Published Friday, December 16, 2011 @ 10:50 pm

As we’re all aware, this decade’s Great Recession has dealt, and continues to deal, a significant blow to the budgets of many American families, leaving millions in debt, underwater in their mortgages, and in some cases falling behind on their tax bills, adding to their economic unrest.

So, even though tax day 2012 is weeks away, and the holidays may already have your full attention, it’s worth noting that there are some timely tips you can take between now and Dec.…

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Published Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 9:21 am

As we’re all aware, this decade’s Great Recession has dealt, and continues to deal, a significant blow to the budgets of many American families, leaving millions in debt, underwater in their mortgages, and looking for any means necessary to get back on a financially-healthy course.

Now, tax time is yielding another short-term problems for some cash-strapped citizens.…

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Published Monday, June 13, 2011 @ 11:03 am

You may have heard the phrase “debt ceiling” being bandied about in the media recently. But few people outside of Washington D.C.’s Beltway, and in the current Congressional fight over raising it, truly understand what the term has to do with the proverbial “price of beans.” But financial experts warn that this unending political battle over how the country handles our national debt limit, could have lasting effects on average American pocketbooks.…

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Published Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 8:36 pm

We know what you’re thinking.

Another stressful tax season has officially come and gone, and you’re either expecting a well-deserved refund or you owe an obligatory amount to the Internal Revenue Service.

Regardless, we understand you’d rather not think about (or, at least read about) anything regarding taxes, tax time, or the financial implications of this taxing period.…

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Published Wednesday, February 2, 2011 @ 2:00 pm

‘Tis the season for tax returns…and for many, tax refunds. So, if you’re one of the lucky Americans who is expecting money back from the Internal Revenue Service this year, you may also be aware of refund anticipation loans (also known as RALs). These tax time advances are being offered by some tax-preparation services as part of their seasonal packages.  And while getting what’s yours as soon as you can, especially from the IRS in tough economic times, can be appealing, there are various pitfalls to these refund anticipation checks, and reasons the federal government is trying to help you avoid them.…

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Published Sunday, January 30, 2011 @ 11:51 am

With the holidays long gone and another New Year in full swing, ‘tis the season for 2010 tax filings, full of important tax changes for personal filers.  Here a few reminders of things to look out for as you work to get your returns in order:

(1) Payroll Tax Holiday
2011 is the year of the “payroll tax holiday.” This means that taxpayers subject to Federal Income Contributions Act tax (or FICA) for Social Security and Medicare will see a tax break of 2% in their paychecks up to the Social Security cap during the year, which is $106,800 for 2011.…

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Published Monday, November 1, 2010 @ 7:32 am

With so much talk of jobs on the eve of the 2010 midterm elections, many are wondering whether the millions of unemployed, disenfranchised by the lingering economic malaise, will feel empowered to take to the polls and elect the leaders they believe can bring back a level of prosperity to the nation, their states, their communities, and most importantly, their individual households.…

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Published Tuesday, October 5, 2010 @ 12:10 pm

Are you one of an estimated 26 million Americans who avoid bank accounts altogether because you fear banking excessive fees or are currently suffering from the very high fees others are trying to avoid? As a result, do you depend on expensive check cashing or tax refund loan services? Well, there’s suddenly hope out there for the unbanked or underbanked—especially during tax season

The U.S.…

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Published Tuesday, August 17, 2010 @ 7:43 pm

Just as Social Security seems to be running into the red—paying out more dollars than it’s taking in—it also appears the social welfare program has never been more important.  In its 75^th year, amid the worst economic crisis since the Great Recession, Social Security is acting as a financial lifeline to America’s most needy citizens.  And without it, the consequences would be dire.…

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Published Thursday, August 12, 2010 @ 10:06 am

As Baby Boomers age into their rightful place at the retirement table, Social Security appears to be running into the red—literally paying out more dollars than it’s taking in—even after decades of prosperity and pay-outs.

According to a recent article in CNNMoney.com, this could leave many who do (and will) depend on Social Security in a rough economic spot during already tough financial times.…

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Published Tuesday, August 10, 2010 @ 9:30 am

What was once a white picket fence is now a potential foreclosure; what used to be some measure of Social Security is now using retirement just to get by; what would have been the expectation of (and ability to) send your kids – all of them — to college, is now in question, along with all of the other trappings of a now-fleeting American Dream.…

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Published Wednesday, April 14, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

As we’re all aware, this decade’s Great Recession has dealt, and continues to deal, a significant blow to the budgets of many American families, leaving millions in debt, out of work, underwater in their mortgages, and looking for any means necessary to get back on a financially-healthy course.  Now, we’re finding that tax time 2010 is also yielding it’s own unique set of challenges for some cash-strapped citizens who may have had some of their debt forgiven or settled a debt for less than the full amount in 2009.…

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Published Sunday, March 28, 2010 @ 6:31 pm

As you know by now, this country’s recent Great Recession has dealt, and continues to deal, a significant blow to the budgets of many American families, leaving millions in debt, underwater in their mortgages, perpetually jobless and looking for any means necessary to get back on a financially-healthy track.

However, there may be a silver fiscal lining to this year’s spring season: The Recovery Act’s tax credits.…

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Published Tuesday, March 2, 2010 @ 11:52 am

As we’re all aware, this decade’s Great Recession has dealt, and continues to deal, a significant blow to the budgets of many American families, leaving millions in debt, underwater in their mortgages, and looking for any means necessary to get back on a financially-healthy course.  Now, we’re finding that tax time is also yielding it’s own set of challenges for some cash-strapped citizens.…

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Published Monday, January 25, 2010 @ 6:49 pm

If you are facing some serious financial problems, a guess that you are short on cash is not much of a stretch. Some people hesitate to file for bankruptcy protection because they believe they need to hire a bankruptcy attorney, but think they won’t be able to afford one. While they are absolutely right about the first part–an experienced bankruptcy attorney is essential to a successful bankruptcy–they may be surprised to learn how affordable legal services can be.…

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Published Tuesday, January 19, 2010 @ 2:48 am

The holidays are now officially over. The New Year has begun in earnest. And ‘tis the season for tax time. If you believe you’re bankruptcy bound in 2010, that definitely means it’s also time to get your 2009 returns in order.

Thinking About Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy helps restructure your debt into a more manageable payment plan—allowing you to pay back what you owe over time, often at a percentage of the cost.…

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Published Saturday, December 5, 2009 @ 1:10 pm

The New York Times recently published a story relating to one aspect of the foreclosure crisis that many a troubled homeowner will know all too well. When you’re struggling to hold on to your home, the main reason is obvious: for one reason or another, you cannot afford the big mortgage payments rolling in every month.  But the troubles don’t stop there: increasingly, homeowners are finding themselves squeezed to the breaking point by property taxes they can’t afford.  Unfortunately for many homeowners, the pictures gets even grimmer.…

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Published Tuesday, August 11, 2009 @ 6:00 pm

Believe it or not, there are some situations when credit cards can be a benefit. They are often the only option when making travel reservations, and can come in handy in the event of genuine emergencies. A credit card can also help you build good credit, or rebuild credit after bankruptcy.…

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Published Saturday, July 18, 2009 @ 11:56 am

You may have heard that, even if you file for bankruptcy protection, you will not be able to discharge income taxes. This is simply not true. If the taxes are old enough, you may be able to discharge all or most of your tax debt. In many cases, tax liability will not be dischargeable because the debt is too new, as explained below, or because the taxes owed are in one of the categories which cannot be discharged according to the Bankruptcy Code.…

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Published Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 11:10 am

As you are probably well aware, bankruptcy is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. If you are eligible to file but hesitate to do so, you stand to lose more than you may guess. Dithering too long can ruin the strategic advantage of timing; deciding not to file at all could cause you to lose everything.…

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