Most people think that they don’t have enough money to hire a financial advisor. That’s only for rich people! In reality, there are professional financial advisors ready to help people at all income levels. For advisors that pick stocks and mutual funds, some get paid a commission and others get fees just for the time they spend researching the investments and buying and selling them. Much of their focus is on clients’ long term goals like retirement. Who Needs Financial Advice? Everyone! Most Americans don’t have enough money saved for a $1000.00 emergency, much less have the money to invest
Continue Reading Is a Bankruptcy Lawyer a Financial Advisor? Yes!
In the process of rewriting my bio for my newly redesigned website, BankruptcyLawChicago.com, I reflected on exactly what I do well as an attorney in practice for 30 years. This update reflects the philosophy behind my practice
What I do Well Being a practicing attorney for 30 years, I have been honing my skills every day. In these 30 years, I’ve met with hundreds of clients, and learned how to listen, then how to develop a specific financial plan based on my experience in the Bankruptcy Court. Not just hear, but actually listen to the clients and hear what they want, their goals, and needs. These listening skills help me have real-world conversations with my clients. I have detailed discussions about a topic that most people won’t talk about with their own family or friends, money. I
Continue Reading In the process of rewriting my bio for my newly redesigned website, BankruptcyLawChicago.com, I reflected on exactly what I do well as an attorney in practice for 30 years. This update reflects the philosophy behind my practice
Repairing a Household Budget Deficit with Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a powerful tool to be used only as a last resort after all other options to resolve a household budget deficit have been exhausted.
Do your expenses exceed your income? Are you over-burdened with debt that you can no longer pay back? Is it impossible to pay-off a mortgage arrearage in a timely manner? Bankruptcy can help you obtain a manageable financial position.
1. Eliminate Unsecured Debt
When a creditor lends money without requiring collateral, or a business performs a service prior to payment the amount owed is unsecured. In addition, if collateral is repossessed or foreclosed, and
Continue Reading Repairing a Household Budget Deficit with Bankruptcy
Pandemic Financial Check Up Time!
Since March, we’ve been told so many things. Stay home, don’t work, and only go out for necessities. Then, try to work from home. Then, go back to work and have your kids in school online, but keep them home! Now through all of this, people and small business owners have taken huge financial hits! Six months later, with job layoffs and cuts, and a bit of government help thrown in, it’s time to “take stock” and see where you and your family, or your business are going financially. First things first: Take care of yourself! Get exercise every day,
Continue Reading Pandemic Financial Check Up Time!
Pandemic Financial Check Up Time!
Time for Your Pandemic Money Checkup!
Since March, we’ve been told so many things. Stay home, don’t work, and only go out for necessities. Then, try to work from home. Then, go back to work and have your kids in school online, but keep them home! Now through all of this, people and small business owners have taken huge financial hits! Six months later, with job layoffs and cuts, and a bit of government help thrown in, it’s time to “take stock” and see where you and your family, or your business are going financially.
First things first: Take care
Continue Reading Pandemic Financial Check Up Time!
The Calm Before the Bankruptcy Storm
With 5 months of the Pandemic behind us in the US, millions of jobs lost, mortgage and rent payments missed, many are wondering, where’s the Tsunami of Bankruptcy filings? In fact, compared to 2019, Bankruptcy filings are down! And, Bankruptcy Courts have remained open throughout the US and here in Illinois, so access is not a problem. So far, we are at the “Eye of the Storm”. It is always calm right before the storm! A few factors are in play now: Consumer debt (credit card balances) is actually down-people were home more, and actually pared down their debt, and
Continue Reading The Calm Before the Bankruptcy Storm
The Calm Before the Bankruptcy Storm
We Are Here to Help You Weather the Storm!
With 5 months of the Pandemic behind us in the US, millions of jobs lost, mortgage and rent payments missed, many are wondering, where’s the Tsunami of Bankruptcy filings? In fact, compared to 2019, Bankruptcy filings are down! And, Bankruptcy Courts have remained open throughout the US and here in Illinois, so access is not a problem.
So far, we are at the “Eye of the Storm”. It is always calm right before the storm! A few factors are in play now:
Federal or Private Student Loans? Know the Difference!
Here’s my latest video – FEDERAL VS PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS! BE CAREFUL!
Click below:
We’re here to help you. Know what’s best for you and your family!
Daniel J. Winter
For more information-contact us here:
http://StudentLoanLawChicago.com
djw@Dwinterlaw.com
The post Federal or Private Student Loans? Know the Difference! appeared first on Bankruptcy Law Chicago.
Continue Reading Federal or Private Student Loans? Know the Difference!
Federal or Private Student Loans? Know the Difference!
Here’s my latest video – FEDERAL VS PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS! BE CAREFUL! Click below: We’re here to help you. Know what’s best for you and your family! Daniel J. Winter For more information-contact us here: http://StudentLoanLawChicago.com djw@Dwinterlaw.com
Continue Reading Federal or Private Student Loans? Know the Difference!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting.. to File for Bankruptcy Protection
I’ve written many articles on how to be a good Client in a Bankruptcy case, and the documents you’ll need to have ready for your Attorney. Here is an update on exactly what to expect as a client, or potential client, from beginning to end of the Bankruptcy process. With the #TouchlessBankruptcy, we’re ready to help now, from where ever you are! Bankruptcy is a Very Detailed Process What do I mean by detailed? You are asking for the Bankruptcy Court to erase your debts. So the law says that you need to tell the Court everything about your financial
Continue Reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting.. to File for Bankruptcy Protection
What to Expect When You’re Expecting.. to File for Bankruptcy Protection
What to Expect…. In Bankruptcy Court!
I’ve written many articles on how to be a good Client in a Bankruptcy case, and the documents you’ll need to have ready for your Attorney. Here is an update on exactly what to expect as a client, or potential client, from beginning to end of the Bankruptcy process. With the #TouchlessBankruptcy, we’re ready to help now, from where ever you are!
Bankruptcy is a Very Detailed Process
What do I mean by detailed? You are asking for the Bankruptcy Court to erase your debts. So the law says that you need to
Continue Reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting.. to File for Bankruptcy Protection
Bankruptcy Court Hearings in the Age of a Pandemic
Emergency Declared– What are Courts Doing? Back in Mid-March, when the President declared a State of Emergency for all 50 states, and most states imposed some sort of a stay-at-home order, most State Courts almost immediately shut down. In the State Court Systems, the only Courts still running, at least in Illinois, were the Emergency Criminal Courts. Bankruptcy Court is Ready! During that whole time, the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, in the Federal Court System, kept running, without much delay. Bankruptcy Courts have been conducting hearings by phone, available to everyone. Why? My opinion is that no matter what, people and
Continue Reading Bankruptcy Court Hearings in the Age of a Pandemic
Bankruptcy Court Hearings in the Age of a Pandemic
Bankruptcy Court is Open!
Emergency Declared– What are Courts Doing?
Back in Mid-March, when the President declared a State of Emergency for all 50 states, and most states imposed some sort of a stay-at-home order, most State Courts almost immediately shut down. In the State Court Systems, the only Courts still running, at least in Illinois, were the Emergency Criminal Courts.
Bankruptcy Court is Ready!
During that whole time, the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, in the Federal Court System, kept running, without much delay. Bankruptcy Courts have been conducting hearings by phone, available to everyone. Why? My opinion is that no
Continue Reading Bankruptcy Court Hearings in the Age of a Pandemic
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy for Small Businesses
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Can Help a Small Business Recover from Economic Hardship
An Opportunity to Recover from an Economic Drought
The environment we live in is chaotic, causing certain detrimental occurrences to be outside of our control. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy can help a business owner recover from temporary uncontrollable financial devastation by putting together a Federal Court Ordered 5-Year Repayment Plan.
Keeping Property Essential to Business Activities
Many small business owners cannot file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy without losing the means to continue operations. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy allows petitioners to keep some or all business related property, so long as
What Should Small Businesses Consider During a Financial Crisis?
Small Business Owners-We Can Help!
These strategies apply to our current COVID-19 Crisis, or any economic downturn.
If you are a Small Business owner, you are getting conflicting messages. You can’t open without providing protection for yourself and your customers. But, you should pay your workers, open, and get going soon, once the State lifts the restrictions. And, you’ve got store rent payments, utilities, and other loan payments. Not to mention your food and housing payments at home! You may be able to weather the storm, or not. Here’s how to figure it out.
What to do now?
1.Conserve and
Continue Reading What Should Small Businesses Consider During a Financial Crisis?
Illinois suspends wage garnishments & bank account freezes.
On April 14, 2020, by executive order, Governor Pritzker temporarily suspended all consumer creditor judgment collection practices. The suspension is for the duration of the shelter- at-home order which is currently running through April 30, 2020, but we expect that it will be extended into May.
We applaud the Governor for taking this action to benefit consumer Debtors. What does this mean for you? If you have had a creditor lawsuit filed against you, even if the creditor obtains a judgment in the lawsuit, the creditor will be temporarily unable to collect the judgment. While we are under this order,
Continue Reading Illinois suspends wage garnishments & bank account freezes.