The latest Occupy Wall Street movement, the ‘Strike Debt’ movement consists of a group of professors, documentary filmmakers and corporate dropouts. The group aims to purchase some of the American people’s looming debt. ‘Strike Debt’ held a fundraiser last week at the Le Poisson Rouge nightclub called the ‘Rolling Jubliee.’ Before the event took place, the group had already raised $129,00 through online donations. Since then, the group’s efforts have raised more than $350,000.
In addition to raising funds for American’s drowning in debt, the group has also produced the ‘Credit Resistors’ Operations Manual. The manual explains how to fight and ignore creditors and explains how the credit industry works. While the group remains somewhat controversial, Forbes Magazine praised the movement, calling it an “idea we can all get behind.” The group will start the movement by purchasing medical debt and later move on to student loan and credit card debt.
To read more visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/nyregion/occupy-offshoot-aims-to-erase-peoples-debts.html?src=recg
Or visit: http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/11/11870/join-rolling-jubilee-“you-are-not-loan”
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: Kingcade & Garcia
JPMorgan and Credit Suisse Settle with SEC for $400 Million
JPMorgan and Credit Suisse will together pay more than $400 million to resolve allegations that they misled investors in mortgage-backed securities, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced Friday. JPMorgan will pay $297 million in the settlement. The lender was charged with misstating information regarding the delinquency status of mortgage loans that were part of a securities offering. They were also charged with allegations related to a 2008 Bear Stearns case where the lender was accused of failing to disclose its practice of collecting cash settlements from mortgages. As a result, they failed to pass on proceeds to the investors who purchased them. Credit Suisse was charged with similar allegations of misleading investors and also with misstatements in SEC filings. The lender will have to pay $120 million.
The banks did not admit or deny the charges against them and allegedly earned millions from the practices. JPMorgan reportedly earned $2.7 million and its investors lost $37 million. Bear Stearns allegedly earned $138 million and Credit Suisse, $55 million from settlement collections. JPMorgan has accumulated a number of problems since acquiring Bear Stearns that have cost the bank between $5 and $10 billion.
To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/16/news/companies/jpmorgan-credit-suisse/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.
Mortgage Rates Fall to New Lows
The housing market continues to show signs of recovery as average rates on fixed mortgages fell to new lows last week. Freddie Mac released that the average rate on 30-year loans fell to the lowest rate since 1971 at 3.34 percent. The rate was down from 3.40 percent the following week. The average fixed mortgage rate on 15-year loans was down from 2.69 percent the previous week to 2.65 percent last week.
Home prices, home sales, home construction and refinancing have all slowly increased this year. The Federal Reserve announced that tight lending standards have slowed down the economy’s recovery process. Chairman, Ben Bernanke said the banks were forced to raise their standards in 2008 after the housing market crashed. He went on to say that if banks would loosen lending standards now that things are improving, the economic recovery would speed up by boosting home sales.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/11/15/mortgge-rates/1706975/
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
South Florida’s Unemployment Rates Drop to 2008 Lows
South Florida recently experienced its lowest rate of unemployment since 2008. The combined unemployment claims dropped eight percent during October from the previous year. However, South Florida experienced declining rates of as much as 25 percent during the beginning months of 2012. In Broward County, October’s first-time unemployment was down 12 percent from a previous three-month average. In Miami-Dade, October’s rate was down five percent from the previous year. Another positive sign for the economy is that job growth rates increased during the month of October.
Although the numbers are rising for the job market and unemployment filings are down, economists are disappointed the recovery is not at the speed it was during the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. Many believe the presidential election slowed down the job growth because companies were hesitant to hire during the campaigning process.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/11/14/3097754/unemployment-claims-lowest-since.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.
Hostess Forced to Close its Doors
After failing to reach a deal with the baker’s union, Hostess’ CEO Greg Rayburn said, ‘this is it’ for the baked goods company on Friday, November 16th, 2012. Rayburn reassured Today that this was not a ploy to initiate a negotiation. The company has already suspended operations at its plants and layed off most of the 18,500 workers the company employs. Hostess has asked the court for permission to liquidate its assets, which includes 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers.
Hostess is most famous for baked goods such as Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Ho’s, Sno Balls, Donettes and the country’s best-selling brand of white bread, Wonder Bread. The company plans to sell its famous brands as part of their liquidation and will continue to sell already-baked products for several more days. The company was forced to permanently close three plants last Monday as a result of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) strikes. Later in the week, Rayburn said that Hostess did not have the “financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike.”
To read more on this story visit: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/hostess-maker-twinkies-ding-dongs-says-closing-business-1C7112898
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.
How the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ will Affect Taxes and Federal Spending
A compromise is yet to be made between President Obama and Congress regarding the dreaded ‘fiscal cliff.’ The term fiscal cliff is used to describe the state of the government at the end of the year when the tax cuts enacted by the Bush administration expire. Without action by Congress, America will soon face the following:
• A rollback of the “income triggers” for alternative minimum tax (AMT) to their 2000 levels. Without the patch, between 30 and 31 million taxpayers would be paying AMT.
• An increase in maximum capital gains taxes to 20% from their current 15%. Dividends, now taxed at a maximum of 15%, would be taxed at ordinary income rates.
• Federal spending on discretionary and defense uses would be cut by $110 billion per year.
• The 2 percent payroll tax cuts would expire.
Co-Director of the national tax department and Ernst & Young, Eric Solomon said 2012 tax refunds would likely be delayed if America enters into the fiscal cliff. President Obama has proposed higher taxes on upper-income taxpayers, which a predominantly Republican House does not agree with. Many suspect a compromise might not be made until the eleventh hour.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2012/11/07/how-taxes-will-change/1688699/
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.
Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Suspend Foreclosures in Sandy Affected Areas
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced that both will temporarily suspend foreclosure proceedings in federally declared disaster areas due to Superstorm Sandy. Borrowers in these areas will receive a 90-day mandatory suspension on foreclosure sales and evictions. Freddie Mac announced that by issuing the suspension, the communities and neighborhoods could focus on a faster recovery from the storm.
Freddie and Fannie are also offering storm victims the option to postpone mortgage payments by phone for up to 12 months. The lenders did so in order to introduce a quicker and easier forbearance method to borrowers. Additionally, they have ordered their insurers to expedite payments on insurance claims to help borrowers with destroyed properties and daily living expenses such as hotel rooms. Fannie and Freddie will also alleviate restrictions on payments to contractors so that repairs can be done faster.
To read more on this story visit: http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/09/real_estate/foreclosure-storm-relief/index.html?iid=HP_River
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
America’s Job Gap is 9 Million
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.
The Underemployed Seek Loan Modifications for Relief
Post recession, many Americans have either lost their jobs, are at lower paying jobs or have taken a pay cut at their current job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in five Americans are earning at least 20 percent less since before the recession. As a result, homeowners are seeking relief through loan modifications on their mortgages. However, bank requirements are stiff and a low percentage of Americans are actually approved for a loan modification.
A common requirement is that the homeowners’ bills, including a mortgage payment, cannot exceed 45 percent of their total income. Many times homeowners will obtain a second job to meet this requirement. However, most banks require a homeowner to be at the job for a minimum of 12 months before applying for a loan modification. One thing homeowners can do to increase their chances of getting approved for a loan modification is to try and pay down any credit card debt before applying.
During 2012 many mortgage lenders initiated programs to help homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages. States across the country have also adopted their own programs to help struggling homeowners. The federal government has initiated the HARP program and the Federal Housing Authority Streamlined Refinancing program.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/realestate/mortgages-help-for-the-underemployed.html?ref=loanmodifications&_r=0
Choosing the right attorney can make the difference between whether or not you can keep your home. A well-qualified attorney will not only help you keep your home, but they will be able to negotiate a loan that has payments you can afford. Foreclosure defense attorney, Timothy Kingcade has helped many facing foreclosure alleviate their stress by letting them stay in their homes for at least another year, allowing them to re-organize their lives. If you have any questions on the topic of foreclosure please feel free to contact me at (305) 285-9100. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.
What President Obama’s Re-Election will Mean for Students
President Obama continues to prove his commitment to lower student loan rates, which earned him immense popularity with students, aged 18-29 in this year’s election. During his last term he stopped the federal student loan interest rates from doubling and he increased funding for Pell grants, which provide support to underprivileged students. One of his biggest steps forward for students was providing them with the option of repaying their loans according to income rather than the amount borrowed.
Now elected for another term, President Obama’s ambitions are high when it comes to education. Within 10 years he wants to halve the amount by which tuition fees rise year-on-year. He also wants America to have the highest proportion of university graduates in the world by 2020. But the biggest challenge Obama will face when implementing education and economic reform is the same as in his first term – a Republican-led Congress.
Without action from Congress by July 1, 2013, interest rates on subsidized loans that are now 3.4 percent might double and Pell grants will face a funding shortfall of $7 billion in 2014. President Obama has other plans to help students, such as job training initiatives through partnerships with community colleges and the private sector in his second term, which he promises will result in 2 million job placements.
To read more on this story visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/nov/07/obama-reelection-students-loan-reform
Or visit: http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2012/11/5099fe9ea545b
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.timothykingcade.com.