How to lose money in the stock market
(Part 1 of 4) LISTEN to friends and neighbors: Your friend had just hit the big time with a red-hot stock tip. This is big money. Mucho dinero. You follow…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Senior needs Chapter 13 relief for $24K credit cards
THE client is 65. She still works middle management and earns $37,000 yearly. Although she is married, I would say that she has some kind of money agreement with her…
Are you feeling the burden of excessive credit card debt?
WITH credit card debt approaching $1 trillion according to the Federal Reserve, there is no doubt that thousands and thousands of families who can’t pay their credit card debts are…
What’s new: Year-end review and planning
1. TAX identity theft is a significant threat. Fraudsters are more sophisticated and large breaches happening so frequently like the 2017 Equifax incident which affected many Americans, so beware if…
Warren Buffett’s five lessons for ordinary investors
LET’S learn some tips from the greatest investor of all time – Warren Buffet, the Oracle of Omaha. 1. Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are…
Do you have too much debt?
HOW can you answer a question like this? Let’s comment about debt. The Bible says that one should neither be a lender or a borrower. It does not seem to…
Managers, supervisors and administrators are not automatically exempt from overtime
A GROUP of Assistant Branch Managers, who worked for JPMorgan Chase in California, sued the bank in a class action claiming they were misclassified as exempt employees. Because of the…
Get out of debt safely and legally
ARE you sick and tired of being in debt and having bad credit? Do you want to start over but simply don’t know where to begin? Is filing bankruptcy an…
How will filing bankruptcy change your life?
“While bankruptcy is not for everyone, millions upon millions of people who have no way of getting out of debt have found it to be the BEST thing that they ever…
What to do if asked to sign a separation or release document at termination
“A severance pay is usually calculated according to a specific formula, often based on the employee’s length of service. An employee may try to negotiate for more severance pay than…
Senior wants Chapter 7 to discharge $30K in credit cards
“ Look at the picture of the Indonesian guy who is the oldest man alive at 145. I mean what can you do at 145? You’re practically a cadaver and…
Warren Buffett’s 10 investing basics (Part 2 of 4)
(THIS is a continuation of Part 1 from last week’s weekend edition of Asian Journal) Multi-billionaire Warren Buffett lives simply and adheres to basic but savvy investment principles. 6. Buy…
You have not filed your income tax returns for years?
YOU have not filed your income tax returns for the current year and previous years because: 1) you decided you are not required to file? 2) You are a victim…
To people struggling with payday loans!
I’VE seen a rise in the number of cases with payday loans and they are becoming a common issue in bankruptcy filings. What happens to payday loans in bankruptcy? Payday…
Warren Buffett’s 10 investing basics
WARREN Buffett became one of the world’s richest people by adhering to simple doctrines. Let’s learn from his simple living and savvy investing. 1. Be frugal • Multi-billionaire Warren Buffet…
Ending sexual misconduct at work and the importance of court access
LATE last year, bipartisan senators proposed a new law called Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 for Congress’ approval. This bill would ensure that every person facing…
A couple considers how to tackle debt relief for wife
“It looks to me that there’s more stuff going on here, although it’s my policy not to get involved in matters that are between husband and wife. I think wife…
What’s new: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Part 5)
HOW you will benefit from standard deduction versus itemized deduction. To maximize your deduction, you take the larger of standard deduction or total amount of itemized deductions by bunching itemized…
Seniors consider Chapter 13 relief for $80K credit cards
“Once the trustee and his lawyers start to administer the bankruptcy estate assets, they will make a lot of money.” THE clients are married to each other and they are both seniors….
Thanksgiving: What a bankruptcy attorney has to be thankful for
IT’S the day before Thanksgiving and I’m here in my office still working on cases. The freeways are crazy today and everyone’s trying to get somewhere to be home with…
Our favorite gadget at the 2018 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…
Should employers provide seats for their employees?
“California law generally requires employers to provide suitable seats to employees when the nature of the work reasonably permits the use of seats. Calfornia courts have clarified that the phrase…
Seniors consider Chapter 13 relief for $80K credit cards
“Once the trustee and his lawyers start to administer the bankruptcy estate assets, they will make a lot of money. I understand that the moneymaking bankruptcies are offset by the money-losing bankruptcies;…
Delinquent tax debt could mean revocation of your passport
IN February 2018, the IRS started certification of individuals with delinquent tax debt to the State Department. How will the IRS certification impact you? • Upon receipt of certification. The…
Answering the common questions about bankruptcy
1. IS there a constitutional right to file for bankruptcy? Yes, there is. The United States Constitution adopted 250 years ago provides for the creation of bankruptcy courts and the…
Our favorite gadgets at the 2018 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…
Mocking an employee’s physical condition may be disability harassment
“To prevail on a harassment claim, the employee must show that the conduct created a hostile work environment. A hostile work environment is one in which harassment occurs that is severe, frequent,…
Answering the common questions about bankruptcy
1. IS there a constitutional right to file for bankruptcy? Yes, there is. The United States Constitution adopted 250 years ago provides for the creation of bankruptcy courts and the…
I haven’t paid my second mortgage in years: What can I do now?
IF you are one of the millions of homeowners who survived the mortgage crisis in 2008, you have something to be grateful for. In 2008 alone, close to 900,000 homeowners…
Resident, nonresident alien status tax wise (Part 5)
IN part 1: we defined 1) who are resident aliens, nonresident aliens or both, 2) who are exempt individuals, and 3) closer connection exception. In part 2: we defined 1)…