WE believe in preventive dentistry and yes, much of that depends on you! Cleaning your teeth after you eat is important, but the effects of good habits also have a lot to do with what you eat. Keep your smile healthy by packing great lunches. Eating on-the-go can be problematic. In the morning, grabbing a donut is much…
The physician MEMBERS of the professions are normally doing well financially in the United States because they are highly paid for their skills. However, even with high gross incomes, wrong decisions, or illness can result in financial problems that require bankruptcy relief. This is what happened to my client who is a member of the…
HERE is an interesting statistic from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI): In the year 2012, “the US Department of Labor recovered $280 million in back pay for 308,000 workers. That amount – a small fraction of the total wage theft nationwide – far exceeded the total [amount of $139 million] lost to criminals in street…
YOU have just lost an audit and have decided to bring your case before the appeals office of the IRS. You have learned the basics of the appeals process and how to prepare for the conference from previous articles. Let me now give you 10 strategies as you face the Appeals Officer: 1. Respect the…
AS WE continue to go through turbulent economic times, a lot of people are in a state of panic and anxiety. Thousands of families are overwhelmed with the difficult choices and situations that they face. The questions that I am often asked are: “Will my family’s increasing debt load result in bankruptcy?” “What happens if…
IN THE last two weeks, 3 clients with state court cases in their late stages based on complaints for very large amounts arising from business transactions sought bankruptcy relief. One already had a judgment for $4.0 million. The other had a tentative judgment after trial where debtor was not represented by counsel, for $800,000, and…
AS you know, cancellation of debt income can surface from the foreclosure of your residence or any other real property. Like adding salt to an open wound, you are then faced with debt forgiveness income from the cancellation of debt on the mortgage of your property that has just been foreclosed. The bank issues a…
CA Supreme Court issues an answer EARLY this year, we related the plight of an undocumented worker who was terminated by his employer because of his disability, and whose fate rested on the hands of the California Supreme Court: Vicente Salas started work for Sierra Chemical in 2003 as a seasonal worker in its production…
IF you, or someone you care for spends six hours a week or more in a swimming pool, listen up! This is super important information to know. Prolonged pool water exposure can affect teeth Most swimmers are surprised to learn about the potentially corrosive effects pool water chemicals can have on teeth. When maintaining a pool it’s a…
WHEN an obese person weighing 500 lbs. implements steps to lose 300 lbs. and actually succeeds, people take note and are happy for that person. The reality shows call this extreme makeover. Real estate TV shows call the new look of the property after improvements are made on it as extreme makeover. The kitchen cabinets…
A LOT of people who find themselves at the end of their financial rope wonder about how they could rebuild their finances again. Out of desperation and in an effort to avoid filing bankruptcy, they use up all their savings and deplete their retirement plans hoping to survive from month to month until “things get…
And what they can do to fight back RONALD Shephard installed garage doors for Lowe’s, a home improvement retailer that operates nearly 100 stores in California. Lowe’s offers its customers installation services for products bought at its stores. In June 2012, Shephard sued Lowe’s in a class action for misclassification, reimbursement and denial of benefits. …
“If you have filed bankruptcy before, you may be wondering whether it’s possible to do it again. Generally, the answer is that you can file bankruptcy as often as needed BUT subject to some limitations.” I’VE been asked this question a few times lately so I decided to write an article on it. If you…
YOU are still upset from losing an IRS audit. You have two choices: pay or fight. If you choose to fight, go to appeals. Let me give you 10 tips on how to prepare for the appeals conference: 1. Request access to your case files. Take a look at any dossier they have on you….
CHAPTER 13 is normally used to save a house from foreclosure. But this is not the only situation where Chapter 13 is used. When a Chapter 13 petition is filed, just like any other chapter of the bankruptcy code, the automatic stay immediately stops foreclosure of the house. For instance, the foreclosure sale of the…
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 you had the accounts before you left for the US? Yes, you should. There are reasons why our government wants to know: combat money laundering,…
DAVID Bryant worked for 22 years for San Diego Gas and Electric as a bill collection clerk and then as a senior collector. For several years, he has reportedly complained about the company’s illegal bill collection practices that targeted the company’s poor customers who live in densely populated areas. The illegal practice was aimed at…
ARE you setting weight loss goals? Great! Just remember to stay healthy—and that includes taking good care of your teeth while dieting. Connections between oral health and whole body health Our bodies are amazing. Sometimes we forget about the connections between each system. If you’re working to lose weight, be aware of how those diet…
THE last few years have been financially difficult for a lot of people. When the real estate marked crashed a few years ago, millions of people found themselves with a mortgage they could not afford. A lot of people simply walked away from their homes out of desperation in some cases, they were forced out…
THE Supreme Court of the United States has often called Chapter 7 bankruptcy the “Fresh Start”. This is an accurate description of debt relief given by Chapter 7. Debtors are given a rare opportunity to get rid of their debts without paying them. At the same time, they are able to keep all, if not…
IN February 2010, Cable’s Restaurant in Woodland Hills, CA was acquired by GACN, Inc. During the acquisition, the employer promised that veteran servers Martha Aboulafia (57 years-old), Cheryl Colgin (57), Patricia Monica (66), Lesi Clothier (55), Patricia Long (74), and Regina Greene (47) will be able to keep their positions. Unknown to the servers, the…
7th Case Report of California Certified PA (Public Insurance Adjuster) Jae Park “Should I file a claim?” Water loss at Condo unit owner/ Town house owner at Pasadena/ nearby San Marino, California. At the end of December 2012, I visited the site where the flood damage occurred, namely the condominium located in Pasadena. The condominium…
6th Case Report of California Certified PA (Public Insurance Adjuster) Jae Park In August 2012, there was flood damage in Mr. A’s mansion (with floor space of approximately 5,200 sq. ft.) located near the Silver lake in Victorville. This mansion is a place that Mr. A, who lives near Los Angeles, visits for rest and…
EVEN after debtor obtains a bankruptcy discharge of his debts, he might feel morally obligated to pay a debt for some reason. For example, debtor borrowed $20,000 from his “rich uncle.” This debt was discharged in bankruptcy therefore no longer legally collectible. However, debtor decides to start paying his uncle $200 a month despite the…
How social media postings can harm an employment case THE internet has become a powerful instrument for socializing and reaching people. Networking sites are now virtual coffee shops for meeting new friends or catching up with old ones by posting comments or photos. Like all other tools, social media has its good and bad side….
EVERY day, I meet with a lot of people who are sick and tired of being in a financial mess but they are unwilling to pay the price of being debt-free. What do I mean by this? In this week’s article, I will tell you exactly what needs to change in order for you to…
MANY financially distressed borrowers lost their homes and had their loans cancelled during and after the recession. It was a relief to have their debts reduced or forgiven, but the same debt relief also triggered tax consequences that they were not aware of. In my CPA practice as a tax consultant, homeowners express shock and…
WHEN it’s warm outside we all enjoy our favorite warm weather foods and beverages. Have you ever considered how some of these affect your smile? You may be surprised. Here’s a short list of foods that can do some damage to your teeth if you’re not thoughtful about it. Warm weather food to be aware…
A FORECLOSURE deficiency is the amount you legally owe to the creditor after the property is foreclosed upon by the creditor. If a car is repossessed, the creditor takes it back then sells it on auction (same as foreclosure). The auction sale produces an amount of sale proceeds that is normally less than the balance…
IRS agents are equipped with a guide that provides audit techniques to issues unique to attorneys. IRS instructs its agents to probe into the following areas: – Unreported income, deferral of income. – Advanced client costs. – Bartering. – Constructive receipts. – Personal service corporations. – Worker Reclassification – were employees misclassified as independent contractors?…
