How to stop the IRS from seizing your property
OBVIOUSLY, the easiest way in stopping the IRS from seizing your property or rights to property is by paying the taxes you owe. In today’s economy, however, it is not…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Bankruptcy: Lose your debts, not your sanity
IF YOU’VE ever been in a situation in your life where you had to file bankruptcy as a last resort in order to get out of debt, you know exactly…
Give me a break: Who really won in that lunch break case?
Q: I HEARD that the Supreme Court recently decided a case about the employer’s obligation to provide lunch breaks. Some say the employers won the case. But others say the…
The Voice of Filipino-Canadians
WHEN Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper made his appointments to the Senate in Canada, no one was more surprised than Filipino Canadian Tobias Enverga Jr. Enverga, a long-time bank executive,…
Old debts from the past have a way of coming back to haunt you
IF YOU are like a lot of people who have old, unpaid debts, collection accounts and judgments from their past that they don’t even remember, you may feel that it…
Refinance your mortgage without extending the term
OBVIOUSLY, the simplest way to refinance without extending the term is to select a new mortgage with a shorter term. How do you refinance your 30 year loan after paying…
Shooting for the stars
Lloyd Manglapus’ work is literally out of this world. The 42-year-old Manglapus is one of two Pinoys part of NASA’s historic and newest Mars rover called “Curiosity,” as it roams…
Are your debt problems forcing you into bankruptcy?
ARE you having problems paying your debts? Are creditors calling you day and night threatening you with a wage garnishment, repossession or foreclosure? Are you starting to feel hopeless and…
Healthy smile, healthy outlook
WHILE each dentist may focus on different priorities in their practices, we all preach the same mantra: Take care of your teeth, and they’ll take care of you. Teeth begin…
How to avoid taxes in case of foreclosure, short sale or loan modification
As we all know, the recent global financial crisis has forced thousands of homeowners to give up their homes through foreclosures. To make matters worse, these homeowners had to contend…
Metro Manila and Makati real estate market booming
I THOUGHT of sharing this information about my trip to the Philippines recently. I primarily stayed in the Metro Manila and the Makati Area for about a week. I did…
Overspending while in debt is a recipe for financial disaster
AS a bankruptcy attorney and financial recovery counselor, I see a lot of people who are spending way beyond their means. They are always struggling to make ends meet and…
Market fears that this recovery is very short-term
ALMOST all economists and think tanks fear the same worst scenario for the US economy. I know we probably might think that the economy seems to be picking up steam….
IRS collection enforcement on unpaid taxes
The IRS has different ways of collecting unpaid taxes. After collection notices prove ineffective, more drastic collection enforcement – ranging from imposition of federal tax lien on personal and real…
Can you become debt-free without filing bankruptcy?
DEBT is a common problem that a lot of people struggle with and many people want to know how thy can become debt-free. Of course, in today’s society, you can’t…
Mortgage debt relief act: One step closer to an extension
Some encouraging news for financially stressed homeowners across the country: The Senate Finance Committee approved a bipartisan bill before heading home for summer recess that would extend the Mortgage Forgiveness…
Are you looking for a solution to debt problems?
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…
Bankruptcy: When life doesn’t go as planned
LIFE just happens. Sometimes even the best laid plans can go wrong. How do you respond when this happens to you? Do you easily give up when you’re overwhelmed? Remaining…
PNoy gov’t must take action now in reducing global warming
THE future is not somewhere we are going. It is something we are creating. Every day we do things that make some futures more probable and others less likely. Reducing…
Why have a Family Advisory Board?
(Part 2) THE composition of the board should complement the knowledge and skill set of the owners. Good advisory boards will have at least one member with strong financial skills,…
Are lenders finally reducing loan balances on Loan Modifications?
CALLER: My neighbor has a loan modification package that reduced their loan balance by about $200,000; this reduced their payments about $600-700 per month. I have a very similar situation…
Eliminating tax debts through bankruptcy
Another weapon in the taxpayer’s arsenal that stops the IRS in its tracks is bankruptcy. The filing of a bankruptcy petition will generally stop the IRS from collecting your tax…
Bankruptcy: Your past doesn’t have to be your future
IN MY work as a Bankruptcy Attorney, I usually have the privilege of meeting all kinds of people from all walks of life. Some are poor, some are rich. Some…
Confusion in the mortgage rescue package by Gov. Brown might spell trouble
DUAL Tracking is the practice of negotiating with clients to modify a mortgage so that payments become more affordable while simultaneously pursuing foreclosure. What most of the calls I am…
Take control of your finances and your life
YOU’VE probably heard the saying, “The failure to plan is a plan to fail”. And yet so many of us don’t realize how we so easily neglect to plan for…
From packing bagels to handling million-dollar ad campaigns
A MULTICULTURAL advertising agency in Toronto owned by two Filipino women recently won the top award for print in the annual Summit International Awards, highlighting the two immigrants’ incredible journey…
Why you need to escape the debt trap
IF YOU are buried in debt, you may be feeling trapped at the moment with no way out. You realize you need help but don’t know where to go for…
Loan modification companies might be a thing of the past!
CALIFORNIA would prohibit the charging of advance fees to homeowners in connection with a loan modification, and require anyone who wishes to charge a fee for loan modification services (after…
Countdown to the perfect wedding smile
Every bride dreams of walking down the aisle, stunning white dress cascading behind her, beaming groom waiting to take her hand. But wait – are the smiles photographer-ready, all set…
Common fears about bankruptcy are false
IF you are struggling with serious debt problems and the idea of filing for bankruptcy has crossed your mind, like most people, you may have some “fears” about bankruptcy that…