COVID Financial Hotspots: So Do I Have To Go Back To Work?
These are difficult times and we face difficult decision. What if you are drawing unemployment at the Federal and State level – taking home $700 – just shy of $1,000 per week -- your [...]
COVID-19: The Minimum Monthly Payment
Credit card debt has been a favorite topic of mine for 11 years – since the Great Recession. It was at that time that I watched the credit card industry slash its customers available [...]
COVID-19 Lesson: You Need A DPOA
Here’s a quick test. Which of these Estate Plan Documents is the most critical? Will, Revocable Trust, Durable Power of Attorney or Health Care Power of Attorney? The most common answer is the “Will.” The [...]
COVID-19 Financial Survival Free Webinar to Build Your Strategy!
I think we can summarize the financial situation succinctly – “it sucks.” I recognize the words are rather crass – but the situation – for the vast majority of all Americans – is dire [...]
The COVID-19 Financial Crisis . . . What Should You Do?
No one expected it, but you are now facing financial crisis. You are concerned and frightened for the future. What should you do? How do you protect your family? Web sites and media post generic [...]
COVID-19 News – Business Owners Take Action Now!
The new, $2 Trillion Act to provide assistance is called CARES – and has now passed the House and Senate. By the time you read this, the President will probably have signed it and [...]
COVID-19: I’m Out Of Work And Have Limited / No Cash…What To Do?
I will cut to the chase. We don’t know how long this will last – but each day means less money (or no money) to pay for essential items and greater fear. Here are [...]
How To Stay Afloat In Wake Of Coronavirus
We are facing an unprecedented event. Moment to moment, we are witnessing the shutdown of economic activity everywhere. The grocery stores are buzzing, and people are scrambling to grab each roll of toilet paper [...]
Art Van Closing – One Way To Recover The Extended Warranty Cost
Like all Michiganders, I feel profound sadness for the closing of Art Van; for the loss of its mark on Michigan, and for the thousand of loyal employees who are losing their jobs. From [...]
Why You Need An Estate Plan
This is a simple question and the answer is a stark reality. Your future – like it or not – includes illness and, ultimately, death. You need an estate plan to address both of [...]
Be Prepared And Learn From Your Mistakes
I was interested in watching the Democratic debate this week to see how Mayor Bloomberg would fare, and to learn more about him. Would he instill in me the passion I’m looking for in [...]
Changes To Fico Scoring May Lower Your Score – OMG!
Wow – this is a crisis. As reported in the Wall Street Journal on January 23, 2020, FICO announced its newest software version used by its financial institution customers will change the rating mix. [...]
Did You Get Carried Away?
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL reported on January 16th that December retail sales increased a seasonally adjusted 0.3% from a month earlier. The Article goes on to quote Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US [...]
You Know What You Need To Do
The situation comes up in many instances. Here’s one. You constantly say to yourself, “I function much better when I’m organized, so I need to unscramble the mess in my office and get back [...]
Insist Upon Character and Eliminate Procrastination
I always reflect during the holidays. While I often assess – the holidays are a time where I look at where we stand as a nation and do a self- assessment as to personal [...]
I’m Obsessed!
I’m obsessed. The concepts of debt elimination and realignment of financial goals we developed as a result of the Financial Crisis has become an obsession for me - on one critical point that drives [...]
There’s A New Legislation In Michigan That Might Save Your Job…Well, At Least Get A Job.
Everyone knows that having a prior criminal conviction can affect your ability to get a job, sometimes apply for student loans, and even prevent your license from being suspended. Now that could all change. [...]
What If They Take Away My Available Credit?
There are a number of questions I get asked about Credit Cards – but the two most common are, “What if they take away my Available Credit?” and “What about my Credit Score?” Let’s [...]
What Is The Longest Period You Can Wait To Save For Retirement?
This is a loaded question. The answer is, "However long you have waited, you have waited the longest time you can!"I will state the obvious to anyone who is 55+ years and wishes they would [...]
It Doesn’t Take All That Much To Realize…
I like this title --- it prompts you to fill in rest of the clause. There are innumerable “fill ins” and I will leave you to think about them. Instead, I will share the [...]
I Feel Good!
Yes, don’t ya just love James Brown? Beyond feeling “hot” in this heat wave, I’m feeling good. The other day, I bumped into Bob (I changed his name), a client who I had not [...]
It Doesn’t Mean…(anything)!
Are we heading toward a recession, given the dismal job growth number for May? Or - will a recession result due to tariffs on Mexican products and the looming trade war with China? These [...]
There’s a New Devil in Town – Business Owners, Beware!
Have you heard of the “Gangster Loan?” My guess is you have not. The “Gangster Loan” is the name given by a client of ours that took out one of those business loans you [...]
Surprise! The Loan Shark Prevention Act is NOT a Good Thing.
At first blush, capping the permissible interest rate on Credit Card debt at 15% and allowing the States the right to make the permissible rate lower sounds like a good thing. This is the [...]
Sorry To Tell You…But Your Estate Plan Is Probably Out Of Date!
Oh, come on. Redoing my estate plan sounds about as exciting as purchasing tires! Well – it just happens that tires are a perfect analogy. No one wants to buy tires – it is [...]