Should you sign that separation package from your employer?
A SEPARATION package or a severance agreement is a contract between an employer and an employee who is about to leave the employer’s employment. In a typical severance agreement, the…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Philippine banks that provide depositor data to US IRS
(Part 2 Of 2) J.P. Morgan Securities Philippines, Inc. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. – Manila Branch Land Bank of the Philippines Legazpi Savings Bank, Inc. Longmeadow Corporation Macquarie Capital Securities…
Struggling with student loans? Here’s what you need to know
THE cost of a college education has spiraled out of control for most families. In the last 10 years, student loan debt has sharply risen from $240 billion to $1…
Ensuring the family business legacy: My second book
THAT’S the title of my second book! After three years and three copy editors, my book is now available! To give you an idea on how this book was conceptualized, let me…
Business owner seeks chapter 7 relief from employee lawsuit for backpay of $100K
Secured creditor client seeks relief from buyer who filed for Chapter 11 OH, the woes of owning and running a business come in all shapes and sizes! Even when a business…
Minimum wage increase affects meal & lodging charges for ‘live-in’ employees
Q: I AM a live-in employee at a residential care facility. I work six days a week and have one day off. I sleep in a room inside the facility…
Philippine banks that provide depositor data to US IRS
(Part 1 Of 2) 14-678 Property Holdings Inc JV 18-2 Property Holdings Inc JV 19-1 Realty Corporation JV 6-24 Property Holdings Inc JV 6-3 Property Holdings Inc JV AB Capital…
Should you file chapter 7 or chapter 13?
IF you’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy in order to get a fresh financial start, here are some things to consider in choosing between Chapter 7 or Chapter 13….
Considerations for dental patients with special needs
FOR both children and adults with special needs, dental care can be challenging. In some cases, limited coordination can make brushing and flossing tricky. In other cases there may be…
Husband and wife behind Forever 21’s global success
“OUR life is what our thoughts make it.” That’s a powerful quote by Marcus Aurelius. According to writer Alyssa Sparacino, New Year’s resolutions are a bit like babies: They’re fun…
Client food retailer seeks Chapter 7 relief
CLIENT is a specialty food retailer that started operations in a commercial center two years ago. Five partners invested $50K each for a total of $250K for a food business…
2016 minimum wage increase affects more than minimum wage earners
Q. WHAT is the new minimum wage? A. Effective January 1, 2016, the minimum wage in California will be $10.00 per hour. Most employees in California are entitled to be…
The ABCs of foreign bank and financial accounts (FBAR)
IF you have offshore bank accounts, should you report the accounts to the US government? Yes, if the aggregate balances exceed $10,000 at any time during the year. What if…
Got debt but feeling ashamed to get help?
IF you are experiencing debt problems, you may find it difficult to talk to other people about it to the point that you are not getting the help that you…
Will The New Year Resolve Conflicts In The Family Business?
By: Prof. Enrique Soriano “With great enthusiasm, family businesses always look forward to a wish list of New Year’s resolutions and good intentions. But in a relatively short period of…
Client chooses between chapter 11 and chapter 7 because of $1.0M judgment
“ If client no longer wants to continue doing business, the best option is Chapter 7. In Chapter 7, all claims against the company, including the judgment of $1.0M will…
Year 2015 in review: Developments in employment laws
THE year 2015 has been an interesting time for employment law, with the legislature and the courts defining additional protections to employees. The following are some of the new laws…
Chapter 13: How you can pay creditors only what you can afford
CHAPTER 13 is the section of the US Bankruptcy Code that allows individuals in the United States to reorganize their finances. If you are having difficulty paying your debts (credit…
Pregnant? Let’s keep both your mouth and your baby healthy
ARE you pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? Do you know someone who is pregnant? While you’re picking out tiny clothes and reading childcare books, remember the importance of your oral health!…
World celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ when God became man
ON Friday, the 25th, the entire Christian world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ 2015 years ago. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus who is the manifestation of God’s…
All we want for Christmas is. . . equal pay for equal work
SARAH Wellens works as a sales representative for Daiichi Sankyo, a Japan-based pharmaceutical company with about 3,000 employees in the United States. The company hired Ms. Wellens, an experienced sales…
12 tips about capital gains and losses
1. CAPITAL assets include almost everything you own and use for personal purposes, pleasure or investment. 2. The following are capital assets: your home, household furnishings and stocks held in…
Get out of debt and start saving again in 2016
I KNOW that our economy in the last several years has caused a lot of financial problems for a lot of people. A lot of families are struggling financially every…
Payroll debit cards: What employees should know
Q: EVERY pay period, I receive a check from my employer for my wages. Recently, there is news at work that our company will be requiring employees to receive our…
Do you dream of having a debt-free life?
A DEBT-free life is something that a lot of people aspire to have. And yet it is a known fact that sadly, many will never attain it because of their…
How a little sunshine helps our teeth
WHO doesn’t love a little sunshine? Not only does it feel fantastic, but it also has numerous health benefits. Sunshine improves our mood, our immune functions, and catalyzes vitamin D production in…
IRS seeks to dismiss client’s chapter 13
Client with good income wants chapter 7 to discharge $70K credit cards NO one has anything good to say about the IRS. Tax collectors were much hated even during the time…
Misclassification of workers is a form of wage theft
THIS column has often stressed the general rule that most employees should be paid overtime rate if they work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week….
Do you qualify for earned income credit?
HERE are the top 10 things the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know about this valuable credit: 1. If you qualify, it could be worth up to $6,143 this…
Bankruptcy: leave your debt troubles behind in 2015
FILING Bankruptcy is a serious decision for most people. Most don’t have a clue about how the process works until they actually consult with an attorney. Confusion often results from…