Chapter 7, 13 or debt settlement? Client with $40K in credit card debt examines the differences
THE client is 42 and is going through a divorce after a short two-year marriage. He has moved out of the marital home and now lives by himself. He has…
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Year-end tax plan for 2019
THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to income tax rates and traditional deductions. Let’s look at 10 tips on how those changes affect tax plans for this…
Debt problems: Can filing bankruptcy change your life for the better?
ARE you overwhelmed with debt problems that seem insurmountable? Are you starting to feel hopeless about your financial future and thinking you’ll never get ahead? You may be at a…
Chapter 7, 13 or debt settlement? Client with $40K in credit card debt examines the differences
THE client is 42 and is going through a divorce after a short two-year marriage. He has moved out of the marital home and now lives by himself. He has…
Instructing employees to record meal breaks not taken is illegal
ALIVIA Stricklin worked as a security officer for First Alarm Security, a company in San Jose, CA that provides security and patrol services to businesses and homeowners. Stricklin’s duties included…
Year-end tax plan for 2019
Part 2 of 3 THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to income tax rates and traditional deductions. Let’s look at 10 tips on how those changes affect…
Chapter 13 client with house default dies. What happens next?
THERE’S a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest. There’s a time for everything. So states Ecclesiastes 3: “For…
CA prohibits mandatory arbitration agreements at work
Q: I was recently hired for a job and was asked to sign an arbitration agreement. I was told that signing the agreement is “voluntary” but when I asked if…
Are your debt problems putting your family’s welfare at risk?
ARE you worried about not being able to take care of your family’s needs because of your debt problems? No one ever wants to be in this situation but I…
Year-end tax plan for 2019
Part 1 of 3 THE Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made significant changes to income tax rates and traditional deductions. Let’s look at 10 tips on how those changes affect…
Getting paid correctly for working on holidays
Q: I worked on Thanksgiving Day and the Day after Thanksgiving. Am I entitled to holiday pay? A: Around this time of year, we get this question a lot. So…
Company files Chapter 7 due to $1 million judgment
THE client is a corporation that has been in business since 2000. It had both good and bad times over the last two decades but always managed to land on…
Drowning in debt: File bankruptcy now or later?
A LOT of people in debt often already know what they need to do once they realize that bankruptcy is their only way out. But they usually delay the decision…
How to buy stocks
1. Go to YouTube and Google Take time to view presentations by stock gurus. Listen to their checklists and guidance. Start with basics for beginners and gradually move to more…
Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $40K in credit card debt
THE client is a senior at 67. He is married but has been separated from his wife for some time. He lives with a woman but is not married to…
Employees’ right to sit down at work is no joke
EDEN Smiles worked for Walgreens, the pharmacy giant, as a cashier. She filed a class action case on behalf of current and former non-exempt, hourly-paid cashiers, photo specialists, beauty advisors,…
How to be a successful trader
1. Research. Just as location is critical real estate investing, research is critical to stock investing. Without research, you have a better chance of making money; without it, a better…
Protecting employees against discrimination and retaliation
AURORA Isabel is a Filipina who worked for the Pasadena Water and Power. Isabel complained that her manager discriminated against her for her accent. She was demoted to a field…
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
THE Fair Debt Collection Practices (FDCPA) is a Federal law that was enacted in 1978 by the United States Congress to protect consumers from abusive debt collectors. However, the FDCPA…
Is your situation forcing you to file bankruptcy?
FACING serious debt problems can be depressing to a lot of people. It may seem like the end of the world. You may feel angry, depressed, guilty- or a combination…
Filing claims does not bar employees from working for same employer
Q: I AM thinking of filing an overtime claim against my employer because I and my coworkers are doing a lot of off-the-clock work. However, I am concerned about losing…
Client compares Chapter 13 to various alternatives for $60K credit cards
THE client is 50 and married. He owes $60,000 of credit cards. He pays $2,000 a month as minimum credit card payments to keep the $60,000 current. His wife is…
What to consider in buying Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
AN ETF is a basket of securities that you can buy or sell through a brokerage firm on a stock exchange. It’s called Exchange-Traded because it’s traded on an exchange…
Red flags of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF)
AN ETF is called an Exchange-Traded Fund since it’s traded on an exchange just like stocks. Below are three red flags to avoid the worst ETFs: 1. Inadequate liquidity Avoid…
Senior client with business faces crossroads with $70K credit cards
THE client is 72, married, and owns a small business. He’s been operating the business for the last 30 years. At its height, when times were good, the business had…
Protecting new mothers at work
Q: I work for a 100-employee company in Los Angeles. I recently returned to work after maternity leave. Since I decided to breastfeed my newborn, I needed to periodically pump…
Discriminated at work due to your hairstyle? You may have legal remedies!
Q: MY new supervisor recently told me that I need to wear my hair in a “more conventional” way because it is distracting other people. My hairstyle is appropriate to…
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…
Is your situation forcing you to file bankruptcy?
FACING serious debt problems can be depressing to a lot of people. It may seem like the end of the world. You may feel angry, depressed, guilty- or a combination…
Mutual Funds (ETF)
Exchange-traded funds versus mutual funds Part 2 of 2 Mutual Funds allow you to trade without paying commission: Because ETFs are traded like stocks, you typically pay a commission to…