Mark has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, and has worked with investments, insurance and mortgages as well as income tax preparation and comprehensive financial planning. His writing work includes insurance and securities training manuals and educational articles for several financial websites, such as Investopedia.com and MasonFinance.com. He has also worked as a stockbroker in the full-service, discount and banking arenas as well as serving as a financial counselor for the U.S. military. He currently works as a retirement planner for government employees and also helps high net worth clients to avoid taxation on the sale of highly appreciated assets. Mark has a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Kansas. In his spare time, Mark enjoys playing with model trains, church activities, watching sports and cooking.
Articles written by Mark P. Cussen, CMFC
Debt Settlement: How To Write an Agreement Letter (+ Template)
Written by Mark P. Cussen, CMFC. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated August 29, 2025
If your lender agrees to let you settle a debt for less than what you owe, you'll need a written agreement that includes: - Information about the debt - What you'll be expected to pay - How much will be forgiven - What the repayment terms are If your lender doesn't send an agreement, you can use the template in this article to draft a written agreement to make sure you're both on the same page. It’s important to get any debt settlement agreement in writing!
Read More →Are Pay for Delete Letters Effective?
Written by Mark P. Cussen, CMFC. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated June 18, 2025
If you have had a debt sent to collections, it may be possible to get the negative item removed with a pay for delete letter. This type of letter politely asks a collection agency, debt buyer, or other creditor to remove the negative item from your credit report in exchange for paying off the debt in question. There are potential drawbacks and benefits to this approach. Read on to learn more about pay for delete letters and how they can affect your credit history and credit score.
Read More →Can You Get Unemployment While on Social Security?
Written by Mark P. Cussen, CMFC. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts
Updated January 28, 2025
If you are collecting Social Security benefits and have also recently lost your job, you may be wondering if you can collect unemployment benefits on top of your Social Security benefits. The good news is that you can collect both types of benefits at once. These two types of benefits come from completely different sources and receiving one of them does not disqualify you from applying for the other one as well.
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