Tag: cash flow

Categories
Brandon Blog Post

SMALL BUSINESS IN ONTARIO: SMALL BUSINESS LOANS ONTARIO

small business in ontario

If you prefer to listen to the audio version of this small business in Ontario Brandon’s blog, please scroll down to the bottom and click on the podcast

Starting a home-based business in Ontario

Are you fantasizing about beginning your very own small business in Ontario? Do you have a great passion and you feel it in your bones it could be profitable and provide a comfortable side or main income for you? Well, you’re not the only one. Lots of Canadians like you have their very own commercial desires. Many boomers could not afford to retire, so they have become seniorpreneurs.

Let’s say you have a dream to start your own biz doing what you love. In the beginning, you probably want to keep it simple. No employees, no fancy office, just you meeting with clients at your kitchen table. Sounds pretty simple but what do you need to go from a drawing to a solid business plan to a real endeavour?

A good plan is critical a realistic look at your market your potential customers and your goals current and future. It should map out what success means for your trading. From there, details of the next steps are different in each province or territory so you need to find out how it works where you want to operate your company. This Brandon’s Blog will deal with a livelihood in the province of Ontario.

How do I start a small business in Ontario?

A typical new commercial venture starts with the following four steps. The most basic first step is to choose a legal ownership structure. For example, you may have trouble choosing. Will it be a sole proprietorship, which is really just yourself trading, or will you choose incorporation, setting up a separate legal entity? This decision is very important. Each has its own advantages, disadvantages and differences in financial reporting and taxation.

Step 2 is to decide on a name. What are you going to call your new venture? You could choose to work under your own full name, especially if you’re a sole proprietor. Something like your name, operating as the style name you want for your business. Or, you could choose to incorporate and choose a company name.

Do I need to register my business Ontario?

Step three is registering your business. If you are operating as a sole proprietor, you would register provincially. If you are incorporating a company, you could register either provincially or federally. It really depends on the type of business you are operating and whether you will be operating in more than one province. You will also need to register with the Canada Revenue Agency. These registrations are about getting a business number to communicate with the government and about setting up for your various tax reporting and remittance obligations.

Step 4 involves getting whatever civic, provincial or federal business licenses you will need for your business to operate in a specific province, territory or city.

So four basic steps will get your business started. Decide on your legal structure and business name then look into business licensing and registration. And there you have it. You are now on your way.

How much does it cost to register a business in Ontario?

Before you sign up a new business name, or when altering the name/legal form of the business, you should browse the provincial database of existing registrations. The reason for doing this is to see if the name of your business is already taken and being utilized by another business. Once you are sure the name you want is available, you go ahead and register it.

The costs to search and then register a business name is:

  • Search – $ 8-$ 26 depending on the sorts of records you intend to search
  • Registration – $ 60
  • Renewing a registration – $ 60

If you plan to incorporate, you need the services of a lawyer or paralegal. They will do the incorporation and registration for you. You need to check with a professional to understand the costs involved in setting up a corporation.

How many small businesses are there in Ontario?

The last time Statistics Canada collected this information was for 2017. As of December 2017, there were 1.18 million businesses in Canada are categorized as follows:

  • 1.15 million (97.9 percent) was a small business;
  • 21,926 (1.9 percent) were medium-sized organizations; and
  • 2,939 (0.2 percent) were classified as big businesses.

Over half of Canada’s small businesses are focused in Ontario and Quebec (417,742 and 236,705 respectively). Western Canada has a large number of small businesses led by British Columbia, which had 179,517 as of December 2017. In the Atlantic region, Nova Scotia has the greatest variety of small biz at 28,874.

The province with the best variety of businesses per thousand individuals over 18 years old is Prince Edward Island (49.4), then Alberta (48.8). On the other hand, Quebec has the tiniest variety of services per thousand people over 18 years old (35.3), followed by Ontario (37.2) as well as Nova Scotia (37.3).

So you can see by these numbers the importance of small businesses in employing people and contributing to the Canadian economy.

How to start a business in Ontario with no money

You cannot start a business in Ontario or anywhere else with no money. Depending on the type of business you are starting, you may not need a lot of money, but you cannot start one with nothing. Basic expenditures like a website and business cards require money. Your marketing and advertising to get your business off the ground will require money.

Banks will not lend money to a startup. They also will not lend any money to a business where the owner has not made an investment into his or her own business. The reason is that the bank wants to see dedication. They want to know that when things get tough, and they will, that the owner has a reason to stick around. Having your own money in the business that you don’t want to lose is a great incentive to stick it out.

So in the beginning, you will need some money to get started. There are some ways that you can fund your new business. They include:

  • Don’t start your business until you have built up enough savings for expenditures to sustain the business for say, 6 to 9 months
  • Figure out what you can do and obtain for free
  • Ask your family and friends for funds
  • Apply for a small business loan after you have invested your own money in your business for when you need added cash
  • Look to small company government grants as well as local funding possibilities
  • Find out about– and charm– potential angel investors just like they do on television

You will be amazed at your own creativity when you need to use it to find extra cash. In the beginning, you will definitely be paying yourself last.

Small business debt

Every business needs money to sustain its growth. At first, money will be invested as equity, and perhaps debt, by the owners. In order to take on bank debt, the bank will require the owners to subordinate their claim to that of the bank. As the business expenses increase because sales are increasing and the business is growing, more money will be needed.

The business plan, including a detailed cash flow statement that is regularly updated, amended and followed, is crucial. The government encourages businesses that are growing to do so by way of debt. The income tax laws allow for the interest paid on debt to be deducted for tax purposes. The cost of debt is always cheaper than the cost of equity.

This is a good reason to take on debt. What the business owner has to be careful of is that the business is not taking on too much debt. What is not good is taking on more debt to make up for a history of losses and not fixing what is wrong with the business. Eventually, there will be no place to borrow from if the reason for the losses is not fixed.

A history of losses is one of the most common things I see with businesses in trouble that come to me for advice. Losses that have not been fixed, or at least stopped, is a danger signal of poor management. When your lenders determine management is poor, it is like a shark with blood. The lender will call in its loan. Your trade creditors will stop extending credit. This will lead to the demise of the business.

Summary

Is your small business in Ontario in need of financial restructuring? The financial restructuring process is complex. The Ira Smith Team understands how to do a complex corporate restructuring. However, more importantly, we understand the needs of the entrepreneur. You are worried because your company is facing significant financial challenges. Your business provides income not only for your family. Many other families rely on you and your company for their well-being.

The stress placed upon you due to your company’s financial challenges is enormous. We understand your pain points. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your company’s problems; financial and emotional. The way we dealt with this problem and devised a corporate restructuring plan, we know that we can help you and your company too.

We know that companies facing financial problems need a realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. That is why we can develop a company restructuring process as unique as the financial problems and pain it is facing. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. team today.

Call us now for a free consultation. We will get your company back on the road to healthy stress-free operations and recover from the pain points in your life, Starting Over, Starting Now.

Categories
Brandon Blog Post

COMPANY RESTRUCTURING PROCESS CASE STUDY: HOW WE USED BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING IN CANADA TO SAVE THE BUSINESS AND JOBS

2

Company restructuring process: Introduction

Over the last two weeks, we have provided you with real case studies from our files. This week’s case study is about our involvement with a company restructuring process so its business could continue to serve its clients and maintain most of the jobs.

Two weeks ago we described a personal insolvency case study, CLAIM BANKRUPTCY IN ONTARIO CASE STUDY: SHE REALLY WANTED TO BUT WE STOPPED HER AND SOLVED HER PROBLEMS, was about the surgeon who became insolvent because of a failed business venture and a divorce. The events leading up to the doctor’s insolvency convinced her that she had to go bankrupt. We then described the steps we took to restructure her affairs so she could avoid bankruptcy. She completed a successful Proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada). More importantly, she regained her confidence, we eliminated her pain points and she is once again thriving emotionally, physically and financially.

Last week, we described a situation where we used our skill set in a different way. In our case study, COURT APPOINTED ESTATE TRUSTEE CASE STUDY: IF IT WAS EASY YOU WOULDN’T NEED US, we described how we ended a war between the two beneficiaries under a Will and monetized the assets for their benefit. In that situation, the Court appointed us as the court appointed estate trustee.

Company restructuring process: The social media agency

The company was a social media agency. Their clients were some of the largest household names in North America. The company made sure that their clients’ websites were eye-catching, technologically advanced using leading search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM) techniques. In short, their clients had to show up on page 1 of an online search and that their websites were eye-popping and functional. The company was a Canadian and North American leader.

Company restructuring process: Life got in the way

The sole shareholder and Director experienced some health issues with a family member; that required her attention. She was tending to that emergency and it took her away from the business for lengthy periods of time. Experienced senior staff ran the business in her absence. The entrepreneur felt she could deal with business matters by telephone. They established a process where she signed documents and cheques prepared by staff members using couriers.

Company restructuring process: Senior staff were not trustworthy

WRONG!! Although she trusted the senior staff, they turned out not to be trustworthy. They made mistakes and assured the owner that the documents and cheques they prepared were correct.

They also provided her status reports assuring her that all client activities and projects were all on schedule. The reality was that certain senior staff were plotting to establish their own agency, to steal clients. The sole Director felt something was not right, but she could not pinpoint from afar what the issues were. She returned to the office and discovered that her worst fears were her new reality.

Company restructuring process: How bad was it?

Things were very bad. Billings were way behind. Cash flow had dried up. As a result of the lack of cash flow, the company was now behind in rent and had collected but did not remit source deductions totalling over $300,000. The unremitted source deductions formed a trust claim over all the company’s assets, ahead of the company’s bank. Learning all this information made the bank very uneasy and unwilling to lend any more money.

Company restructuring process: The short-term steps in financial restructuring

The sole Director and shareholder of the company contacted us. She was operating in panic mode. We assessed the situation. Our preliminary assessment was that catching up on the billings and the clients paying them in the normal course, good cash flow would return. There was also a good book of projects to start on; just not as many as normal. Thankfully, no clients had left yet.

The short-term plan we developed had 7 steps:

  1. Fire the staff involved in the attempt to start-up their own firm and steal clients. Pay their normal wages and vacation pay, but not pay in lieu of notice.
  2. File immediately a Notice of Intention To Make a Proposal (NOI) to invoke the stay of proceedings (Stay Period) so that no creditor could take action against the company.
  3. Immediately bill all unbilled projects and begin collection efforts on any outstanding invoices.
  4. Reach out to all major clients to reassure them that the entrepreneur was in control after returning from the family emergency and that she would personally be supervising all work performed.
  5. Prepare a crisis cash flow model that thankfully showed that the company could cash flow itself since the amounts owing to the unsecured creditors was not caught in the restructuring.
  6. The company required fresh capital. Luckily, the entrepreneur had enough funds to inject.
  7. Meet with the company’s banker to explain the situation and share the emergency cash flow to show that the company did not need any new funds from the bank and that the principal was going to inject the temporary funds necessary. This gave the banker the assurance that the bank line would not be pressed any further, and that the entrepreneur was willing to put her money where her mouth was.

    ISI 4
    company restructuring process

Company restructuring process: The long-term plan

Now that the situation was stabilized, we worked with the company to look at longer term restructuring needs. It needed a business debt restructuring process. We determined that the company had too much space. As it did not need to immediately replace the terminated staff, it now did not need as much space. Certain space could be given up without affecting the main space and the business.

The landlord of course was not happy about this, but was willing to work with the company. If the landlord was not cooperative, the backup plan was to repudiate the unnecessary space through the formal restructuring plan.

The terminated employees retained legal counsel, who made himself known. Various issues arose from this. Were they going to seek leave of the bankruptcy court to launch litigation for damages against the company? What counterclaim could the company prove? Should we agree to attempt to value what claims they may have without litigation and include them in the restructuring plan?

Company restructuring process: The need for more time

Upon the filing of the NOI, the company obtained a first 30 day stay where its creditors could not pursue it and to file the real restructuring proposal. The company had to run for at least a few weeks to assess if the real performance was similar to the cash flow forecast developed on day 1.

Therefore, the company’s lawyers went to bankruptcy court to seek a 45 day extension for the company to file its bankruptcy protection restructuring plan. As Trustee, we had to prepare and file our report with the court to attest to the fact that:

  1. an extension of the Stay Period is required to enable the company to continue to run in the ordinary course and complete its restructuring proposal;
  2. the company continues to act in good faith and with due diligence; and
  3. no creditor would be materially prejudiced by the extension of the Stay Period.

The Court granted the extension for this company restructuring process.

Company restructuring process: The corporate debt restructuring process

We could now finish the real corporate restructuring proposal through this bankruptcy protection process. Given the unknown of the final valuation of the terminated employees’ claims, if any, we had to build in further protection for the company. We decided that the company’s bankruptcy protection plan would be what is known as a “basket proposal”. The amount of funds available for the unsecured creditors would be a fixed amount. So, whatever the claims ended up being, the size of the pot never changed.

Under the bankruptcy laws in Canada for a corporation undergoing a corporate restructuring, we had to ensure that there were sufficient funds for the unsecured creditors to share in “the pot”. The amount had to be realistic, to get the required majority of unsecured creditors voting in favour of the corporate restructuring plan. We also had to ensure that the bank was not being compromised in the proposal and that we communicated that clearly to the bank.

Company restructuring process: The government trust claim

As stated above, the unremitted source deductions were a trust claim. The restructuring bankruptcy laws in Canada state that such a claim has to be repaid in full within 6 months of Court approval of the restructuring proposal. We revisited the company’s cash flow. Although the company was on track, over the next year, money was needed to reinvest in the business.

The entrepreneur had no more money from her own resources. Therefore, after allowing for operations and the payment of the past unremitted source deduction amount of about $300,000, we could only offer the unsecured creditors roughly 5 cents on the dollar of the proven claims from future operations. The company promised to pay that amount within 6 months of retiring the government trust claim amount. So, within 1 year of Court approval, the unsecured creditors would get their money from the corporate restructuring plan.

Company restructuring process: Solving the terminated employee claims

Seeing this, the terminated employee group did not wish to spend funds on litigation, only to receive 5% of whatever claim they may have from the restructuring plan. We ended up agreeing to a very modest amount to represent their claims in the proposal.

The meeting of creditors was held and we obtained the required majority of creditors voting in favour of the business restructuring proposal. The creditors realized it was a better outcome than if they voted the company into bankruptcy. They voted in favour of the company restructuring process. We then obtained the necessary Court approval.

Company restructuring process: The result

The company turned its operations around. It survived the coup by the terminated employees. The company produced enough cash profits to retire the government trust claim debt within 6 months of court approval. It also paid the proposal fund amount to us as Trustee on time, to be distributed to the unsecured creditors.

The company successfully restructured and operated profitably afterwards. The entrepreneur was able to sell her company several years later and retire.

Company restructuring process: The financial restructuring process

The financial restructuring process is complex. The Ira Smith Team understands how to do a complex corporate restructuring. However, more importantly, we understand the needs of the entrepreneur. You are worried because your company is facing significant financial challenges. Your business provides income not only for your family. Many other families rely on you and your company for their well-being.

The stress placed upon you due to your company’s financial challenges is enormous. We understand your pain points. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your company’s problems; financial and emotional. The way we dealt with this problem and devised a corporate restructuring plan, we know that we can help you and your company too.

We know that companies facing financial problems need a realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. That is why we can develop a company restructuring process as unique as the financial problems and pain it is facing. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. team today.

Call us now for a free consultation. We will get your company back on the road to healthy stress free operations and recover from the pain points in your life, Starting Over, Starting Now.

COMPANY RESTRUCTURING PROCESS 11
company restructuring process
Categories
Brandon Blog Post

CLAIM BANKRUPTCY IN ONTARIO CASE STUDY: SHE REALLY WANTED TO BUT WE STOPPED HER AND SOLVED HER PROBLEMS

2

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: Case study introduction

For today, and the next few weeks, I want to give you some interesting case studies direct from our files. I will not mention any real names of course. Hopefully from these case studies, you will see that we do a lot more than just allow people or companies to claim bankruptcy in Ontario.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: A variety of problems

Today’s case study deals with our client who is a specialist medical doctor and surgeon. We will call her Dr. X. She had an ongoing successful career and then opened up a specialty high-end clinic to offer services not paid for by OHIP, the provincial medical plan. Unfortunately, Dr. X did not get the best advice from her professional advisers when she established the new business venture.

She set up her clinic in a separate building that she purchased. Dr. X then had it renovated extensively to meet the business’ needs, leased or purchased equipment and hired staff.

This new venture was financed entirely by debt:

  • personal debt such as mortgage financing against the matrimonial home;

  • equipment loans or leases in her personal name; and

  • Equipment and mortgage debt in the new business venture corporation for which Dr. X personally guaranteed it.

Therefore one way or the other, her personal responsibility was for 100% of the debt to get the business started. Her husband was responsible jointly with her for the mortgage raised against the matrimonial home.

The cash flow of the business was insufficient to pay the operating costs and debt financing. She had to keep borrowing money personally to keep the new business alive. The stress this caused affected her previously stellar activities as a surgeon and hurt her marriage. By the time Dr. X was came to us, she and her husband were separated and divorce proceedings were underway.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: And then it got even worse

To make matters worse, she could not attempt to liquidate assets to pay down debt and ease the burden. Like most equipment, the clinic’s equipment was not worth more than its original cost. There was no excess equipment either.

The building could not be sold and leased back for a very bad reason. There was a large environmental problem associated with the building which was not discovered through due diligence prior to purchasing it. The issue arose when she tried to refinance.

The potential lender performed a Phase 1 Environmental Study, which indicated that a earlier use in the building produced contaminants which were buried in the ground. The contaminants were leaching into the neighbours’ respective properties. So now there was further personal liability exposure as the sole Director of the company that owned the real estate!

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: Filing bankruptcy in Canada would give Dr. X more headaches

Dr. X came to us convinced that she had to go bankrupt. The stress of her failing business was taking a huge toll on her normal duties as a surgeon and her marriage was over. She had previously seen a different licensed insolvency trustee and was convinced from that meeting that bankruptcy was her only answer.

Dr. X considered herself a total failure, in spite of she was still a sought after as a brilliant medical doctor and surgeon. We considered her assets and liabilities, income and expenses and her overall situation.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: More complications

To further complicate matters:

  1. The matrimonial home was listed at the amount required to clear all mortgages which was well above market value.

  2. Once Dr. X inevitably stopped making the first mortgage payments on the matrimonial home, the Bank holding the mortgage would begin power of sale proceedings. The first mortgagee would probably suffer a shortfall on the sale and Dr. X and her estranged spouse would be responsible for the shortfall on the first mortgage and the entire balance of the second mortgage.

  3. Dr. X had a life insurance policy with a cash surrender value (“CSV”). The CSV was not exempt from seizure by a bankruptcy trustee because the beneficiary was her Estate. In a bankruptcy, the CSV would go to the Trustee for the benefit of her creditors.

  4. Dr. X did not know if she could get replacement insurance coverage at all and if so, at a reasonable cost.

  5. There were many creditors who currently had a contingent claim against Dr. X with a very high dollar volume. These claims would ultimately be crystallized. In a bankruptcy, we anticipated that a lot of angry ordinary unsecured creditors, many of whom were sophisticated, such as banks and equipment lenders/lessors, would oppose her discharge from bankruptcy.

  6. In a bankruptcy, Dr. X would have to pay about $82,000 in surplus income payments to us as her bankruptcy trustee over a 21 month period for a monthly payment of $3,905. Dr. X could not afford to pay that much each month and keep her normal medical practice afloat.

Bankruptcy was not a good answer for Dr. X. Notwithstanding she earned a high income, the irony was that she could not afford to claim bankruptcy in Ontario!

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: Our assessment

We had to deal with two problems; one financial and one emotional. Dr. X was an emotional wreck as a result of the failed business venture with all of its problems. We actually had to deal with that first. It is normal for a licensed insolvency trustee to take a holistic approach. The debtor facing financial problems always needs two outcomes: (i) a solution that will allow them to shed their debts and get piece of mind; and (ii) become rehabilitated.

We advised Dr. X that a personal bankruptcy was not the answer for her. We told her that she first had to shut down her clinic. She had to deal with the employees to make sure that they were paid up to the last date work their normal wages and vacation pay. They also needed to get their Record of Employment and T4 Statements as quickly as possible. Unfortunately there was no money for pay in lieu of notice.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: How to deal with the failed business venture

We then advised Dr. X that she should not bankrupt the corporation carrying on this new business. Rather, she should call up the first mortgagee and tell that she is abandoning the business premises and is sending the keys over. Then call up the equipment lessors and the lender that did some equipment financing to tell them the business has shut down and they should contact the first mortgagee to gain access to retrieve their property.

Next we advised Dr. X to safeguard the business books and records, so that she could have her accountant file final tax returns. She would also have the records for when Canada Revenue Agency wished to do an audit on the business activities.

The final piece of advice for Dr. X with respect to her new business venture was this. After performing the above steps, walk away. This would end the stress of operating a failing business.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: Our assessment and his personal financial fix

All of the contingent debts from the failed business venture had not yet crystallized. They were still contingent. We worked out a cash flow plan with Dr. X that she could keep current with, now that she had abandoned and stopped funding the debt incurred because of the failed business. She also stopped paying the first mortgage on the matrimonial home as the value of the home was now less than the total of the mortgage debt against it.. We worked with Dr. X on a plan to avoid bankruptcy, by filing a formal restructuring proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (“BIA”).

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: The advantages of our strategy

The advantages of this strategy, if the restructuring proposal could be fully performed, are:

  • Dr. X would not give up her assets to a bankruptcy trustee;

  • She would not lose her life insurance coverage or CSV;

  • All of her debts could be eliminated through the restructuring proposal;

  • Although the total of her restructuring proposal payments had to be more than her creditors would get in her bankruptcy, we could term those payments out to a maximum of 5 years;

  • Her estimated monthly payment would be less than the monthly surplus income payment in a bankruptcy; and

  • Dr. X would avoid bankruptcy and an opposed discharge process entirely.

    ISI 4
    claim bankruptcy in ontario

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: The result

Dr. X followed our advice. Her restructuring proposal was accepted by her creditors qualified to vote at the meeting of creditors held 21 days after the filing of the restructuring proposal. The contingent claims had not yet crystallized. Although eventually those creditors were allowed to file their proper respective claims and take part in the dividends paid out to the unsecured creditors, we made it successfully through the voting process. The proposal was then approved by the Court.

Dr. X not only maintained her regular monthly proposal payments to us, she was able to pay off the proposal early. The reason for this was that now that she had a clear head and no longer felt she was a failure, she could focus on her medical practice and surgery, which once again flourished. Her income and savings rose. These are some of the benefits that financial rehabilitation brings. Dr. X also avoided going bankrupt.

Claim bankruptcy in Ontario: Does Dr. X’s financial problems sound familiar to you?

I present this case study to show how, as a licensed insolvency trustee in the GTA, we look at the entire story of each person or company that comes to us for help. We look at your entire situation and devise a strategy that is as unique as you and your problems; financial and emotional. The way we stopped Dr. X from going bankrupt and devised an alternate plan for her, allowed her to solve her financial problems and get her life back.

We know that people facing financial problems need a realistic lifeline. There is no “one solution fits all” approach with the Ira Smith Team. If any of this sounds familiar to you and you are serious in finding a solution, contact the Ira Smith Team today.

Call us now for a free consultation. We will get you back on the road to a healthy stress free life and your recovery will be as pain-free as possible. We may be able to stop you to claim bankruptcy in Ontario!

claim bankruptcy in ontario 0
claim bankruptcy in ontario

 

Categories
Brandon Blog Post

#VIDEO – FINANCIAL INFIDELITY RECOVERY: RECOVERING FROM FINANCIAL DISHONESTY IN MARRIAGE#

Financial infidelity recovery: Introduction

According to Psychology Today, one of the causes of marital breakdown is dishonesty and betrayal. Dishonesty and betrayal can take many forms. It can include financial dishonesty in marriage. The purpose of this vlog is to look at this issue and how to get financial infidelity recovery in a marriage.

Financial infidelity recovery: Financial dishonesty in marriage

The first step is recognizing what financial infidelity meaning is. In its simplest form, financial infidelity is withholding from our partners about what we are doing with money that ultimately negatively affects the couple’s relationship. Examples of financial infidelity could be:

  • secret spending; perhaps as a result of an addiction;
  • secret savings account;
  • incurring secret debt; again could be a result of an addiction
  • cashing in a life insurance policy to raise needed funds secretly; and
  • letting a life insurance policy lapse due either to lack of funds or wishing to divert those funds without telling our partner

It is a lack of transparency with our partners about money in the relationship.

3bestaward

Financial infidelity recovery: Signs of financial infidelity

Some of the more common signs of financial infidelity are that your spouse or partner:

  • wants to control all the finances and they don’t want any comments from you;
  • they also don’t want to share financial information with you;
  • you notice that there is a withdrawal from an investment account with no given explanation;
  • a lot of resistance to talking about money;
  • discovering the opening of new lines of credit or credit cards in your partner’s name, in your name or even jointly that you didn’t open yourself and had no knowledge of;
  • you find bills for items that you didn’t know about; and
  • your partner makes a big purchase without talking with you first

Such behaviour will most certainly erode trust in a relationship. This will create a huge blockage in every other aspect of the marriage, including intimacy.

Financial infidelity recovery: Healing financial infidelity

In order to even attempt financial infidelity recovery, there has to be willingness by either spouses or partners. Both will have to overcome the shame, humiliation and rage that the financial infidelity causes. The couple needs to understand what the real reason for the financial infidelity is and be dedicated to fixing that. Is it the result of an addiction such as shopping, gambling, drugs or alcohol abuse? Is it a result of a business loss or failure in the spouse’s business?

The next step is to have a team approach. Spouses or partners need to have complete access jointly to all accounts. One spouse should not be allowed to withdraw funds without the other one’s cooperation. The team has to set a realistic budget together, follow it and watch the cash flow plan. One of the cornerstones of the budget has to be to work towards being debt free. Finally, constant and open communication is key.

It may be that you will need a financial counselor for credit counselling to increase the couple’s financial knowledge. The counselor can also make sure that the recovery plan is realistic and implemented. Financial infidelity recovery is neither simple nor easy, but, it is possible if both partners are willing and committed.

Financial infidelity recovery: What to do if you cannot overcome your debts

The debt created by financial infidelity is more emotionally troubling than normal debt. The reason is one of the spouses had nothing to do with incurring that debt, yet they may be just as liable for its repayment. This creates extra challenges in attempting to resolve that debt.

Although the challenges are enormous, they are not insurmountable. If you and your spouse have too much debt because of financial infidelity or for any other reason, you need to contact a licensed insolvency trustee (LIT) now. Through financial counselling, a LIT can aid in getting the resources you need to fix the root causes of the financial infidelity and to deal with the debt that you and your spouse cannot repay.

You need the Ira Smith Team. We’re experts in dealing with debt. No matter how you got into difficulty we can help return you to financial well-being. Contact us today and free yourself of debt Starting Over, Starting Now.

FINANCIAL INFIDELITY 13

Categories
Brandon Blog Post

GOOD DEBT BAD DEBT USING CREDIT WISELY: WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW

good debt, bad debt, credit card debt, balloon payments, APY – Annual Percentage Yield, debt, credit, expense ratios, cash flow, trusteeGOOD DEBT BAD DEBT USING CREDIT WISELY

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely: Introduction

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely are another one of those financial terms like Balloon Payments, APY – Annual Percentage Yield, Expense Ratios and Cash Flow that are often misunderstood. As we continue our series of confusing financial terms we thought that the holiday season seemed like the opportune time to explore the concept of good debt.

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely: What is good debt?

Typically we define good debt as borrowing money for something that will appreciate in value and increase your net worth. Examples of good debt are taking out a mortgage to purchase your home and investing in your education.

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely: What is bad debt?

Typically we define bad debt as borrowing money for something that will depreciate in value and does not increase your net worth. Examples of bad debt are credit card debt and debt for luxury items you can’t really afford like fancy cars and expensive vacations.

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely: Is good debt a myth?

The old adage that there’s no sure thing except for death and taxes is true. Although taking out a mortgage to buy a home and investing in your education seem like sure things, sadly that isn’t always the case. If you take out a mortgage that’s the maximum you can handle and the interest rates go up, how will you pay for your house? What would happen if you lost your job? Would you lose your house as well? Investing in your education isn’t a sure thing either. There are many PhDs waiting tables. A good education is no longer a guarantee of a good paying job. Good debt is a myth, unless you are also using the credit wisely. At the end of the day, debt is still debt and must be repaid.

Good debt bad debt using credit wisely: What to do about your debt?

Canadians are struggling with debt like never before. Whether you’ve taken on what you consider to be good debt or bad debt, it still needs to be dealt with. And, to deal with debt you need the help of a debt professional – a trustee. Dealing with debt is not a DIY project. Call Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. today and make an appointment for a free, no obligation consultation. We can give you back peace of mind and put you on the road to debt free living Starting Over, Starting Now.

Categories
Brandon Blog Post

HOW TO GET ON A CASH FLOW BANK ROLL TODAY

bank, cash flow bank roll, cash flow, positive cash flow, negative cash flow, neutral cash flow, calculate cash flow, budget, ira smith trustee

HOW TO GET ON A CASH FLOW BANK ROLL TODAY

Cash flow bank roll: Introduction

By the nature of our work, we deal daily with people and companies that have not built up a sufficient or any cash flow bank roll.

Do you ever feel like you have a hole in your wallet? Does your company keep needing to borrow more and more? Where did the money go? Understanding and managing your cash flow, both in your personal life and for your company, can answer these questions for you. Cash flow is another one of those financial terms like Balloon Payments, APY – Annual Percentage Yield and Expense Ratios that are often misunderstood.

Cash flow bank roll: What is cash flow?

Cash flow is the money that moves (or flows) in and out of your account. Cash inflow can include anything that brings in money – salary, sale of assets like a house or car, interest from savings accounts, dividends from investments and the like. For your company, it is the sale of the goods or services that it supplies.

Cash outflow represents all expenses – mortgage payments, rent, utilities, car expenses, Smartphone, Internet, groceries, entertainment, transportation, (and for your company wages paid and other corporate expenses).

Cash flow bank roll: How can you calculate cash flow?

Cash flow can be calculated by a simple equation:

Total Income – Total Expenses = Net Cash Flow[1]

This equation will tell you if your cash flow is positive, negative or neutral.

Cash flow bank roll: Types of cash flow

Positive cash flow tells you that you have more money flowing in than flowing out. This is generally an indicator that you are living within your means. This is what produces the cash flow bank roll!

Negative cash flow tells you that you have more money flowing out than flowing in. This is a good indicator that you are living beyond your means and are accumulating debt – never a good sign and definitely no cash flow bank roll for you.

Neutral cash flow is more of a theory than a reality. It’s pretty impossible to have exactly the same amount of money flowing in as flowing out. This will produce the cash you or your business needs, but won’t make a cash flow bank roll for you.

Cash flow bank roll: Where did the money go?

Cash flow can tell you how much is coming in and going out but to decide where the money’s going you need to keep a detailed budget. This is something we strenuously recommend for everyone. A budget is a key element for maintaining financial health.

If you feel like you have a hole in your wallet or your company keeps needing to borrow more and more and are in a negative cash flow situation, give the Ira Smith Team a call immediately. With immediate action and a solid financial plan for managing your debt problems you’ll be on your way to financial health Starting Over, Starting Now.

NOTE: [1] Income and expenses have to be adjusted for non-cash items such as depreciation, amortization and items either sold or bought on credit. When you receive or pay out the cash, it then hits your cash flow formula.

Call a Trustee Now!