GUEST COLUMNS
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
With so much financial information available online, who needs paperwork cluttering your desk? But some members of Congress want Americans to get at least one financial document on paper: their annual Social Security statement.
Monday, September 27, 2021
President Joe Biden is leaning into his push to increase taxes on the rich as he seeks to unify Democrats in the House and Senate behind a $3.5 trillion bill that would expand federal efforts to fight climate change, reduce the cost of child care, expand educational access, reduce poverty and more.
Friday, September 24, 2021
Decades of underbuilding, largely due to red tape imposed by prohibitive land use laws, has pushed California into a housing crisis. Apartments and homes have never been more expensive. That's why state lawmakers passed laws giving Californians the right to build accessory dwelling units — also known as in-law suites or granny flats.
If you are among the nation's more than 31 million small businesses owners1, you likely spend much of your time juggling day-to-day activities of your business. While handling the here-and-now, it can be easy to put off planning for the future.
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Congress is tied up in knots over the scope and financing of President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion basket of enhanced social, educational and medical benefits.
The pandemic exposed all manner of inequalities, including access to high speed internet. Almost a quarter of California households did not have broadband subscriptions in 2019, according to a report from California Broadband Council.
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
California is poised to invest $10 billion to accelerate housing production and $12 billion to tackle homelessness.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
The San Joaquin Valley town of Corcoran is sinking.
"Rich is just the term we use to describe people who have more than us when we don't think they deserve it."
Monday, September 20, 2021
While important reforms have been approved for the Cal Grant system, AB 1456 would bring additional investment to make it better.
The changes to the form and its financial aid calculations aim to make the FAFSA simpler as well as to encourage more students to complete it and to expand aid eligibility for lower-income students.
Friday, September 17, 2021
In the fall, many employers offer an open enrollment period – a window of time to select your benefits package for the coming year. It's easy to overlook this opportunity and maintain the status quo, but this could be a costly mistake given the significant role benefits play in your financial life.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
While the intentions might be good, it will be extremely important for governing bodies to determine what is considered COVID-19 immune and COVID-19 vaccine exempt.
Living on the South Carolina coast means living under the threat of dangerous weather during storm season. But the added peril of the pandemic made Ann Freeman nervous.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
As if California needed another crisis, the state's seemingly perpetual wildfires are forcing millions of homeowners in fire-prone areas to pay skyrocketing premiums for insurance coverage — if, indeed, they can buy it at all.
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Later this month, a group of renters in the United States will get a new break when they try to become homeowners: Their history of consistently paying their landlords will count toward qualifying for a mortgage.
Monday, September 13, 2021
Was your home damaged by Hurricane Ida? Insurance experts say you should file claims as soon as possible — if you have coverage.
Friday, September 10, 2021
There is no right answer for everyone, but in many cases, it may make sense to use both active and passive investments to effectively build and manage a diversified portfolio.
It can't be said enough; California's farming industry is a cornerstone of this great state – our growers provide food for your families and the world. As we hear so often during this pandemic, farming and agriculture are essential.
Thursday, September 9, 2021
The government's app for facilitating transactions — its "digital wallet" — went offline temporarily, protesters took to the streets of the capital to denounce the move, and the price of Bitcoin dropped sharply, demonstrating the volatility of the cryptocurrency market.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021
An acquaintance had some good news to impart last week: Her son, who operates construction machinery, just got a raise from $43 an hour to $57. It explains why government construction is costly in California, but also undermines the popular belief that one must have a college degree to get a well-paying job.
Gov. Gavin Newsom's $6 billion broadband plan approved by the Legislature in July is a massive investment providing California's best chance yet to close the digital divide and finally connect the state's remaining unserved households that still have no internet service or very slow service.
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
The problem emerged last year as state employment systems were straining to process a crush of claims during the coronavirus pandemic. The fraud persists even as authorities try to crack down on it and as expanded pandemic unemployment benefits are set to expire, identity theft experts say.
Friday, September 3, 2021
Proposition 22 "appears only to protect the economic interests of the network companies in having a divided, ununionized workforce…"
If you're among those who plan to quit your current role in search of a better opportunity, it's important to consider how doing so could affect your finances. Here are some things to think about before you hand in your two-week notice.
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Under California law, non-exempt employees who are not provided a compliant meal and/or rest break must receive "premium pay" equal to one hour of pay.
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Three decades ago, it became apparent that casino gambling was coming to California and the only question was who would control and benefit from it.
Nearly $2 trillion in federal funding is flowing to state and local governments as part of the American Rescue Plan, which is more than what President Franklin Roosevelt spent on the New Deal, even after accounting for inflation.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Olympic athletes Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles received outpourings of support when they withdrew from competition recently to protect their mental and physical well-being.
A year and a half of pandemic living has revealed — or reminded us of — some persistent patterns around money, gender, marriage and families. And they aren't always pretty.
Monday, August 30, 2021
A new crop of mobile money apps are promoting themselves as part of the solution to a stubborn problem: a lack of financial savvy, particularly among young Americans.
Judge John F. Walter
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