Where Our Story Starts

It might be worth a little background on this blog in order for some to appreciate the drive to create such a blog.

On March 29, 2012 I stopped at the mailbox on my way out for the day.  As usual the mailbox contained assorted fliers with coupons (which I use often since going into semi-retirement) and a couple of pieces of non-descriptive mail from the USPS.  My thoughts were, "Junk mail. Toss it.", but I threw it to the passenger's seat and continued on with my day.  Toward that afternoon while waiting on someone I decided it was a good time to sort through the junk mail.  In both pieces of mail from the USPS was a single page letter explaining in short detail that as a client / investor with either Benchmark Capital, Inc., Benchmark Capital Investments, LLC., J. Allen and Associates, Inc., Charles D. Candler (a.k.a C. D. Candler), Cornerstone Mortgage, and/or Southern Bankers, we were possible victims of a fraudulent investment scheme.  These entities were under a joint investigation by the IRD-Criminal Investigation Division, US Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI.
Unfortunately we indeed had investments with Benchmark Capital in the form of a Home Equity Annuity (a portion of our equity receiving dividend) and an Investment Annuity (our retirement).  With some quick research via the Internet we determined that Charles D. Candler had been found dead in the Greenwood Cemetery on March 1, 2012 from an apparent self inflicted gun shot wound.  Apparently, in February 2012 some investors in the Home Equity Annuity did not receive their dividend checks which prompted at least one person to call the Knoxville Police Department to inquire.  After Candler was found dead at the cemetery from a self inflicted gun shot wound, Federal agents entered his Knoxville office to continue what was an ongoing investigation. 

On a more personal note, we now sit with our retirement in a state of unknown.  Money earned 33 years prior from my first job after college, inheritance from money earned by my wife's father - an honest, hard working blue collar worker, and other money tucked away for our 'twilight years' - seemingly gone.  A large part of our children's inheritance gone. 

Feel free to comment, provide feedback or information.  Hundreds of lives are most likely touched and our prayers go out to each family who must now face this seeming tragedy.