Medical expense deductions
YOU may deduct medical expenses only to the extent that expenses for doctors, drugs, insurance, etc. exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income. This means that you lose the…
Category: Consumer Columnists
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Long-term unemployment: A sad result of wrongful termination
“INVOLUNTARY job loss is a stressful event, creating a variety of problems immediately, and long periods of unemployment can compound those problems,” states The Urban Institute, in a report it…
2 common mistakes that always lead to financial trouble
Many factors lead to financial problems and bankruptcy. While there are things that are simply beyond your control (example: sickness, disability, unemployment, etc.), a lot of bankruptcies are also a…
Sugar shockers
Feeling a little listless today? Why not perk yourself up by pouring 15 teaspoons of sugar in your mouth? You probably laughed at the above suggestion, but if you’re a…
What types of taxes can you deduct?
LET’S review a few rules on federal, state, and local taxes: 1. California State Income Taxes in box 24 of your W2 are deductible. So are quarterly estimates paid by…
Employees misclassified as independent contractors awarded over $10 million
Courts look at several factors to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The most important factor is the employer’s right to control the worker’s manner…
If you want to get out of debt, here’s what you need to change
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…
Courts divided over home value dates for junior lien strip plans in Chapter 13
Homeowners like the idea of getting rid of the second trust deed on their residence in a bankruptcy. The second trust deed could be a home equity loan or home…
Listening to and learning from you
A CRITICAL component of personalized patient care is cultivating the art of listening. One of the most important reasons we use social media is to be sure it’s easy for…
CA tax changes for 2013 tax returns
MINIMUM Wage –Minimum wage increases to $9 per hour effective July 1, 2014. Medical and Dental Expense Deduction – Federal law made it tougher to deduct medical expenses by raising…
Treatment of non-filing spouse income in bankruptcy
CAN a spouse file for bankruptcy while the other does not? For instance, husband’s gross income is $3,000 monthly. Wife’s income is $8,000 monthly. Husband has $100,000 of credit card…
Does employer’s hiring of young attractive females over males qualify as free speech?
KYLE Hunter is a weather forecaster and broadcaster for over 23 years, who won several prestigious awards. He sued CBS Broadcasting, Inc. for discrimination, alleging that two of CBS’ television…
Need help with debt but too embarrassed to ask?
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…
New California laws for 2014
(Part 2 of 2) Immigrants POLL workers: Permanent legal residents who are not citizens may serve as poll workers in California elections. Employer threats: Employers are prohibited from inducing fear…
Sexual harassment at work does not have to be sexually motivated
MAX Taylor started work for Nabors Drilling as a “floorhand” on an oil rig in June 2010. Joe Mason and Jaime Mendez were Taylor’s supervisors. Several times a day, Mason…
Postpetition inheritance is part of bankruptcy estate
Suppose you were a Chapter 13 debtor for the last two years of a 48 months plan then your mother dies leaving you as your inheritance a fully paid house…
Don’t let debt destroy everything you’ve worked so hard for
I often get asked whether filing for bankruptcy can be avoided in finding a solution to debt problems. I usually tell people that filing for bankruptcy should be a last…
US Supreme Court to decide fate of inherited IRAs in bankruptcy
THE legal question that is posed is whether or not an inherited IRA is exempt in bankruptcy. For instance, your father died two years ago. You inherited his IRA of…
New CA Laws for 2014
(Part 1 of 2) MINIMUM Wage: Minimum wage increases to $9 per hour effective July 1, 2014. Identity Theft, Internet Online Tracking – Identity theft: State agencies and businesses are…
Paid leave to care for sick family members
LAST week, we wrote about the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) which entitles qualified employees 12 weeks of leave from work when they have to care for their seriously ill…
Loan modification denied: Should you file Chapter 13?
Filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often a last resort for people in foreclosure when no other options exist. A lot of homeowners usually put off making this decision for a…
Should you direct deposit your IRS refund?
YES, of course. Direct deposit is the fastest and safest way to receive your tax refund. Here are reasons why you should use direct deposit of your refund: 1. Speed:…
Taking leave from work to care for sick family members
Q: I HAVE been working for 5 years in Los Angeles for a company that has about 100 employees. I wanted to take a leave of absence from work to…
Afraid of your debt problems, think of Jesus resurrecting daughter of Jarius
Are you worried that your debt problems are insurmountable? Actually, debt problems are small potatoes in the big picture of life, death and life after death. We are temporarily here…
How to end debt suffering with bankruptcy relief
A lot of people end up filing bankruptcy when they get to the point of feeling hopeless about their financial problems. Despite what others may think, there is no shame…
Enamel education
While we endeavor to help our patients aoid tooth problems, with the reality is that by the time many people get to the dentist, they are already experiencing symptoms of…
Is lover’s claim dischargeable?
SOMETIMES one lover takes advantage of the other lover by borrowing money that is not repaid. For example, John and Mary are in a relationship. They think that they are…
IRS warns of scams relating to relief for Typhoon Haiyan victims
THE Internal Revenue Service issued an alert about scams relating to Typhoon Haiyan (“Yolanda” in the Philippines). As you may have seen at CNN, Asian Journal, and other media, Haiyan…
New Year’s resolution: Keep current with your employment rights
EMPLOYEES who want to be more vigilant of their rights in the workplace this year may want to pay attention to the following laws and developments: Overtime Work of more…
Buried in debt: Do you feel 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…