Why a Great Credit Score Doesn’t Mean You’re Financially Stable
Why a Great Credit Score Doesn’t Mean You’re Financially Stable People come into our office with a number looking at options to manage their debt, but their priorities are not the debt, it is maintaining their credit score. They are worried about maintaining a high credit score; often one of the first sentences is: “My […]
The Six-Month Rule: How to Tell If Your Debt Payoff Plan Is Actually Working
The Six-Month Rule: How to Tell If Your Debt Payoff Plan Is Actually Working A Simple Framework We Use to Evaluate Whether a Debt Repayment Strategy Is Producing Meaningful Results Most debt payoff plans fail long before people admit they are failing; this does not mean people stop making payments. In fact, many continue making […]
Why Your Chapter 13 Payment Is Outside Your Budget
Why Your Chapter 13 Payment is Outside Your Budget One of the biggest misconceptions about Chapter 13 bankruptcy is that it automatically creates an affordable monthly payment. Many people come into our office believing that Chapter 13 will combine all of their debts into one manageable payment and solve their financial problems. They have read […]
Realistic Budgeting When You Have Debt: Why Most Payoff Plans Fail (And What Actually Works)
Realistic Budgeting When You Have Debt: Why Most Payoff Plans Fail (And What Actually Works) A common pattern we see: A client comes in carrying years of guilt about debt they cannot pay off, having tried two or three aggressive budgeting plans that did not stick. They blame themselves. They assume they are bad with […]
Thinking About Co-Signing a Car Loan? What People Need to Understand Before They Sign
Thinking About Co-Signing a Car Loan? What People Need to Understand Before They Sign One of the hardest financial conversations we have with people is not about debt they created themselves. It is debt they agreed to help someone else with. A parent helps an adult child buy a reliable vehicle so they can get […]
Virginia’s Homestead Exemption, Home Equity, and Keeping Your House in Bankruptcy: What Virginia Homeowners Need to Know
Virginia’s Homestead Exemption, Home Equity, and Keeping Your House in Bankruptcy: What Virginia Homeowners Need to Know One of the most difficult conversations we sometimes have with people considering bankruptcy has nothing to do with credit card debt, medical bills, or even income. Very often, the hardest conversation is about a person’s home. While many […]
How Rolling Negative Equity Into a New Loan Keeps Drivers Stuck — And How Bankruptcy Can Reset the Cycle
How Rolling Negative Equity Into a New Loan Keeps Drivers Stuck — And How Bankruptcy Can Reset the Cycle A growing number of people are trapped in what social media has started calling the “car loan doom loop.” The pattern of constantly underwater vehicles has become incredibly common, especially after the pandemic-era vehicle market. Someone […]
Can You Lose Your Passport Over Unpaid Child Support? What Parents Need to Know About Debt, Enforcement, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Can You Lose Your Passport Over Unpaid Child Support? What Parents Need to Know About Debt, Enforcement, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Most people know unpaid child support can lead to wage garnishments or tax refund interceptions. What many people do not realize is that child support debt can eventually affect your ability to travel internationally. […]
Kwong v. United States: A New Opportunity to Eliminate IRS Penalties (And Possibly Get Money Back)
Kwong v. United States: A New Opportunity to Eliminate IRS Penalties (And Possibly Get Money Back) A Recent Court Decision Could Change How COVID-Era Tax Penalties Are Treated A late-2025 decision, Kwong v. United States, has created a significant opportunity for taxpayers who were charged IRS penalties and interest during the COVID-19 period. For many […]
Virginia’s New $1,000 Bank Protection Law (SB 301): What You Need to Know About Garnishments
Virginia’s New $1,000 Bank Protection Law (SB 301): What You Need to Know About Garnishments If you have ever had your bank account garnished, or even worried about it, you know how quickly things can spiral. We have had clients come into our office completely blindsided. One day there is money in the account for […]