At Richard Banks & Associates, we are very familiar with the burden that medical bills can cause on everyday life. What we want you to know that medical debt doesn’t have to be something that’s keeping you up at night, as there are ways to go about handling said debt. You may not know it, but medical debt is the No. 1 reason behind personal bankruptcy filings in the United States. Read on →

If you’ve filed bankruptcy or have suffered some financial missteps, your credit score is assuredly lower than you would like it to be. At Richard Banks & Associates, we want to make sure that you are set for success following your financial crisis, so we have compiled some information that will help you rebuild credit. First, it’s important to note just what filing bankruptcy can do to your credit score. If you have a good score prior, such as one that is 700 or higher, you could see that number drop by 200 points or more. Read on →

It seems like every year around this time folks begin thinking about the upcoming new year and the resolutions they may make. Losing weight, establishing healthier eating habits, not procrastinating, getting more sleep, saving money—these are all New Year’s resolutions that are commonly discussed. It’s the money aspect that our team at Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. would like to address this year! 2017 will be over in a matter of weeks so the prime time to start making plans to change up your finances is now! Read on →

The holiday season is once again upon us, and if you’re like most Americans, that means your spending has ramped up, too! Between holiday shopping, baking and spending time with your loved ones, chances are that your budget hasn’t been the first thing on your mind. Unfortunately, as our Richard Banks & Associates, P.C. team knows all too well, disregarding your budget can wreak havoc on your financial situation. We don’t want you to be stressed out over your finances this holiday season, so read on for some excellent ways to ensure that you don’t blow the bank! Read on →

There’s a little over a week left until America’s favorite shopping day, Black Friday. We know that it can be tempting to go a bit crazy after having scanned the Black Friday ads, but it’s important to recognize that while some deals are certainly worth the hype, there are also some items you’re better off not purchasing on the busiest shopping day of the year. So how do you determine what’s actually a good deal and what to pass on? Read on →

November is here, which means that winter is right around the corner. Now isn’t the time to see your finances freeze up, so why not try out the whole “No-Spend November” idea? Our team at Richard Banks & Associates knows that it might sound intimidating, but “No-Spend November” really isn’t as bad as it sounds. Besides, by the end of the month, the savings will have proven to be worth it! Read on →

Fall is in full swing and that means that winter is waiting in the wings! Our team at Richard Banks & Associates would love to take a few moments to go over some money-saving tips for the fall that will help get you ready for those winter doldrums. 1. Look for fall sales. Maybe you don’t need to be concerned with sales on Halloween décor and apparel, but fall is chock-full of sales that could benefit your wallet! Read on →

The Equifax data breach is shaping up to be one of the largest in American history, with the personal information of 143 million U.S. consumers having been exposed. Knowing that means nearly half of the country has been vulnerable, our team at Richard Banks & Associates has decided to compile some tips on what to do post-breach. If you haven’t already, you can go to Equifax’s TrustedID website and find out if your information is at risk of being stolen. Read on →

If you’ve decided that bankruptcy is the right decision for your financial situation, you are probably wondering what comes after you have filed and what it takes to recover from bankruptcy? Our team at Richard Banks & Associates knows that you have questions and concerns and have come up with a helpful list of bankruptcy recovery steps to take! 1. Evaluate your financial situation. Think about what ultimately led you down the path to bankruptcy. Read on →

The value of saving money is not something that we take lightly here at Richard Banks & Associates P.C. We know that it can be difficult, but even if you are working a minimum wage job, it is still possible to plug away some extra cash into a savings account. According to a CNN Money news article, it was been discovered that nearly six in 10 Americans don’t have $500 or $1,000 in savings to cover emergency expenditures. Read on →