According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, America has added 5 million jobs since February 2010. However, the country is still 9 million jobs shy of pre-recession unemployment rates. Even though the gap is shrinking every year, economists say the job market’s conditions are still weak.
There are now 3.8 million fewer jobs now than in the pre-recession years and the working-age population has increased by 5.2 million workers in the past five years. In order to eliminate the gap, America would have to add 330,000 jobs per month for the next three years, which is twice the rate being added today. The current job growth rate would not close the gap until 2020.
To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/09/news/economy/jobs-america/index.html?iid=HP_LN
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Tag: Bankruptcy
Sarasota Home Builder Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Jim Butler, president of Paradise Homes, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection last Thursday. Paradise Homes is one of the builders for Lakewood Ranch community in Sarasota, FL. The company is in various stages of building approximately a dozen new homes. Butler filed for protection for two of his companies, Extreme Remodelers of Sarasota LLC and Paradise Lifestyle Center LLC. Butler is expected to have assets and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million.
Some of the homeowners are likely to bring in qualified builders as completion contractors, according to Attorney Alan Tannenbaum who represents two homebuyers. According to a representative from another builder for Lakewood, many homeowners are angry at Paradise Homes. Aside from the dozen homes currently under construction, 18 others are yet to be started.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20121026/ARTICLE/121029699/-1/news?p=2&tc=pg
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com
Tips to Becoming Financially Stable in Your 20s
Most young adults face financial stress after graduation. The job market continues to remain relatively stagnant and most graduates are drowning in insurmountable student loan debt. However, financial planners consider age 22 – 35 the best time to stabilize a financial future.
Below are 11 tips for young adults to achieve financial security:
1. Analyze your finances: If you find yourself living paycheck-to-paycheck you need to track where your money is going. Find a balance that allows you to pay your bills but enjoy your life. The best way to do this is to thoroughly examine your expenses.
2. Make your own job: When the economy is suffering, young people might have more success in entrepreneurial endeavors rather than struggling to find a job. If you have a hobby or something you enjoy doing, try to utilize it in a way that will generate cash flow.
3. Examine your debt: Take a look at the interest rates on any loans you currently have. It will help you in the long run by paying down the loan with the highest interest rate.
4. Rent vs. Buy: Consider your home a used asset as opposed to an investment. Also, consider that the housing market is still suffering. If you buy a home and need to relocate, ask yourself if you will be able to regain what you have invested. In places such as South Florida, costs associated with buying a home are so high renting might be the best option.
5. Find a mentor: Research financial planning. Remember that your situation is different than everyone else’s. It would benefit you to speak with a financial planner who can give you personalized advice.
6. Start saving: You can no longer depend on social security or retirement. Most people do not stay in the same job throughout their adult life. As a result, saving for retirement is now a necessity.
7. Take care of risks: Planning for the future involves more than just financial stability. You should make a will, draw up financial and health directives and buy disability and rental insurance.
8. Positive Relationships: It is always in your best interest to develop and maintain positive relationships. You never can never predict when, “who you know” will help you out down the road.
9. Investing: Sometimes for small investors, mutual funds are the best option because of lower overhead and decreased risk. You may also consider individual stocks, bonds and exchanged-traded funds because they are flexible and the fees are extremely low.
10. Set up a 401(k): If you decide to set up a Roth 401(k) you will see tax-free growth and few restrictions if you need to borrow against it for a down payment on a home.
11. Live frugally: If you are married, you should be saving part of one spouse’s salary. Try to do so before you have kids. Live beneath your means so that you are not dependent on two incomes, in case you do have children and one of you needs to stop working for a while.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/08/v-fullstory/2685725/how-to-start-building.html
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Can Student Loan Debt Be Discharged through Bankruptcy?
Contrary to the 2005 ruling that prohibits student loan debt from being discharged through bankruptcy, there lies an exception to the rule. If ‘undue hardship’ can be proven, bankruptcy courts can discharge full or partial student loan debt. In 1987 the Brunner test was introduced to help establish the term ‘undue hardship.’ The test includes the following three conditions:
• The debtor cannot maintain a minimal standard of living if forced to repay the loans.
• The debtor must have additional circumstances that indicate this hardship is likely to continue throughout a significant portion of the repayment period.
• The debtor must have made good faith efforts to repay the loans.
The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys conducted a survey last year showing that 94 percent of attorneys reported that few to none of their clients would meet the undue hardship eligibility requirements. However, consumers that do meet the requirements have surprisingly high success rates of being discharged of their debt by the court system.
Many Americans carry student loan debt for the rest of their lives and sometimes it can later affect a consumer’s social security payments. In the last year student loan debt in the U.S. surpassed the $1 trillion mark and averaged around $17,000 in debt per person. In most cases where consumers have successfully proven undue hardship, there has been some type of health related condition hindering the person’s ability to obtain or keep a job.
To read more on this story visit: http://blogs.lawyers.com/2012/09/escape-student-loans-in-bankruptcy-in-extreme-circumstances/
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Bankruptcy is an Option to Help You, Not Hurt You
For many Americans, the thought of filing bankruptcy is a very scary thing. So scary in fact, that many of them miss out on the positive changes and financial freedom filing for bankruptcy protection can bring. The first thing that happens when a person files for bankruptcy is an automatic stay will go into effect for all of their bills, which forbids creditors from harassing debtors.
Perhaps the most common worry among Americans when it comes to filing bankruptcy is the long-term effects it will have on their credit score. Many believe it is impossible to ever have a decent credit score, again. This could not be further from the truth. Almost immediately after a person is discharged of their debt, there are many steps available to rebuild their credit score. The person filing for bankruptcy is most likely delinquent on bills and already their credit score has suffered. Filing for bankruptcy protection can actually be the easiest way to improve an already troubled credit score.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.miamibankruptcy.com/blog/2012/08/afraid-of-bankruptcys-impact-it-might-actually-improve-your-situation.shtml
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Mayor Fears Pensions May Bankrupt Titusville, FL
One of the many Florida cities facing financial hardship is Titusville, FL. Recently re-elected mayor, Jim Tulley, warned his city that without a reform of city employees’ pensions and other retirement programs, the city would ultimately go bankrupt. Workers unions, particularly representing police officers and firefighters, have been reluctant to agree to any form of restructuring of their pension plans after an earlier agreement promised them a better retirement, but lower pay.
As of October 2010, Titusville’s annual financial reports showed that unfunded liability in the Police Officers and Firefighter’s Retirement Trust had reached $25 million. The unfunded liability in the General Employee’s Retirement Trust had reached $19 million; not to mention, pension costs are going up. Other forms of retirement programs are costly as well, such as health insurance. The annual financial report showed the cost of other unfunded liability for retirees to be $44 million.
Titusville’s financial director, Bridgette Clements, said the city is not at immediate risk for defaulting, but must take precautionary actions for the future. Other cities throughout the country, such as Stockton, CA, have already gone bankrupt largely due to pricy pensions and other benefits for city employees.
After six months and no progress made in the negotiations, the city declared an impasse last week with police, firefighter and general employee unions. Mediators will now come in to help determine the best plan of pension reform for the city. The mayor said that without reform, the city’s residents will endure problems on a larger scale and the quality of life will go downhill.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120819/NEWS01/308190051/Mayor-Pensions-might-bankrupt-Titusville
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
California State Bar Passes Rule to Suspend Delinquent Taxpayers’ Licenses
The California State Bar recently adopted a rule that reserves the right to suspend an attorney’s license to practice law in the State of California if the attorney owes a large delinquent tax liability. The rule only applies to attorneys who are on the list of 500 largest tax delinquents who owe more than $100,000 in back taxes. The California State Bar plans to serve notice of suspension as soon as the Board of Equalization (BOE) or the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) releases the list of names. The FTB releases a list of the 500 largest tax delinquents two times per year, in April and October.
The Bar will give attorneys a 90-day grace period. The attorneys will be able to make arrangements for current cases or settle with state taxing entities before their license suspension will go into affect. Suspension may also apply to other occupational licenses and drivers licenses. The California Family Code section has an existing code that suspends or denies professional or occupational licenses to delinquent child support payers.
To read more on this story visit: http://morganking.com/Tax_Exhibits_2011/B%26P%20494.5/B%26P%20494.5%20combined.pdf
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
Miami Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Discusses Bankruptcy Filing Trends in the Sun-Sentinel
MIAMI – Bankruptcy attorney Timothy S. Kingcade, Managing Partner of the Miami-based law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. (www.miamibankruptcy.com) recently discussed the reasons for the decline in bankruptcy filings in South Florida with Sun-Sentinel reporter, Paul Owers.
“Many people find the average attorney fee of $1,500 cost prohibitive,” said Timothy S. Kingcade. Also contributing to the decline, “Consumers do not feel as desperate, with so many facing financial troubles in recent years because of the nation’s economic troubles,” he said.
The number of bankruptcy filings for June fell from 3,222 in 2011 to 2,251 in 2012 in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Bankruptcy filings also declined from May to June of this year. Bankruptcy and foreclosure trends tend to mimic each other. Consumers often wait to file for bankruptcy until they are at risk of being foreclosed on by their lender. Therefore, foreclosure filings in South Florida have also declined in recent months.
To read more on this story visit: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-07-03/business/fl-bankruptcies-june-20120702_1_bankruptcy-filings-loan-modifications-foreclosure-action.
Miami-based Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was established by managing partner and bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade in 1996. The firm represents clients throughout the Southern District of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy and foreclosure defense cases. The firm is committed to providing personalized service to each and every client, clearly explaining the options according to the unique circumstances of his or her life. The office environment and the service provided are centered on a culture of superior client care. More information can be found at www.miamibankruptcy.com or by calling 305-285-9100.
Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade Quoted in the Miami New Times Discussing Sun-Sentinel Editor’s Financial Troubles
MIAMI – Bankruptcy Attorney Timothy S. Kingcade, Managing Partner of the Miami-based law firm of Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. (www.miamibankruptcy.com) was recently interviewed by reporter, Rich Abdill for an article that was published in the Miami New Times. In the article he discussed the controversy surrounding Sun-Sentinel editor, Howard Saltz’s financial troubles. Saltz was recently relieved of millions of dollars in debt after filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. In an email to the Miami New Times, Saltz claimed it was a “business bankruptcy, not a personal bankruptcy.”
“It was a personal bankruptcy,” Timothy S. Kingcade said after reviewing the documents. “The character of the debt does not change the fact that it’s a personal bankruptcy.”
Later Kingcade went on to say that by filing for bankruptcy separately from his wife, Saltz was likely trying to stall a foreclosure or other settlement. “We call those types of cases ‘Ping-Pong’ cases. The creditors are being ping-ponged between the spouses,” Kingcade said. This is a method many have chosen during the recession as a last ditch effort to stay in their homes.
Saltz began purchasing real estate in the late 1990’s. Much of his debt came from unpaid mortgages, totaling more than $2.5 million. Saltz was also deep in credit card debt. He had a $17,000 credit-card bill due to Discover, a $52,000 credit-card bill due to Bank of America, a $60,000 credit-card bill due to Chase, an unpaid medical bill and other unpaid bills such as utilities.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2012-07-26/news/sun-sentinel-editor-howard-saltz-bailed-on-millions-in-debts/
Miami-based Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. was established by managing partner and bankruptcy attorney, Timothy Kingcade in 1996. The firm represents clients throughout the Southern District of Florida in Chapter 7 bankruptcy and foreclosure defense cases. The firm is committed to providing personalized service to each and every client, clearly explaining the options according to the unique circumstances of his or her life. The office environment and the service provided are centered on a culture of superior client care. More information can be found at www.miamibankruptcy.com or by calling 305-285-9100.
Recent Law School Graduates are facing an Increase in Student Loan Debt and a Decrease in Jobs
A study conducted by William Henderson of Indiana University Maurer School of Law showed that in 2011 only 55 percent of law school graduates were working in law-related jobs, nine months after graduation. Last year 43,735 students graduated with a law degree, of which 28 percent were either unemployed or underemployed after graduation.
Many law school graduates have experienced trouble finding work in the legal field since 2004, before the housing market crashed and the recession hit. The demand for new lawyers added up to only half of the number of those who passed bar exams in 2009.
The issue involving the over-abundance of law school graduates having difficulty finding jobs in their field is not expected to change, even if the economic state of the United States is healed. Many companies are outsourcing legal needs to countries such as India that have ‘smarter’ software. A number of American clients believe countries with such software have a more efficient process. Deans from colleges and universities are openly acknowledging that legal education is experiencing an ‘existential crisis.’
The economic problems extend much further than students finding law-related jobs. Many former law students are now facing problems paying back their student loans due to ‘high-priced degrees.’ Law students are settling for lower paying jobs for which they are over-qualified for, and as a result, many are defaulting on their student loan payments.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/opinion/sunday/an-existential-crisis-for-law-schools.html?_r=3&ref=opinion
If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. at www.miamibankruptcy.com.