Expert to offer advice on coping after job loss

5/15/2010

A Maumee financial services professional, with help from several area nonprofit agencies, will conduct a series of talks to help the unemployed cope with health insurance, getting unemployment benefits, and handling financial affairs after losing a job.

"The main reason I am doing it is, frankly, we are in a financial pickle," said James Schade, Jr., of Seymour & Associates. "Over the past 20 years, we have lived on credit and bought things we could not necessarily afford. There is a lot of unemployment and I want to put my hands in the middle of it and get involved."

Four sessions a week at four library branches are planned. Guests speakers from ABLE, Consumer Credit Counseling Service, The Source, and the United Way will attend.

They will cover income and expenses, cash flow and budget analysis, assets and liabilities, fringe benefits, government-provided benefits, government benefit programs, and tax implications on retirement benefits. "I want people to be able to make the bills each month so they don't lose their homes, don't lose their cars, so their children can do some of the things they want to in their daily lives," Mr. Schade said.

The sessions will be:

•Monday and May 24, Sylvania Branch, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

•Monday and May 24, Holland Branch, 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

•Tuesday and May 25, Main Library, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

•Tuesday and May 25, Locke Branch, 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

•June 7 and 14, Sylvania Branch, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

•June 7 and 14, Holland Branch, 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

•June 8 and 15, Main Library, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

•June 8 and 15, Locke Branch, 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Contact Ignazio Messina at:

imessina@theblade.com

or 419-724-6171.