GDonaldson's blog

If you are like most parents, you will do practically anything to give your children the best education possible.  But for most, higher education is not possible without the assistance of student loans.  Many times, it’s grandparents who step up to assist their grandchildren achieve a higher education.  A new study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (

On August 9, 1993, I started working fresh out of college with Bond & Botes as the receptionist. I was 22 years old and thought I knew a lot. Little did I know how much I would have to learn. My 22-year old self was eager to learn, unsure about a lot of life’s mysteries, but still trusting of people.

June is the month many celebrate their wedding day.  I too was a June bride!  As we race around preparing for the BIG day, many newlyweds don’t discuss the days, weeks and months after the wedding.  Finances are one of the biggest reasons for divorce.  It is important to discuss how you will handle your finances as a couple.

Here are some tips:

Almost every day a client tells me about receiving a phone call that sounds like a scam.  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reported an increase in “neighbor spoofing”. Neighbor spoofing is when illegal robocallers use tactics to try and trick you into answering calls.

The tax deadline this year is April 17, 2018. Filing your taxes can be complicated, but simple mistakes can lead to an audit by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS may randomly select a taxpayer’s return and compare the return to other similar returns to check for anything out of the ordinary.

Once again, scammers are trying to take advantage of citizens in Montgomery County.  Local Circuit Clerk Tiffany McCord stated her office has received about thirty complaints from residents who received a “civil citation” by email.  The email stated in the “citation” that $711 was owed to the county.  The “citations” are fake and intended to scam you out of money.

Having lived in my adopted hometown for over twenty years now, I have made many friends through the years who have come to Maxwell Air Force Base for Officer Training School (OTS) and the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS) from all over the world.  When the news came that the U.S. Air Force decided to locate the new F-35A fighter jet program, I was excited for the possibilities for the future of Montgomery.

I had the privilege of giving a Continuing Legal Education seminar on bankruptcy to Montgomery’s Legal Services of Alabama.  Currently, there are no attorneys trained in handling bankruptcy cases in the Montgomery office. Some attorneys have a general idea of how bankruptcy works but were reluctant to take on any cases without current training.

Can you lose your job if you fall behind on your student loans?  In 19 states, government agencies can seize your state-issued professional licenses if you default on your student loans.  Thankfully, Alabama is not one of these states.  In South Dakota, your driver’s license can be suspended which can make it impossible to get to work.

Many Americans turn to credit repair before resorting to discussing bankruptcy options with an attorney.  One such credit repair company in Montgomery has been shut down by the Attorney General’s office for deceptive and illegal practices.