Published: • Sometimes even successful people run into debt problems. We see it often with small business owners who have not set up a proper tax remittance program with CRA. One day they wake up to a huge tax liability that isn’t likely to go away. A CASE STUDY: Chao and Xiaoling own their home...Read More

Sometimes you need to increase your credit score in a hurry. For example, maybe you are buying a house and your mortgage broker has told you your score is too low. Here are four quick tips which will give practically everyone’s score a boost. Access all your credit card and line of credit statements and...Read More

If you are a homeowner in the middle of a consumer proposal, did you know you can get a home equity loan or mortgage refinancing to pay off your consumer proposal and get on with your life? There are several reasons why you might do this: Keep more of your pay every month. Your overall...Read More

Should you pay off your consumer proposal early? Before you filed your consumer proposal, your debts were out of control. Your consumer proposal gave you relief from your creditors, collectors and perhaps even garnishments. It was a very responsible way to deal with your debts. Creditors appreciate that. Once a new reality sets in and...Read More

Many people think that borrowing more money is the way out of financial trouble Earlier this year, I advertised my credit counseling services in Toronto’s major newspapers. The phone rang off the hook. Interestingly, very few people call hoping to enter into a consumer proposal or even bankruptcy. Most want to borrow MORE MONEY, as...Read More

Published:   •  Tapping into your home equity can help you reach your goals faster! Refinancing is the process that pays the existing mortgage and/or any other legal claims against the property and sets-up a completely new mortgage. Refinancing can save you lots of money when market interest rates drop one or more percentage points...Read More

Published: • Bankruptcy and consumer proposals may not be an option if abuse of your credit privileges is suspected Recently I received an email from someone complaining she could not get out of debt.This perked my curiosity, but if you read on, you will also understand why. Dear Ross I am a hard working immigrant...Read More

When you’re in debt keeping the house is not always possible – but it often is! So many times when I meet homeowners in debt stress, the first thing they say is they intend to keep their house – come hell or high water. “Find us a solution Ross, but we insist on tying your...Read More

Refinancing your home may not cut it anymore Our consumerist society often gulls people into spending beyond their means. In my business, I meet these folks every day. As recently as a few years ago, many would simply refinance their homes; pay off their credit card debt, and begin the vicious cycle all over again....Read More

Be Wary of Debt Settlement Companies; Stick With Registered Credit Counselors or Bankruptcy Trustees Who Are Professionally Certified and Bound By Code of Ethics Last week, a young professional named Zak came to see me.  A year or two ago he was struggling to keep up with his two credit card balances. Back then Zak...Read More