Southern Blog
The Effect of a Loan Modification on Your Credit
By Charlestien Harris This has been a very difficult year for many people when it comes to finances, especially for homeowners. Foreclosures and bankruptcies are two financial events that can have a really adverse effect on your credit. Trying to avoid both of those...
What You Need to Know About the New 2020 W-4 Form
By Charlestien Harris You may not be aware, but the IRS Form W-4 has changed. A W-4 form provides information to your employer so that they can determine how much to withhold from your paychecks. This will ensure that the IRS collects federal income tax from you in an...
What Are My Next Steps After My Forbearance Period Ends?
By Charlestien Harris Many homeowners were able to take advantage of the forbearance option available through the CARES ACT provisions enacted by congress. Forbearance is a type of temporary mortgage relief that was very instrumental in helping borrowers keep...
Financial Plans: A Roadmap to Financial Success in 2021 and Beyond
By Charlestien Harris The past year has been quite different financially for numerous reasons, and starting the new year off right is so vital to the success of your financial future. The present economic climate has in some ways forced many of us to make some major...
What to Do If You Are A Victim of Financial Fraud
By Veronica Baxter According to credit agency Equifax, identity theft is the most common form of financial fraud. A victim’s personal information is stolen in order to access existing credit and bank accounts and to open new credit accounts. This article will explain...
Tax Time is Savings Time
By Charlestien Harris It’s that time again, tax preparation season. The IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program offers free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help...
Stimulus Payment Guidelines for Nursing Home Residents
By Charlestien Harris Few people realize that nursing home residents are eligible to receive the Economic Impact Payment or the stimulus payment commonly known as EIP. During the first round of EIP checks, payments were issued to the taxpayers who filed a 2019...
Covid-19 Single Family Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium Extended
By Charlestien Harris As a HUD certified housing counselor, I try to stay informed on current issues that could directly affect numerous consumers facing mounting debt and other issues related to housing and finances. Last month, the Federal Housing Finance Agency...
Make a Pledge to Save
By Janie Ginocchio We’ve recently talked about taking advantage of a new savings opportunity in Arkansas by using split direct deposit for state tax refunds, and in previous blog posts we’ve talked about making a New Year’s resolution to save as well as best practices...
Beware of Gift Card Scams during the Holidays.
By Charlestien Harris Gift cards are a popular and convenient way to give someone a gift. They’re also a popular way for scammers to steal money from you, because gift cards are like cash. If you buy a gift card and someone it wasn’t intended for uses it, you probably...