Bankruptcy Attorney Ventura Oxnard Camarillo Santa Barbara Bakersfield Woodland Hills Los Angeles CA

Susan J. Salehi Bankruptcy Attorney Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo,Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles,CA .Represented 1000's of debtors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases since 1992. Free Consultation. Chapter 7's can help you get rid of Credit Card debt, Medical Bills,and Start at only $999 Attorney Fees. Restrictions Apply.Stop Foreclosures with a Chap 13. Operators 24/7. (805)654-1467

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Tax Dilemmas Add to Burden of Healthcare Reform for Entrepreneurs

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226245

If you're a small business owner, you're probably still grappling with the Affordable Care Act and the best way to provide health insurance to your employees. And the tax implications of the various choices will only make the decision that much more confounding. But now that tax time is here, it's worth taking a look forward at what the law, commonly referred to as Obamacare, will mean for your company's tax picture.

The Law Office of Susan J. Salehi has helped 1000’s of people like yourself with Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies since 1992, both in the Santa Barbara/Ventura and Kern County areas. We offer a free consultation, reasonable rates and payment plans. All of your options will be explained during your free consultation with the attorney at the Law Offices of Susan J. Salehi. Start at only $999 Attorney Fees. Restrictions Apply. Stop Foreclosures with a Chapter 13. Operators 24/7. (805) 654-1467, (818) 880-8305, (661) 631-0252, (805) 202-4688.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl3ljf_bankruptcy-lawyer-in-ventura-ca-susan-j-salehi_creation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMJSiWP2Pzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLzM0Hi6q10

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt679n_bankruptcy-attorney-ventura-oxnard-camarillo-santa-barbara_shortfilms

Monday, April 29, 2013

Tax Rules for Children with Investment Income

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/28/tax-rules-for-children-with-investment-income/

If your children are fortunate enough to have investment accounts, they may be required to file a tax return to declare the income they receive – interest, dividends, capital gain distributions and income from a trust. Or if you meet certain requirements, you may elect to declare the child’s income on your income tax return.
If the investment income is less than $9,500 for the year, you may be able to claim the income and pay the tax on your own tax return if the following conditions are met:

The dependent must be your child under age 19 or age 24 if a full-time student at the end of the year in question. A child born on Jan. 1 will be considered to have been born on Dec. 31 for this purpose. So if, for example, your child turned 19 on Jan. 1, 2013, she will be considered age 19 as of Dec. 31, 2012.
The income must be strictly investment income and not include W2s wages or other forms of earned income.
There can’t have been any withholding under the child’s Social Security number.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

5 Tax Credits You Can't Afford to Miss

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/12/income-tax-credits-IRS

Cassandra Hubbart, DailyFinance

Everyone knows that tax deductions are great, but many people don't realize that tax credits are even better.
By cutting your tax bill dollar-for-dollar rather than just reducing your taxable income, tax credits are a can't-miss way to pay less to the IRS. Here are five tax credits you need to be aware of.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

The Worst Way to Pay Your Taxes: Put Them on a Credit Card

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/01/the-worst-way-to-pay-your-taxes-put-them-on-a-credit-card/b

Millions of people across the nation are looking forward to a nice refund check from the IRS. But if you're one of the unfortunate ones who has to cut a check to Uncle Sam this year, you'll want to steer clear of one increasingly popular way to pay taxes: using your credit car

Many people are so scared of the IRS that they'd do just about anything to avoid any potential problems. That's one reason that paying your outstanding taxes with a credit card is so appealing: One click and you're done.

Friday, April 26, 2013

A Look at the Craziest Tax Write-Offs

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/a-look-at-the-craziest-tax-write-offs-141239342.html

It's hard to think there's anything funny about taxes when you're under a mountain of paperwork, but CBS News contributor and analyst Mellody Hobson has a little comic relief for taxpayers. In all her research about taxes, she came across some fairly ridiculous write offs the IRS has allowed -- and some crazy things people have tried and failed to slip by the IRS.

First, you'd be amazed about what people try to write off concerning their pets, and it's no wonder why -- they're expensive. According to the ASPCA, dogs and cats both cost over $1,000 a year. There was the case of the woman who claimed an unusually high amount of medical expenses for a dependent, but she didn't have a spouse or any children. Turns out the "dependent" was her dog. Her accountant set her straight that if it's covered in fur, you can't claim it as a dependent. In general, pet expenses are not deductable, but there are a couple surprising exceptions.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

After the Breakup, the Real Estate Agent

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/nyregion/divorce-as-a-niche-for-realty-agents.html?hp

Lucky are the few who move out of their houses simply because they have tired of the view or suddenly possess the means to trade up. More often, it is a change in life circumstances that pushes people out into the housing market, like a new job, a new husband or a new baby girl.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Judge Rules Stockton, Calif., to Enter Bankruptcy

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/04/01/us/ap-us-stockton-bankruptcy.html?ref=business

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A judge accepted the California city of Stockton's bankruptcy application on Monday, making it the most populous city in the nation to enter bankruptcy.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Are You Leaving Money on the Table? 5 Often Overlooked Tax Deductions

http://www.entrepreneur.com/money/index.html

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year: tax time. For many types of businesses, the deadline is April 15. Yet for the rookie entrepreneur, knowing when to file is just step one in a typically arduous process.

Owners of energy-efficient homes less likely to default on loans.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Are Your Eyes Bigger Than Your Budget? 3 Tips to Rein in Your Startup Costs

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226170

For some young entrepreneurs, the draw of success and all of its trappings -- a fancy office space, catered lunches, Ping-Pong tables -- can be so seductive that waiting for actual success to arrive can be excruciating. So they don't, and their burn rate quickly balloons.
Of course, this doesn't have to be your problem. Many entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of developing their ventures note that there are ways to boost productivity and cut costs -- without jeopardizing the quality of a product or service.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

How the Rich (and Poor) Avoid Paying Income Taxes

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/03/how-rich-and-poor-avoid-paying-income-taxes/?intcmp=trending

Saturday, April 20, 2013

8 Mistakes that Will Prevent Your Home from Selling

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/26/8-mistakes-that-will-prevent-your-home-from-selling/?intcmp=trending

It’s a challenging market for home sellers right now. Buyers have a lot of options—and they don’t have to buy what you’re selling. Your house is likely just one located in a sea of for-sale signs, so you can’t be sloppy about putting it on the market.

Luckily, we’ve rounded up the dos and don’ts that will help you collect thousands (if not hundreds of thousands!) for your place

Friday, April 19, 2013

Empowering women through finance

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2013/03/25/protect-money.moneymag/index.html

Stacy Francis, 38, founder of a nonprofit that offers women free financial education
Troubled that her grandmother stayed in an abusive relationship for lack of fiscal wherewithal, Francis began Savvy Ladies in 2003, the year she started work as a financial planner.
Via classes, workbooks, and a hotline, business people and other volunteers at the New York nonprofit have taught more than 10,000 women -- ranging in age from their twenties to their sixties -- money skills they need to gain more control over their lives.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Should You Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/pay-taxes-credit-card-040157820.html

While the majority of American will expect a tax refund this year, there are still a sizable fraction of us who will have to scrounge up their savings to pay Uncle Sam what they owe.
And while some are vaguely aware that there are ways to pay taxes with their credit cards, few really understand the benefits and drawbacks of these options.
Here are the basics.
How to pay taxes with a credit card
The IRS is happy to receive payment in the form of a check, but they do not directly accept credit cards. Instead, they have authorized a handful of private companies to accept payment on their behalf. And while this service is convenient, it comes at a cost. Authorized processors charge a fee of between 1.88% and 2.35% of the amount remitted to the IRS. In addition, some state and local governments will also accept taxes paid with a credit card.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Top 10 Consumer Complaints of 2012

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/03/26/top-10-consumer-complaints-2012/

If you're fed up with hearing people complain, imagine being the Consumer Sentinel Network. This online database for law enforcement compiled and categorized more than 2 million complaints in 2012 -- instances of fraud, scams, schemes, and violations consumers reported to everyone from the FTC to the Better Business Bureau to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

How This Couple Bounced Back From $160,000 of Credit Debt in 3 Years

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/03/28/credit-card-debt-consolidation-budgeting/

Courtesy of Maria Nedeva
By Mandi Woodruff

For most people, tackling the average $8,000 we carry in credit card debt seems like an unbearable task.What if you had 20 times as much to worry about?

UK residents Maria Nedeva, 50, and her husband, John, 64, found themselves facing nearly $160,000 worth of debt just three years ago.

The Law Office of Susan J. Salehi has helped 1000’s of people like yourself with Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies since 1992, both in the Santa Barbara/Ventura and Kern County areas. We offer a free consultation, reasonable rates and payment plans. All of your options will be explained during your free consultation with the attorney at the Law Offices of Susan J. Salehi. Start at only $999 Attorney Fees. Restrictions Apply. Stop Foreclosures with a Chapter 13. Operators 24/7. (805) 654-1467, (818) 880-8305, (661) 631-0252, (805) 202-4688.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl3ljf_bankruptcy-lawyer-in-ventura-ca-susan-j-salehi_creation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMJSiWP2Pzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLzM0Hi6q10

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt679n_bankruptcy-attorney-ventura-oxnard-camarillo-santa-barbara_shortfilms

Monday, April 15, 2013

Wealthy Workers Are Seriously Underestimating Their Retirement Needs

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/03/28/wealthy-workers-underestimate-retirement-needs/

by Business Insider, Mar 28th 2013 9:00AM

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/03/28/wealthy-workers-underestimate-retirement-needs/

(Alamy)

By MANDI WOODRUFF

A lot of wealthy workers could be missing a vital flaw in their plans for retirement, a new survey shows.

More than 80 percent of workers earning $115,000 say they are prepared for retirement -- but they think they'll only need $66,000 per year to live on, Charles Schwab (SCHW) found.

Sure, it's possible to survive on $66,000 a year -- plenty of people would be glad to earn half that much in a year -- but chances are high-earners won't be prepared for that kind of lifestyle change, let alone unexpected costs that could come up down the road.

The Law Office of Susan J. Salehi has helped 1000’s of people like yourself with Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies since 1992, both in the Santa Barbara/Ventura and Kern County areas. We offer a free consultation, reasonable rates and payment plans. All of your options will be explained during your free consultation with the attorney at the Law Offices of Susan J. Salehi. Start at only $999 Attorney Fees. Restrictions Apply. Stop Foreclosures with a Chapter 13. Operators 24/7. (805) 654-1467, (818) 880-8305, (661) 631-0252, (805) 202-4688.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl3ljf_bankruptcy-lawyer-in-ventura-ca-susan-j-salehi_creation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMJSiWP2Pzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLzM0Hi6q10

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xt679n_bankruptcy-attorney-ventura-oxnard-camarillo-santa-barbara_shortfilms

Sunday, April 14, 2013

How to Handle Cash Flow When Disaster Strikes

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225818

Q: How do you handle cash flow when natural disasters or other forces beyond your control cause you to temporarily shut down your business?

A: Having lived through the devastation of Hurricane Sandy at the Jersey Shore, I have given this matter much thought recently. As I write this, businesses all around me are still struggling; unfortunately, many won't figure out the answer. A sober estimate from the American Red Cross says 40 percent of businesses shut down by a natural disaster like Sandy never reopen. Ouch.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Looking to Bolster Your Cashflow With a Home Mortgage Refinance? Consider These Tips

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226187

There is no such thing as free money. But refinancing your mortgage to get a lower interest rate is just about as close as you can get.

The average interest rate for the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.78 percent this week, according to the most recent national weekly mortgage survey from Bankrate.com, the online personal finance resource headquartered in North Palm Beach, Fla. That average includes 0.37 discount and origination points. With mortgage interest rates hovering below 4 percent, refinancing your home mortgage right now can lower your monthly payment and free up capital for your business.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Are You Sticking With Expensive Financing Too Long?

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/are-you-sticking-with-expensive-financing-too-long/?ref=smallbusiness

A broker assesses the small-business lending market.

I am currently involved in two loan transactions where the small-business owner stands to save substantial money by changing lenders. In both instances, these are relatively young companies that have been working with expensive private money lenders and factors, and their companies have grown to the point where they can now work with the asset-based lending departments at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured banks.
In fact, both of these transactions are taking advantage of the Small Business Administration’s recently revamped CAPLines program, which is designed to help companies with working capital.
In one on the financings, if the small-business owner chooses to proceed, his finance costs will fall by 75 percent, and his liquidity will increase by 50 percent. In the other transaction, the small-business owner can expect his cost of capital to fall by 50 percent this year.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Why We’re So Irrational When It Comes to Tax Refunds

http://business.time.com/2013/03/18/why-were-so-irrational-when-it-comes-to-tax-refunds/?iid=biz-main-lead

Think about it: A tax refund is just that — a refund of your own hard-earned money. It’s not a gift or a stroke of good fortune. The problem is that most people don’t look at tax refunds this way.

Most Americans—a full 75%—receive refunds after filing their taxes. In other words, most Americans have too much money withheld from their paychecks. More than half of Americans—58%, to be exact—say they intentionally plan to receive a refund each year. Understandably, people do so to avoid an unexpected tax payment come April 15, with the idea that it’s better to withhold a bit more to be on the safe side. But the average tax refund will be over $2,800 this year — well beyond “a bit more.”

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Do You Need a Fee-Only Insurance Consultant?

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/13/do-need-fee-only-insurance-consultant/

Looking for clarity before you commit to a complex whole life or universal life insurance plan? Or wondering whether Mom or Dad still needs that expensive life insurance policy that was purchased all those years ago?
You might benefit from a chat with a fee-only insurance consultant.
These advisers claim to offer something they say is rare in the insurance world: objective advice about complicated life insurance policies from knowledgeable specialists who have absolutely no financial stake in your decision, because they're not dependent on sales commissions.
"The customer doesn't have to worry that we're setting them up to sell them something," says Scott Witt, a fee-only insurance adviser based in New Berlin, Wis. "We're able to come up with much better solutions because we can take the product off the table and just talk at a high level about their needs and objectives before we discuss solutions."

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Payroll Tax Crushes Consumers

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/willis-report/blog/2013/02/22/payroll-tax-crushes-consumers

I know we're supposed to be in a low-growth economy, but prices sure aren't.
First off, rising food prices are hard to miss at the grocery store.
According to the government, ground beef is up 13.5% year over year, chicken is up more than 12%, steak up 9% and coffee is up 7.5%.
That's two of my three food groups. The third group, peanut butter, is up more than 11%.
I joke, but it’s very serious.
Consumer budgets are stretched to the limits, wages are stagnant or down for those with jobs, and for those on fixed incomes, there isn't a lot of room for T-bones when the price is skyrocketing.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Couple gets taxed for tapping IRA; how to pay?

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-montalk-20130317,0,4903490.column

Choices include cashing out a certificate of deposit, borrowing from a credit card or setting up a payment plan with the IRS.

Dear Liz: Help! We've just received devastating news from our accountant that we owe around $11,000 to the IRS and the state for 2012 taxes. The reason for the huge bill is that we cleaned out my husband's IRA to pay for our son's college expenses. My husband is almost 65 and working part time after being laid off, and I'm 61 with a full-time job. What is the best way to pay this bill? Here are the options I can think of: 1) Cash out my three-month emergency certificate of deposit of $12,000 that I've saved to cover expenses in case I get laid off. 2) Take money out of my IRA. 3) Use a credit card check that will be at zero percent for the first 12 months and then will slide to 8.9%. 4) Arrange a payment loan with the IRS. 5) Sell our house in which we have 70% equity. Which is best?
Answer: Let's take No. 2 off the table, shall we? If you learn nothing else from this experience, it should be that tapping retirement funds can trigger a big (and often unnecessary) tax bill.
Selling your house over an $11,000 bill is overkill, so let's eliminate that option as well.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

New Laws Take Guesswork Out of Investment Tax Liability

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/16/your-money/new-tax-laws-cover-cost-basis-of-investments.html?ref=your-money&_r=0

Until recently, the tax man rarely held you accountable for how much you profited — or lost — when you sold stocks or mutual funds.

Nico Willis, chief executive of NetWorth Services, said the new rules made paying taxes more complicated.

Instead, reporting those numbers on your tax return was generally based on the honor system: You reported how much you bought the stock for, and if you lost track or couldn’t remember, you made your best guess. The tax collectors didn’t have an automated way of checking your calculations.

Those days are over, at least in part. For the second consecutive tax season, a new law requires your investment brokerage firm to report to the I.R.S. the price you paid for certain taxable investments, known as your cost basis, a figure that also takes into account items like reinvested dividends, stock splits and company mergers.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

An Owner Rethinks How He Spends His Marketing Dollars

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/15/an-owner-rethinks-how-he-spends-his-marketing-dollars/

Generating revenue along with the buzz.

Back in January, Jeff Chinman, president of Broadway Kitchens and Baths, which remodels kitchens and bathrooms in Manhattan, Northern New Jersey, and Stamford, Conn., left a comment on this blog.
In the comment, he wrote that he was now on his third or fourth revamp of his Web site, that he had a Facebook page and was trying to figure out how to integrate Twitter and Facebook. He went on to ask whether he was really getting business in return for his efforts or whether he was just bothering his “little bubble of friends and acquaintances.” He said that his big question for 2013 was where he should invest his marketing dollars: Should he stick with radio and print or try harder with social media and Google AdWords?

Friday, April 5, 2013

Saving on Title Insurance

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/realestate/saving-money-on-title-insurance.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=economy&adxnnlx=1363538448-8I1EYTNMlCzU5xA+wl/MKA

Ostensibly, that premium (and sometimes assorted fees) reflects the cost of guaranteeing the borrower clear ownership of a property. Title agents search public records for tax liens and any other outstanding claims that need to be resolved, and then insure the borrower and the lender against claims that might have gone undetected.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

What Hospitals Charge the Uninsured

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/15/what-hospitals-charge-the-uninsured/?ref=economy

Uwe E. Reinhardt is an economics professor at Princeton. He has some financial interests in the health care field.

Steven Brill’s exposé on hospital pricing in Time magazine predictably provoked from the American Hospital Association a statement seeking to correct the impression left by Mr. Brill that the United States hospital industry is hugely profitable.

Today’s Economist

Perspectives from expert contributors.

In this regard, the association can cite not only its own regularly published data, but also data from the independent and authoritative Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or Medpac, established by Congress to advise it on paying the providers of health care for treating Medicare patients.

As shown by Chart 6-19 of Medpac’s report from June 2012, “Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program,” the average profit margin (defined as net profit divided by total revenue) for the hospital industry over all is not extraordinarily high, although for a largely nonprofit sector I would rate it more than adequate.

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

But in each year there is a large variance about that year’s average shown in Chart 6-19, with about 25 to 30 percent of hospitals reportedly operating in the red and many others earning margins below the averages.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

4 Things Young Entrepreneurs Need to Know About the JOBS Act

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226023

For many young entrepreneurs, landing startup funding is next to impossible. Banks won’t generally look at you unless you have two years of financials, and investors want to see serious traction before they’ll sign on. So what’s a young trep to do?
Enter, crowdfunding. Traditionally, donation based platforms like Kickstarter allow entrepreneurs to appeal to people at large for the capital necessary to start a project or product. In return, funders often receive tangible rewards like a T-shirt, product sample or VIP status.
That model is set to change, however. Last year, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act, became the law of the land. One of the most anticipated measures in the law gives entrepreneurs the ability to sell a financial stake in their companies to anyone, regardless of whether they’re accredited investors.

Pages