Private student loans are the worst debt in America, bar none. Lenders have flocked to making private student loans, knowing there are few legal protections available to borrowers. I can get rid of IRS debt in a bankruptcy easier than I can student loan debt. One of my clients was told his payment would be...
Chapter 13 can provide a glimmer of hope to homeowners struggling to make 2nd mortgage payments. Getting rid of a second mortgage mortgage in a chapter 13 bankruptcy has become routine in many jurisdictions like New Hampshire and Massachusetts. As a bankruptcy lawyer who has filed a couple of dozen of chapter 13s to strip...
[caption id="attachment_273" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Natural disasters often leave homeowners holding the bag on mortgages, property taxes and more."][/caption] We’ve all seen the devastating television footage of Mother Nature’s fury. From out of control wildfires in the Southwest to historic flooding and the ravages of hurricanes in the Northeast, it seems that no one is immune...
[caption id="attachment_298" align="alignleft" width="150"] The CARD Act's hidden dirty little secrets[/caption] While most consumers celebrated the new changes brought about by the CARD Act beware of two loopholes that can catch unknowing credit card users in a costly mistake. Banks vehmently opposed to the CARD Act put their collective heads together and devised ways to...
[caption id="attachment_288" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="It's never too early to start teaching kids about money management."][/caption] Every day in our practice, we see the devastation that financial insolvency creates not only for the client, but also the ripple effect that it has on the rest of the family. One way to prevent financial disasters for the...
Credit cards offering rewards miles and other incentives may seem like a good deal, but let's look at the fine print to learn more. [caption id="attachment_140" align="alignleft" width="239" caption="Now is a great time to review the 'rewards' cards in your wallet"][/caption] With the recent CARD Act going into effect on February 21, 2010, consumers are...
[caption id="attachment_134" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The building blocks of a good personal budget are as easy as 1-2-3."][/caption] Everywhere you turn, conversations revolve on tightening and maintaining strict budgets. If you, like millions of Americans, weren't taught how to properly create and keep a budget in high school or college, then all of those financial conversations are...
[caption id="attachment_118" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Past Due Notices and Collector Calls Can Push Debtors into a Rash Decision"][/caption] If the phone never stops ringing and bill collectors are harassing you morning, noon and night, you're not alone. With millions of Americans facing financial peril due to job loss, medical bills, or other financial hardships, it's no...
[caption id="attachment_102" align="alignleft" width="173" caption="Elizabeth Leamy's Save Big CAN change your financial future."][/caption] Everyone knows that the top New Year's resolution is to lose weight or live a healthier life, but do you know what ranks as the #2 resolution? The second most popular resolution is to get out of debt and gain more control...
[caption id="attachment_76" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Even Santa might be tempted to max his credit this holiday. (Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)"][/caption] Reports from last week’s Black Friday holiday shopping tell the tale of shoppers who are using their credit cards a bit less than last year. According to a National Retail Federation survey of 8,692 consumers reported...