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On April 25th, U. S. Bank National Association (“Bank”) was fined the sum of $15 million by the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for violations of the federal bankruptcy laws. This fine must be paid into the United States Treasury. The Bank agreed to pay the fine but did not admit to any wrongdoing.

A 401(k) is a great tool for saving for retirement.  Most of us worry about having a enough money for retirement and 401(k) allows for reducing taxable income and it also is an exempt or protected asset from most all creditors.  In counseling individuals with financial problems, I am often asked whether a 401(k) loan is a good idea. It really just depends.

It's actually amazing to think that after going through a bankruptcy, completing the paperwork and the process, making sure that all creditors and collectors are listed, and receiving a discharge that one might still-years later-get a collection notice from a collection agency about an old debt.

A debt settlement company is a business designed to help you negotiate to pay less to your creditors than you actual currently owe.  The company will calculate your payments based upon the debts you owe and its fees for providing the service to you.  As you pay the company each month, a portion of what you pay, less its fees, will be placed into an escrow account.  Once there is enough money in the escrow account to negotiate with a creditor, they will contact the credit

For anyone who was ever held a security clearance, he or she knows the importance of full and complete disclosure on the SF 86 form, which is the application form to be able to get a clearance.

Is it just me or does it seem like calls to your cell phone are exploding in volume?  I am probably getting five or more unsolicited and unwelcome calls each day trying to sell me items and services that I do not need nor do I want!  I feel like I am under assault! Given the fact I know the law in this area, I thought I would share some ways we can help when you are getting this same type of telephone harassment.

The word Trust is defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something.  Common synonyms are confidence, belief, faith, certainty, assurance and reliance.  The type of Trust (Living Trust) I am going to be discussing today falls into the something category.  There are only two (2) types of Trusts, either revocable or irrevocable.

Several weeks ago, I wrote on the possibility of another subprime mortgage crisis. Now, it appears that subprime auto loan defaults are nearing crisis levels.

Why do clients end up in my office every day?  Today, a client told me it started innocently with a t-shirt.  He was in college and offered a credit card with a $200 limit.  How much trouble could he get into with that small of a limit? Well, about twenty years later, that credit card debt grew and grew and snowballed into a lot more.

The Federal US Bankruptcy Code section 525 (a) prevents the government from discriminating against a person for filing a bankruptcy petition.  This section establishes the following (in part): “a governmental unit may not deny, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a license, permit, charter, franchise, or other similar grant to, condition such a grant to, discriminate with respect to such a grant against, deny employment to,