Imagine losing your home over a few thousand dollars in back taxes. Then, imagine a large surplus from the sale of your home sitting in a county account, unclaimed. Worse yet, over 95% of these surplus funds never make it back to their rightful owners. This is a startling reality for many, a reality that Tim Staton and many others were unaware of. But what if one determined Army veteran set out to change this, one family at a time?
Meet Tamara Rucker, a U.S. Army veteran and St. Louis native. She has transformed her personal drive for justice into a thriving business, Ruckwood Recovery LLC. Her firm specializes in helping property owners, heirs, and families reclaim unclaimed funds from tax sales, surplus auctions, and state-held properties. Her journey from military service to a licensed private investigator and policy advocate is a testament to resilience and dedication.
Tamara’s journey began in 2008 when she joined the Army as a military police officer. Fresh out of basic training, she deployed to Iraq. She enjoyed working with contractors, particularly the quick reaction force (QRF) internships. After her return, she pursued training as a CO, or internment resettlement specialist. Later, she became a drill sergeant, taking on many deployments in various capacities. Her military career culminated in a role as a government contractor for Triple Canopy, deploying to Israel. This diverse experience laid the groundwork for her future endeavors.
Her time in the Army instilled in her crucial leadership lessons. Accountability stood out as a primary takeaway. Tamara Rucker explained, “Whatever happens is on the leadership. If you haven’t properly trained somebody or there’s no proper oversight, obviously don’t micromanage, but if you have not trained that person to do something properly and something goes wrong, it is on the leadership to take accountability for that.” This emphasis on leadership accountability would later shape her approach to business and advocacy.
Transitioning out of the Army presented unique challenges for Tamara. She struggled with PTSD and was in a difficult relationship. To please her partner, she left the service. This decision led to regret and exacerbated her PTSD. She felt she had given up the one thing she was proud of, leaving her with a wealth of experience but no clear path forward. Tamara Rucker reflected, “There I was with all this experience, with all these memories, with all this experience and all these things I wanted to do, but couldn’t no path to do it.”
Her background as a military police officer proved valuable in her contracting role. She admired the contractors she worked with, learning about their experiences and training. They guided her through the application process for government contracting roles, including Triple Canopy. This led to her deployment to Israel, even while still part of a drill sergeant unit. Her unit supported her, allowing her to pursue this opportunity.
Becoming a mother marked a turning point for Tamara. It was the most rewarding experience of her life. However, she found herself in an abusive relationship, creating a difficult situation. Despite the demands of raising children, she felt a strong desire to contribute to her community and avoid being financially dependent. Tamara Rucker explained her motivation, “I didn’t want to be under the thumb of an abusive, you know what I mean? And then having no way out.”
With her investigative background and a desire to do good, she decided to apply her skills. Starting her company, Ruckwood Recovery, provided her with the courage and resources to leave the abusive situation. This venture grew into the thriving firm it is today, driven by her commitment to helping others.
Understanding Asset Recovery
Asset recovery involves investigating and verifying unclaimed, abandoned, or lost financial assets. These can include tax foreclosure surplus, unclaimed property, court funds, or mortgage overages. Ruckwood Recovery focuses specifically on tax foreclosure surplus and unclaimed property. The process often involves navigating complex government systems and overcoming red tape that keeps these funds from their rightful owners. An asset recovery specialist helps owners, heirs, or beneficiaries collect these lost assets.
When property owners fail to pay real estate taxes for three years, counties across the country sell these properties at auction. These sales often create bidding wars among investors, who acquire properties for a fraction of their market value. For example, if a property owner owed $5,000 in back taxes but the house sold for $100,000, the $95,000 difference is considered “surplus.” This surplus rightfully belongs to the owner of record at the time of the sale.
However, the path to reclaiming these funds is often obscure. Many property owners are unaware they are entitled to this surplus, and the process to claim it can be complex. This is where Ruckwood Recovery steps in, guiding individuals through the system to recover what is theirs.
Unclaimed property encompasses every other abandoned financial asset not related to tax foreclosure. Each state maintains an unclaimed property division for safekeeping these funds. A common example is a life insurance policy where the beneficiary is unaware of its existence. Life insurance companies do not typically inform beneficiaries directly. If premiums go unpaid and the owner passes away, the company holds the funds. If unclaimed within a certain period, often three years, the funds are transferred to the state’s unclaimed property division.
Tamara’s familiarity with unclaimed property predates Ruckwood Recovery. She frequently found unclaimed property under her own name from a past business venture. This personal experience, combined with research into tax sale properties for her ex-husband, sparked her interest in the entire asset recovery process. She realized the potential to help people claim money from both tax sales and unclaimed property, leading her to create Ruckwood Recovery.
Overcoming Challenges in a New Field
Establishing Ruckwood Recovery presented significant challenges, particularly in gaining trust and navigating government bureaucracy. When Tamara first entered the field, some third-party representatives engaged in price gouging and lacked proper credentials. They operated through short, informal classes focused on lead generation rather than legitimate recovery processes. This led many counties to become wary of third-party claims.
Tamara Rucker described a major hurdle: “The counties that I had encountered before I was able to submit claims, they had closed ranks because their job is to hold these funds for safekeeping for the rightful owner, but they did not like the abuse of the process by third-party representatives.” She spent months meeting with government officials and stakeholders, understanding their perspectives. Her persistence paid off, eventually allowing qualified third parties like Ruckwood Recovery to submit claims and help residents.
Tamara credits her military service for many of the skills vital to her business. Thoroughness in investigations is paramount. She stressed, “You never want to reach out to the wrong person and have them sign a contract for property that doesn’t belong to them.” Verifying identity and always seeking proof are non-negotiable aspects of her work.
Interpersonal communication skills are also key, especially in managing client expectations. Dealing with government systems often means delays, a familiar concept from military life. Tamara Rucker noted, “We are dealing with government systems here and having been in service, it’s more of a hurry up and wait.” Explaining that a 90-day processing time might mean additional weeks for a check to arrive by mail requires clear and patient communication.
Understanding and respecting boundaries is another lesson from the military chain of command that applies to government entities. Violating these boundaries can result in losing registration or license. Tamara Rucker highlighted the importance of knowing the chain of command, as government bodies are not always forgiving of mistakes or violations.
Advocating for Policy Change
Tamara’s dedication extends beyond her business. She has become a policy advocate, working to improve the system for everyday property owners. She identified a flaw in Missouri’s HB 2234, the statute governing tax foreclosures, and took action. She drafted a bill, and a state representative embraced it. This bill is now active legislation in the Missouri House of Representatives, a source of immense pride for Tamara Rucker.
The proposed bill addresses critical issues in tax foreclosure surplus. Currently, homeowners can lose their homes over small tax debts, and if they do not claim surplus funds within three years, the county keeps the money. The existing notification process is often insufficient, failing to inform homeowners that they are entitled to these funds. Tamara Rucker explained, “The county not only takes their house, the house they paid off over a couple thousand dollars, but they will take the proceeds from it and keep the proceeds after not even notifying you properly that the proceeds exist.”
Tamara’s bill seeks to:
This legislative effort aims to rectify a “wildly unfair” statute, ensuring homeowners do not lose both their property and its sale proceeds due to inadequate notification and restrictive claim periods.
For those passionate about a cause but unsure how to get involved in politics, Tamara offers practical advice. She intentionally sought opportunities to connect with influential individuals. Her business sponsored events, securing preferred seating that placed her in the right circles. She also leveraged connections through friends, recognizing the power of networking.
Crucially, she emphasized the importance of being able to articulate one’s mission clearly and concisely. Tamara Rucker advised, “If you can’t explain what you do in 30 seconds or 30 or 60 seconds, you’re going to lose your audience.” Leaving a lasting impression and making people think about the issue is key. Building on these strategies, a good friend helped her secure a lunch meeting with the representative who ultimately championed her bill.
Tamara also highlights the valuable resources available to veteran business owners. Organizations like the VA offer programs such as the DAV Patriot Bootcamp, providing advice on networking, gaining support, and structuring presentations. These resources can be instrumental in turning passion into impactful action.
Conclusion
Tamara Rucker’s journey from an Army veteran to a successful entrepreneur and policy advocate shows the power of personal drive and resilience. She has built a thriving business, Ruckwood Recovery, that helps families reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Beyond her business, her advocacy for legislative reform in Missouri shows her deep commitment to fairness and accountability. Her story is a testament to the idea that with confidence, thoroughness, and a clear purpose, one can make a significant difference in their community and beyond. Her unwavering dedication ensures that no one is overlooked in the fight for financial justice.
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