Can I Keep My Credit Card After Bankruptcy?

Debtors filing bankruptcy often want to keep at least one credit card out of their bankruptcy filing. Their reasoning is that since it is almost impossible to survive in our society without a credit card, keeping one credit card out of bankruptcy would be helpful. However, when a debtor files bankruptcy they are required to include all of their debts in the bankruptcy filing. But they are allowed to “reaffirm” a debt after the bankruptcy filing. When a debtor reaffirms a debt, they are entering into a legally binding agreement that says that that particular debt will be permanently taken out of bankruptcy and that the debtor will repay the debt, adhere to the originals terms of the loan and continue to make payments as agreed. Many debtors reaffirm mortgage debt and car loan debt which are secured loans. They often reaffirm the secured loans in bankruptcy because it allows them to keep the secured property (house or car). However, is it a good idea to reaffirm credit card debt? In most cases it is not a good idea to reaffirm unsecured credit card debt during bankruptcy. Even if a debtor reaffirms credit card debt during bankruptcy, it is not guaranteed that the credit card account will remain open and available for the debtor’s use. A matter of fact, it is highly likely that the credit card account will remain closed and you will be required to repay the debt, plus any additional fees and interest accrued. For debtors filing bankruptcy, the best solution is probably to keep all of your credit card debt in bankruptcy and get a secured credit card after your bankruptcy has been discharged. A secured credit card will allow you to have the convenience of a credit card while rebuilding your credit record.

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Credit Card Laws Change this Month

This is a heads up for people with credit cards. On the 22nd of this month (February) credit card laws will undergo major changes. Thanks to the Credit Card Act passed by Congress last year, credit card laws have been drastically changed. Credit card companies have been forced by the congressional act to change their lending practices and the manner in which they can charge fees, and the due date is the 22nd. Here are a few ways that you might be impacted by the Act.



The Good News:

Banks have lost some of their proverbial teeth. Thanks to the passage of the bill, credit card companies can no longer:

• Charge interest on fees due


• Limit the amount that banks can charge on specific fees (such as late fees and over limit fees)


• If you get pre-approved by a company for a new credit card but you don't want to open a new account for it, you now have the ability to "reject the card" up until you activate the card


• Banks must give you 45 days notice in advance if they want either raise the APR on your accounts


• And more

The Bad News:

Credit Card Companies are trying to grow new teeth to replace the ones that they have lost. Companies are looking to charge new fees for their services to make up for any lost revenue. Here are a few known tricks that will soon be making an appearance:

• Annual fees are on the rise


• The interest rates placed on cards are expected to rise as card companies try to find new ways to make up for their lost revenue


• Chase changed balance transfer fees from 3% interest to 5%


• Bank of America instituted a great deal of changes, including the ability to raise the APR on future accounts if you miss a payment (go here for a more in-depth review of BoA's changes)

Keep A Watch Out:

The most important thing to get out of this is that you, the consumer, are now more protected than ever before. Banks now have to give you a heads up on policy changes, rate increases, etc... something that they did not have to do in all cases before. As long as you pay attention to your monthly statements released by your credit card companies and any email notification that you recieve from then, you should be well ahead of the curve. Good luck!

Related Links:

The Credit Card Act in PDF format is linked here

A Forbes article changes that you can expect to see as a result of the Credit Card Act: Forbes Article

Three Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Get A Home Equity Loan To Avoid Bankruptcy

When it comes to money troubles, friends and family are full of advice. One of the worse pieces of advice given to debtors considering bankruptcy is to get a home equity loan. That could be a big mistake. Here a few reasons why getting a home equity loan to avoid bankruptcy might not be the right move for you:


1.Typically, you can’t use debt to get out of debt. Anyone who has filed bankruptcy can attest to that truth. For most debtors considering bankruptcy, their financial troubles are caused by two problems, 1) lack of income and 2) too much debt. Getting a home equity loan would only worsen the second part that problem and move you closer to bankruptcy despite your best efforts.

2.Taking out a home equity loan could also be the first step towards foreclosure. This can be one of those situations where trying to avoid one situation puts you right into an even worse situation. Debtors who think they can avoid bankruptcy by taking out a home equity loan often find that they can’t pay back the loan or the mortgage and end up facing foreclosure and bankruptcy anyway.

3.Since a home equity loan is considered a secured debt, you won’t be able to discharge it in bankruptcy like credit card debt. A home equity loan works like your mortgage in that it is secured by your home. If you don’t pay the loan, they can foreclose. In bankruptcy, if you want to keep your home, you must pay the home equity loan and your mortgage. But fortunately, you do have the option to surrender the home in bankruptcy, which will release you from the obligation to repay the loan.
 
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Does My Wife Have To File Bankruptcy With Me If We Are Both On the Deed and Mortgage?

by Peter Orville, Attorney at Law on January 21, 2010 ·

Even if you and your wife are both on the deed and mortgage it is permissible for only one to file for bankruptcy. This is true even if you are past due on your mortgage payments. If only one of you files a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you will include the past due mortgage payments in the Chapter 13 plan to be paid by the Chapter 13 Trustee. As long as you continue to make the mortgage payments due after the bankruptcy is filed, no adverse action will be taken.

When a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is filed, an “automatic stay” is put in place. The automatic stay stops all action against you by creditors. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy also creates a “co-debtor stay”, which prohibits creditors from going after your wife for collection of the debt.

Before deciding whether to file a bankruptcy alone, or with your wife, you should contact an experienced, knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options.

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Can Bankruptcy Help Stop Repossession?

Bankruptcy is designed to protect individuals or businesses that are unable to meet their financial obligations–and provide protection to involved creditors as well. While bankruptcy is a serious procedure and should only be considered if absolutely necessary, sometimes it is the best solution for those suffering severe financial hardship. And, for some, it may be the only solution.


One area that bankruptcy can be particularly helpful in alleviating financial hardship is by protecting property that may be in danger of repossession. This is when creditors take back goods that buyers are failing to make timely loan payments on. Some loans are secured–meaning the buyer has put down some form of collateral, often the item being purchased–while some are unsecured–typically credit cards. If you default on an unsecured loan, the only option creditors have when collection attempts have failed is to sue. But with a secured loan, creditors can repossess the collateral and sell it. Of course, if that doesn’t provide sufficient funds to wipe out the loan, they can then sue you for the remainder of the loan balance.
Bankruptcy can sometimes help cancel the debt, or even allow you to stop the repossession process. After filing a bankruptcy petition in bankruptcy court, all creditors are prevented from making any further collection attempts. This is also known as an “Automatic Stay”, which is an automatic order from the bankruptcy court issued upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition to all creditors. This applies to creditors attempting to repossess collateral such as automobiles.

If you file for chapter 7 bankruptcy in order to stop repossession, you’ll have to make arrangements with the creditor to bring all payments current after filing for bankruptcy. If you want to keep the car after bankruptcy, you’ll need to sign a reaffirmation agreement and make all payments after the bankruptcy.

In a chapter 13 bankruptcy, the repossession will be stopped and the debtor gains the chance to repay the value of the car to the creditor through the chapter 13 plan. Chapter 13 is beneficial to debtors owing more on a car than what it is worth, since chapter 13 payment plans can lower car payments on car loans where the debtor owes more than the car is worth.

If you’re thinking about filing for bankruptcy in order to stop repossession, you should seek out an experienced bankruptcy attorney in order to find out which option will work the best in your particular situation.

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Earthquake Relief for Haiti

In an effort to help those who have been affected by the earthquake in Haiti, and their continuing tragedies, Credit Card Management Services, Inc. d.b.a Debthelper.com is now a collection center to help those in need.

Your gift will help distribute relief supplies to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

Anything you are willing to provide will be greatly appreciated and invaluable to the families you will be helping. The immediate need is dry foods such as rice, beans; can foods, tents and army type cots, blankets and medical supplies.

Where: 4611 Okeechobee Blvd. Suite 114 WPB, FL 33417

Time: Mon – Fri: 9:00am – 8pm; Sat: 12:00pm – 5:00pm

Information: (561) 472-8000

Debthelper.com

Don't Get Scammed - Choose Your Credit Agency Wisely

Scams are everywhere and a fast growing problem in the current recession is a con scheme involving the impersonation of debt consolidation, negotiation, and elimination agency. Such plans represent a last hope for many people to get out of debt; they are effective and time proven to help you get out of debt. And thanks to the rising levels of unemployment (over 10% in some states) more people are using them than ever before, and some of them have fallen victim to the scammers.

If you are in a situation where you are looking at these debt plans in order to free yourself from debt, here are a few tips/methods for spotting which are legitimate agencies and which ones are scams.

Talk To A Credit Counseling Agency:

Credit Counseling Agency's exist to help people in debt figure out the financial options that are best for them. Agencies base it on peoples specific problems and resources. They are often non-profit agencies, and their services are either free or provided when you pay a small fee ($75 is average). Different agencies can offer different services (such as reverse mortgages, debt consolidation plans, and more) which means that it is important to figure out which agency will be able to help you the most.

If you are in a situation where you are looking at debt plans and credit agencies in order to free yourself from debt, here are a few general tips/methods for figuring which are legitimate and which ones are scams.

• If you are working with a lawyer or a paralegal concerning your debt, ask if they can refer a debt help agency. Most will either have lists containing reliable and certified credit agencies on hand or they will be able to find one for you fairly quickly.
• States usually require credit agencies to be accredited and to have certified counselors in order to operate within specific states. Always ask an agency if this is true for them - while not all agencies have certified counselors the best ones usually do. Agencies with counselors who are certified by an outside group (one that you can research for yourself) often have websites and phone lines that you can research and call.
• Understand what you are getting yourself into. If you feel confused at any point during your conversation with the agency, always ask them to go over the information again. Most agencies will be happy to do so and will give you as much time as you need to figure out the options being offered to you. However, agencies that offer their counselors a commission for each customer gained are less likely to do this than companies who offer their counselors a flat rate.
• Make sure that you have been walked through the agencies entire privacy agreement. If an agency refuses to do so, or you do not feel that their privacy agreement is tough enough, then don't use that agency! Your financial information has to be protected, and if one agency can't do it then another one can.
• Get things down in writing. Most legitimate credit agencies will offer written contracts, certificates, or other legally binding agreements. These written promises are in place to protect you; they often contain the name of the counselor who helped you and the entire agreement in physical writing. Make sure that you read through the agreement and that the writing is straightforward and simple. If it isn't or you find yourself confused by something on it, call the agency back and ask them to go over it with you. You can often get written agreements emailed to you by the agency in question.
• Check for them with your states Better Business Bureau (BBB). If they are legitimate, then the BBB will be able to tell you how helpful they are and whether or not the BBB has received complaints about the agency.

Related Links:

New York Times Scam Article: Is a brief expose on scams targeting people who have been hit hard by the recession.
BBB1: Tips from the better business bureau on how to find a good credit counseling agency.
BBB2: An article detailing the difference between debt consolidation, debt negotiation and debt elimination plans.

Why People File for Bankruptcy

If you're struggling with debt, you may sometimes find yourself wondering if you should file for bankruptcy. If you're like most people who wonder about doing this, then you don't - but why? Well, one reason that many people don't file for bankruptcy is because they don't know if they are in a position to do so.

There are actually many different reasons that people file for bankruptcy, most of which involve common sense like the loss of ones job or overwhelming medical bills - and not laziness. Other reasons may surprise you, with one being that you may actually be able to improve your credit score by doing so! In any case, if you feel like one of the reasons below could apply to you, you may want to consider filing for bankruptcy yourself.

Reason #1: Loss of a job

One of the most common causes for why people choose to go bankrupt is because of a job loss. It is hard to find a job in today's market, and if you are already struggling with debt, the loss of your job can come as a major blow. Not only will you lose the money provided by the job, but other things as well. This includes things such as medical benefits, insurance, bonuses (such as access to a company vehicle), or discounts which also came with the job.

Reason #2: Preventing repossession of properties

If you file for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you might be able to force creditors to return property (such as your car) back to you. Your past missed payments will be consolidated into your bankruptcy plan, and you will give monthly payments to the trustee of your bankruptcy plan, and who will in turn pay the finance company on your behalf.

It is important to remember that repossession of properties is only possible under a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and NOT a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Reason #3: Improving your credit score

There are actually some cases where filing for bankruptcy can help you improve your credit score. To use an example, it is possible for someone with a credit score of 450 to raise their credit score as high as 700 if they meet certain requirements.

This is because when you file for bankruptcy your score is determined based on how you well you do compared to other bankruptcy filers. In other words, your score is matched against people in similar situations as you, not against people with perfect credit scores and zero debt.

As long as you manage your bankruptcy plan well and manage to meet its minimum payment obligations, then it is possible to raise your credit score. Keep in mind, though, that you cannot raise your score to an 850 (or close to it) so long as you are registered as being bankrupt.

Also, if you file for bankruptcy when you have a high credit score (which is not advisable, because doing so would indicate that you have other options available to you) then doing so may in fact harm your credit score. It is also advisable consider other means of raising your credit score before filing for bankruptcy.

Reason #4: Stop home foreclosure and catch up on missed mortgage payments

Filing for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy will stop foreclosure before bidding or sales will occur. This gives you time to repay mortgage arrears or your remaining mortgage balance. It does not eliminate your property mortgage.

Reason #5: Put a halt to creditor harassment

It doesn't sound like a major reason, but if you're struggling with debt and receiving rude and harassing calls on a daily basis, the pressure can sometimes be too much. People can only deal with so much stress before something gives way. Sometimes the best option to get rid of the calls and the stress is to file for bankruptcy.

If you are in this situation please remember that if there are other options available to you, take them! Bankruptcy can get rid of the creditors, but don't file for it unless your debt, credit score, and overall financial situation seems hopeless and impossible to work off.

Reason #6: Medical bills

Medical expenses have caused many families to file for bankruptcy. Whether you are middle-class, low-class, or somewhere in-between, the cost of medical treatment is steep and scary. One of my own close friends is currently struggling to pay a bill that her insurance didn't cover, and she only had a doctor remove a piece of food that had gotten lodged in her throat.

If you're in a situation where you're being crushed by paying a medical bill off and your financial state is in ruins, then filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help you to reduce or possibly even eliminate your medical bill.

Reason #7: A new start

After you have filed filed for bankruptcy and completed the payments that you are responsible for under it, some people have found that it gives them a fresh start. This is not to say that your slate gets wiped clean - you can have the fact that you filed for bankruptcy on your credit report for ten or more years.

However, you will be: out of debt, free of creditor harassment, and (hopefully) have a higher credit score than you did before you filed for bankruptcy. All of these things can help you to feel better about yourself, and provide you with a figurative goal or 'light at the end of the tunnel'.


At the end

Hopefully these reasons will help you should you be in the position where bankruptcy seems like a possibility. Remember though... Filing for bankruptcy should be your last resort. If you have any other option (such as cutting your budget) you should definitely take it.

Also, before you file for bankruptcy, you should consult with a credit counselor to determine whether or not it would be in your best interests.


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What If I Want To Sell My Home During Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

If you’re in Chapter 13 bankruptcy and you want to sell your home, there are few things you need to know before you proceed:


1.The bankruptcy court must approve the terms of the sale before a debtor closes on the property.

2.The debtor’s bankruptcy attorney must notify all of the creditors in the bankruptcy before the property is sold.

3.You and your bankruptcy attorney must disclose the details of the proposed sale to both the creditors and the bankruptcy court before you can proceed. Those details should include, the home’s sale price, proof of the property’s current value and the details of how the proceeds from the sale will be disbursed to the creditors. That takes us to our next point.

4.Your bankruptcy attorney must provide the bankruptcy trustee and creditors with a detailed account of all deductions made and profits earned from the sale of the home. All proceeds from the sale of your home during Chapter 13 bankruptcy become part of the bankruptcy estate and must be paid directly to the bankruptcy trustee. The bankruptcy trustee will then disburse the proceeds from the sale to the creditors.

It is possible that after selling your home in Chapter 13 bankruptcy you will not see any of the proceeds of the sale. The question then becomes, should you sell your home during Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Well, it depends. If it is your primary home and you can afford the payments it may not be a wise decision. However, if it is a second property that you are struggling to pay for, it may be wise to proceed. But before you sell any property, work with your bankruptcy attorney to create an effective plan. A matter of fact, you should create a plan with the help of your bankruptcy attorney before you file.

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What is Bankruptcy?

While searching the internet and posting blogs, I realized that it has been awhile since this blog dealt with what bankruptcy actually is. To make sure that you are aware of whether or not you should pursue this option, here is some information that I have pulled from various sites (which are linked below) to help you out.

Two Types of Bankruptcy

While there are many types of bankruptcy, here are the two most commonly filed chapters (or types). For a full list of the requirements and your potential eligibility concerning bankruptcy, you can get a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney, consultant, or a similar expert.

1) What is a chapter 7 bankruptcy? (a more thorough explanation can be found in our September 27th post)

"Under the federal bankruptcy statute, a discharge is a release of the debtor from personal liability for certain specified types of debts. In other words, the debtor is no longer required by law to pay any debts that are discharged. The discharge operates as a permanent order directed to the creditors of the debtor that they refrain from taking any form of collection action on discharged debts, including legal action and communications with the debtor, such as telephone calls, letters, and personal contacts. Although a debtor is relieved of personal liability for all debts that are discharged, a valid lien (i.e., a charge upon specific property to secure payment of a debt) that has not been avoided (i.e., made unenforceable) in the bankruptcy case will remain after the bankruptcy case. Therefore, a secured creditor may enforce the lien to recover the property secured by the lien."

2) What is chapter 13 bankruptcy?

"In a chapter 13 case you file a plan showing how you will pay off some of your past-due and current debts over a period of three to five years. The most important thing about a chapter 13 case is that it will allow you to keep valuable property, like your home or car, even if you are behind on payments or you have equity not covered by your exemptions. Your payments on these secured debts will generally be your regular monthly payments plus some extra amount if you need to get caught up because you are behind when you file."

Experts in this field can be found in your local area or through sites such as http://www.debthelper.com/.

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Experts Answer your Bankruptcy Questions

The Dow may be over 10,000, but unease about the economy persists as unemployment hovers over 10%. To help ease some of your concerns, WalletPop is ready to answer your personal finance questions. Here's this month's sample:


Question: My wife and I are in debt that I no longer can tolerate. I am retired and have burned through my 401(k) and my annuity to pay the $6,000 a month in mostly credit cards and home mortgages.

What are my options? I don't think we qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. What about Chapter 13, and what does that entail?? Do I need an attorney? How do I keep creditors from calling me day and night?

--Gary Anders

Answer from James Caher, co-author of Personal Bankruptcy Laws for Dummies

"Bankruptcy is definitely something you should look into, since it looks like you're sinking fast and probably wasting your retirement paying debts that you might be able to eliminate in bankruptcy. But there are many, many things to consider.

"I suspect that you may very well qualify for Chapter 7 (the one that does not involve a repayment plan of any kind), since you are living on retirement income. But this depends on whether your income exceeds the median income for your state, which is probably around $4,300/month before taxes. Social Security income does not count. Even if your income exceeds the median, you may qualify for Chapter 7, but you would have to pass the Means Test.

"You might not want to file a Chapter 7 if the equity in your home exceeds the allowable exemption in your state. For example, assume that your home is worth $200,000 with mortgages totaling $150,000, leaving $50,000 in equity (the difference between the value of the property and the mortgages). If your state allows a homestead exemption of $50,000 or more, you won't lose your home in a Chapter 7 -- provided you keep up with your mortgage payments.

But if your state allows, say, $15,000 for a homestead exemption, a Chapter 7 trustee could sell your home, pay off the mortgages, pay you $15,000 and pay the rest to creditors.

Chapter 13 is different. Property is not liquidated. Instead, folks pay what they can afford for the next 3-5 years, and remaining balances are wiped out. If you are behind on your mortgage, you can use Chapter 13 to catch up on back payments by stretching them out over 3-5 years while continuing to make regular payments going forward. Yes, you should consult with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer for advice tailored to your particular situation, but you can get a very good idea about your options from our book, Personal Bankruptcy Laws for Dummies.

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67 and Bankrupt: Are the Kids to Blame?

Larry and Abby are in their late 60’s. They are broke, about to lose their home and there is nothing they can do about it.
But it didn’t have to be this way.

10 years ago, they had over $500,000 saved on top of the two rental units they inherited when Larry’s mother passed away. At the time, Abby owned a successful small business and had a comfortable income. Everything looked like peaches and cream.

So what happened?

Patrick happened.

Pat is their son. He borrowed money from his parents seven years ago to open his auto repair business. Pat was a great mechanic but a horrible business person.

Larry and Abby just wanted to help their boy. They convinced themselves that the money their were forking over was just a loan. They were sure Patrick would pay them back some day.

But as the days passed, the likelihood of seeing that money again grew smaller and smaller.

He slowly drove the business into the ground.

But each time he feel deeper into the hole, Larry and Abby were there to bail him out. They were sure that all Pat needed was a little more working capital.

Of course, this enabled Pat to amass even greater debt. Within three years he exhausted all his parent’s savings. They had to sell all the real estate they inherited and they refinanced their home as well. Even after going through all that, Pat was left with debts of over $300,000 including $150,000 to the IRS.

He was much too proud to close the business. He was determined to make it successful – even if it meant spending every last dime his parents had.

So was Patrick to blame for Abby and Larry’s financial destruction?

Not in my opinion.

Abby and Larry volunteered to become an ATM machine for Patrick. Nobody put a gun to their heads. But that wasn’t really the root problem.

You see, the reason they wrote blank checks to Pat was because they didn’t take the time to think about what impact their decisions would have on their own financial future.

They were very mindful about their spending – except when it came to supporting their kids.

Pat needed money.

They wrote him a check.

It was automatic – and it was ridiculous.

Abby and Larry put their heads in the sand. They didn’t pay attention to their own financial plan. In fact, they didn’t have one.

Sure they had assets and income. But even though their estate was worth over $2.5 million at the high point, it didn’t last long once they started writing checks for $50,000 every other month to keep their kid in business.
I know this is an extreme example. You might not be sending huge amounts to your children….but the amounts don’t matter. And it also doesn’t matter how your kids spend the money you give them. I don’t care if they use your money to open a successful business or go to Harvard. If you can’t afford it then you can’t afford it. Period.

How do you know you can afford the support you give to your kids? Have you ever said “no” to your kids when they asked for financial help? How did that impact your relationship?

If you are on the receiving end of this, do you have an obligation to your parents to discuss the ramifications of their support?

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Student Loan Debt — Dischargeable In Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Anyone who has ever taken out a student loan is quite aware of the fact that student loan debt is next to impossible to discharge in bankruptcy unless the debtor can prove “undue hardship.” But the 9 th Circuit Court ruled in October that student loan debt could be discharged through the confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan if the creditor is given notice of the plan and does not object, (Espinosa v. United Student Aid Funds Inc., No. 06-16421, 9th Cir. 10/02/08).


The court stated:

“Our long-standing circuit law holds that student loan debts can be discharged by way of a Chapter 13 plan if the creditor does not object, after receiving notice of the proposed plan, Pardee, 193 F.3d at 1086, and that such notice is not constitutionally inadequate. In re Gregory, 705 F.2d at 1123. We find it highly unlikely that a credi­tor whose business it is to administer student loans will be misled by the customary bankruptcy procedures or somehow be bamboozled into giving up its rights by crafty student debtors. If the creditor fails to object, it is doubtless the result of a careful calculation that this course is the one most likely to yield repayment of at least a portion of the debt. In such circumstances, bankruptcy courts have no business standing in the way. Cases such as In re Webber and In re Patton are, to that extent, overruled.”

Although this ruling should not be considered an open door for all who want to discharge student loans in bankruptcy; it is a long overdue relief for debtors who are burdened by massive student loan debt. If the Chapter 13 bankruptcy trustee has examined the debtor’s ability to repay his/her student loan debt and has determined that the balance of the student loan should be discharged in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, then it is up to the creditor to accept or dispute the ruling. No special provisions should be given to student loan creditors who do not follow bankruptcy proceedings and challenge discharge rulings according to the law.

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Personal Finance 101: What Does FDIC Insurance Really Mean?

One of the biggest things I encourage people to look for when they open a bank account is that the bank is FDIC insured. Most banks operating in the United States offer this insurance. In an era where people are more than a little worried about bank failures and the like, FDIC insurance is vital.


But what exactly is it?

Charlie writes in:

What exactly is FDIC insurance? How does it work? [A local bank] went under recently and seems to have been bought out by another bank and from what I understand the accounts are intact. Is that FDIC insurance at work?

(I edited out the bank in Charlie’s question for privacy reasons.)

What Is FDIC Insurance?

FDIC insurance refers to insurance policies created by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which is an organization wholly run by the government of the United States. The FDIC sells insurance policies to banks which insures the checking and savings accounts at those banks against the failure of those banks. Thus, when you open an account with a bank, that bank purchases insurance on that account for you from the FDIC.

FDIC insurance covers checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, and cashier’s checks. It does not cover stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market accounts, US treasuries, safe deposit box contents, or other such items.

Most banks that operate in the United States buy this insurance. When they do, they’re required to display the FDIC logo on signs in their business as well as on their websites.

FDIC insurance insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor. This means that if your bank fails, the first $250,000 in your account is insured by the FDIC and will be returned to you in the event of a bank failure.

What Happens If My FDIC Insured Bank Goes Under?

If a bank that offers FDIC insurance becomes insolvent, the FDIC takes over that bank and all of the accounts held there. One of two things then happens.

In one type of takeover, called the “purchase and assumption” method, an already-existing bank takes over the accounts of that bank as well as some (or all) of the loans that bank has given out to customers. This purchase is usually done quickly. For you, the customer, this means that one morning, you’ll wake up and your bank account will be with a new bank. This is what happened when Wachovia failed and was taken over by Wells Fargo, for example.

In another type of takeover, called the “payout” method, the FDIC liquidates everything that’s left in the bank and then issues payouts for insured amounts to customers. So, if you have less than $250,000 in your accounts, you’d receive the full amount – if you had more, you’d just receive $250,000.

In either case, the process is really straightforward, usually involving minimal hassle from the customer. At most, you’ll simply need to open an account at a different bank (if your bank isn’t bought out or if you don’t like the new bank).

What If My Bank Doesn’t Have FDIC Insurance?

If your bank fails, you’re out of luck. You get nothing at all.

This is the reason why I encourage people to use banks that provide FDIC insurance. Luckily, almost all banks in the United States do offer it, but it’s worth checking just to make sure.

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FDIC Officially Goes Bankrupt

From today's FDIC quarterly, there is final confirmation that the Deposit Insurance Fund is negative $8 billion.
by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution

WASHINGTON, DC - Today the FDIC released its quarterly report, revealing that the Deposit Insurance Fund is bankrupt and now stands at negative $8.2 billion dollars. (page 13/26) Central planner and FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair has confirmed separately that future bank failures will be funded by the bailout fund allotted to the FDIC.

If you are new to the US banking scheme, you might question why banks and the FDIC are going bankrupt -- don't they HAVE all the money? The answer is they do not, banks in July 2008 had lent out about 99.4% of all the money they had on deposit. This is despite the rather insane truth that the Federal Reserve can create more money whenever it desires.

The FDIC had predicted its bankruptcy in a September letter. I had been following the FDIC closely for the past 18 months, but I finally threw my hands in the air after seeing how the report was rigged to keep the DIF fund positive in the Q2 2009 report, as I reported in "FDIC: 'We Aren't Bankrupt and Everything is A-OK.'"

However, the best friends of the FED banking cartel, the United States Congress, has a lot more nice surprises in store for America's working class. Politicians like to wave around one hand as they mess around with the other hand behind their backs, out of sight. While all the fury of the concerned is focused on the health care spend-and-tax bill, HR 3996, dubbed by yours truly as the "Automatic Bailout Bill" will grant the FED the ability to bailout any "individual, trust, or corporation" (section 1701) as well as impose a bureaucratic system of unneeded regulations.

Source: FDIC

Save Money Without Clipping Coupons

There are plenty of articles about how to slash your holiday spending. Sure, you can clip coupons, make retailers play "match the markdown price" and spend your Thanksgiving evening loitering in some dark, damp parking lot guarding your place in line so you can snag those Black Friday door buster deals.

Alternately, you could try a more cerebral cost-cutting strategy. Here are five ways to psych yourself into saving money.

1. Sweat the big stuff

No need to drive around all day to find the best price on wrapping paper and snowglobe stocking stuffers (unless you're really sick of rewashing the dishes just to avoid the in-laws). Concentrate your cost-cutting first on high-dollar purchases -- big-ticket items where saving 20% puts some real cash back in your pocket. Then tackle the smaller stuff as time, energy, and sanity allows.

2. Do some retail recon before you shop

You won't know whether you're getting a real bargain or a dud deal unless you have some pricing history for comparison. Many stores don't include an item's original price in their advertising circulars. If the original markup was helium-high, even 50% off is hardly a "sale." Keep a folder for sales circulars on items of interest, so you aren't suckered into buying something that seems like a good deal until you get it home.

3. Don't fall for the upsell

Skip the extended warranty, which can pad the price of the item by 10% to 30%. With just a few exceptions -- such as treadmills and big-screen HDTVs -- warranties are rarely worth the extra price, according to Consumer Reports. If you feel the need to purchase extra protection, pay no more than 15% of the product's price, and buy the manufacturer's warranty, not the store's version. Same goes for all those extra doodads that are displayed near the only item that's actually on your list. It's called an "up-sell" for a reason -- it drives up your tab and the store's profit margins.

4. Shop with blinders on

Avoid last-minute upgrades by picking the must-have features and target price range for more complex goods such as electronics and small appliances. Studies show that the more choices shoppers are given, the more likely they are to trade up to a fancier (an unnecessary) model. So weigh the merits of each product independently. Compare like with like -- and erase from your mind the alternatives that don't fit your criteria.

5. Go on an all-cash diet

Yes, credit cards are convenient -- they offer purchase protection, rewards, an easy way to track your spending (albeit after the damage is done), and they take up less wallet room. But they're also too convenient. Studies show that people spend more -- and more impulsively -- when no actual cash changes hands. Plastic makes us devalue what we spend because we don't experience the immediate loss of buying power that we do when we pay with cash. (Why do you think they use poker chips and not actual currency in Vegas?) If you tend to overspend, leaving your credit cards at home during the holidays can be a serious boon to your bottom line.

Source: The Motley Fool

Florida is First in Foreclosures

Sometimes, being in first place is not a badge of honor. Take Florida, for example, which currently holds the dubious distinction of being first in the nation in foreclosures.

The Palm Beach Post informs us that close to 1 out of every 5 homes loans in Florida was delinquent in payments by 90 days or more, or was somewhere in the process of foreclosure during this last quarter.

The state has almost 3.5 million outstanding loans, and more than 13% are in trouble. This type of economic behavior does not bode well for a recovery. It also indicates that another large group of foreclosed homes is about to crash into the real estate market with a resounding thud.

This somewhat alarming foreclosure statistic is not being helped by Florida’s other problem, an 11.2% unemployment rate. Experts do not expect employment to alleviate before the second quarter of next year, by which time it will have risen, according to projections, to 11.4%.

While Florida’s foreclosure figures seem high, the reality is, according to the Mortgage Banker’s Association, that 1 out of every 7 loans across the nation is in foreclosure. This is an increase from the 1 out of 10 that began the year.

Florida foreclosure rate is closely followed by Nevada, California, and Arizona. These four states are responsible for 43% of the new crop of foreclosures that is due to hit the market.

In addition, foreclosure filings in October of 2009 showed an 11% increase over those from a year earlier, and are up more than 25% on a year to date basis. According to the Boston Globe, it is not subprime loans that are spurring the foreclosure increase; instead, it is rampant unemployment, which stands at a 26 year high nationally.

Nationwide, the rate of joblessness has moved beyond 10% and expected to rise above 11% before it turns around sometime next year.

What is extremely alarming is a report from the Mortgage Banker’s Association that fixed-rate home loans, which were often made to people with excellent credit, are also falling victim to foreclosure. These formerly credit-worthy individuals are succumbing to unemployment. When faced with a choice of feeding a family or paying a mortgage, food always wins out.

What may be even more disturbing is that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which has been holding the housing market together by insuring more than 40% of new home loans, reports that more than 18% of those who hold FHA loans are delinquent by at least 1 payment.

Source: huliq.com

Debt Relief Grants To Clear Credit Card Debts

By: Walter Sigmore  
Debts are dreaded by almost everyone. No matter how confidently one promises to himself about using the credit card only when the need arises, all the users end up being guilty for having made purchases that are well beyond their budget. This in turn directs them to huge debts, which necessarily means headache. Debt relief grants can come to your rescue now. With these grants, it is easier to get rid of your debts and lead a peaceful life.


These debt grants can be utilized for your educational purposes, health care, to clear your household or store debts, etc. The good thing about such grants is that the rate of interest is relatively low and repayable by any person with not so good financial status. These financial grants are issued by debt consolidation companies and also nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit companies provide relief to people who are in critical financial crisis and can hardly find any means to get out of the same.

Credit counseling should be the first step that any person who is fully submerged in debts should look forward to. This will help him analyze the various options left and which one suits him the best so that he can comfortably get out of the debts. Normally, a person who has huge debts to clear will be in a confused state. Hence, it is necessary to submit to a credit counselor.

Before you can attend these sessions, you are required to collect all your credit bills and other debt bills. When you carry these to the credit counselor, he will analyze your financial status and with his experience, will provide you with all the possible scenarios. A good counselor will strive hard to lead you towards personal freedom and helps in stabilizing your future.

There are umpteen credit consolidators in the market today. While most of them genuinely struggle to help you out, there are scams too. You should conduct a brief research on which company has been successful in helping the debtors to restore their life like before.

You can compare the success rates of the various companies and zero-in on the best company that can help you out. You can try looking for nonprofit companies that offer debt relief grants for people who are in terrible crisis. If your condition is really poor, then you can benefit from such grants. Start today with ending your bad debt.

Source: Article Snatch

How to Set Up an Emergency Fund

“Most financial advisers recommend building up emergency savings equivalent to three to six months’ worth of living expenses… however, some recommend a fund to cover eight months’ living expenses.”
Emergency Fund?

Respondents (n=122) in Wi$eUp’s latest online poll have…

42% – NO emergency fund

26% – less than 1 month’s savings on hand

15% – 1-2 months’ savings on hand

7% – 3-4 months’ savings on hand

3% – 5-6 months’ savings on hand

7% – more than 6 months’ savings on hand

(http://wiseupwomen.tamu.edu/03-resource-center/polls.php)

The Wi$eUp poll results highlighted above illustrates a challenging reality for many families – NO or very limited emergency savings. Polls and studies reported in the media frequently talk about people being “a paycheck away from financial disaster.” Is it possible to be proactive and establish an emergency fund even during tough economic times? The answer is, yes, if you are able to make it a financial priority. That may not be easy when money is tight, but it is important.

Just what is an emergency fund? Your emergency fund is a reserve of money intended to cover basic living expenses IF you experience a financial emergency, such as losing your job or other sources of income, or having an unanticipated, catastrophic expense (perhaps a medical expense or a major household expense).

Here’s how to start an emergency fund…

• First, do the math. What are your “bare bones” monthly living expenses? That is, what is the least amount of money you would need to cover the very basics and not fall behind with your monthly bills? This amount is
generally less than what you actually spend on a monthly basis.

• Once you know the monthly fi gure, multiply it by three, six, or eight – whatever is your goal for how many months’ worth of living expenses you want to build up.

• Next, determine how much you can save regularly on a monthly basis.

• Then decide how long it will take you to build up your emergency fund. Remember, you do not have to fully fund your emergency fund overnight!


Example:

• “Bare bones” monthly living expenses = $2,100
• Emergency fund goal (3x, 6x, or 8x) = 8x
• Total amount needed to fund it = $16,800 (8 x $2,100)
• What I (we) can aff ord each month = $300
• How long it will take to build it up = 56 months
($16,800 divided by $300)
• In the example, 56 months may seem like a long time, but remember the money can be accessed for emergencies if needed during this time. And you can always alter your goal.

• Designate a special savings account to hold your emergency fund. Select an account that will accrue interest or earnings and is liquid (accessible when needed without penalty), but don’t make it so easy that you will “raid” the fund every time you need a litt le “extra.”

• For more information on emergency funds and set-aside accounts, check out

Chapter 5 – Savings Basics at Wiseupwomen.org

The Importance Of Finding A First-class Bankruptcy Attorney

Bankruptcy. It’s not a decision anyone comes to lightly. For most people it is, as it ought to be, a last resort, chosen only after other options have been exhausted. Before you even get to point of considering bankruptcy, you’ve probably already been through disappointment, discouragement, worry, and many gut-wrenching bill paying sessions.

Don’t compound your troubles by trying to make decisions about bankruptcy without good expert advice. A reputable Phoenix bankruptcy attorney can review your situation and will honestly let you know whether or not bankruptcy is the best option and if you are likely to qualify. If you are unsure where to begin finding an attorney, you can check with the Maricopa County Bar Association. Their referral service can help you find a competent and reliable Phoenix bankruptcy lawyer. A creditable lawyer will charge you a nominal fee for an initial consultation, at which point you can determine if this is the right person to help you move forward with your bankruptcy filing.

Good advice can help you determine the best way to manage your debt and get your life back on track. It will take time, but eventually your can regain a good credit standing as well, certainly faster than if you continue to miss payments or try to borrow more and more to catch up to your debt obligations. Your bankruptcy lawyer will assess your state of affairs and let you know which form of bankruptcy is the better option: Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. These labels refer to the federal codes regulating bankruptcy, and your personal circumstances, including type of debt and assets you may want to protect, will determine the better choice.

Many people will not even have an option, as you must meet the standards of a means test to qualify for a Phoenix Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Congress passed a sweeping new bankruptcy law in 2005, making it more difficult for people to qualify, and file, for bankruptcy.

The reasoning behind the new bankruptcy regulations was that too many people were carelessly piling on debt and using bankruptcy to get out of their obligations. If you find yourself facing this incredibly difficult decision, you probably think that any member of Congress ought to try walking in your shoes for a while. They might become aware that injury, illness or job loss does not constitute carelessness. When you find yourself in this challenging position, don’t tough it out alone. Find yourself a good Phoenix bankruptcy lawyer to help you guide you through to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Source: Lawyers-Law.com

Home Affordable Modification Program

In March 2009, the US government declared an initiative that was set into motion so as to aid homeowners to keep their homes and put off the threat of foreclosure. This program gives each homeowner in financial duress a glimmer of light in an area that seemed so dark and it is called the Home Affordable Modification Plan.


President Obama put this plan into effect this year in order to pull people out of possible financial disaster and keep the economy ticking along. The majority of homeowners who have a mortgage could possibly be eligible and monthly payments will be largely lowered to a point where their mortgage payment fits into their budget.

This fantastic initiative has shown to be a massive break for those homeowners who have come close to losing their house and the government has permitted thousands of dollars to help give both the consumer and the economy a large helping hand.

Who is eligible for this initiative?

Because of the giant number of homeowner's and the fact that the majority of lenders are not suitably staffed, now is the time to jump in and attain help in paying down your mortgage. It will assist you to avert foreclosure and the credit issues that will haunt you for the next umpteen years. There are guidelines put into place that will allow you know if you qualify for the home affordable modification plan.

The main qualification is that you received your current mortgage before the beginning of 2009.

It is imperative that your home be both owner occupied and your primary residence or you will not be entitled. To qualify, the property cannot be an investment and the house cannot be left sitting empty under the terms of this plan. The basics are that the house be your current residence. You will have to document proof of residency with some sort of bill with your name and address on it during the application process.

How much money you make monthly needs to fall into a particular area and guidelines. Talk to a professional ahead of you continuing the process.

Throught the application process, there will be numerous factors being evaluated with your income, expenses and assets being one of the largest parts. Don't rush things and take care to include everything you own that has any true value. If you don't disclose anything you could lead to future problems and keep you from qualifying for this program or government assistance in later years.

Additionally an important point that needs to be made is about those who are currently in the middle of a bankruptcy suit. Don't automatically think that this fact will completely rul you out from this modification scheme. Simply ensure that you are truthful with regards to all that your lawsuit entails at the time of your application.

The initiative will come to an end by December 2012, however all payments will keep going for numerous months after the finish.

The Treasury Department has provided a cash incentive to those who apply early for this plan and make timely monthly mortgage payments. This is a way to encourage people to sign up and the government hopes this will reach everyone that is entitled.

The Home Affordable Modification Plan has been created to make fantastic steps in assisting folks to lower their mortgage payments and put off foreclosure. In the state of our current economy it has taken the burden off many homeowners' shoulders. Now numerous individuals might have a long future with the home they worked so hard for.

Source: CMLC Mortgage

Avoid Bankruptcy Double Jeopardy

Our guest author for this post is Morlino and Lathea Morris on How to Avoid Bankruptcy Double Jeopardy

As more people remain unemployed and layoffs continue, more and more consumers are finding themselves unable to pay their bills and forced to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Although you expect your credit score to take a hit when you file bankruptcy, you shouldn’t be penalized twice. But many consumers who have filed bankruptcy and anxiously applied for financing soon after their bankruptcy is discharged, are shocked to learn they have been denied only because the credit bureaus have failed to do their job. Credit bureaus sometimes don’t update consumer credit reports to show debts that are included in the bankruptcy. A court ruling requires the three credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to report all debts that are discharged through Chapter 7 bankruptcy to be listed as such on consumer credit reports. Delinquent debts that were discharged through bankruptcy that still appear on your credit report not updated will negatively impact your credit score. Why? These debts will be looked upon as current debts and will appear to a potential lender that you still owe these debts.

A customer who has been using our Complete Credit Management Toolkit to smartly manage his credit after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, unfortunately, missed a very important follow-up step. He spent a period of time getting his family finances in order and remaining debt free. But it wasn’t until his mortgage application was denied, that he realized he had failed to take a very important step. Had he reviewed his credit reports after his bankruptcy was discharged, he would have discovered credit cards debts that had been included in the bankruptcy were being inaccurately reported on his credit reports. So despite the fact in reality he was debt free, to the mortgage lender he was carrying more debt than he could afford, and he was delinquent on these accounts as well. The lesson here is this, if you see a bankruptcy in your future, remember, once your bankruptcy is discharged, your job is to follow-up with the credit bureaus to make sure they have done their job. Unresolved errors will negatively impact your credit worthiness. Here are some Smart Credit Moves:

1. Request a copy of all three of your credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. You can get them free online at www.annulacreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.

2. Examine your reports carefully for errors. Pay particular attention to any accounts that were discharged as part of a bankruptcy. Any civil judgments discharged in a bankruptcy should be reported as discharged or included in bankruptcy and show a zero balance. Any other accounts discharged in bankruptcy should be reported as discharged or included in bankruptcy and show a zero balance versus showing charge-off or any other reporting.

3. Report to the credit bureaus any errors uncovered. Send them a copy of the credit report with the errors high-lighted, include any supporting documents from the bankruptcy court.

During these economic times, it’s more important than ever for consumers to review their credit reports for inaccuracies that could cause their credit score to plummet -and interest rates and insurance premiums to spike! It is your responsibility to make certain credit bureaus are doing their job. Be Proactive!

Source: Rosie's Boomer Review

I May Inherit Money Soon After My Bankruptcy Discharge, Now What?

The bankruptcy law says that if a debtor inherits money from someone who dies within 180 days of the date the debtor filed bankruptcy, that money becomes part of the bankruptcy estate even if you received a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge. What that means is that if you filed bankruptcy September 30, 2009 and a relative/friend died December 30, 2009, and you inherited money from them, you would need to report that money to the bankruptcy court and it would become part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is not illegal to make plans so that your inheritance does not fall under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy courts. Here are your options:


•Your friend/relative can setup a spendthrift trust for your inheritance. The bankruptcy court cannot seize a spendthrift trust if it is properly created. You will need an attorney to properly create the spendthrift trust and avoid trouble with the bankruptcy court.

•Your friend/relative can rewrite their will to remove you from it so that another person inherits the money. That person, if they choose can then gift the inheritance to you 180 days after you filed bankruptcy or they may be able to give you the gift before the 180 days has lapsed because the bankruptcy court cannot seize gifts after your bankruptcy has been finalized.

•You can simply not claim the inheritance. You are not by law required to claim an inheritance.

Remember, there is nothing wrong with planning to maximize the benefits of bankruptcy. You can legally do so by planning the timing of an inheritance or using tools to avoid the seizure of assets in bankruptcy. However, it is illegal to hide an inheritance, by not telling the bankruptcy court about it or using illegal means to avoid including it in the bankruptcy estate. If you plan to receive an inheritance during or after your bankruptcy please discuss with your bankruptcy attorney, how you can protect this asset.

Source: Reed's Bankruptcy Blog

Surviving Bankruptcy

Getting through painful process requires composure, organization and advice.
By Thomas Gnau and Vince McKelvey

When ‍bankruptcy appears to be your least bad option in a sea of bad options, what should you do? In plain English: Don’t panic. Get your records together. Talk to your attorney. How do you know you’re headed for ‍bankruptcy?Unfortunately, that may be the easy part. “Most typically, when you’re headed in that direction, you’re having trouble paying your bills,” said Ronald Pretekin, attorney with Dayton law firm Coolidge Wall. You also may be tempted to divert federal and state withholding taxes to pay creditors, Pretekin said. If so, resist the temptation. Such diversions simply create bigger problems, he said. “Responsible officers can be held personally liable for dealing with those issues.”

One of the first questions Pretekin asks clients: Where do you stand on your taxes?

Matters get murkier — for nonspecialists, anyway — when it comes to the array of ‍bankruptcy options.

Miami Twp. attorney Wayne Novick chairs the Dayton Bar Association ‍Bankruptcy Committee. Business structure determines the kind of ‍bank‍‍ruptcy protection available, he said.

In general, businesses can shut their doors in Chapter 7 or attempt to continue operating and reorganize through Chapter 11. The law does not allow corporations to file Chapter 13.

An individual “doing business as” can file Chapter 7 (to shut the doors), Chapter 11 (to reorganize) or Chapter 13 — sometimes known as an option for “smaller guys,” Novick said. With Chapter 13, if a nonincorporated business can produce a suitable plan, a court can allow it to move forward with perhaps less oversight or influence from creditors.

Chapter 11 means holding off previous creditors while trying to attract or work with new ones, Novick said. That can be challenging, to say the least.

Indeed, often the path to ‍bank‍‍ruptcy becomes clear because creditors are clamoring for payment — or suing.

“In this environment, I think a lot of creditors will work with you for at least some period of time,” Pretekin said. “But there’s always a point where everybody runs out of patience.”

“One of the keys is, who is going to give them credit?” Novick said. “You have to work out something with the future suppliers (creditors), and that’s where the small business Chapter 11s run into difficulty.”

Novick — talking the language of attorneys who work with entrepreneurs — says it comes down to the “input of new capital.” How will payroll be met or supplies purchased?

Attorneys need to evaluate whether a business can go forward. Good business records help that decision. Even getting something as fundamental as a monthly “P&L” — a profit and loss statement — can be difficult for some small businesses.

Other questions that demand answers: How strong is the relationship with suppliers? Can they count on suppliers to continue that relationship? Can the business operate on cash? Are accounts receivable collectable? What’s the debt total?

Fear of confronting the issue won’t help, Novick says. Talk to your accountant and attorney sooner rather than later.

“There’s no harm in that,” Novick said. “But people fear that.”

Said Pretekin, “One of the earliest things to do is talk to your lawyer, your accountant.”

Pretekin and Springboro attorney Ira Thomsen emphasize the importance of considering not just the business’ position, but that of the individual or individuals who have guaranteed loans. The question becomes: Does seeking ‍bankruptcyprotection make sense in this case?

“Do I really need to file a ‍bankrupt‍‍cy for this business if I’m going out of business?” Thomsen said.

If a business isn’t being sued by creditors, and if assets are not sufficient to pay off secured lenders, then attorneys may advise clients to close their doors and concentrate on protecting personal assets.

Assets usually are on the line when small businesses have one or two owners. Often those owners have personally guaranteed their business’ obligations, Thomsen said.

In that case, individual owners may consider filing personal ‍bankruptcies, usually a Chapter 7 or 13, but not filing for their business.

Said Thomsen, “I have not run into a situation, a small business situation, where the debt is not guaranteed.”

If there are reasons to file for both personal and business situations, often different attorneys will be needed for each side, Thomsen said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com .

Source: GratefulLawyer.com

How to Be Your Own Life Coach and Save Some Cash

Life coaches aren't just for celebrities nowadays: lots of regular Joes like you and me have worked with, or are thinking about hiring, a coach. It's true that a good, experienced life coach can help you turn your life around – whether you want to improve your health, switch career or even overcome phobias.


However, many of us (me included!) can't afford to pay for life coaching. Should we resign ourselves to sitting on the sidelines, watching friends and colleagues forge on ahead, with their life coaches cheering them on? We could throw our hands up in the air and say, "Well, I'd be that successful too, if I could afford to pay someone to help me."

We don't need to miss out. There are ways to get many of the benefits of life coaching ... even when you're broke.

Set Aside an Hour a Week

One of the reasons that people benefit from life coaching is because they've blocked out (and paid for!) time which will be used in serious thought about their goals, dreams, ambitions and problem areas. Typically, life coaches will work with a client for an hour each week.

There's absolutely nothing stopping you from blocking out an hour in your diary, every Sunday afternoon (or whatever time you pick). I know you're probably thinking "I'm too busy" or "But what if something comes up?" If you make a genuine commitment to yourself that you'll keep that hour-long appointment, the time will be there!

There are 168 hours in a week. Surely you can invest just one of those in your own personal development!

Try Some Self-Coaching Techniques

Although you're (probably!) not a trained coach, there are some techniques you can use to help yourself get clarity and perspective about your life, and find solutions to your problems. These are a few to try:

Timed Writing

Set a timer for five minutes. Write down a problem or issue in your life (eg. relationships). Now write, without stopping or editing, about things you could do to overcome that problem. Put down everything that comes into your head, even if it seems silly.

Question and Answer

This is another writing exercise. Ask yourself a question, then write the answer. Keep asking questions if you think something isn't fully explained. Imagine the questioner as a very close friend, or as the person you'd like to become.

If you're not sure what to ask yourself, try these questions:

What would make your life better right now?

Where are you going forwards in your life at the moment?

Where do you feel stuck?

Meditation

Lots of people have preconceptions about meditation. It doesn't have to be new-agey or spiritualist – meditation is just a way of quietening your mind. It's one of the best ways to reduce stress, and meditating at the start of your hour-long session can help you to get into a calm, focused frame of mind.

If you're anything like me, you'll find that Meditation Techniques for the Busy and Impatient is a must read!

Work Through a Blog Post, Book or Program

Many life coaches, motivational speakers and other big shots in the personal development field have written books or produced programs that can literally turn your life around. There's a but coming, though ... you have to actually take some action.

How often have you bought or borrowed books, read them, enjoyed them ... but failed to change anything about your life? I love reading, and I'm too prone to rushing through books when I need to take the time to actually implement their advice.

Pick up one of the books you've read, or get hold of a good one (How to be Rich and Happy by life coach Tim Brownson and best-selling author John P Strelecky is the next on my list to work through). Spend your hour a week – or more time if you can – working through slowly, chapter by chapter. Many books will offer exercises for you to complete at the end of each chapter: try not to skip or ignore these!

Be Kind to Yourself

Finally, one of the best ways to be your own life coach is to learn to be kind to yourself. Many of us have a very critical little voice in our heads that berates us for making mistakes, getting things wrong and sometimes falling short of the mark ... in short, being human!

When you're tempted to judge yourself harshly, stop and think how a life coach would respond. Perhaps they'd remind you of the progress you have made, and perhaps they'd help you to look at the reasons why things went wrong.

Source: Dumb Little Man

What to do as the economic recovery begins

By Andrew Housser

Last week, news reports began providing data on the third quarter of economic activity, supporting earlier predictions that the United States is gradually recovering from the recession that has gripped the nation for nearly two years.

For individuals, the recovery signals a return to higher levels of employment and more economic security. If you have been walking on pins and needles in the past months, now is a good time to begin returning your personal finances to economic health. Here are some tips on being a smart, money-savvy consumer as the recovery begins.

1. Aim to save 10 percent

Try to save 10 percent of gross income -- whether it's from a regular paycheck, commission or consulting check, or babysitting money. If you cannot yet do 10 percent, choose a level to which you can commit on an ongoing basis, and work to increase it to 10 percent.

2. Prioritize your spending

As you recover from the downturn, take a fresh look at how you spend your money. Here are some smart ways to prioritize what you pay and when you pay it.

•Pay your mortgage first. If you want to stay in your home, don't risk falling behind on your mortgage, and prioritize paying your mortgage over unsecured debts. Do not borrow excessively with home equity lines.

•Pay down credit card debt next -- and stop charging. For those who are weighed down with debt - especially credit card debt -- and paying interest rates of 18 percent, 30 percent or even more, work on paying that debt off. Using your money to pay off high interest credit card debt is one of the best investments anyone can make.

•Build an emergency fund. Ideally, this should amount to at least six months worth of expenses. But any amount helps. How much really is enough? "Enough" depends on a person's individual situation. Think about the level of expense that causes you to rush to a credit card. Is it a car repair bill for $250? A medical bill for $500? Have at least that amount available, and build toward six to nine months' living expenses.

•Then fund your goals according to your budget (see the next tip).

3. Budget

Budgeting is the No. 1, sure-fire way to save money. The key is to set goals. Whether your goal is to save on weekly grocery bills, have time for a hike once a month, save for kids' college or for retirement, or take a vacation to Europe, write down the goals and build your budget with the goals in mind. For some, it may mean modifying that European vacation to, say, Boston's North End for a taste of Italy -- but whatever happens, you'll find that using a budget will help you to spend smartly.

4. Pay every bill in full and on time

You will avoid increasingly high late charges, penalties and fees. Many people spend more money paying interest (and late fees) than on many other expenses.

5. Spend with cash

Start handing over old-fashioned dollar bills for your routine expenditures. People who do not use debit or credit cards are less likely to throw that extra item into the shopping cart or make an extra purchase. If you must, take credit cards out of your wallet. Some people even freeze their credit cards in a bowl of water in the freezer. The time it takes to thaw it out can serve as a deterrent, or at least provide time to really decide if you need to use it. Bottom line: If you can't pay for something now, don't buy it.

6. Shop smart at a warehouse club

Invest in a warehouse club membership to save by buying in bulk. Everyone, from single men and women to couples and small families, can benefit from the savings clubs offer if they plan and spend carefully. Buy only what you can afford, stick with items you use frequently, and watch for good values on non-food items such as gas, long-distance phone cards and clothing. Team up with friends, neighbors or family members to split large purchases.

7. Wise up on insurance

Take the time to get a variety of quotes on the insurance coverage you carry, from health insurance to home and auto policies. Be sure you are receiving the best value for your premium dollar, and if not, switch insurers.

8. Pare down utility bills

Everyone has heard by now the advice on turning the thermostat down in winter (up in summer), installing a programmable thermostat, turning the hot water temp down, etc. To really save, look carefully at your utility bills to find out the cost per gallon of water, per kilowatt of electricity or per therm of natural gas. See where you spend the most. Then focus your energies -- including improvements such as adding insulation or repairing dripping faucets -- where you will save the most money.

If the recovery brings you and/or your family increased income or steadier income, be especially careful to budget that money consciously. By planning ahead for how you will spend -- and save - -you will gain control over your own life and the peace of mind that that power brings.

Source: WALB News

Will You Qualify For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy After Halloween?

If you are a consumer thinking about filing bankruptcy, you will want to figure out whether to file bankruptcy before or after November 1 when changes to the income eligibility guidelines take effect. For some people, the means test changes will help and for others the changes will hurt.

In Kansas, for example, median family income for families of one to three goes up while median family income for four or more person families decreases. In Florida, median family income went down for all family sizes.

The new income figures have been released so you have 21 days until October 31, 2009, to file bankruptcy, if you will be hurt by the new means test guidelines. See your consumer bankruptcy attorney to learn your options.

Congress created an income test for determining eligibility for consumer bankruptcy in the law reform of 2005. The thought was that you should only get as much bankruptcy relief as you need. Creditors complained that people were discharging all their debt in chapter 7 bankruptcy who had the ability to make partial payment in chapter 13 bankruptcy.

A math test was created to determine who can file chapter 7, who must file chapter 13, and how much debt has to be repaid in chapter 13. This test is called the means test. It starts with the median family income for your family size in your state according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau and adjusted by the U.S. Trustee Program. The median income figures are changing for bankruptcy cases filed on or after November 1, 2009.

If your income is less than the family median income for your state, you pass the means test and are eligible for filing either chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy.

If your income is higher than the family median income for your state, then you keep going by filling out about six pages of information about your expenses and various deductions you are allowed to take to determine if you have disposable income to pay your unsecured creditors (the ones without collateral such as credit cards and medical bills). You could pass the means test at the end of the process if you have no disposable income and qualify for either chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy. You could even qualify for nominal repayment to general unsecured debts in chapter 13 bankruptcy. Or, if you have disposable income, you may be eligible for a chapter 13 payment plan bankruptcy.

The means test is very complicated. The devil is in the details, as they say, and your consumer bankruptcy attorney can help you determine your options.

Source: Bankruptcy Law Network

How to Keep Your Costs Down and Get Good Bankruptcy Advice Quickly

Personal bankruptcy is made for "what if" scenarios. What if I file individually instead of jointly with my wife? What if I quit my job while I am in the middle of my Chapter 13? What if I need a replacement vehicle after I file?
I don't always have the answers but I can usually think through one or two likely scenarios. I can be more effective helping you if you give me the information I need. Specifically that means the following:

•take the time to complete my intake questionnaire in its entirety. Don't leave out information that you believe is not relevant. My intake questionnaire is keyed to my bankruptcy program and I have been developing and updating it for over 15 years. Everything on my questionnaire is there for a reason – and I can serve you better if I have everything that is requested there

•get me copies of your credit reports. AnnualCreditReport.com offers a free service to get current copies of your credit reports. Current credit reports help us avoid leaving out creditors from our analysis and they can also provide other helpful information such as prior addresses and other names in which you have been extended credit

•get me copies of all payment advices for the past 7 months. The Bankruptcy law now requires all debtors to engage in a median income test as well as a means test analysis. The starting point of this analysis is evidence of income you and other members of your household have received. Payment advices should be provided for salaries, investment income, one-time checks, some disability payments, dividends, etc. If you are not sure, ask.

Sometimes I hear from clients who want to submit their information on a spreadsheet or Quicken file. Feel free to send those files along, but do not send them in lieu of my questionnaire and the other requested information.

Source: BkBlog

How to Rebuild Credit, Post-Bankruptcy

Dear Alpha Consumer,
My wife and I just emerged from bankruptcy. Before that, we both had excellent credit scores and access to good credit cards with major lenders. Unfortunately, I've been laid off three times since 9/11 because of company downsizing, and we had to charge our health insurance COBRA payments and food and other essentials to our credit cards. We only started making late payments on the advice of our lawyer, who said we had to be late prior to filing for bankruptcy.

Now, I am employed again and we are trying to rebuild our credit. We have one joint account in good standing but we would like to get a credit card or two to rebuild our credit. Should my wife and I each get a credit card under own names, or should we take out a joint credit card? Also, is it better to get an unsecured card with a higher APR or a secured credit card with a lower APR?

Lastly, if we pay off the balance each month and make on-time payments, do you know how long it will take before we rebuild our credit score and are able to get low-interest, unsecured cards from national lenders again?

First of all, congratulations on getting back on your feet after filing for bankruptcy. The good news is that you could have decent credit again within a year. The bad news is that even with improved credit, you probably won't be able to find the low-interest rate credit cards that you remember from your pre-bankruptcy days.

The credit card world has changed drastically in the last two years. Credit card offers used to be plentiful; almost anyone with a mailing address could receive an unsecured credit card at a competitive interest rate. Now, card companies have tightened their standards in the wake of rising default rates and have raised interest rates even on reliable customers. According to www.IndexCreditCards.com, the average rate is now 15.39 percent, the highest in two years.

To maximize your chances of getting the best deal possible, your wife and you should probably apply for individual credit cards. When it comes to credit, separate accounts are usually better, unless one person's credit is so poor (or nonexistent) that he needs a co-sponsor in order to take out a card, as is often the case for college students. But since you are both adults with separate credit reports, you have little to gain from taking out a card jointly, and a potential downside if one person's credit drags down the other person's. (It sounds like you have a strong marriage, but many couples also want to keep their credit accounts separate in case they divorce, in which case jointly held credit cards can become contentious issues.)

As for whether to go for an unsecured card with a higher interest rate or a secured card with a lower one, that depends entirely on what you are using it for. If you think you might carry a balance, then you should always go for the lowest-interest rate possible. But secured cards require upfront cash deposits, which you may or may not be able to provide. In many ways, secured credit cards aren't credit cards at all, but rather debit cards that give you to the extra advantage of rebuilding your credit score.

While your credit score will improve after only a year of making on-time, regular payments, it will take longer -- seven to ten years -- for your credit report to fully recover from the stain of bankruptcy. By then, low-interest rate credit cards might have made a comeback.

Source: US News

2008-2009 Recession Being Good for You!

Yup, your heard me right, the 2008-2009 recession is actually pretty good for all of us! Instead of looking at the recession as a walk in the desert, I prefer to see it as a cold winter of great warnings and doors of opportunities. It is true that recession hit very hard as a cold winter on those who didn’t protect themselves enough. When I talk about cold winter, I am talking about minus 40 degrees with 10 feet of snow… Many people have suffered from it but there is still a lot to learn from the current recession:

Investment opportunities
“Buy when there is blood on the street”. This is probably my favourite quote from Wall Street. It is a bit violent, but it clearly determines the only moment where you should use market timing: when everybody else is avoiding it! Investing during a recession will make your investment portfolio jump like you could not have imagined. It’s a classic but nobody’s doing it L. As the cold winter strikes and everybody goes inside at the first sigi of snowflakes, you can be brave enough to stay outside. You will get your stuff ready for next spring while everybody is looking at you through the window with their hot chocolate thinking “what a crazy, poor man, he has to work all winter…”. Who’s going to be the crazy, poor man after the recession? Huh?

Frugal spending
Badass winters used to strike our country while our parents (or grandparents) didn’t have much to eat, talk about genuinely rough times. As is the case during a recession, it drives to you think about managing your resources and spending more responsibly. This is when you develop frugal habits (that you will soon forget once summer is back…). The 2009 recession will definitely encourage people to save money (Canadian and US savings rates are ridiculous… as close as a 1 year CD actually… near nothing!). Spend less and save more, you will be able to eat throughout winter!

Recession improves ecologic habits
During winter, we all try to use everything on hand instead of wasting it. It is exactly the same thing with a recession. The best example would be the famous Cash for Clunkers. Governments try to stimulate the economy while appearing green (it gets good press even though not the primary goal!). While you have less money in your pocket, recuperating your old stuff becomes the best idea you can have.

Appreciate things we have
I always laugh when I hear people talking about the weather in Quebec. They spend their whole summer complaining it is too hot and once winter arrives, they whine about the cold weather (want some cheese with that) … This is what happens during a recession, we miss the good old days where we had to work 60 hours a week. The human being is a weird beast; it has to lose something before appreciating it. So, if you are lucky enough to not be struck by the 2009 recession, please appreciate what you have and take care of it!

Improves creativity
As companies cut out the fat, the remaining employees have to do more with fewer resources. This is when creativity rises to its best: when there are no other solutions than finding a better way of doing things! This is how most companies will show increases in productivity and the profit margin as well in 2010 ;-0.

Good position for a promotion
As it is the case with creativity, if you stay with your company and you are not part of the “fat”, you have a pretty good opportunity to work hard and show you can manage the stress and pressure. There is a better than average chance you will be in the running for a promotion when things go better as most people around will react poorly during a recession. They will whine about people being laid off while they still have a job. They will complain that they have to work more or do things that was not in their “job description” (don’t you hate hearing that?!?). By being responsible and showing a positive attitude, you will surely make your way through the top despite the recession.


When you think about it, a recession is really like a badass winter. If you work hard and are patient enough, you will get great rewards once springtime arrives! Now, go get your coat on, it’s freezing this morning!

Source: The Financial Blogger