10 tips to avoid stress from last-minute filing
• FILE your tax records neatly and orderly during the year. If you are not an organized person by nature as some of us are, just throw tax documents in…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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US Supreme Court sets rules for identifying pregnancy discrimination at work
PEGGY Young worked as a part-time driver for United Parcel Service (UPS). Her responsibilities included pickup and delivery of packages that had arrived by air carrier the previous night. In…
How to stop debt problems from getting worse
ARE debt problems making your life a living hell? Doing your best to pay but creditors just won’t leave you alone? Maybe you get nervous every time the phone rings…
3 types of endorsements to use for your business
How much would you pay Manny Pacquiao to endorse your business? Envision this. Manny would be in all your advertisements: TV, Radio, Billboard, and Internet. He would be available for…
Clients files Chapter 7 to discharge credit card debt
Client No. 1 LOOKS like I signed up two clients in opposite ends of debt last week. Client no. 1 is 55 years old and divorced for 10 years. She…
Cheerleaders suffer wage theft, recover back wages
LAST year, we discussed the lawsuit filed by the Raiderettes, the cheer squad for the Oakland Raiders, who sued their employer for back wages and reimbursements. The lawsuit claimed that…
Are you lost in a ‘money fog’?
MAYBE you’ve experienced this before: You’re driving down the road one cold, chilly day and before you know it, you find yourself surrounded by a thick white wall of dense…
Mortgage interest deduction
1. QUALIFIED Residence Interest includes your principal and second homes. The homes could be a house, condo, mobile home, motor home, time share, or even a houseboat, as long as…
10 tips in deducting charitable contributions
• YOU may deduct donations to qualified organizations. Qualified organizations have tax-exempt status from the IRS. These include corporations or foundations organized in the U.S. for religious, charitable, educational, scientific,…
What is a true salaried employee?
Q: I AM a salaried employee exempt from overtime. I often work more than 40 hours per week. However, there are days when I work less than 8 hours per…
Debt solutions: Which one is right for you?
IF you are searching for debt reduction solutions, no doubt you’ve been inundated with advertisements for various debt management programs, companies and solutions. The choices seem confusing to the average…
Client files Chapter 13 to stop garnishment of social security
Abandoned wife files Chapter 7 to discharge collection lawsuits for $20K Client no. 1 IS it even legally possible that your social security benefits can be garnished? If creditors can…
The Rise of CBDs: Driving Metro Manila’s property boom
“BUY real estate in areas where the path exists and buy more real estate where there is no path, but you can create your own” -David Waronker, American real estate…
Client file chapter 13 and chapter 7 for credit card debts
White House appeals amnesty restraing order to Court of Appeals Client no. 1 CLIENT no. 1 is in her fifties. She comes to see me regarding a lawsuit by a…
Average itemized deductions
FOR those of you who itemize, the table below should be of special interest. For those of you who play the odds (you know what I mean), this table should…
When is an employment termination ‘wrongful’?
Q: I WORKED in a company for over 10 years. A new supervisor and I do not get along. Last week, the company let me go without any explanation. I…
Why keeping your debt problems a ‘secret’ will not help you
HAVE you ever faced a situation in your life where you needed help so badly but you were just too afraid or embarrassed to ask for it? Perhaps you felt…
Seniors see no benefit in keeping credit card debts
One seeks to discharge $20K and another $30K WE all go through different stages in life. When you are in your twenties, your whole life is ahead of you. You…
Should piece-rate employees be paid separately for rest breaks?
When employees are entitled to additional pay Q: I AM a full-time employee at a company that pays us on a piece-rate basis for every task that we finish. For…
Facing your debt problems before they get worse
FACING difficult financial times can be a frightening thing for a lot of people. When bill collectors are hounding you, at some point, you realize that something must be done…
12 tips on filing status
PAY attention to your filing status because it determines your standard deduction, tax due, or refund. Here are 12 tips to help you choose your correct filing status: 1. There…
Tooth or consequences
Sensitive teeth, severe dental erosion and facial pain are therefore common symptoms of patients with anorexia and bulimia. Everything we put into our mouths affects our overall health, but there…
Debtor too late to strip $70K 2nd mortgage; Student loans and taxes catch up with senior
Too late to strip 2nd mortgage I SAW debtor about 4 years ago, and now she returns to consult on a new financial crisis. The first time I met her…
California tax rates and exemptions for 2014 tax returns
Exemption Credits: a. $108 – Single, Married filing separately, Head of Household. b. $216 – Married filing jointly. c. $333 – Dependent. d. $108 – Age 65 or older. e….
Doctor’s whistleblowing leads to illegal retaliation, $10 million settlement
IN April 2009, Robert Pedowitz, M.D., was hired by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to become chairperson of its Department of Orthopedic Surgery. In the first year of…
Considering bankruptcy? 5 questions to ask yourself
ARE you being harassed by your creditors day and night due to unpaid bills? If you are, you know that this is a pretty unpleasant experience. You may feel scared,…
Digital marketing trends you can’t miss
Congratulations! You have successfully braved past the first quarter of 2015! By now, some of you might be looking for some ideas to supercharge your business. In this article, I…
2015: The year of the smile
IT isn’t always about looking like a movie star or supermodel. It’s about feeling confident and comfortable with your healthy smile! Smiling’s amazing benefits You may not typically think about it this…
Senior about to retire seeks discharge of $85K credit card debt; Client files chapter 7 to stop eviction and discharge $70K second trust deed
Obama fights back to lift injunction on amnesty Senior will discharge $85K credit cards CLIENT has been working as a registered nurse for 30 years, and is now 65 years…
California tax update for individuals for 2014 tax returns
1. YOU are required to file a California tax return if your gross income exceeds: a. Single – $16,047. b. Head of household – $27,147. c. Married filing jointly –…