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May 31, 2008

Kids can learn to be money smart

Musengwas_2 My column this Sunday introduces readers to a great way to teach kids about money: put them in charge of the family finances on vacation. I learned about it from the Musengwa family, in which Nandi, 11 (the one in the middle) is now planning her third summer vacation. This year, Imani, 9, at left, also will get to take on a decision-making role. Little sister, Tendani, 5, will no doubt get her turn in time.

[Photo credit: St. Petersburg Times] 

How are you spending your IRS stimulus rebate? Can you keep food and energy costs from consuming it?

Times readers have lots of creative uses for their rebate checks, from electronics and travel to repairing old appliances and buying new ones. You already know that I spent mine on a vacation to Wyoming. However, Slate columnist Daniel Gross says rebates aren't going to stimulate the economy much because a big percentage of the money will be consumed by higher energy and food costs.

Gross raises an important point. However, many of us have options--we don't have to sit back and let food and fuel consume our entire rebates. Unless you are required to drive as part of your job, you may be able to drive less by car pooling, combining errands, shopping closer to home, walking, biking or even taking the bus. With electricity prices on the way up, it pays to push that thermostat up. You also can cut food costs by opting for fewer processed and packaged foods, eating less expensive proteins and brown bagging it when you are working or out running errands. 

May 29, 2008

Keystone fights back and other news

Keystone Consulting Services (Shaun Keck) is fighting Soneet Kapila's suit claiming it received $635,470 in  fraudulently transfers from Lou Pearlman and his companies during the two year's before the bankruptcy filing. Here is Keystone's motion to dismiss the suit.

*Another group of creditors, those represented by lawyer Donald Gaffney, has filed a claim, asking for fees and expenses, in this case $125,449. The banks previously asked for their legal fees and expenses to be paid.

*Tyler Gray, who has a book on the Lou Pearlman scam coming out in November, has a new gig. He moved from Radar magazine to Blender magazine, which focuses on music and celebrities. Here's a blog item with Tyler's photo.

*And here's some Village Voice commentary on Lou. 

May 28, 2008

Want a reasonably-priced vacation? Take a look at Elderhostel

Wyoming2008_151 This month I had a wonderful hiking adventure in the Grand Teton National Park that ranks among the best vacations my husband and I have ever taken. We had some great hikes and saw amazing wildlife--grizzly bears, moose, elk, bison, beaver, otters and lots more. It was reasonably priced because it was an Elderhostel program run by a non-profit organization, Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming. Elderhostel offers a tremendous range of programs all over the world. The prices tend to be more reasonable than other vacation adventures because many of them are in more basic accommodations (we helped with the dishes after meals and cleaned our rooms when it was time to check out), they often are held during the off season and many are run by nonprofit groups. Most offer an opportunity to learn something about local history, culture or wildife. There is an age requirement--you or your traveling companion have to be 55 or older. But many Elderhostel partners also offer programs for other age groups. For example, both the Teton Science School and the sponsor of an Elderhostel program I attended last fall, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute in Tremont, Tenn., offer a variety of programs for children, teens, adults and families.

For those interested in seeing more, here are my Jackon Hole/Grand Tetons photos and here are Yellowstone National Park photos (a side trip not part of Elderhostel.) Click on the first one to enlarge it, then click on "next" to see each photo.

May 27, 2008

Any increase in FDIC coverage on the horizon?

Q: I am reviewing an article written by you and published May 8, 2005. The title is "FDIC limit increase would help retirees". In the article you mentioned that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill raising the limit to $130,000 but the U.S. Senate had yet to act. Do you have any knowledge as to whether or not such an increase is in the near future?

A: It's always nice to know that my work was preserved for posterity! The $100,000 base insurance limit was not increased. However, Congress did set a separate limit of $250,000 for retirement accounts (including IRAs and 401(k)s. Thus a single person can have $250,000 in an IRA and $100,000 in other accounts at the same bank and be fully covered. Of course, by adding other people on the accounts, you can increase your limits. Here are more details.

Pearlman proceeds now up to $4-million

The latest report from Lou Pearlman bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila is that $4-million has been collected, of which $3.6-million remains unspent. However, Kapila and his attorneys have yet to submit any bills for their work. Since the work has been substantial, I'm sure the bills will be too.

Kapila declined to offer any insight into what kind of resolution there might be of the conflict between bankruptcy law and the judge's order in the criminal case, which put investors ahead of banks for repayment. In response to my inquiry, Kapila said: "I am trying to work on multiple fronts to seek asset recovery. My efforts include working as closely with the government as possible on this and other issues, without us stepping on one another’s toes, and I am not a liberty to disclose such discussions. This seems to have worked pretty well so far."

May 26, 2008

CNBC Show will put the spotlight on Lou Pearlman scam for "American Greed"

Americangreed_logo Kurtis Productions was in Orlando and the Tampa Bay area for most of the past week filming for a segment on Lou Pearlman's investment scam for the CNBC television series American Greed. The one-hour special will cover Lou's life from the early years in Queens to now. The program, which is narrated by Stacy Keach (shown below right) is expected to air sometime next year.

I did an interview with the crew Saturday. It was quite an interesting experience--very different from live TV work, which is what I've done in the past. We spent several hours together and I'm sure they'll be spending hours more editing it, all to get a few minutes for the show.       Stacy_keach_3                

Here's a list of the current season's programming for American Greed and here's what they did last season.  You can catch the show on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. If you'd just like to see a snippet of what the program is like, here's a YouTube clip.

Photo credits: Kurtis Productions

May 24, 2008

Are you banking online yet?

If not, you'll soon be in the minority. This year for the first time, a majority of U.S. households will be doing at least some online banking, according to projections from Forrester Research. Although younger people are more likely to bank online, many Tampa Bay retirees are quite enthusiastic about online banking, as I report in my column for this Sunday. Convenience is the biggest reason. Another plus is reducing the chance of overdrafts since it's easier to keep track of your balance. It may even be more secure than using paper checks, assuming you use good antivirus software, protect your password and check your account regularly. Paper checks have become very vulnerable to counterfeiting, thanks to improvements in printers and the ready availability of check paper at office supply stores.

Here are some additional reader comments about online banking.

May 23, 2008

Band promoter replaces Tammie and Dave on Lou Pearlman's visitor list

Richard Namey Sr. and his son Richard Namey Jr. have been Lou Pearlman's most frequent visitors in the last month with another visit scheduled for today. Pearlman's old friends, Tammie Hilton and Dave Hedrick, haven't been to see him since April 11.

The Nameys have been talking to Lou about promoting a rock band, BITEBOY. The younger Namey is BITEBOY's lead singer. Of course whether any such deal is possible will depend on what federal prison officials will allow. Here's a TV news clip about BITEBOY's interest in Lou.

Lou's also had a couple of recent visits from Jeremy Homan. Here's the full list of everyone who's made an appointment to see him. If the status says "completed," that means the visit actually took place.

May 22, 2008

Why is our income tax stimulus rebate less than I expected?

Q: We have just received by direct deposit to our bank an amount of $600.00.  We filed a joint return with valid security numbers and showing that we both had tax liabilities.  I thought that we should have received $1,200 according to our filing status. Is there an answer to this problem?

A: In order to receive more than $600, you needed to have a 2007 tax liability of more than $600. The stimulus payment for a couple (no kids) is your tax liability with a minimum of $600 and a maximum of $1,200. For a single person (no kids) it's your tax liability with a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $600.

Court documents related to Lou Pearlman's sentencing

Judge Sharp's sentence

$200-million judgment Note that it says investors are to be paid before banks (institutions) in distributing assets

Lou's statement and the judge's comments

Fletcher Peacock's filing This gives the reasons he thought Lou deserved less than the maximum sentence.

Here's news coverage of Lou Pearlman's sentencing

News coverage: St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel (includes video of Roger Handberg), New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg News, New York Post

Comments from victims: St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel

Times special report, including Livin' Large video

May 21, 2008

Notes from today's Lou Pearlman sentencing

The courtroom was jam packed. I counted 130 people inside (including all the lawyers) and I'm told there were 30 or so people outside. It's a shame it could not have been in a larger courtroom. Lou seemed to be completely emotionless. I never saw him look at the audience. Some of the speakers got emotional and obviously they were very nervous standing up before the judge in that impressive courtroom--ironically not that far from Church Street Station.

The judge definitely added to his no-nonsense reputation. "The sympathy factor doesn't run very high with the court," he said after Fletcher Peacock gave his speech about why Lou deserved a lesser sentence. He also was very hard on the banks: "They were negligent. They didn't do their due diligence...It's confusing to me why nobody noticed that there weren't any Transcontintal Airline planes flying around."   He said the only reason he approved the plea agreement (instead of requiring a longer sentence) was Lou's age.

The judge said he was signing a $200-million charging order, which I believe is based on this motion. In addition, there will be an order to pay restitution. Because prosecutors haven't calculated the amount, there will be a separate hearing on that matter, set for July 16. My understanding is that they will go through claims and add up principal investments minus any money investors received. According to Fletcher Peacock, investors received about $103-million. While this restitution calculation is going on, Lou will remain in the Orange County Jail. Then he will report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, on or before Aug. 15. Fletcher wants Lou sent to Coleman, but the judge said the bureau doesn't pay a lot of attention to requests from the court.

Federal judge sentences Lou Pearlman to 25 years in prison

Lou Pearlman got the maximum sentence of 25 years in prison this morning for carrying out one of the largest investment frauds in Florida history. But in federal court in Orlando, U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp added one caveat: For each $1-million the former music mogul returns to victims, he'll take one month off the sentence.

Pearlman, who achieved fame promoting *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and other boy bands, has admitted stealing more than $300-million from banks and investors, many of them retirees who trusted him with their life savings. The grand total could be $500-million or more, based on claims filed in bankruptcy court.

During the sentencing hearing, Pearlman said, "I'm truly sorry and I apologize for what has happened." His lawyer, Fletcher Peacock, said Pearlman never intended to steal the money. "He always thought he could pay people back."

Margie Colucci, 49, of Seminole lost $200,000 to Pearlman's fraud scheme and said she didn't expect to get any money returned. But she was pleased with the judge's ruling. "It was very creative on his part," she said.

Pearlman's entertainment empire once included television shows, a record company, recording studio, restaurants and the Church Street Station complex in downtown Orlando. Everything began falling apart in late 2006 as he ran out of money to keep his Ponzi scheme afloat. He fled the country in January and was arrested last June in Indonesia, where he was traveling under the name A. Icognito Johnson. In March he pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to defraud banks and investors, money laundering and submitting a false claim in bankruptcy court.

For more on Lou Pearlman, see the Times' special report.

May 20, 2008

Creditors' committee asks for maximum sentence

The creditors' committee for the Lou Pearlman bankruptcy sent Judge Kendall Sharp this letter asking the judge to give Pearlman the maximum setence, 25-years, saying it could be revisted in a year with a downward adjustment IF he has given his "unqualified cooperation" in the effort to recover assets and creditors have received "significant tangible benefits" as a result. In other words, no big money recovered, no reduction in sentence.

The committee says that although Pearlman has been talking to bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila, so far he hasn't indentified any valuable assets that Kapila didn't already know about. "Mr. Pearlman is entitled to no mercy or credit for belated cooperation that yields no tangible benefits to his victims."

Among the reasons the letter cites for giving Pearlman the maximum sentence are the tremendous number of victims and amount of money involved, the duration of the fraud, the extent of the harm caused to the victims, the calculated nature of the artifices used in the fraud and the lack of remorse. "He is present for sentencing only because he was apprehended and returned to the U.S. to stand trial for the huge financial mess and thousands of ruined lives he attempted to leave in his wake."

May 19, 2008

Are you going to Lou Pearlman's sentencing?

The sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Courtroom 6C of the new federal courthouse building at 401 West Central Boulevard, Orlando 32801. I recommend getting there 20 to 30 minutes early to ensure a good seat. Please say hello if you see me there. Also, if you speak at the sentencing, I would especially appreciate it if you would check in with me to be sure I have your name spelled correctly!

This information is from the court's Web site:
The public entrance is at the corner of Division Street and West Central Boulevard. All individuals entering the building are required to proceed through a metal detector and have any bags, packages, purses, etc. examined through an X-ray machine. Electronic devices, including photographic/broadcasting equipment, are prohibited in the Federal Courthouse pursuant to Local Rule 4.11. Firearms, knives, pocket knives, chemical sprays and other weapons not specified are also prohibited.
If traveling east on I-4, take the Amelia St exit (83B), turn left on Amelia to Hughey, and turn left on Hughey. Turn right on Bob Snow Lane (blinking light) to the entrance of Church St. Parking Garage.
If traveling west on I-4, take the Colonial Drive (Hwy 50) exit (84) and proceed straight ahead on Hughey. Turn right on Bob Snow Lane (blinking light) to the entrance of Church St. Parking Garage.

Metered parking is available under I-4 across from the federal building

Don't look for Lou to be wheeling and dealing from his jail cell

That's not what bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila has in mind, he said today. "This is not about Lou Pearlman being put in charge of managing a business. This is about him helping us make a success out of a music band or any other entertainment products." Kapila said he envisions Lou providing Kapila's entertainment consultant, Barbara Bolan, with information and ideas for achieving success. "That doesn't mean he needs to be given a phone or a desk or an office. If he needs to contact a person, we will contact the person."

Kapila said he thinks it is worth talking to Lou about his ideas to see if there is potential to make money for the bankruptcy estate.  "It may turn out that it can't be done, but without talking about it, we may never know that."

Judge Sharp rejects Lou's bid to delay sentencing

U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp this morning denied Lou Pearlman's motion to delay sentencing. That means the sentencing is still on for 9 a.m. May 21.

Pearlman requested the delay Friday, saying he wanted time to work with bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila as a consultant to "monetize" the entertainment assets in the bankruptcy estate for the benefit of the victims. Among other things, Pearlman wanted to have access to telephone and internet two days a week.

Prosecutors strongly objected to allowing Pearlman to conduct business in jail, saying "he should be treated in the same manner as any other prisoner." Among the concerns raised: that Pearlman would use his telephone and Internet access to conduct another fraudulent scheme.

The judge said "anything the defendant has requested in his motion can be accomplished without continuing the sentencing," but did not elaborate. You can be sure that the jail is not going to give Lou telephone and Internet access without an order from the judge.

May 17, 2008

Both sides still trying to delay sentencing

Will Lou Pearlman be sentenced Wednesday as scheduled? That's an open question at this point. Unfortunately, for those trying to make travel plans, I haven't a clue as to what the judge will do.

Lou's latest request for a delay claims that he can put together a business plan to promote US5 and other artists to "potentially reap large profits for Transcontinental Records, and in turn, the victims." In order to do this, Lou wants to have access to a telephone and an internet connection two days a week. Then, it says, he should be able to come up wtih a detailed plan by May 30 and they should all have a good idea of the plan's success by July 15.

Left unsaid here: Who would put up the money to finance Lou's proposed venture. Promotion costs a fortune.

Although prosecutors also would like a delay in sentencing, they don't like the idea of Pearlman helping Soneet Kapila manage and promote Trans Continental's assets. Prosecutors previously requested a delay in the restitution portion of the sentencing for up to 90 days. Basically they said they're trying to put together a spreadsheet of what victims are owed.

In other news, bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila has worked out this proposed deal to reclaim $455,000 of the $610,000 that Lou put down as deposits on condos in the Sandpearl development on Clearwater Beach. Also, creditors represented by Fred Lowe and Jim Lowy have agreed with Pearlman to postpone questioninguntil after he is sentenced.

We're putting a spotlight on local companies

The Times is making some major changes in its business coverage, both in print and on the internet. The biggest change in print is that we will no longer be printing a comprehensive table of stock and mutual fund listings. (If you've got a stock you want to track, you can look it up through the Times Web site or many other financial sites on the Internet.) However, without the stock pages, we won't have enough pages to create a separate business section except on Sundays. Each day we will be printing a market report that focuses on stocks of local interest and the largest mutual funds. In addition, we are creating a new online focus on companies headquartered in the Tampa Bay area. We are starting with the 10 largest companies by revenue but will be expanding to include others.

Sunday's paper features a special report on local companies, including some commentary by business editor Bob Triguax and yours truly.

Here's how some readers are saving for college expenses

Paying for college gets tougher every year. Here's how some Times readers are preparing for that day. Their approaches range from the Florida Prepaid College Plan to letting the kids pick stocks for their college a count.

May 15, 2008

Here's a great opportunity to learn about money

Could you use some help managing your money? If the answer is yes and you live in Tampa or have transportation to get there, you might want to look into classes being offered next month by Tampa Bay Saves. Dates and topics are: June 10,  Developing a Financial Plan; June 17- Evaluating Credit Offers & Credit Scores; and June 24- Using Financial Institutions & Achieving Financial Goals. The classes will be held from 5:45pm – 8:00pm. Cost is $7. Location is the Family Support & Resource Center, 7520 W. Waters Ave., Tampa. Childcare and refreshments are provided. For more information, call the Hillsborough County Extension Service at 813-744-5519 x 137. Here's the registration form.

May 14, 2008

Watch out for online job ads

Some of them are actually scams, designed to steal your identity, says the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. In one case FINRA cited, the information was stolen through Craigslist job ads. FINRA offers these tips to avoid becoming a victim.

Creditors get OK to question Pearlman

Judge Arthur Briskman approved the request from Fred Lowe and Jim Lowy to question Lou Pearlman on behalf of creditors. According to the judge's order, what's known as a "Rule 2004 examination" has been approved for this Thursday and Friday, between 9 a.m. and  5 p.m. at the federal courthouse. However, it appears that a deal has been worked out to postpone the examination until after the sentencing.

Lowe and Lowy and/or their clients will have to pay any costs involved. They hope to get information that will help them in pursuing cases against others. Note: these exams are not open to the public.

May 12, 2008

Nightly Business Report launching new series on retirement readiness

In case you haven't heard (like you've been hiding under a rock somewhere), 78-million baby boomers are on the cusp of retirement. That means we'll be hearing lots about this subject. PBS' Nightly Business Report is launching a year-long series of reports called "Get Your Finances Ready for Retirement" that will appear two Mondays a month, starting May 12. The show is broadcast in the Tampa Bay area at 6:30 p.m. on WEDU. The first programs in the series are:

May 12--Getting started: What you need to consider about retirement

May 19--How much money do you need to retire?

May 26--Special Memorial Day program devoted to retirement topics, including when you should begin to collect Social Security

After they are broadcast, programs will be available on demand at the Nightly Business Report Web site. Monthly companion articles will be featured in U.S. News & World Report.

May 10, 2008

Is there a pension in your past?

My column this Sunday contains some tips on finding pensions from long-ago employers. If you or your spouse ever got a notice from an employer that you were vested in the pension plan, and you didn't receive a lump sum payout, this is something worth looking into. If you run into roadblocks, one of the best sources of helpful information is Pension Help America.

May 09, 2008

Creditors want to question Pearlman before sentencing

Jim Lowy and Frederick Lowe are asking the bankruptcy judge to authorize them to question Lou Pearlman before the sentencing. They say that after the sentencing, he won't have any incentive to cooperate, but the U.S. attorney's office is blocking them from interviewing Pearlman.

May 08, 2008

GunnAllen to pay $750,000 fine to settle charges

Regulators fined Tampa-based GunnAllen Financial Inc. $750,000 for multiple violations of securities industry rules. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) said GunnAllen's lax supervision allowed its former head trader, Alexis Rivera, to defraud customers by putting profitable trades in his wife's personal account instead of the accounts of customers where they belonged. Rivera was fired in September 2005 and barred from the securities industry in December 2006. FINRA barred his supervisor, Kelley McMahon, from the industry for six months and levied a $25,000 fine.

And that wasn't all. FINRA said it found other serious violations in the investment banking department where it failed to put the stocks of its investment banking clients on a restricted list. That created the potential for misuse of insider information. Further, FINRA said GunnAllen failed to disclose a consulting contract with Richard J. Gladstone, who had been barred from the securities industry.

GunnAllen agreed to pay the fine to settle the matter and have the findings entered into the record. It did not admit or deny the allegations. Here's some of what company CEO Richard Frueh had to say:

"GunnAllen has resolved historical issues, reaffirmed its commitment to supervision and compliance and now looks forward to continuing to help our affiliates assist their clients achieve financial success."

May 07, 2008

By popular request: Here's the fake plane

Alfakeplane Some of you have said you'd like to see the fake photo that Lou Pearlman alledgedly used to add credibility to his avaiation business. Here it is, courtesy of Alan Gross. Alan says he built the model of the plane, which was then photographed at the airport to make it look like a real plane. You don't see the tail because someone's had is holding it. Alan says he had nothing to do with the photograph and did not know that Lou was going to use his model in such a devious way.

[Photo credit: courtesy of Alan Gross]

Michael Crudele was unaware of any fraud, his lawyer says

"Michael is adamant that he was unaware this was a fraud," his Tampa attorney, James Felman, said today. "He has taken no steps to hide any of his assets and never would."

Crudele, who handled marketing for Lou Pearlman's Ponzi scheme, has been cooperating with bankruptcy trustee Soneet Kapila and will continue to do so, Felman said. He said Crudele has agreed to the continuation of a restraining order preventing him from disposing of certain assets, although it is more narrow than the one Kapila requested last week based on this motion.

Felman says the transfers Kapila cites in his motion came from Crudele's Trans Continental accounts, primarily money he had invested in Trans Continental stock. He said Crudele set up EISA accounts for his children, which were used to purchase Florida Prepaid College Funds. "He put hundreds of thousands back into the company and made no effort to withdraw it," Felman said. He said that when the company collapsed, Crudele's account was supposed to be worth $2.8-million.

May 06, 2008

More Alan Gross correspondence

Since there seems to be a lot of interest in Alan's old correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission, I'm posting these two responses from the SEC at his request. One is a form letter to him and the other is a letter to an attorney who apparently contacted the SEC on Alan's behalf. I think Alan does deserve credit for standing up for what he thought was right and contacting the SEC. By the way, when I visited Alan, he played his tape of Lou's old phone call for me, so I can verify its existence.

One, Two 

Even rich baby boomers have got retirement jitters

A new survey out today claims one out of four wealthy 60-year-olds are changing their retirement plans and nearly 30 percent have more financial stress than they did six months ago. Women (35%) are more stressed out than men (24%). A whopping 40% claim to be downsizing their lifestyle in some way. The survey from Bell Investment Advisors involved a random sample of 500 people with investable assets of $1-million or more.

Financial services companies do these surveys to call attention to their services. I don't know if the numbers are right, but people do seem to be more anxious. It's hard not to be when you see friends losing their jobs.

Looking for a link on the Web, I found last year's survey by the same group, when people were feeling more confident.

May 03, 2008

Take my money, please!

Sunday's column is about the extraordinarily difficult time one homeowner had trying to pay off his mortgage. Unfortunately, customer service has never been a strong point in the mortgage servicing industry and the situation appears to be getting worse rather than better based on the complaints I hear. Getting a company to call you back appears to be an accomplishment these days.

May 02, 2008

Interest rates reset on savings bonds

The Treasury announced new interest rates on savings bonds: 4.84% on I-bonds and a puny 1.4% on newly-issued EE bonds. The EE bond rate applies for the next 20 years, which means it's basically a message from the Treasury not to bother buying EE bonds any more. EE bonds issued more than three years ago have rates that adjust every six months. The rate for bonds sold between May 1997 and April 2005 will be 2.74% for the next six months.

I bonds aren't quite the great deal they appear to be on the surface. I bonds carry a combination of a fixed rate that applies for the life of the bond and an adjustable rate tied to the rate of inflation. Well, the fixed rate on new bonds is zero, for the first time ever. That means earning any return depends solely on inflation. The fixed rate most recently was 1.2% and has been as high as 3.6%.

The Fed may be done, but can the economy get going?

Will this be the pause that refreshes? It looks like the Fed is ready to stop lowering rates, or at least take a breather after this week's quarter point drop. But as I wrote in The Times, it may be a few months before we know whether the government's recipe of lower rates and tax rebates was enough. Oil prices dropped a bit today on the news that the Fed may be done (lower rates hurt the dollar, which in turn leads to higher oil prices). Maybe that means we'll stop setting new records every day for gas prices. The average was $3.59 a gallon today in the Tampa Bay area--yikes!

I'm hoping that by fall we'll have some signs that things are picking up. I think we could use a little higher interest rates to help out retirees with their CDs and money market accounts.

May 01, 2008

Kapila can have some of Chamberlain's documents

Bankruptcy judge Arthur Briskman has ruled several of the documents former Lou Pearlman lawyer Rene Chamberlain turned over are not protected by attorney-client pivilege. In this ruling he says the documents have been or will be given to trustee Soneet Kapila. Sadly, for all of you who would like to read them, they have not been made part of the court file.

Should I refinance my mortgage?

Q: We currently have a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 5.75%. Our unpaid principal balance is $145,496. We've been in the home for five years. We have credit card debt of almost $16,000 that we'd like to pay off. We've been offered a new loan for $175,000 at 5.375% rate for 30 years. The closing costs will be about $9,734, monthly payment approximately $1,363 (including taxes and insurance). We will receive approximately $1,100 in cash. We really can't afford to make another bad decision. What should we do?

A: I would not do this, but I do not know what your alternatives are. Something is wrong with your math, because it looks to me like you'll end up owing $13,504 more than you do now and extending your mortgage for an additional five years, both of which seem like a bad deal to me. The best approach, in my opinion, would be to put your credit card balance on the lowest interest rate card you can get and make extra-large payments every month until it is paid off. 

The way I look at it, there are hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of homeowners out there who a few years ago did something very similar to what you are contemplating and now regret it very much. This is particularly a problem if their mortgage is now more than their house is worth. If you had to sell your house, would it bring at least $175,000 plus real estate commissions and other closing costs?  If there's any doubt about that, you definitely don't want to refinance.   

Are you telling me that it is impossible for you to pay off your $16,000 in credit card debt? If so, maybe you should be considering bankruptcy. Talk to a credit counselor about your options before signing anything. Credit card debt can be discharged in bankruptcy but if you put it on your mortgage, you put your house at risk. Here are some calculators (one, two)  you can look at in analyzing your situation. There are numerous others on the Web as well--just do a google search on mortgage refinancing calculators.

About This Blog

St. Petersburg Times personal finance editor Helen Huntley writes about money topics and answers questions about financial planning, investments and personal income taxes.

Helen has been following the Lou Pearlman/Trans Continental investment scam since December 2006. Read more about it in this special report and on this blog.

Looking for help with your income taxes? Check out this special report

E-mail questions to Helen Huntley:
hhuntley@sptimes.com.

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