Debt & Financial Decisions
Debt options, collection records, consolidation questions, total-cost thinking and scam red flags.
Debt options: a framework before choosing
Debt problems can involve repayment changes, consolidation, counseling, settlement, insolvency processes or other options, each with different costs and legal effects.
When a debt collector contacts you: organize the record first
A collection contact should be documented before important decisions are made.
Debt-settlement and debt-relief red flags
People under financial pressure are attractive targets for companies promising fast or guaranteed debt relief.
Questions to ask before a consolidation loan
Combining several debts into one payment can simplify administration, but the total cost depends on rate, fees, term and what happens to the old accounts.
A financial decision framework for major commitments
Major financial decisions are easier to compare when cost, duration, downside, reversibility and legal obligations are separated.
Risk and reward language in financial decisions
Terms such as low risk, guaranteed, secure or high return should be tested against what is actually promised and by whom.