Summer car maintenance tips
SPRING is here and summer is just around the corner. As we prepare for the temperature change, it is essential to prepare homes and vehicles for the changing seasons. Every…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Grace Mercado is set to take over San Pedro’s Little Sisters of the Poor home for the elderly
Grace Mercado has acquired the Jeanne Jugan Residence owned and operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro, California. Although the Little Sisters of the Poor have…
Ethnic businesses in the post pandemic: Catch the boom or left behind?
By Jenny Manrique/Ethnic Media Services From its spot on iconic U Street in Washington, D.C., Ben’s Chili Bowl has served diners for more than six decades: demonstrators from the civil…
[COLUMN] How debt settlement can help you avoid bankruptcy
YOUR credit card payments are past due. You’re confused and don’t know what to do. The bill collectors are calling you non-stop and writing you threatening letters. What do you…
[COLUMN] Senior needs Chapter 13 to protect house from creditors of a failed business
THE client is 71. Her husband died five years ago, so she lives with her unmarried son who does not have full time or steady employment. She has a large…
[COLUMN] Family leave rights for both expecting parents
Q: My spouse and I are expecting a baby and we are trying to figure out how much family leave we are entitled to so we can each spend quality…
[COLUMN] Biden’s tax plan update
PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s $6 trillion budget proposal offers new major initiatives like child and elder care subsidies, generous tax credits for families and the working poor, and free community college….
Comcast NBCUniversal introduces ‘We Belong,’ a multimillion dollar initiative in support of AAPI Heritage Month
NEW YORK – During Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Comcast NBCUniversal celebrated the extensive and often unrecognized contributions that the AAPI community has made to American history, culture…
[COLUMN] Should you be paid for work before you clock-in?
Q: I WORK as a “team member” in the service industry in Los Angeles. Before we clock-in for our shift, we are required to attend a “huddle,” or a meeting…
[COLUMN] Couple wonders how to tackle debt relief for wife
LET me give you the background on this case. The husband is 81 but still looks active. He is slim and sprightly. The wife is 79 and looks nervous. Normally,…
[COLUMN] How to reduce your chances of IRS audit in 2021
THE IRS was underfunded under the Trump Administration. It didn’t have enough personnel to accomplish its goal. With skeleton force, audit rate declined to only 1/2 percent (less than half…
[COLUMN] Chapter 13 debt adjustment: Pay less of what you owe
CHAPTER 13 is the section of the US Bankruptcy Code that allows individuals in the United States to reorganize their finances. If you are having difficulty paying your debts (credit…
[COLUMN] 6 reasons the IRS could audit you
1. Failing to report some income Failing to report subcontract, interest, or dividend income are easy ways to attract an audit. I know that it’s tempting not to report income…
GEICO opens local office in Burbank
GEICO has opened a new local office at 3522 W Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, California. Melody Avecilla will lead a team of licensed agents at the new location. Avecilla has…
[COLUMN] ‘Unapproved’ overtime must still be paid
Q: I WORK as a nurse at a facility that has a strict policy of no unapproved overtime. We don’t often ask for approval since we risk being written up…
[COLUMN] What is the purpose of bankruptcy law?
THE highest-profile cases of bankruptcy filings are Walt Disney, Milton Hershey, Orange County, a certain Catholic diocese in the USA that was hit by the child molestation cases, the Trump…
[COLUMN] Here are 4 ways to get out of debt
ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do about your situation? Are you afraid that unless you do something about it, thing will just continue to get…
[COLUMN] IRS top enforcement targets
WITH a bigger budget, IRS recently hired new personnel to increase their historic low audit rates. Here are 7 targets for IRS audits: 1. Non-filers IRS estimates that nonfilers represent…
[COLUMN] Is an unfair firing ‘wrongful termination’?
Q: I worked in a company for over 5 years. A client accused me of making a mistake in a big order. This was not true. But the new manager,…
[COLUMN] Do I have to disclose my bitcoin to my spouse in my divorce case?
BITCOIN and other cryptocurrency has become popular lately as a new store of value. It is decentralized and not subject to regulation in any jurisdiction. It can be stored…
[COLUMN] Debtor with $70K credit cards but good income needs Chapter 13 relief
A DEBTOR who is 50 has accumulated credit card debt at the rate of $6,000 a year for the last 20 years. Now, he owes $70,000 of credit cards. He…
[COLUMN] Can bankruptcy help if you’ve been laid off due to the coronavirus?
WE are facing challenging times brought about by the coronavirus. Since March of last year, millions of people have lost their jobs. A lot of business owners have been forced…
Tan Brothers want a slice of the PH gin market
Brothers Lucio Tan III, president and COO, and Kyle Tan, executive vice president, who are now at the helm of Tanduay’s new leadership, are eyeing a share in the country’s…
[COLUMN] Reasonable accommodation for pregnancy-related disability
Q: I worked in healthcare in Los Angeles. Several months ago, I was pregnant. My doctor ordered me to take leave from work because my pregnancy was high-risk. My employer…
[COLUMN] IRS warns tax preparers of new email scam
SCAMMERS become more active during tax filing season — their hunting season. The prey: your own tax preparer who has troves of social security numbers, birthdays and bank account numbers….
[COLUMN] Debtor with $500K home equity seeks Chapter 7 relief for $420K lease liability
THE client is 50. He bought a restaurant in November of 2019. What’s the worst time to buy a restaurant in the history of the human race? November of 2019…
[COLUMN] Can I enforce a form I-864 Affidavit of Support in divorce proceedings?
THE Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that US Citizens sponsoring an alien for legal permanent residency execute an immigration form I-864 Affidavit of Support. This…
Panda Express reinforces its commitment to uplifting communities with a $10-M pledge to diversity, equity & inclusion
Panda Express®, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., was built on a foundation of bridging cultures—and flavors— to bring people together. Having always had deep…
CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program provides free financial assistance to income eligible households for unpaid rent and utilities
Rent relief is now available for California landlords and their renters who are struggling to pay rent or utilities due to COVID-19. Income eligible renters can apply for help to…
[COLUMN] Caregiver law overview for 2021
Working as a caregiver in a private home, an assisted living facility or nursing home is hard work. If this is your job, you probably work long hours and return…
