Business News

We know it now, we may have felt it… so what did we do about it?  If you had asked me about the market in the beginning of the year I would have said, “If your not out — get out!”  If you had an investment that you couldn’t get out of, had an advisor that didn’t really manage your investments or a penalty that made it too painful… then you’re just part of the ‘road kill’. 

In 1989, I was blessed to be one of six speakers in an all day session in Los Angeles.  One of the other speakers was Dottie Walters.  Dottie Walters, along with her daughter Lillet Waters, is the author of Speak and Grow Rich, which was published in 1989.

Every mediator has his or her own style.  Good mediators have more than one effective style.  The tone of a mediation should vary based upon the participants.  In many cases, one of the parties believes that the other side is not hearing what is being said.  In this case, it is important for the mediator to reach out and make sure that the communications of both sides are being effectively received. 

The IRS’s years-long trend of getting more and more aggressive with taxpayers continued in FY2007

The numbers are in, taxpayers.  For those who questioned whether the IRS could continue its years-long trend of increasing audits with more vigilant enforcement, the numbers released for fiscal year 2007 show the tax-collect means business.

Retirement planning used to be relatively easy.  All you had to do was work with a good company for a large part of your career and then collect your pension checks in retirement.  In recent years, the traditional employer-provided pension plan has undergone a transformation.  Previously, most pension plan investments were directed by the employer or a trustee.  Today, most employers have adopted or are in the process of adopting a 401(k) or a similar type of retirement plan.  These plans give more of the retirement planning responsibility back to the employee.  If you participate in such a plan, generally you must decide how your 401(k) Plan assets will be diversified and invested.

There are obvious pros and cons to renting or selling your home.  In this brief editorial we will try to touch on the important facts.  Obviously, when you rent your home out, there are going to be negatives such as vacancies while your payments and taxes are still due.  During the change of tenants you will be required to make repairs such as carpet, paint, landscaping, etc. 

While Congress has just passed an “economic stimulus” package that will give an automatic return to each taxpayer, the IRS is stepping up its audit schedule in an effort to increase tax collection revenue.  IRS officials are targeting taxpayers making $100,000. year or more, self employed workers such as consultants and small business owners as well as foreign athletes and entertainers. 

To change or not to change banks?  That is a question most business owners will weigh at some point in the future.  As one of the oldest family-owned banks in the country that has served business customers for over 100 years, we do not take change lightly.  However, we recognize that change can be a good thing, especially when the health and future of your business is at stake.  So when is it time to change banks?

President Bush has signed the economic stimulus bill which includes tax rebate checks for many tax filers.  The rebates will range from $300 to $1,200 and more for couples with children under 17 years old.

The financial forecast for our economy is not that good due to slower economic growth, tighter credit, falling housing prices and erratic stock market.  So here are some ways to feel more secure about your money:

Striving for a better career position has been a New Year’s resolution for many professionals.  Having a great resume that beneficially sells your abilities is absolutely key to a successful new move.  Producing a well-written resume is an opportunity to present and reinforce your skills, abilities, background, education, personality and work ethic.  Remember though, the resume is a tool.  You must be prepared to sell yourself effectively as well!

Suing someone is not a lot of fun.  Being sued is even worse.  The courts were invented for the resolution of disputes.  It is often said that courts are a method of last resort.  This means that everything else has been tried to resolve the dispute and nothing has...

If you have been on the sidelines waiting to purchase a home, this year is beginning to look like best year to pick up a home at a great price.  Interest rates are in the low 5’s, home prices are very reasonable and sellers are more than willing to negotiate their price and terms. 

With Tax Season approaching, it is helpful to take note of a few new items that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) are offering.

In California, if you have a claim for personal injuries or wrongful death against a private party, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit. Additionally, you are not required to file a claim against the private party before you file a lawsuit. However, if you have such a claim against a public or government entity, you have to abide by government statutes requiring you to file a claim with a much shorter time frame.

Gateway Village has sold to Grosvenor International, and CB Richard Ellis has been awarded the Property Management contract.  Ms. Pam Craig has been brought on board to manage Gateway Village, a 153,000 square foot shopping center.  Ms. Craig is a local resident, but no stranger to CB Richard Ellis, as she has held various positions with the firm for twenty years.

How many retirement plans and accounts do you currently have?  Are you sure?  It’s easy to lose track, especially if you have changed jobs or opened IRAs in tax seasons only to have forgotten about them later.  Knowing the location and value of your retirement assets is an important part of retirement planning.  To simplify your efforts, consider consolidating those assets with IRA rollovers.

Our professionally trained and experienced staff has been serving clients in Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County for over 23 years.  Our integrity, reliability and expertise have fueled our continued growth for the last two decades while our personal touch has set us apart from the rest.