In Episode #1 of the podcast on New Year’s resolutions, one of the goals I mentioned for 2016 was making a budget. The vast majority of Americans don’t have one, and it is one of the most important things you can do to assure financial freedom.

But how do you go about making, and more importantly, sticking to one? Where do you start? What tools do you use? In this episode, I answer that question by reviewing one particular free online budgeting tool and suggesting others in the show notes. Checking them out for the help you need.

I get calls from people all the time who are facing the loss of their home through foreclosure. I am able to help many of them get their mortgage back on track with a chapter 13 bankruptcy, but that is not always the best solution.

So in this episode I speak with Lew Adler, an attorney here in Woodbury, Gloucester County New Jersey, with 30 years of experience. For many years he has been helping people fight back with their mortgage companies when a foreclosure was brought against them.

If you are facing the loss of your home, then this episode is for you. Find out what defenses and options you may have to deal with the mortgage company and not have to move out.

One of the biggest things that can lead to financial ruin is medical debt. Catastrophic illness or injury that results in long hospital stays and recovery can result in crushing bills, even where there is insurance coverage. However, proactive and aggressive handling of that debt can often leverage it down to manageable levels.

So in this episode of the podcast I am going to talk about strategies and approaches to managing this debt here in New Jersey in hopes of helping you make it affordable, avoid bankruptcy, and preserve your credit.

One of the biggest goals of financial freedom is a comfortable retirement. But you have to plan for it! Investment houses like Charles Schwab advertise about it on TV, there are commercials with huge dominoes show how a little invested now can build into a nice sized nest egg if you know how much money you will need to retire and how long that money will last.

The problem is that many people just don’t know the basics of retirement planning or even where to start. That is why in this episode, I talk to Chris Stagliano of Northwestern Mutual to get you the information you need to get started.

If creditors are suing you here in New Jersey to collect on a judgment, then unless you fight it and win, they will enter a judgment against you and try to collect it.  But what can they do? What tools are at their disposal to get your money and how can you defend yourself? These are things I talk to clients about all the time, so in this episode I go over them, so that you can get a clear idea of what you are facing, and what you can do to defend yourself.

People in financial difficulty here in New Jersey often get sued

But sometimes there is a basis to fight a lawsuit, but people

If this is happening to you, then you need to consider whether

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so in this episode I talk about this topic and how public awareness has increased, along with the penalties of doing so, as states toughen up their laws. Penalties in New Jersey are now more serious, as third or subsequent offenses can result in a license suspension, and any resulting injury or death of another person can lead to criminal charges!

The organization People Against Distracted Driving (PADD) was formed by Mike Kellenyi after the 2012 death of his daughter, Nikki, to raise public awareness and work towards reducing/eliminating distracted driving in this country. Also as a part of my office’s observation of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, I interviewed Mike Kellenyi to find our what PADD is up to. Find out with me!

People facing foreclosure on their homes and trying to salvage what they can of their credit, or those who are upside down on their homes and looking to get out from under, often turn to a “short sale” as the solution. But a short sale isn’t what most people think it is, and isn’t the “silver bullet” they hope it will be.

In an effort to bring the truth to people, I talked to a local expert on the subject, Lynn Stambaugh, the broker/owner of Cardinal Real Estate Services here in Woodbury. If you are considering a short sale of your home, she is worth a listen, and if you need solutions for an “upside down” home, she is worth talking to.

People in financial difficulty often have low credit scores that prevent them from achieving their financial goals and dreams. So in this episode, I talk about what has to be done to clean up your credit reports and start increasing your FICO score.

Getting a traffic ticket in New Jersey can have consequences beyond just the fines, court costs, surcharges, and even points that may be assessed. As a New Jersey resident and licensed driver, you might also face additional financial problems in the form of increased auto insurance premiums.

These problems could be minor or significant, depending on the violation, but they do play a factor in your decision on whether to plead guilty. If your budget does not have any disposable income after the monthly bills are paid, or you don’t have savings, they can wreak havoc on your plans for a better financial future.

Not surprisingly, the question of “How will this affect my insurance?” is one that I get a lot. So in this episode I interview Dave Strout of Cettei & Connell in Woodbury, New Jersey, to give you a great answer to that question!