The Five Lakes Fast Forward initiative provides a high-velocity boost to clients toward their debt-free finish line, helping them reclaim their lives much sooner.
ARCANA, OH – Five Lakes Law Group, a firm dedicated to helping consumers overcome high interest debt, is proud to announce Jennifer and Todd Stiver of Arcana, Ohio, as the latest recipients of the Five Lakes Fast Forward Giveaway.
Launched in 2025, the Five Lakes Fast Forward giveaway is designed to act as a catalyst for clients who have demonstrated immense resilience while navigating their debt resolution programs. Each month, members of the Five Lakes team nominate clients whose stories have moved them for the giveaway, and Five Lakes provides a payoff that eliminates a portion or all of the winner’s enrolled debt — effectively “fast-forwarding” them toward the finish line of their financial journey.
For Jennifer and Todd, parents to an eight-, 10-, and 12-year old, the win follows years of navigating what Jennifer calls an “avalanche of stuff.” The family’s financial stability was shaken by a series of medical crises.
“We struggled for years … then I had a stroke and that just sent us overboard with all the medical bills,” Jennifer shared. “I was searching, trying to find who was the best choice to help us or if there was anything out there. I really felt like that’s where a lot of my medical issues came from — because of my stress and the effect on my blood pressure. It was driving that up higher and higher every month. You say, ‘How are we going to pay this bill? How are we going pay this one?’”
Jennifer found the clarity she needed during a call to Five Lakes Law Group. “The representative really took the time to explain it all to us,” Jennifer said. “She laid it all out and she answered a lot of the questions. We needed to do something or we were going to have to file bankruptcy again, and we did not want to be doing that because we didn’t want to lose our home.”
The Initial Relief: Joining the Program
Before the giveaway win, the Stivers first found a path forward by enrolling in their Five Lakes program. The move provided immediate breathing room for the family’s budget, reducing their monthly debt obligations from over $760 to $300. The program also offered a clear light at the end of the tunnel, shortening a projected 21-year repayment timeline (based on minimum payments) to just four years.
“It literally allowed us to be able to put some food on the table,” Jennifer noted of the initial relief the program provided. “I was going to the pantry and saying, ‘How can I make this work?’ Sometimes we have to eat ramen noodles… My son was asking me, ‘When are you going to buy chips again, mom?’ and I had to say, ‘We can’t afford chips right now.’”
The ‘Fast Forward’ Win
While the program gave the Stivers a manageable plan, the Fast Forward giveaway is boosting them straight to the finish line. By eliminating their remaining balance, the giveaway win is effectively shortening their journey from years to just 10 months.
“When my nominator called me two weeks later and said, ‘You won!’’ I was just speechless,” Jennifer recalled. “I called my husband at work and I said, ‘Honey, do you think this is for real?’ and he says, ‘Well, the only way you’re gonna find out is if the money actually goes into the account.’ It was still in the back of my head until I actually opened the account and saw the money in there. And I’m like, ‘Okay, now I can believe this.’”
The win provided immediate joy for the whole family. “I actually bought [my son] a couple bags of chips after winning the giveaway! I said, ‘Don’t eat them all!’” Jennifer joked.
A Unified Future
With their enrolled debt now completely cleared, the couple is looking toward a summer beach trip for their three children and securing a reliable car. Most importantly, Jennifer says the process has turned her and Todd into a unified financial team.
“It’s relieved a burden that no one else could,” Jennifer said. “That burden that I was dealing with every day — that’s gone. I don’t have to deal with it anymore. I can focus on getting better.”
About Five Lakes Law Group
Five Lakes Law Group is a premier debt relief law firm dedicated to helping Americans overcome the burden of high-interest debt and achieve financial freedom. Founded with the mission to provide best-in-class legal support to consumers experiencing financial hardship, the firm offers a strategic, attorney-led alternative to bankruptcy. With over $500 million in client debt paid off, Five Lakes Law Group combines one-on-one legal counsel with innovative technology — including 24/7 support and a dedicated mobile dashboard — to help clients reduce monthly payments and become debt-free within 24 to 48 months. Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, with offices in Chicago, Five Lakes Law Group is BBB accredited with an A+ rating and is committed to transparent, success-based results.