In one week, I will be a published author when I’ve Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway is released. And while that is wonderful, there is a downside in the fact that I have to pay for the printing of the books before I get them. So in looking for some available cash, I remembered that in May of 2000, I joined the City of New York’s Deferred Compensation Plan – which enabled me to put away a ten percent of my paycheck before it was taxed into a savings account that would accumulate over time.

Remembering that I had signed up for this plan two years ago, I realized that I must have a good sum of money in there, and when I checked my balance – I discovered that I have exactly $8,924.55 in my account. Seeing that balance made me overjoyed – because that is more then enough to pay for my book – taking a very big worry off of my shoulders.

As soon as I could contain my excitement, I called the Deferred Compensation Plan and asked what the procedure was to get the money out of the account – and I was told in not so many words that I can not have my own money. Once the shock of the statement set in, I asked again and got the same answer. Apparently, the money in that account is one hundred percent mine – but I can not have it.

When I asked what I have to do to be given my own money, I was told that the money can be withdrawn by me only if I leave City service – or have a personal hardship. So basically, in order to use my own money to pay for my own book – I have to quit my job or have some horrible thing happen to me – although I could have sworn that needing money for something immediately does constitute a hardship. Realizing that I was not allowed to have my own money, I told the person on the other end of the phone to, “enjoy my money” and promptly hung up on him.

In my opinion, no financial institution should be allowed to hoard your own money from you. When I opened that account, I saw it as a way of putting money away in the event that I would need it for something really important – and now – I need it for something really important – and I can’t have it. This to me is legal thievery. If I went into your house, took your money – and then told you that you could not have it – you would call the police. But these people are totally and legally allowed to keep my money from me until I quit my job or something happens to me that they feel is horrible enough to let me have my own money – simply amazing.

It is incidents like this that strengthen my belief that banks do nothing but take your money and give it to you when they see fit. For years, I went without a bank account and went to check cashing places to cash my check because I always saw banks as places that took more of your money then you did – and held your money against your will – I guess I was right.

So, as I look for other sources to fund my first book – I can look in everyone else’s bank account – except my own.

Thank you Deferred Compensation. Thank you very much.