personal freedom.

Matthew has such a gift for saying things in a relevant, easy to understand manner. Whether you are currently an active entrepreneur or just beginning your journey to discover the entrepreneurial spirit that lies within yourself, The Intrepid Way is for you!

Christi Williams
Houston, TX

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Matthew Chan has given us a brilliant blueprint for a life worth living. The Intrepid Way provokes, inspires, and challenges us to truthfully examine our often-times unexamined life. He demonstrates through his own personal experience, keen intuitive insights, and observations how each of us can attain the greatest of freedoms with the greatest efficiency: personal freedom, financial freedom, spiritual freedom, and the most precious of all, time freedom. Matthew is a man who boldly walks his talk. Whether you’re hungry for subtle distinctions or massive change in your life, do yourself a favor and devour this book. The Intrepid Way is a true gift to the world.

Dean Edelson, President
Elysium Investment Group
Sedona, AZ

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Superb, thought-provoking! Matthew challenges conventional wisdom as only he can. By giving us a peek into his own personal challenges, trials, and triumphs, Matthew allows us a rare look into what it takes to live a life being true to yourself and following your dreams.

However, I feel the greatest gift he has given in this book is the gift of his psychology. Chapter 6 of this book is worth the price of the book alone. Incorporating these principles has helped my business more than anything else I have done. The Intrepid Way gives you all the tools to begin the journey of living the life you only dreamed was possible before.

Troy Arment, Real Estate Entrepreneur
Wichita, KS

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Is “The Intrepid Way” for you? I have known Matthew for several years and this book speaks volumes about the passion he has for others to live a life of Personal Freedom. It is a must read for anyone interested in challenging their beliefs and emotions with unconventional wisdom. Matthew leads the way for anyone to have the Time Freedom and Monetary Freedom they desire. Thank you Matthew!

Marleen Geyen
Author of “University Wealth”
Minneapolis, MN

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If you’re ready for paradigm shifts, read this book! In his book The Intrepid Way, Matthew stresses the importance of creating goodwill in business and continues to walk his talk by using his excellent skills to empower others. I’m always looking for new ideas, new distinctions, and different ways of looking at familiar concepts. If you are too, then I highly recommend The Intrepid Way. Read the book if you want to grow your business and deepen your financial education! Your mind will thank you!

Will Brooks, Business Entrepreneur
Fayetteville, NC

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Before reading The Intrepid Way, I was on the path to becoming a lemming-like employee. But after reading the book, I “unplugged” myself from the employee mentality. As a young adult, I now realize there are multiple paths to creating my future. The Intrepid Way has opened my eyes to opportunities I have never seen before and given me the ability to face adversity with faith. I have become more responsible than ever before. By embracing my entrepreneurial spirit, my soul has been energized to achieve personal freedom.

Paolo Bruno
Orlando, FL

Continue reading »]]> Read Dr. Van K. Tharp’s (of the Van Tharp Institute) reader testimonial of The Intrepid Way.

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If you want to be personally and financially free, “The Intrepid Way” is the book to read. Matthew Chan shows you exactly what he did in his exciting journey toward financial freedom. You’ll learn about multiple streams of income. Financial freedom is all about having multiple streams of income coming in so that you don’t have to work.

You’ll learn how to change your thinking to be become financially free. “The Intrepid Way” shows you exactly what you need to do.

I know Matthew personally and professionally. He has streams of income from the Internet, from royalties, from real estate and several other ventures. Everything Matthew says in “The Intrepid Way” really works and I highly recommend that you look at it.

Van K. Tharp, Ph.D.
Best-selling Author of “Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom”

Continue reading »]]> Read the review by Independent Professional Reviewers (Tucker) of The Intrepid Way.

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As a person with an entrepreneurial spirit and, sometimes, unconventional wisdom, I was not disappointed in reading The Intrepid Way by Matthew S. Chan. In reading the book I used my yellow highlighter to mark important passages; however, I soon realized that I was highlighting most of the book.  Every chapter contained information that kept my eyes literally glued to the pages as the concept of “personal freedom” was explained in a way that was easy to understand—it made sense.  No, it isn’t a “get-rich-quick” book filled with dull facts and figures; instead, it is a personalized story as told by the author who lived it. After ten years of selling his employable skills to the corporate world, Matthew Chan decided he wanted more out of life and took the necessary steps to bring this about. He wanted a lifestyle that gave him monetary freedom as well as time freedom.

In the introduction of The Intrepid Way, the author shares how two individuals made him see that he had something important to say that would benefit others; they helped him feel comfortable in regard to his qualifications for writing this book. Mr. Chan understood that other people wanted what he had obtained—freedom from the daily grind associated with being, more or less, owned by an employer.  He allows readers to follow him on his journey as he takes risks and defies conventional wisdom by walking away from a high-paying job with all its security perks to become a successful entrepreneur with layers of streaming income that provide him the means to live as he chooses.  His formula for personal freedom is:  Personal Freedom=Monetary Freedom+Time Freedom. This formula isn’t complicated and is realistic for individuals who truly want to change their lives . . . perhaps even take them back by straying from the entrapment of conventional thinking.

I found the chapter on Financial Fundamentals to be a refresher course on the accounting practices that are taught in most colleges.  For the most part, the author ignores formal practices, defining assets and liabilities in a clear, concise way that readers will understand and appreciate.  He emphasizes that most colleges focus on teaching students to become employed rather than becoming entrepreneurs.

When I finished reading the book, I found myself wishing that the author had gone into more depth in explaining his sources of streaming income; in other words I wanted to know exactly how he made his money whether in real estate, selling on eBay, publishing books, or investing.  Though I realize every individual will have to create his or her own layers of income, depending on skills and interests, I was hungry for more knowledge from the teacher—for more details. However, when I went to visit his web sites at www.theintrepidway.com and www.ascendbeyond.com, I discovered other books that provide some of this information.

If you like the thought of being in charge of your own life—even enjoying little things such as sleeping in as late as you desire and traveling anywhere at any given time—then consider this a must-read book. It covers a great deal of material, including the importance of personal support networks and how to utilize business networks.  The Intrepid Way is about a journey that requires you to take a first step so that you can eventually create the perpetual or continuous wealth that you seek.  It isn’t about being rich; it is about lifestyle choice! Remember the formula: Personal Freedom=Monetary Freedom+Time Freedom.

Bettie Corbin Tucker

Continue reading »]]> Read the review by Independent Book Reviewers (Bixler) of The Intrepid Way.

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This may be the best self-help book that you ever read!  Unfortunately, for me, it came into my hands much too late, for I’ve already finished a life-long career.  Still, as I read the book, I found myself getting enthused and even exploring new ideas, just as I used to do!  Matthew Chan in The Intrepid Way: How to Create the Freedom You Need to Live the Life You Want may indeed inspire the necessary courage, may indeed help you determine whether you are brave enough to follow his guidance. You may have the entrepreneurial spirit and the courage that can result in your totally following his formula to success.  Maybe not!  Regardless, this is still a Must-Read book! Why?  Let me share my experience with this and other books by the author.

Matthew’s books are written as if he is talking directly to you.  He is the teacher. We are his students if we want to be.  He willingly has agreed to be our mentor and has indeed written his book as if he were right with you, discussing each topic, each issue.  Sometimes he’s enthusiastic, sometimes he’s brash, sometimes he may offend—but  always, he speaks what he feels is “truth” and he challenges you to consider and respond to those truths.

The Intrepid Way is based upon a formula.  A formula for Personal Freedom.

Personal Freedom = Monetary Freedom + Time Freedom

Matthew Chan has solid advice about the use of money, creating layers of income, etc.  He shares his fears when he risked taking the necessary step to follow his dream.  He shares his successes.  His guidance is specific and easy to follow, easy to understand.  In this and other books, he discusses his choice to become an entrepreneur.

What does that mean exactly?

Well, he quit his job!  He eliminated the stream of income that most of us use for our entire life.  He chose not to depend upon having a salary coming in every single month.  He chose Personal Freedom.

Without support from family, friends, or a salary, Matthew Chan worked hard to achieve his goal.  As you read his book, you may be interested in the way(s) he achieved monetary freedom.  He shares in detail about his work in real estate, writing, and selling on the Internet.  His thoughts and ideas are there for you to glean and develop to meet your own needs.

Aside from the money issue, which is very important to any goal, any dream, I’d like to share my personal story about why I believe this book is a must read.  Matthew Chan realized early enough in his life that he needed personal freedom and that had to include time freedom. Most of us learn from the past, from our family, from society—that we should plan to find a career for our future in order to bring in the necessary money from which we live.  Unfortunately, nobody shares that, in doing so, we may lose ourselves!

How did Matthew acquire his wisdom so early?  We don’t know. He probably doesn’t even know because it did not come to him through his family ties, or through his long-term higher education studies.  Perhaps he first subconsciously saw it.  Perhaps through one or more of his continuing education courses, he began to move early thoughts into his daily conscious.  Thankfully, for him and for those of us who read his book, we can also review and, hopefully, work to correct and save the rest of our life!

I speak from experience.  After 37 years of commitment and loyalty to one institution, I was given a letter that my position was eliminated.  Yes, there is a lot more to it than what I say here.  However, one of the reasons that I chose instead to retire early was that I had sufficient years and funds in a “mandatory” retirement program that allowed me to retire before I was 60.  Before that, however, I had had a medical leave of absence mandated on job burnout.  I had no other life other than work, even church was another time commitment that I felt had to be met.  I had indeed lost all time freedom and my personal freedom to the job.  When the doctor told me I had to choose between life and my job, there really was no choice in my mind.  I walked out and, in many ways, I continued to “walk out” for many years thereafter.

Now, the point I make is that through a mandatory retirement program and length of employment at one institution, I have the stream of income that is important to sustain basic life needs.  If I had had no retirement program, I would have been in a position many of you may be in if you were to also lose your job, your career!

Consider right now, that your personal freedom is not only important, it may be the only thing that keeps you from physical, mental, spiritual or emotional burnout.  Your job is NOT your life.  I know that now after a commitment of nearly 40 years to an institution that, in turn, had no commitment to me!  The Intrepid Way is an answer!  It may not be the only answer; i.e., there may be other ways than Chan suggests to ensure that you have the required monetary freedom.  That’s not really the point!  The point is to read between the lines.  Absorb what Chan shares with us, with you!  Let the book awaken thoughts that you have buried because you are doing the only thing you think is possible.  Remember The Intrepid Way only requires that you have courage. It requires the courage to seriously review your life and ensure it is the life you want to be living. Chan will be your teacher, your mentor, if you allow him.

G. A. Bixler

Continue reading »]]> Read the review by About.com of The Intrepid Way. (4 out of 5 stars)

In “The Intrepid Way”, author Matthew Chan bypasses the motivational cheerleading of many other multiple income stream books and delivers a practical step-by-step method to create personal financial freedom and time freedom through the creation of passive income streams. His coverage of financial principles, work principles, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the importance of personal and professional support networks gives this book a depth not often found in others of the genre.

Modest expectations and attitude make philosophy and methods approachable

Solid business principles lay essential foundations

Great first book on multiple income, good light read for “those in the know”

Continue reading »]]> Read the review by Kirkus Reviews’ of The Intrepid Way.

Continue reading »]]>

Read the review by ForeWord Reviews’ of The Intrepid Way. (4 out of 5 stars)

For middle-class white-collar workers it’s almost required to dislike one’s job. The daily grind seems boring and spirit-crushing. It offers no mental stimulation or fulfillment and it takes time away from family friends and hobbies. A person stuck in such a job may not leave because he

or she values the regular paycheck and insurance benefits. For years unhappy workers have wondered how to find personal freedom to earn a living wage while working a reasonable amount of time.

To address this problem Matthew Chan offers The Intrepid Way: How to Create the Freedom You Need to Live the Life You Want! The book may look like a get-rich-quick scheme especially since its cover promises that the reader can “escape corporate America forever” and “retire in five years.”

Appearances can be deceiving. The Intrepid Way is written by a man with bachelor and master’s degrees in business administration a successful entrepreneur by the age of 29 who has authored a series of how-to manuals on smart investing. With his credentials and motivational attitude Chan provides the reader with a well-organized primer for the beginning entrepreneur.

Chan begins his book with an overview of The Intrepid Way philosophy. He drives home his point with a simple equation. Personal freedom (the goal) consists of two things: monetary freedom and time freedom. Basically Chan believes that savvy creation and management of “income streams” (rather than nest eggs or hoards) allow a person to spend less time earning money and more time enjoying life. Chan gives readers a step-by-step plan to do so with sections covering the philosophy and creation of “income streams” the entrepreneurial mindset and the importance of business and personal support networks. The logical set-up of the book ensures that The Intrepid Way is easy to read and accessible.

Although Chan discusses finance investing and starting a business his tone remains lively throughout never dry or boring. Chan’s use of anecdotes makes the lessons more interesting. When talking about the go-getter spirit of staking one’s claim he refers to the film Far and Away starring Tom Cruise. Cruise’s character immigrated into the United States to participate in the land rush of the late 1800s. “Tom’s character with great drama and heroism did in fact succeed in placing a wooden stake on a piece of land…. I see so much opportunity in the world today yet so few people are able or willing to put their stakes in the ground.”

The Intrepid Way is well-written spirited and straightforward. Its motivational messages are interspersed with loads of practical advice. Whether the reader wants to quit the rat race entirely or just start some lucrative freelancing on the side this book has useful pointers.

Elizabeth Allen
August 21, 2009