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Anyone guess where this photo was taken?
26 Tuesday Jun 2012
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26 Tuesday Jun 2012
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inWinston-Salem Journal “best of”—only a few days left to vote.
Please consider “Sanders Law Firm, PLLC” if you vote.
www.readerschoicejournalnow.com
04 Friday May 2012
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The first in a multi-part series.
Is college all it’s cracked up to be? Will it improve your life to the point it’s worth taking paying $200,000 for 4 years PLUS foregoing earning full-time income for those same 4 years? And if you have student loans, then also paying the interest over 10 or 15 years.
I have begun to question whether college is worth it. In fact, I bet 70% of all college students would be better served to get a technical degree and learn a trade.
In fact, I made this suggestion to the former head of a state university system. He agreed but turned the question on me when he asked: “But how many people would say that they don’t want their children to go to college?” No, most people have been programmed that to get a college degree is the sign of success. It’s a source of family and personal pride.
The other day I had a good talk with a loan officer at a bank. He told me that he’s seeing a good number of loan applications for homes get denied because of the applicant’s student loan debt. It throws off their income to debt ratio. This officer also commented that one of the bad things about student loan debt is that the loan is a loan on the person. Meaning, you signed a promissory note, you said you’d repay the lender. And there’s no collateral securing the note that once the collateral (house/car) is sold, the proceeds go to paying the loan. Nope, it’s a full on unsecured note.
I remember D-Day in law school when the admissions department handed out paper to each student showing them their student loan debt. People were teary eyed. Some were surprised. Quite frankly I was astonished they didn’t know the amount beforehand. It was tattooed on my psyche each time I signed the student loan note. I knew how much I owed. That’s the number one reason I lived with my parents during law school: so I could keep my loans lower.
I really don’t think people going to school think about the fact they are signing a promise to repay. Remember when you sign a note, you are giving your word.
I don’t think people sit down and do the math to decide what is really the best path for them, whether work, trade school, or college.
Please comment with your thoughts.
12 Thursday Apr 2012
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inWhat in tarnation would you do with $500,000,000?
I’m thinking that’s a tad excessive. Probably end up ruining me and my family if I won.
Now if I won $1,000,000 or $2 million. I could make real decisions. Probably wouldn’t change my lifestyle much, instead, I’d likely be more relaxed. Yes, and my wife would get the patio extended in the backyard as well as rip up the carpet in the basement and replace with hardwoods. We’d do some foreign travel. We’d improve our charitable giving too. To me the little prizes are more fun.
But if one wins $100,000,000 or more. There would be some serious, societal burdens. For instance, what 3rd world disease will you singlehandedly cure? If you can’t do something and leave a mark with that kind of windfall, what good is it.
Or let’s say, if you don’t do something dramatically good for society, what are you going to do with that money? How many boats, cars, mega McMansions does one truly need?
And then there’s taxes. You’ve probably read how most lottery winners end up bankrupt. How??? They don’t account for taxes. Plus, they fall prey to every investment scheme known to man. Think about the old adage: You can lose your money a whole lot easier than you make it.
What would you do if you won?
a) $2.5 million?
b) $200 million?
Either way, I suggest you meet with a trusted attorney and CPA and start figuring out how to handle the situation before you rush out and claim your prize. If possible, don’t be that person holding the large check. Every no-good, semi-family, old acquaintance will be ready to lighten your wallet as soon as they get wind of your new found wealth.
Good luck!
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