Is this Filipino “church” engaging in human labor trafficking?
ON January 29, 2020, the FBI conducted a raid of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name church in Van Nuys, California. During the raid, the federal…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Why are more seniors filing bankruptcy?
ACCORDING to a new report, the number of seniors filing bankruptcy is increasing rapidly. The average senior who files bankruptcy these days owes approximately $17,390 according to the report (Although…
Chapter 7 debt relief for a fresh start
THE YOUNG: The first set of clients are in their late twenties, the epitome of youth. They have their whole life ahead of time. They married three years ago. Right…
Your chance of getting audited in 2020
YOUR chances of being chosen for audit has been miniscule for more than 10 years. IRS was underfunded and understaffed. They didn’t have financial resources to hire and train auditors….
Superfast 5G for cell phones at the Las Vegas CES
THERE’S been a buzzword in cell phone speeds: 5G. Just what is meant by 5G? Our Asian Journal crew of Roger Oriel, Victor Sy, and Byron Sy found out some…
Employees injured at work are entitled to reasonable accommodation
VIRGINIA Hoover worked as a radiology technologist for a Dignity Health hospital for 24 years. In December 2012, her arm was injured while she was preparing for a CT scan….
A tale of two seniors in financial distress
THE first senior is 73. He has been separated from his wife for 30 years but not divorced. So, for all intents and purposes, he is single because even if…
Is bankruptcy right for you?
SURE there are alternatives to bankruptcy. But bankruptcy is the only solution that provides viable debt relief for those who are unable to repay their debts. Some people sign up…
Too many bills, not enough income?
“How can I pay my creditors when my income is not even enough to cover my basic living expenses?” This is a question that I hear everyday from people in…
Robots at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show
SOME of us feel anxiety over robots taking over our jobs. Yes, they can take over repetitive chores, but let’s view them as helpers to release us from boring repetitive…
Should I tell my employer about my medical diagnosis?
Q: I was diagnosed with a spine compression fracture and severe depression. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell…
Bankruptcy can give you a fresh financial start in 2020
SLEEPLESS nights… Stressed out… Worried about the future… Always broke no matter how hard they work…Feeling hopeless about their situation. This is what most people are going through when they…
New 2020 minimum wage increase for California workers
WHAT is the new minimum wage? Effective January 1, 2020, the minimum wage in California will be $12.00 per hour for employers with 25 employees or less. For employers with…
Should you renew your expired ITIN?
• YES, taxpayers whose Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) expired and who expect to file a tax return in 2020 must submit a renewal application. • ITINs with the middle…
Young client has $1-M judgment against him, needs bankruptcy relief
THE client is 38 years old and single. He is a professional with a license and makes about $100,000 gross a year. He rents a room near his workplace, where…
Did your ITIN expire last December 31, 2019?
INDIVIDUAL Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) are used by people who should file income tax returns but are not eligible for Social Security numbers. A vast number of ITINs expired at…
New law alert: longer paid family leave to take effect
THE California Family Rights Act (CFRA) entitles employees who work in businesses of 50 or more employees, 12 weeks of leave from work. This benefit is provided when they have…
Seniors need CHP 13 as they retire; senior’s business needs CHP 7 while she needs CHP 13
SENIORS are husband and wife aged 70 and 65 – wife is a young and healthy 65; husband is a healthy 70 and still looks strong. Both are still working…
Excessive debt makes people look ‘wealthy’ even when they’re poor
ACCORDING to a recent study, a majority of people in this country are living way beyond their means. In keeping up with the Jones’s, these people have resorted to using…
Avoid the bondage of debt, especially seniors
ACCUMULATING debt is the easiest thing you can do in America. Even your dog can get credit cards with a fake social security number. If you are an immigrant and…
History of CES in Las Vegas
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the largest trade fair for consumer electronics. It’s presented by Consumer Technology Association (CTA) annually in Las Vegas. It has been our tech bell weather…
Excessive debt makes people look ‘wealthy’ even when they’re poor
ACCORDING to a recent study, a majority of people in this country are living way beyond their means. In keeping up with the Jones’s, these people have resorted to using…
Avoid the bondage of debt, especially seniors
ACCUMULATING debt is the easiest thing you can do in America. Even your dog can get credit cards with a fake social security number. If you are an immigrant and…
When your boss lies about the reason for firing you
Q: I was diagnosed with early stage cancer a few weeks ago. I can still do my job but I will need about 5 hours off from work every week…
Clients seek to discharge $100K and $30K credit cards
Both qualify for different chapters of bankruptcy code for different chaptersof bankruptcy code Most debtors prefer to have a Chapter 7 wipe out of debt. This is called a fresh…
Our favorite gadgets at last year’s CES in Las Vegas
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) gives us a glimpse of the next mega trend in consumer technology. Each January, tech giants from around the world gather to show off their latest…
Extending paid sick leave to part-time employees
Q: I AM a part-time hourly employee working in retail. I work between 20 to 30 hours a week. I recently got sick and had to be out for three…
Repo deficiency causes senior to seek Chapter 7 relief
THE first client is 75. Her husband passed four years ago and left her with $30,000 of credit card debt. She has been making minimum payments on their credit cards…
Are your debt problems making you worry about the future?
IF you care about how you are going to live your life 10, 20 or more years from now, this article is for you. The future is something we don’t…
Our favorite gadget at last year’s CES – My special Aflac duck
NEW technology gadgets were on display at the latest CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas – wall TVs, Virtual Reality and smart phones, but the most fun to watch…