Pensions: The Next Casualty of Wall Street

Nobody wants to admit it, but the next casualty of the Wall Street meltdown will probably be your golden years. For years corporations have been trying to choke the life out of traditional pensions, working hard to get out from under the risk—and the cost—of providing for their retirees. Between last year’s credit crunch and changes to federal pension laws, they may get their wish.

Nearly $4 trillion worth of retirement savings were wiped out in the first weeks of the 2008 financial freefall. Half of the drop was concentrated in traditional pension plans, also known as defined-benefit plans. While most workers in these plans haven’t had their monthly benefits cut, unlike the 46 million people riding the stock market with 401(k) defined-contribution plans, the storm clouds are gathering. Read more about pensions

Do you own a law firm? Would you like to utilize our mortgage auditing services for foreclosure defense cases? Contact MFI-Miami now.

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County OKs Legal Aid for Those in Foreclosure

Residents of Franklin County suburbs and townships now can get legal help to negotiate with mortgage companies or understand their options when they face foreclosure.

Franklin County commissioners yesterday approved a one-year, $50,000 contract with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus.

“What we’re seeing now are homeowners who have been in their homes 10 or 20 years. A lot of them have lost their jobs,” said Staska Keefer, supervising attorney for Legal Aid’s foreclosure-defense team. Read more about foreclosure help

Do you own a law firm? Would you like to utilize our mortgage auditing services for foreclosure defense cases? Contact MFI-Miami now!

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Maryland Gov Mulling Foreclosure Mediation Legislation

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley says he’s looking into legislation to require some effort at mediation “before the machinery of foreclosure and eviction starts up.”

O’Malley said Tuesday that too many mortgage companies aren’t taking the trouble to modify loans in meaningful ways. Read more about foreclosure mediation

Do you own a law firm? Would you like to utilize our mortgage auditing services for foreclosure defense cases? Contact MFI-Miami now!

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Ex-Mortgage Broker to Plead Guilty in Ponzi Scheme

The victims were as old as 91 and their losses could add up to nearly $20 million.

Peter Bakowski, a 58-year-old former Tampa mortgage broker, has admitted orchestrating a Ponzi scheme that involved more than 30 investors and institutions and more than 150 deals, documents show.

Bakowski has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of making false statements to a financial institution, which carries up to 30 years in prison. He also faces a likely order to pay restitution to the victims. Read more about the  Ponzi scheme

Do you own a law firm? Would you like to utilize our mortgage auditing services for foreclosure defense cases? Contact MFI-Miami now!

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