All Posts Tagged With: "Geoffrey R. Caplan"

“The Week In Review: Money Issues” is our weekly blog research on financial topics that define us as Americans, and shape the way we should do business.

Well, it’s that time again. Time for our weekly roundup of what’s different, offbeat, amusing and just downright intriguing about financial news. Your regular “Week In Review” reporter Pete had the nerve to run off and get married this weekend, so you’re stuck with me. Never mind. I will try my best. Here goes… Continued

The bad mortgages that contributed strongly to the current financial crisis have produced a horrible wave of home foreclosures. Unless the foreclosure surge eases, even the most extravagant federal stimulus spending won’t help to create an economic recovery.

The Obama Administration is expected within the next few weeks to announce an initiative of $50 billion or more to help financially stressed homeowners. But with 1 million residences having fallen into foreclosure since 2006, and an additional 5.9 million expected over the next four years, the Obama plan — whatever its details — can’t possibly do the job by itself. Lenders and investors will have to acknowledge huge losses and figure out how to keep recession-plagued borrowers making at least some monthly payments. Continued

It’s been the “whipping boy” of conventional banks and lenders for years. Maligned, abused and kicked around, the cash advance industry has achieved a new level of respectability.

The cash advance industry, also commonly known as payday loan, is at a significant crossroad. The widening perception of bank instability, cash-strapped consumers, rampant unemployment and a desire to avoid costly overcharges on checks has led to another look into this booming industry.

The key element of change has been a widespread and more common responsible consumer use of cash advance loans on a selected basis as a preemptive way to avoid falling into arrears and becoming delinquent on important bills. Falling credit scores ultimately hurt a consumer’s financial health and take a toll on the ability to make important purchases in the future. Continued

It’s well-known that entrepreneurs usually have to work hard to overcome inexperience and gain credibility. Here are some tips to increase the odds of success when starting out and launching a new business.

Acquire Experience

If you’ve never clocked a day of work in your life, take a job before striking out on your own — even if the thought of doing time in a cubicle makes you shudder. Think of it as a paid research position. In a couple of years, you can give your business a go. Continued

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have either been foreclosed on, or are facing foreclosures.

Neither the banks, nor the homeowners want this to happen. Banks don’t want it to happen because they’re forced to write down foreclosures, which runs the risk of the bank failing. Homeowners don’t want to lose their homes. Continued