Do pre-progammed time clocks cheat employees of wages?
Q:As an hourly employee, my work schedule is 9am to 5:30pm. We swipe our ID through a time clock when we start and end our work. My supervisor often asks…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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What to do if you are missing a Form W-2
YOU should have received Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from your employer by now. If you did not, here are 10 tips to help you file: 1. Employers have…
Real estate value: Is it real or temporary due to shortage of property listings?
I WILL be holding a buyers seminar January 26, 2013 in San Marino CA, please call to reserve seats. I did a research for my buyers seminar and found out…
Can employees challenge employment documents they signed?
WE previously discussed the question of whether an employee’s signature to an independent contractor agreement binds the employee to the terms of that agreement. We noted that the law determines…
New California news for 2013
Part B: Driving and motor vehicles Cell phones and texting while driving: ASSEMBLY Bill 1536 clarifies existing law by allowing drivers to dictate, send, or listen to text-based communications while…
NEW HARP refi for owner occupied or rental property that are upside down
THE Home Affordable Refinance Program expansion helps today’s historically low rates become available to customers who have an existing mortgage loan owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There is…
Income tax refunds is property of bankruptcy estate unless exempt
LET’S say that you decide to file for Chapter 7 relief this month to discharge $100,000 of hospital bills and credit card debt. You anticipate that you will have an…
Smart snacking helps you keep that beautiful smile
DOES FREQUENT SNACKING PRESENT PROBLEMS FOR OUR TEETH? Well, it depends. Every time we eat, our mouths go to work cleaning things up and restoring “balance”. Having three meals a…
Debt can lead to being broke at the end of your life
A CLIENT of mine said he never saw it coming. Everything he ever wanted in life, he always purchased on credit. The “pre-approved” credit cards just kept coming in the…
Can employees challenge employment documents they signed?
THE common belief is that signing an agreement binds an employee to all the terms in the document. But what if the agreement is illegal or a violation of public…
New California laws for 2013: Part A tax, employment and education
NEW Income Tax and Sales Tax Laws Income tax California’s maximum income tax rate increases from 9.3% to 12.3% for taxpayers with taxable income of more than $250,000. The rate…
2013: The final year of the short sale
I SERIOUSLY thought that our short sale days are really numbered, but base on what analyst and realtors are saying this year we would be flooded with short sale. I…
Is defalcation by fiduciary dischargeable in bankruptcy?
DEFALCATION is an act of misappropriating funds that were entrusted to a person. The person who is entrusted with the funds is called the fiduciary. For instance, your friend wins…
Jewelry jeopardy
THERE are two oral fashions causing concern for dentists these days: The prevalence of oral piercing, and the application of dental “grills.” Oral piercing, because of the millions of bacteria…
Are the products you buy really made in USA?
LOOKING at the new iPad she received last Christmas, a young woman noted that it was “Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China.” She asked what this meant, was…
Debt forgiveness law survives another year!
THE mortgage industry can relax now with the final fiscal cliff deal bringing back a popular tax break on mortgage insurance premiums and debt forgiveness for borrowers who go through…
Workshop or weekend home does not qualify as homestead
IN California, the equity in your homestead (your residence) is exempt up to a certain amount, depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you are at least 65 years old,…
Catherine Buan Peterson, PhilDev President | Her Life’s Mission: Helping Others
THE true measure of a person’s success is not only based on his achievements in his chosen career, but on how he further extends his talents and skills to be…
How bankruptcy can help you rebuild your finances, your credit and your life
When debts spiral out of control, bankruptcy can become an invaluable financial recovery tool in stemming the tide and getting you back on the right track. While it’s not for…
New Year, new laws to benefit California employees
IN 2012, some very important laws affecting employee rights took effect. These laws included the Wage Theft Prevention Act, increased penalties for willful misclassification of independent contractors, the prohibition of…
10 most common errors in filing tax returns
1. FORGETTING to sign and date the return: An unsigned tax return is considered unfiled. 2. Missing or wrong Social Security Numbers: When entering SSNs for anyone listed on your…
How to pick your mortgage broker
IS THERE a difference between a bank loan officer and a mortgage broker? Nowadays, bank loan officers don’t have a generalize rates, meaning if you call a major bank loan…
Is inherited IRA exempt in bankruptcy?
NOT many people know that parents can transfer their retirement accounts such as 401k and IRA to their children tax free. For instance, you have a 401k of $150,000. At…
Are you feeling hopeless about your debt problems?
We are now living in the worst economy since the Great Depression. With millions of people being unemployed and struggling with foreclosure, debt problems have become common. Of course, debt…
Should you be paid more for working on holidays?
Q: I WILL be working on Christmas and New Year days. Am I entitled to holiday pay? A: Hours worked on holidays are treated like hours worked on any other…
How to behave during an IRS audit: 20 Don’ts
1. DON’T ignore the IRS. 2. Don’t mess with the IRS. 3. Don’t go to your appointment unprepared. 4. Don’t be late for the appointment. 5. Don’t volunteer information. 6….
Mortgage debt relief act one step closer to an extension
“ The mortgage debt relief extension ultimately could affect millions of families who are underwater on their loans, delinquent on their payments and heading for foreclosure, short sales or deeds-in-lieu-of-foreclosure settlements….
Autistic debtor discharges student loans
“In Re Todd, the 63-year old debtor had an autism disorder since early childhood. The court described the debtor as articulate and intelligent. If one were to read select portions…
Chewing sugarless gum can help prevent cavities
THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS people chew gum. For some, perhaps it’s just a long-standing habit. But ever since a man named Thomas Adams invented chewing gum back in 1870…
Do you need to find a way out of debt?
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…