How to Get Your Financial Life Back on Track After a Bankruptcy

When your financial situation reaches the breaking point, it may become necessary to file for bankruptcy. Whether it is chapter 7 or chapter 13, bankruptcy can be a useful tool to relieve the strain of mounting debt problems. 

Even though this can often result in a loss of assets and a lengthy time of adjusting, at some point you must decide to pick up the pieces and start over. 

Here are a few tips to help you get started down the road to recovering your personal financial situation after a bankruptcy.

The 10-Percent Rule

As with all rough financial situations, a lack of funds and a tiny savings will only make the matter worse. 

The first plan of action to get your finances back on track is to begin to generate a sizable reserve to have for emergency situations. According to Bank Rate, saving 10-percent of your regular income is a good rule of thumb to help restore your financial reserves. 

By doing this consistently, you will empower yourself to make meaningful strides to become financially secure again.

Rebuilding Credit

Although your bankruptcy has done a number to your credit, it is important to begin immediately working to rebuild your credit as much as possible. 

The better your credit score, the more flexibility you will have while you bring your finances back to a functional level. 

To assist you in this endeavor, it may be necessary to speak with a consumer credit counselor to help you determine the best course of action to take to rebuild your credit in light of your current financial situation. 

Though it will not be easy at first, persistence is required to get what you desire as you reestablish your credit.

Borrowing Money May Be Easier After a Bankruptcy

When people imagine going through a bankruptcy, they often jump to the conclusion that no one wants to lend money to them for years to come. 

Although you will be viewed as a subprime customer, where rates and penalties will be higher, the truth is that many lenders actually see a person who has just finished going through bankruptcy as a safe bet.

One reason driving this perception is because current laws prohibit such individuals from filing a second bankruptcy for a number of years. 

This means the lending institution can get you at a higher interest rate and lock you in without the worry of you filing another bankruptcy any time soon.

Navigating the Murky Waters of Bankruptcy Law

Since a bankruptcy is such a life-altering experience, it is always a good idea to consult with a professional bankruptcy attorney from a firm like Lazaro Carvajal. to make sure everything occurs smoothly and that you are not hindering your own financial recovery efforts once the bankruptcy has been executed. 

A good bankruptcy attorney will not only hold your hand through the legal process, but they will be able to steer you in the right direction to begin your financial recovery efforts with the added experience of helping numerous other people in your diminished financial situation.

After bankruptcy has been filed can often be a scary, uncertain time for those undergoing this process. Rather than wasting time feeling bad about an uncertain financial future, it is best to focus on rebuilding your financial base as soon as possible. 

When you focus on making positive strides forward, this helps to leave the financial unpleasantness in the past.

EB5 Could See Investment Thresholds Rise

The United States EB5 program could potentially see a rise in its investment thresholds, especially now that there has been new legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives. 

This is important news for anyone who is involved in EB 5 extension, such as Hirson Immigration attorneys and experts who are involved in business and investment immigration law. Continue reading to learn more about this rise in investment thresholds. 

The American Job Creation & Investment Promotion Reform Act

The well known American Job Creation and Investment Promotion Reform Act has now called for a variety of changes to be pushed through into law. 

These changes include raising the current threshold all the way to $800,000 or even $1.2 million. The actual amount that it will be raised to will depend upon the class of the investment.

The current thresholds are only $500,000 for investments that are made in targeted employment areas or in regional centers. 

The threshold, however, is up to $1 million for those investments made in general areas of business. 

In return for these valuable investments, the program will grant conditional permanent residence to immigrants who can provide a minimum of 10 newly created jobs to citizens living in the country. 

The Problems Involved with EB5

Currently, EB5 is quite controversial throughout the United States, particularly because there have been quite a few cases of fraud that have been linked with the investments that have been made under this program. 

Therefore, this new legislation would also be aimed at calling for a few new ways to combat that fraud.

Additional power would be given to the United States Department of Homeland Security, also known as DHS. The DHS would be able to deny any applications that have been linked to crime, including fraud. 

On top of that, the DHS would be able to conduct audits, and they would be able to investigate fraud and conduct important background checks on individuals working on projects.

Finally, there would be vetting for projects prior to any money changing hands. Conflicts of interest and risks would also need to be disclosed to any investors prior to striking any deal. 

The Benefits of the EB5 Program

Despite having its flaws, the EB5 program has also done some great things throughout the country, so there are many people who support the investment threshold rising. 

In 2015, for example, this visa was able to generate roughly $5 billion in investments, and those investments have helped to regenerate some of the country’s largest cities. An example is downtown Dallas, which was rebuilt with the help of EB5 funds. 

Therefore, there are many lawmakers who support the expansion and extension of the program. They want to continue seeing urban areas in America benefit from the billions of dollars that are invested in those areas by immigrants.

Overall, the idea seems to be to raise the threshold while providing more protection against fraud, and it seems that a lot of immigrants and citizens are looking forward to the new investments that can be made throughout the country in order to generate new businesses and job opportunities.

Off To College: 5 Things To Look For In A New Laptop For School

To succeed these days in college, you certainly need a computer. Many classes, in fact, can’t be completed without them since many course materials are only made available online. 

The best computer for school is probably a laptop because it’s portable and user friendly. It’s both portable and functional. However, which laptop should you choose with so many options? Here are five things to look for.

Avoid Chromebooks

Chromebooks may seem like a good choice due to the cost savings. They are certainly cheaper than other laptops. 

However, Chromebooks are designed primarily to run Google Chrome, the web browser. They are not the best choice for productivity, which is what you should be looking for as a student. 

Instead, get a machine that runs a more productivity oriented operating system like Windows or Mac OS.

Look for a Free Virus and Malware Scanner

According to statistics, 32 percent of the world’s computers are infected by either viruses or malware. The stakes are high when you need your computer for school work. 

Malware may even attempt to steal your identity. Make sure the laptop you purchase comes bundled with a subscription for a decent virus and malware scanner.

Consider a “Two in One” Laptop

As everyone very well knows, smart phones and tablets have saturated the market. While these devices and the apps loaded on them are certainly popular, they aren’t the best devices for doing school work that should be performed on applications like word processors that require a lot of typing. 

Thankfully, there are laptops on the market with detachable keyboards that allow users to switch between laptop and tablet functionality at will.

Consider Tech Support Options

As is the case with computers in general, you may eventually run into serious technical problems that require an expert to fix. 

Paying for tech support separately can be quite expensive. Look for laptops that do come bundled with some kind of tech support service. 

Make sure the support service purchased is available in your area without the need to have your computer shipped off to a faraway location. 

You want to make sure that you look into a lot of different tech support services because after you graduate, knowing good IT companies such as Ottawa IT support can really come in handy.

RAM

Random access memory, or RAM for short, is what gives your computer the ability to run multiple programs at once. 

According to Laptop Mag, you should have at least 4 GB for a student laptop. Also remember that some laptops have upgradable memory.

Overall, think about productivity most when looking for a laptop as a student. 

While laptops can certainly be used to do many things like play video games or watch movies, your primary concern should be finding a machine that will help you complete your school work.

5 Ways a Business Lawyer Can Save Your Company Money

Running a business involves a lot of legalities that have to be fulfilled. The opening of a business requires one to have the documentation right from the get-go. 

There are different forms to be filled that satisfy the local authorities in order to obtain a permit to run the business. 

Tax return forms also need to be filled in accordance with the law.

Keeping up with all this in addition to trying to run a profitable business can be daunting. A business lawyer comes in handy in situations like these. 

The lawyer will fulfill the legal requirements on your behalf and makes sure that your business is running on the legit. 

Below are five ways in which a lawyer can save your company.

1. They take the cases out of your hands

Sometimes, some cases crop up in your workplace; for instance, theft or a robbery. 

The reporting and investigations can take up much of your time and energy, leaving you drained during a disaster. 

Your core business suffers as a result, and it could also cost a lot when you are not sure about the procedures to be followed. 

It is much cheaper to have a lawyer who has the experience to represent the company and ensure that your claims get settled on time.

2. Follow-up with the insurers

Insurers will always tell you that you should not admit liability. Sometimes, however, it is hard to get them to pay your claims on time. 

You end up wasting a lot of time and valuable resources following on issues that can easily be sorted by your lawyer.

3. Opening accounts and company registrations

As a business owner, you might wish to open other new ventures or merge with the existing ones. 

To be able to do this, one has to have extensive knowledge of agreements and be able to read through clauses that bring the two companies together. 

Having a business lawyer from a firm like Strauss Troy can be of great help, as they will lead you out of the murky waters of the legal jargon.

4. Business resolutions

If your company is a large corporation that often requires that resolutions are made and revised, it is an excellent idea to use the services of a lawyer. 

Apart from the fact that they are experts, they act as third parties and can see things from a different perspective, and hence advise accordingly.

5. When you are sued

As a business person, you can be sued for compliance or other issues. You could be handling products that are not up to standard or your employees are claiming for compensations. 

All these are distractions costing you money and valuable time. A lawyer comes in handy to save your business, as well as make sure your business is up to par on standards in the first place.

Having a business lawyer is quite beneficial to business. You can always refer any legal issue to their office without delay, and it will get handled before it grows out of hand. 

They are cheap in the long run; a lawyer could save you over 100 dollars annually when calculated regarding real cash and time saved.

Is Getting an MBA at 50 a Good Idea?

If you’re over 50 and still feel like you have a way to go before you’re ready to retire, going back to college in order to further your career might be something worth considering. 

More and more mature students in their 50’s and even older individuals are returning to education in order to learn more about the things that they are passionate about and give their career a huge boost in the last decade or so before retirement. 

But, is it a wise idea to get an MBA at 50?

Relaxed Entry Requirements

One of the best things about pursuing an MBA when you’re over the age of 50 is that the entry requirements are likely going to be relaxed for you. 

This is because whilst many colleges demand that applicants have already achieved an undergraduate college degree when applying for an MBA program, many will also take life experience into account for mature students. 

So, if you’ve never been to college but have worked in management, or even owned your own small business, you may be accepted onto an MBA course because of that. 

Flexible Study

With quality MBA courses in high demand from students as the qualification becomes more desirable in the corporate world, one of the biggest advantages of studying for an MBA today is that it can be done entirely online. 

Studying for a masters in business administration online can be done either full- or part-time, with a flexible and self-led approach that often suits mature students who have work and family commitments to fulfil along with their education. 

Online MBA programs are available from a range of business schools, some of which are amongst the most respected in the U.S. 

Learn Valuable Skills

Whether you’re hoping to be promoted in your workplace in order to be able to put more money towards your retirement or are planning to start a business in order to earn a passive income to fund it, taking an MBA after 50 can be a great way of achieving this. 

When you study for an MBA, you’ll learn valuable skills and knowledge, which can help you to achieve almost any business or related career goal that you have in mind. 

Networking

If you’re over 50 and are considering taking an MBA as an entrepreneur or in the hope of starting your own business, this course can be an excellent source of networking opportunities. 

Even if you decide to study online, your college will provide you with information about networking events that you can attend, and you may be able to network electronically with people such as tutors and speakers from your college. 

Good networking is essential to running a business and this course will give you the opportunity to meet with people who could influence and help your business ideas to grow.

No matter what age you are, an MBA is still one of the most respected and sought after qualifications in the business world. 

Studying for an MBA can definitely be a great step towards a comfortable retirement.

How to Negotiate a Better Pay Deal

If you have been working for the same employer for many years, you probably like your job and they are probably happy with your performance. 

What is not guaranteed is whether you are being paid a fair salary.

Once you have worked in the same place for a number of years, it gets harder to walk away. You know your job and you are comfortable there. 

Your colleagues are like a tight-knit family where everyone knows everyone else. It’s a nice feeling when you like your job, but some employers don’t always reward their long-standing employees with a salary that befits their experience and loyalty. 

If this sounds like you, it is time to start negotiating for a better salary – and here’s how.
Most people don’t like asking for more money. It’s seen as impolite. 

However, if common sense dictates that you are not being paid enough for the work you do, whether your salary is too low or your boss expects you to work over-time for free, you need to take emotions out of the equation and ask politely for a pay rise. 

Ask Nicely

The first thing you should do is just ask. Request a meeting with your boss, arm yourself with a few bits of information, and ask to explain why you think you are due a pay rise.

Your reasons why you are due a pay rise could be because other people doing the same job are being paid more or you haven’t had a pay raise for a number of years. 

If this all falls on deaf ears, your next tactic should be to explain why you are willing to earn your pay rise. 

Many employers will reward their employees if they commit to extra training or are willing to take on more responsibilities. 

It shows they have future potential. For example, if you have worked as a nurse for many years, you could enroll in a master's in a nursing online course and boost your qualifications. 

Completing a higher-level master’s course will definitely qualify you for a pay rise. 

Be Flexible

If your employer is reluctant to pay you more, perhaps because it’s a small company and they simply can’t afford to pay extra, be flexible about what you’ll take. 

For example, maybe they can offer you a few benefits such as extra holiday days or the option to work flexible hours. 

Don’t Threaten

What you should never do is threaten your boss. Sure, you may have worked for the business for a long time, but at the end of the day, you don’t need to create bad feeling and cause yourself stress.




As we get older, we are usually less inclined to put up with people who take advantage of us. 

However, don’t take a “no” as the end of the story and quit. Wait a while to see if a “no” turns into “yes” later further down the road. 

It might do if you have been reasonable. Alternatively, you could look at an MSN online program and consider moving to a new employer.