Sammy Tran articles

My husband hid over $100K in gambling debts while I thought he had the money invested. At 55, our retirement is off-track. What happens next?

It can be devastating to discover hidden debt if you're in your 50s, but there are steps you can take to protect your future and your retirement.
October 29, 2025 Sammy Tran

I negotiated a “hardship pause” with the collection agency when I lost my job, but they added late fees and interest. Now what?

You negotiated a hardship pause to give you breathing space after losing your job. But now you find new late fees and interest charges on the paused account. We look at the legality of this and what you can do.
October 22, 2025 Sammy Tran

My parents are in their 70s without wills, but when I suggest that they make one, they accuse me of trying to take advantage of them. Now what?

If your parents are still without a will in their 70s, it’s important to recognize that fear and loss of control often fuel their resistance to making one.
October 20, 2025 Sammy Tran

As Dad’s executor, I let my brother have his inheritance before probate. He wired it all to a woman he met online and the estate owes taxes. Now what?

If you are the executor and distributed funds to heirs before the estate cleared probate, you may be facing serious consequences. We look at ways to recover the situation.
October 10, 2025 Sammy Tran

My ex is trying to access the money in my retirement account because I forgot to remove him as beneficiary after our divorce. Can he do that?

Your divorce is finalized, but now your ex is trying to claim the funds on your retirement account. If you never had your ex removed as beneficiary, you'll have to act quickly. We look at the steps you'll need to take.
October 2, 2025 Sammy Tran

My older brother is the trustee of Mom’s estate, but his business is bankrupt and he stopped sending out my monthly trust distribution. What now?

Your older brother is the trustee of your mom’s estate, but now he is in the process of losing his business, and your payments from the trust have stopped. We look at what to do now that family and money are in conflict.
September 26, 2025 Sammy Tran

I inherited a rental property from my dad earlier this year, but the tenants refuse to pay rent and I have to cover the expenses. What now?

You inherited a rental property thinking that it would bring in income. But the tenants refuse to pay rent. We look at some steps and strategies to help you get to a solution.
September 19, 2025 Sammy Tran

I missed the prepayment penalty clause in my student loan agreement. Now I’m being charged extra for paying off my loan early. What can I do now?

You might not get much relief from paying your stdent loan off early if the lender has included a hefty prepayment penalty. Knowing what your options are is the first step toward dealing with it.
September 9, 2025 Sammy Tran

Reverse Mortgage Vs Reverse Mortgage Line Of Credit: Which One Is Better?

If you’re thinking of using your home equity during retirement, you may be thinking of getting either a reverse mortgage or reverse mortgage line of credit. There are key differences between the two that you need to consider.
August 25, 2025 Sammy Tran