Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Walmart Unveils a New Rewards Card, but Consumers Should Be Wary
According to Marketwatch.com, big box retailer Walmart is offering a new branded rewards card. These types of reward cards have been popular for years, with many consumers enjoying the perks that come with being a loyal consumer. Walmart hopes to compete with Amazon, which has been offering its own branded card for some time… Read More »
Choosing the Right Bankruptcy: Questions to Ask
Consumers typically have the choice of 2 different bankruptcies, which are named after specific chapters in the Bankruptcy Code: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. They are very different, and choosing the right one is vital so that you handle your debts in an efficient manner. At Nowack & Olson, our Plantation bankruptcy attorneys focus… Read More »
Should You Use a 40-Year Mortgage to Save Your Home?
Most mortgages are for 15 or 30 years. You might be surprised to find out that some banks offer 40-year mortgages, which is pretty much what it sounds like—a mortgage with an additional 10 years to pay off. Many people on the market for a home cannot get a 40-year mortgage, though one might… Read More »
U.S. Consumers Rack Up More Credit Card Debt
Americans continue to pull out their charge card to make all sorts of purchases. As reported by MSN, credit card debt exploded in July 2019, increasing double digits. Total consumer credit is now much higher than it was at the start of the Great Recession. But should consumers be worried? Every person’s case is… Read More »
One Woman’s Experience with Debt Settlement
Business Insider has an eye-opening story from a woman who managed to clear out more than $22,000 in credit card debt using debt settlement but who expresses regret with the process. The woman’s story is well worth hearing, because debt settlement companies aggressively sell their services without mentioning an attractive alternative—bankruptcy. Although debt settlement… Read More »
Have You Found the Right Bankruptcy Attorney?
Some people wrongly believe that filing for bankruptcy is a standardized process. It is not. There are many considerations that go into choosing whether to file and picking the correct Chapter to file under. If a creditor objects, then there can be additional complications. Hiring the right attorney is vital. If you hire the… Read More »
Starting a Business on Firm Financial Footing
Business bankruptcies can be much more traumatic than an individual consumer bankruptcy. For many business owners, more money is at play. They have more assets they can lose in a liquidation than the typical consumer. They might also have employees who are depending on them for their livelihood. When a business fails, many lives… Read More »
Should You Sign Up for Credit Monitoring Services
Credit card fraud continues to be a problem. A thief could either steal your card or your number and use it to purchase goods and services, ultimately leaving you with the bill. Other thieves will steal your entire identity and open new cards in your name. To protect against fraud, some consumers sign up… Read More »
Top Sources of Financial Stress—And How to Deal with Them
Are you constantly worried about finances? If so, then you are not alone. According to recent studies mentioned at the Motley Fool website, over 20 million Americans are stressed about finances, even with the economy experiencing a record-breaking expansion. Some financial problems can be solved with a little work, though others are insurmountable. If… Read More »
Trump Signs Law Protecting Veterans Disability Payments in Bankruptcy
To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a filer cannot have income that is too high. Instead, he or she must pass a means test that looks at how much the filer earns and compares it to the median for his state. As of August 2019, a single filer in Florida, for example, cannot make… Read More »