[COLUMN] Filing bankruptcy to get out of credit card debt
CREDIT card debt is the most troubling financial problem for a lot of people today. Currently there are millions of people who can’t even afford to pay more than the…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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[COLUMN] Very senior client cornered by $34K credit cards
WHAT do I mean by “very senior client”? The client is 90 years old. Is that senior or what? He qualifies as my second most senior client being 92 ten…
Garcetti signs ordinance to increase minimum wage for health care workers in LA
LOS Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an ordinance on Friday, July 8 into law raising the minimum wage for healthcare workers at certain private health care facilities to $25 per…
[COLUMN] Reporting on possible employer misconduct is protected by whistleblowing law
Charles Erhart worked as an internal auditor for BofI Federal Bank in San Diego, California. The Bank is a federally chartered savings and loan association and its holding company is…
[COLUMN] Debt problems: You can’t change the past, only the future
ARE you currently struggling with debt problems and don’t know what to do? To most people, finding themselves in that situation is pretty scary. They constantly worry about their finances…
[COLUMN] Five benefits of establishing a revocable living trust
THERE is never the perfect time to think about who you would like to inherit from your estate in case you pass away or at least who among your closest…
[COLUMN] Retiring senior needs bankruptcy relief for $45K credit cards
THE husband is 65 and has just handed in his application for retirement from his job. He makes a gross of $5,000 a month with overtime. Upon retirement, he will…
Los Angeles’ minimum wage increases to $16.04
WORKERS in Los Angeles experienced a minimum wage increase on Friday, July 1. The city’s minimum wage increased from $15 per hour to $16.04 per hour for all covered employees….
[COLUMN] ‘Absenteeism’ and the employee’s right to intermittent medical leave
Peter Albrecht worked as a psychiatric nurse for University of California Irvine (UCI) Medical Center. In 2007 Peter was seriously injured while restraining a violent patient. Because of his injuries,…
[COLUMN] Get out of debt to build real wealth
Don’t let this happen to you! 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…
[COLUMN] Owner of several businesses needs bankruptcy relief
Seniors need relief for credit cards GAS prices are very high at $7 a gallon at some stations. The Ukraine war is entering its fourth month. Inflation is at 8.2%….
[COLUMN] California court’s power to make divorce orders when one spouse does not live in California
This is a common question among people contemplating divorce in California when the other spouse does not live in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a…
[COLUMN] Get out of debt to build real wealth
Don’t let this happen to you! 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…
San Gabriel Valley Megamix Expo returns on June 30
GET ready for a packed schedule of workshops, networking and giveaways at the San Gabriel Valley Megamix Expo on Thursday, June 30. Held at the Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel (225…
Tri Counties Bank and National Asian American Coalition launch down payment assistance program
CHICO, CA — Tri Counties Bank announced on June 22 a partnership with the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), to provide a Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program that will launch…
[COLUMN] What is the interactive process?
Q: I work for a mid-size company in Los Angeles. I was recently diagnosed with a serious illness that will require surgery and several weeks of recovery. I’m worried about…
[COLUMN] Reimbursement for community contribution towards a spouse’s education and student loan during marriage
ONE of the biggest problem of millenials and Gen Z are educational cost and student loan debt. This eats up a large part of a households budget even among married…
[COLUMN] Are PPP and other federal pandemic loans dischargeable in bankruptcy?
MANY self-employed individuals have relied on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and other federal pandemic loans to rescue their businesses from going under. If you notice, many restaurants that we…
Small, Fil-Am-owned businesses thrive in pop-up markets across NYC
NEW York City is home to multiple markets, including ones that pop-up once the weather gets warmer. There are also street fairs all over the city’s neighborhoods and some that…
Fil-Ams urged to pour in capital in PH franchise industry
LOS ANGELES—Buoyed by optimism of higher economic growth this year, the Philippine government is encouraging Filipino Americans to pour in more investments in the country’s franchise industry. In a recent…
[COLUMN] Is there life after bankruptcy?
WHEN contemplating bankruptcy as a way out of debt, one is often faced with the question: What would my life be like after I file bankruptcy? When can I have…
[COLUMN] Missed break payments should be timely paid and reported in paystubs
Gustavo Naranjo worked as a guard for Spectrum Security Services, Inc. (Spectrum), which contracts with federal agencies to transport prisoners who have appointments outside custodial facilities. Naranjo was fired after…
[COLUMN] Client compares Chapter 13 with various alternatives for $60K credit cards
THE client is 50 and married. He owes $60,000 of credit cards. He pays $2,000 a month as minimum credit card payments to keep the $60,000 current. His wife is…
[COLUMN] Parent’s right to change child’s residence to another state in custody cases
Parents that are going through divorce and legal separation sometimes have to make a decision to move out of state for various reasons. It may be because their family network…
Four million hard-hit businesses approved for nearly $390-B in COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loans
SBA delivered an unprecedented level of economic aid to small businesses impacted by the pandemic WASHINGTON, DC – As the country continues to transition from a historic economic recovery to stable,…
Board votes to oversee grant program to harden homes in rural communities
THE County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 14 to establish a Home Hardening Program as part of a state pilot program to encourage homeowners to create fire-resistant…
California mortgage relief program expands eligibility for homeowners amid COVID hardships
THE California Mortgage Relief Program announced that it is significantly expanding eligibility requirements to offer funding to a greater number of California homeowners who have fallen behind on housing payments…
[COLUMN] Does filing bankruptcy make sense for your situation?
NO one ever likes to talk about bankruptcy. However, it’s simply a fact of life. Things happen. Whether it’s losing your job, going through a divorce, having huge medical bills…
[COLUMN] What is retaliation against a ‘protected activity’?
Q: I HAVE been employed by a mid-size company in Los Angeles for over 2 years. Recently, some co-workers privately talked to me that several workers in their department often…
[COLUMN] How important is it to have a living trust?
THINKING about one’s demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a…