To people who are facing a financial crisis
IF you’ve ever found yourself financially broke or buried in debt at one point in your life, I’m sure you still remember how it felt. The feelings of despair and…
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Filipino workers appeal ATM fee hike
Partido Manggagawa chair Rene Magtubo on Tuesday, August 13, said workers are appealing to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to suspend the impending increase in fees for transactions conducted…
What to know about the Equifax data breach settlement
IN September 2017, Equifax revealed that approximately 147 million people had their personal data stolen by hackers who got through the consumer credit reporting company’s servers. Last week, the Federal…
The emotional and illogical side of investing for beginners
“ If stock prices move contrary to our expectations, it creates tension.” A MOST important tip for trading is to keep your emotion in check. Use logic, not emotions. Do not…
Are your debts growing faster than your income?
ARE your growing debts starting to worry you and cause you sleepless nights? Are you trying hard to pay what you can every month but feel like you’re just running…
The employer’s duty to a “permanently disabled” employee
LARA May (not her real name to protect confidentiality) was a dedicated and long-time employee for ABC Equipment Co. She was injured at work and had to take an extended…
Client with $300K credit cards successfully passes US trustee exam
THIS client case is unusual. She is young at 28 and owes about $300,000 of credit cards. She used these cards to fund a “gift card” business. What’s a “gift…
Second annual International Travel, Trade and Consumer Expo lands in Carson on August 3-4
The weekend filled with exhibitors, activities, entertainment and speakers promoting the booming travel and trade opportunities between the United States and the Philippines is here! On Saturday and Sunday, August…
Stock checklist for beginners
1. Learn the Basics Familiarize yourself with the following basics before making your first purchase. • Definitions – Price earnings ratio (P/E ratio), earnings per share (EPS), return on equity…
Want to buy a house someday but too much credit card debt?
LIKE most people, you’ve probably heard that filing for bankruptcy when you are in debt will ruin your credit forever and that you will never be able to buy a…
Chapter 7 or 13? A look at a case with $50K debt and $10K collection lawsuit
THE first client is 48 and has just been sued for $10,000 by American Express. He recently received the summons and complaint. He is single with one teenager dependent. He…
Employer must pay actual hours worked by employee
JOSE Alvarado worked as a laborer for Timber Works Construction, Inc. in Santa Clara County. Alvarado claimed that the employer required them to sign two different documents. One document contained…
California Republicans demand state divert housing settlement funds to struggling homeowners
AFTER a California court found that the state was misappropriating funds from a past settlement with a housing counseling organization, state Republicans are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to restore the…
Jollibee stock prices drop after LA-based Coffee Bean acquisition
STOCK prices for Philippine food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) dropped 8 percent this week, following the announcement that it will acquire the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for $350…
SouthBay Pavilion Mall in Carson gears up for second annual International Travel, Trade, and Consumer Expo
All roads will lead to the SouthBay Pavillion on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4 in Carson, California as industry players from both the U.S. and the Philippines are poised to…
First baby steps for beginner traders
1. Start with safer stocks. Buy stocks that tend to be less volatile (meaning more stable with less up and downs in price). Consider consumer staples stocks that people still…
Long Beach Bacolod Association announces small business awardee for Masskara Festival
THE Long Beach Bacolod Association will present the Small Business Award to Romeo Garcia during its MassKara Festival on Sunday, August 4 at Recreation Park. Entrance is FREE and attendees…
Mocking an employee’s accent may constitute work discrimination
FILIPINO registered nurse, Nancy Ortiz, worked for Dameron Hospital in Stockton, CA for about 10 years. Born in the Philippines, English is her second language and she speaks with a…
SWS: Fewer Filipinos expect economy, quality of life to improve
A Social Weather Stations survey released Thursday, July 25 said fewer Filipinos expect their lives and the Philippine economy to improve in the next 12 months. According to the survey,…
Senior with $60K credit cards wants debt relief
THE client is a 70-year-old widow who lost her beloved husband five years ago. She owns a house with a reverse mortgage of half a million, which she took when…
This Filipino chocolatier wants the Philippines to be known globally as a great source of chocolates
IT was a sweet victory for five Philippine chocolate brands at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London last June when they garnered a total of 24 awards across…
Jollibee invests $100 million to acquire Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Philippine fast food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Wednesday, July 24, disclosed that it will be acquiring United States-based The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) through a $100…
All roads lead to SouthBay Pavillion on August 3-4 for trade expo
CITY of Carson, CA. – All roads will lead to the SouthBay Pavillion on Aug. 3-4 in this suburban city south of Los Angeles as industry players from both the…
Q&A for beginners in the stock market (Part 2 of 2)
Should I invest in individual stocks or mutual funds? Unless you are a seasoned veteran, it’s better to invest in pooled funds than individual stocks. There’s danger in picking stocks…
Is going through security checks compensable work time?
CHELSEA Hamilton and Alyssa Hernandez worked for Wal-Mart at its Fulfillment Center in Chino, California for several years. These employees sued their employer in a class action for, among other…
Client with bank account levy seeks Chapter 7 relief
THE client is 60, while his wife is 58. He issued his check to pay rent of $1,200 but the check was dishonored for insufficient funds. The landlord called him…
From skin-colored ternos to Philippine-inspired scents: Pulo Project rolls out second wave of art and design installations in LA
FILIPINO exhibition series Pulo Project is back until August with a new set of art, design and fashion from Filipino and Filipino American creatives. Born as a “passion project” by…
Q&A for beginners in the stock market
MORE than half of Americans have stocks in their portfolio. If you don’t, you are missing out. Actually, you have been missing out big time. Conservative people keep their money…
Why you should look at your paystubs Incorrect ones entitle you to additional payments
RODERICK Magadia worked as an hourly associate at a Wal-Mart retail store in San Jose, California as a stock associate. After 8 years of employment, Magadia was terminated. During Magadia’s…
Chapter 7 or 13: Which is better?
“The effect of the lowerinterest is to shorten the amount of time it takes to pay off the principal because more principal gets paid with every payment. ” I’VE recently…