Crushing Debt

What happens to your guns when you die?  What if the person who will inherit your guns is ineligible to own a gun - a minor, a convicted felon, or someone else? Our guest on this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast is attorney Angela Tormey, owner of Ally Legal in Lithia, Florida. Angela focuses on probate and estate planning, with experience in Gun Trusts. In this week's episode, Angela a...

Those of you who subscribe to the Crushing Debt Podcast (which is free to do by the way) know that every six months, I record an episode based on lessons learned at our community garage sale. This week's episode is all about knowing your audience. Whether we're talking about sales, negotiation, debt settlement or some other topic. For example, in sales, what items do you put out right away at the...

How can you leverage the law to make more money? How can you leverage the law to protect what you've created? I had so much fun with this week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast, a former marketer turned corporate director turned lawyer, turned entrepreneur who uses her immense talents to serve women and women-owned businesses - Jamie Moore Marcario, owner and founder of Brava Business Law, the...

Do you love your bookkeeper? Do you have someone doing your books, or are you doing it yourself or, worse, not keeping track at all?  If there are checks in the checkbook, is there money in the account?  Do you track your expenses by your online bank balance? This week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast is a repeat guest and our friend Julie Shopa of Clarity Finances. Julie was previously a gu...

Filing bankruptcy can be a difficult decision, that comes with feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and self-doubt.  However, feeling like you have to file a second time can seem even worse. Don't let the title of this episode fool you. I will always be available to help consult with past, current, and future clients. It's not so much that I don't want repeat clients, as I want to help my clients s...

What is the biggest mistake people make after being in a car accident? What is the number one reason that people who have been in a car accident are forced into bankruptcy? How can you avoid being charged with a DUI, even if the accident was the other driver's fault? In today's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, my guests Tom Roman and Paula Roman, of Roman & Roman help answer these and other q...

Gender wage gaps ... glass ceilings ... the pink tax ... these are all things women are still having to navigate in our society. As a white male that employs three women, what can Yesner Law do to help? What can you do to help? This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is Liz   Dederer , Tampa-based CEO and founder of Selling with Service. She's a 20-year, 5-time entrepreneur, sales and money...

Every year, the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) hosts a 2-day Continuing Education Seminar on bankruptcy law, The Alexander L. Paskay Memorial Bankruptcy Seminar. Each seminar produces multiple topics that I bring to you in different episodes of the show. This week, one topic we discussed was how to confirm Chapter 13 (payment plan) bankruptcies faster.  So I brainstormed thirteen ways to conf...

Do you find yourself stuck in a J.O.B. ("Just Over Broke")? If so, can you jump-start your own firing, freeing yourself to move on to bigger and better things and attain the success that you desire. In today's Crushing Debt Podcast episode, I'm excited to interview my client and friend, the author of the new book "Why My J.O.B. Quit Me!" Mechiel Kopaska. Mechiel shares her story and how she went a...

Did you know that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae can stop you from buying or selling a house? They can stop you from making a living if you're in the real estate industry? Being on the Freddie Mac Exclusionary List is NOT an accolade. It is something you want to avoid entirely if possible.  Why? Being on the List means that you are prohibited from being involved in a transaction where Freddie Mac is a...

To prevent the spread of COVID, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ordered a prohibition against eviction if the tenant filed an affidavit with the Court and the landlord attesting to five criteria: Tenant used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing; Tenant earns no more than $99,000 in annual income for the Calendar Year 2020 - 2021 (or no...

Over the last few years I lost about 50 pounds by running, coaching my boys in sports, and eating better. The problem is that when I went to Court, I looked like I was wearing "grandpa's suits!" Erin Wamboldt with Bespoke & Co. changed my image, helped me pick out suits that fit correctly AND were comfortable. I could feel a renewed confidence knowing my clothes were comfortable and looked good! M...

Are your friends, loved ones or clients showing signs of impairment that is affecting their financial lives? On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, we talk to Elder Law attorney and professional guardian Ha Thu Dao about the signs of cognitive loss and to suggest steps to take to help those who may suffer from having an impact on their financial well being. How can you recognize the...

Financial issues are often the cause of divorce, but what happens to joint marital debt when parties get divorced? How can someone getting a divorce manage their debt? How can someone protect themselves when the Court orders an "equitable distribution" of the debts & other liabilities? This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is Shiobhan Olivero, an experienced trial lawyer, business owner,...

I am very excited about this week's guest on The Crushing Debt Podcast. His daughter was on Episode 63 - discussing ActionCOACH Tampa Bay and The Five Ways system. His wife was on Episode 193 - OMG! WTF! Today's episode is my interview with third ActionCOACH Tampa Bay partner - Ford Kyes! I've known Ford for more than 13 years and we discuss: How business owners can break out of a slump Developing...

When I moved to Clearwater to take a job at a foreclosure mill law firm, the firm provided a retirement account to all of its employees. I remember meeting with the financial advisor. Instead of getting financial advice, I got graphs and charts all in pretty colors.  I didn't understand a thing about what the advisor was suggesting, but the colors on his charts were pretty! This week's guest on th...

Will evictions and foreclosure ever resume? Since being inaugurated, President Biden has by executive order extended federal moratoriums on evictions, foreclosures, and student loan repayments first implemented by the CARES Act, the CDC, and the previous administration. Although recorded recently, some of the timelines in this episode have already changed.  As of this post: Evictions for purposes...

When would you send someone flowers? A birth? A death? Graduation? Promotion? Medical recovery? Just moved in? Employee benefit? What if, instead of flowers, you could send a meal made with fresh ingredients by a gourmet chef? My interview this week is with Micah Serwitz, owner of Instead of Flowers, a gourmet food delivery service.  I've used Instead of Flowers to send meal gifts to someone recov...

Do you dream of taking your business to the next level, but don't know where to start? Do you want to work on the things that light you up versus the things that drag you down? Learn how to maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity! Do you feel stuck in a hole or stuck in a rut and want to get out? Have you created complimentary businesses to provide additional revenue to you and...

What books have been the most influential to you? Who are your favorite authors? For as long as I can remember, I have read - books, magazines, articles, whatever I can get my hands on. I enjoy reading and believe that the most educated becomes the most successful. In 2020, I made a goal to read 50 books. I accomplished that goal on December 15, 2020, and read two more books, bringing my total to...

As 2020 comes to a close, most people will set resolutions for 2021. I think setting resolutions is wrong.  I think people should set goals. Resolutions are rarely kept. Goals are accomplished. How do you set goals? What are SMART goals? Should goals be framed in the positive or to avoid the negative? What will you do to accomplish your goals in 2021? I've used these same systems for years to set...

This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is very special. We needed to record a few days ago because he's preparing for a flight later today. My guest knows if you've been naughty or nice! I was introduced to this week's guest through my friend, Joe Cairns, who practices family law and helped my guest with his marital problems years ago.  Although he's a divorce attorney, Joe helped my guest...

Imagine you've bought a home, likely the largest investment you'll ever make in your lifetime. The house is perfect: enough bedrooms for your kids to have their own space, great kitchen, master bedroom with walk-in closets, a yard outside with space to set up your grill and entertain, etc. You move in and things are great, for a few months.  Then you notice things start to go wrong. Something does...

It seems like lenders grant or deny loan modifications at random, but there is a set of criteria that they follow, that until now has been a bit of mystery. Our guest on this week's Crushing Debt Podcast, Sue Reynolds, a Realtor with Archer Realty, created a worksheet using the bank's formulas to support when clients should qualify for a loan modification. Sue created the Homeowner Expense Analysi...

Do you know the five factors that make up your credit score? Do you know what drops your score or how to improve your score? This week's guest on The Crushing Debt Podcast is Kristi Nowrouzi. "Credit Kristi" has been a mortgage loan officer for more than ten years and was a short sale negotiator at my previous law firm for four years. Kristi is a credit specialist and has seen thousands of credit...