The Tengah Garden Residences Launch: A Convergence of Economic Policy and Property Finance

by Kaeden Karly

Singapore’s property market operates within one of the most structured land and housing policy systems in the world. Public land ownership, long-term planning, and fiscal discipline shape how every new residential project enters the market.

That framework gives context to the launch of Tengah Garden Residences Tengah, which reflects how political intent and financial planning intersect. The development sits within Tengah Forest Town, a government-led vision that blends housing supply, transport efficiency, and environmental goals. Its location and timing are outcomes of deliberate policy choices rather than market chance.

Land Policy as a Financial Lever

concept illustration of Jurong Region Line MRT stations near residential blocks

Most residential land in Singapore is released through the Government Land Sales program, overseen by the Ministry of National Development and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. These land releases are calibrated to match population growth, housing demand, and broader economic conditions. When a parcel is offered, it signals confidence in long-term demand.

For developers, this system reduces uncertainty but raises the stakes. Bids reflect expectations around financing costs, future buyer demand, and policy stability. For buyers, it means pricing is influenced by public decisions long before a show flat opens. Political control of land supply directly affects feasibility and return on investment across the private sector.

Transport Decisions and Market Value

Infrastructure planning plays a quiet yet powerful role in shaping property outcomes. Tengah’s integration into the Jurong Region Line, led by the Land Transport Authority, is a clear example. MRT stations are planned years ahead, often before residential blocks rise.

These transport commitments influence developer interest and buyer confidence. Accessibility reduces commuting time, supports job mobility, and anchors future commercial activity. Once a line is announced, surrounding land values tend to adjust. This ripple effect shows how transit is less about mobility alone and more about economic positioning.

Sustainability as a Policy Signal

Tengah Forest Town is positioned as Singapore’s first large-scale car-lite and eco-focused town. Centralized cooling, smart energy systems, and green corridors are not marketing slogans. They stem from national sustainability targets aligned with Singapore’s Green Plan 2030.

Such policies carry financial implications. Energy-efficient design can lower long-term operating costs for households. Green credentials increasingly influence buyer perception, especially among younger families. Over time, sustainability standards may affect resale performance as regulations tighten and expectations shift.

Finance Meets Governance

Property financing does not operate in isolation. Loan-to-value limits, Total Debt Servicing Ratio rules, and stamp duties are policy tools designed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Finance. These measures aim to balance affordability with financial stability. For a broader look at practical investment guidance, especially on what investors should and should not do, read about the Do’s and Don’ts in Real Estate Investing.

Within this environment, Tengah Garden Residences Tengah becomes a case study in how regulatory clarity shapes market behavior. Buyers evaluate not just price, but long-term holding costs, financing eligibility, and policy risk. Developers, in turn, price units with these constraints in mind.

Signals for the Broader Economy

Residential projects linked to new towns often act as economic indicators. They reflect government confidence in employment growth, regional development, and infrastructure readiness. Tengah’s proximity to Jurong Lake District, planned as Singapore’s second central business district, reinforces this signal.

Such alignment encourages both owner-occupiers and long-term investors. The market response is guided by more than emotion. It is shaped by policy consistency and fiscal planning.

Conclusion

The launch of Tengah Garden Residences highlights how property markets mirror the balance between political governance and financial strategy. Land release decisions, transport investment, and sustainability frameworks combine to influence value and risk. Understanding these forces offers clearer insight into why certain developments matter beyond their brochures.

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Charli XCX “Brat” Branding of Kamala Harris Sends Campaign Contributions Soaring to Record-Breaking Levels

by Paden Kegan

American Voters in campain rallyKamala Harris’ campaign team reported that as of the end July, 2024, “the Brat” raised as much as $310 million to date since Harris entered the US presidential race as a presumptive nominee. On day one of being nominated by Pres. Joe Biden after the latter formally withdrew his candidacy, VP Kamala Harris has garnered record-breaking figures in campaign donations. The overwhelming reactions came from big and small donors, including some who admitted that they are registered Republican voters.

Harris’ campaign funds grew even larger after her nomination as presidential candidate of the Democratic Party was confirmed last August 21, 2024. Apparently, nearly 700K young new voters are showing support for the US Veep, after social media influencer and TikTok artist Charli XCX called Harris a “brat” in her X tweet.

Charli’s “brat” tweet immediately went viral as ibrat was a term widely understood by young Americans who regularly get their news updates from TikTok.
In the meantime, former president Donald Trump has been struggling to raise additional campaign funds. which amounted to only $137 million by the end of July.

What Exactly is the Meaning of Charli XCX’s “Brat” Description

youn American voterA “brat” by Charli XCX’s definition is someone who is quite honest, to the point of being blunt and could be a little volatile as she is an individual inclined to embrace the messiness of life.

Touted as a sign of cultural renaissance of the modern youths between the ages 18 – 29 years old, Taylor Swift’s, Beyonce’s, Charli’s and other prominent celebrities’ endorsement of Kamala Harris fueled the desire of new young voters to actively support Harris in her campaign.

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The Proposed SALT Marriage Penalty Elimination Bill: What is It Really?

by Paden Kegan
  • US Congress Washington DCAny time soon, the House of Representatives is poised to vote on the latest bipartisan tax bill seeking to raise the current $10K SALT deduction cap to $20K for married couples. Captioned as Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, the increment is set to modify the SALT deduction guidelines included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, the proposed deduction increment will apply only to the forthcoming 2023 tax filing.

If Congress approves the $20,000 increment, it will take effect only in the filing of the 2023 tax returns by jointly-filing married couples. In that case, it denotes that the original $10K SALT deduction cap and existing guidelines will prevail thereafter, until the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires in 2026.

What Exactly is the SALT Deduction Cap and How Does It Affect Taxpayers?

First off, the acronymtate and ;pca; tax deductions  SALT stands for State and Local Tax and used to specify the allowed deductions that both single and jointly filing taxpayers can claim in their annual tax return; but up to 2026 only.

sThe present rule is that the SALT deduction is capped at $10K for joint-filing and single taxpayers who deduct local property, income and sales tax on their federal return.

However, the allowed SALT deductions apply only for taxpayers who opted to file returns using the itemized method. It does not apply if the return was filed using the standard deduction method. The latter does not require the itemization of the expenses deducted from earned income or sales revenues as it uses only a certain percentage for claiming deductions.

Moreover, a taxpayer cannot claim as deduction both the taxes paid for sales revenues and for income earned as remuneration. A taxpayer must opt to use as deductions either the taxes paid on income or the taxes paid on sales revenues.

The currently proposed increase of SALT Deductions Cap to $20K is for the benefit of jointly-filing married couples whose adjusted Gross Income amounts to less than $500,000. Again, the increase, if approved, will affect married couples and will take effect exclusively for the 2023 tax filing only. Thereafter, the deduction cap reverts to $10K unless a new legislation is passed between 2024 and 2026.

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Who Needs Pre Settlement Funding and Who Provides Them

by Paden Kegan

legal funding companycar accidentGetting a pre settlement funding to use while injured due to an accident caused by an errant driver, will help alleviate worries over payment of hospital bills and other expenses.

Although sometimes called a lawsuit loan, the legal funding company that granted the pre-settlement funding will get paid only if there is already a judicial ruling on who is at fault or an extrajudicial (out-of-court) settlement regarding the accident.

Yet in the event the court decided the supposedly errant driver is not at fault, the complainant who received the pre settlement funding or lawsuit loan is not required to pay the legal funding company. The granting of the pre settlement funding was a risk taken by the financier, which makes evaluating the potential merits of the lawsuit an important aspect of the lending business.

On the other hand, when the victim or the plaintiff of a lawsuit is contemplating on taking out a lawsuit loan, he or she must work closely with the financing company providing the pre settlement funding.

Since the element of risk could impact the financial position of the financier, the latter will impose terms and interest rates that will allow the company to profit from the business of lending money without guarantee of future payment.

Pre settlement funding is a financial tool offered to individuals who, as a result of an accident or professional neglect, lose their ability to work and earn money they will use to pay for hospitalization bills and other expenses such as rent, groceries, utilities and the like.

Kinds of Legal Causes Considered as Eligible by Providers of Pre Settlement Funding

law and orderThe granting of pre settlement funding depends on the cause of the legal complaint filed by an individual against another person or entity as a way to seek payment for an injury or damage caused by an accident, neglect or malpractice.

While it takes time for a court to decide on a lawsuit, the complainant or plaintiff who has been incapacitated or disabled by the accident needs money to pay for groceries, bills and medications. However, not all lawsuits seeking compensation can avail of a pre settlement funding while awaiting the court’s decision.

The following are examples of such lawsuits:

1.  Car accidents, especially if the driver of the vehicle is DUI;

2. Slip and fall accidents leading to loss of wages, pain, suffering as well as incurrence of medical expenses;

3. Nursing home neglect and abuse that caused pain and suffering to the person who was entrusted to the nursing home.

4. Medical malpractice claims are lawsuits filed against a healthcare provider such as a doctor or nurse who gave substandard or inappropriate care and treatment that caused harm, injury or death to a person under his or her professional care.

5. Pedestrian accidents refer to the physical injuries or loss of life caused by a motor vehicle after hitting a pedestrian or person not riding a motor vehicle.

6. Bicycle accidents

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House Reps. Introduce TICKET Act to Force Ticket Sellers to Disclose Base Price and Fees

by Paden Kegan

US lawmakers recently introduced the TICKET Act, which aims to force ticket sellers to display upfront and at point of sale, all fees imposed as charges. The bipartisan bill formally titled as “Transparency In Charges for Key Events Ticketing” (TICKET) Act came around after the sale of Taylor Swift’s Era Concert Tour became “the last stroke that broke the camel’s back” so to speak.

The TICKET Act forces ticket sellers and brokers to indicate the ticket base price and all the additional charges that increase the cost of a ticket. Such information must also be shown in events advertisements and in every piece of marketing material used in promoting the event.

TICKET Act Spawned by Ticketmaster’s Suspension of Sales to General Public

Lawmakers led by Representatives Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois and Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, introduced the bill to provide protection for consumers against the increasing difficulties and price manipulations caused by ticket presales and price speculations. Although fiascos in events ticket selling have been happening in the past years, the issue heightened after Ticketmaster, the dominant ticket broker of the Taylor Swift Eras concert tour, suspended ticket sales to the general public due to ticket insufficiency.

The debacle incited outrage, as Taylor Swift herself spoke harshly against Ticketmaster’s move to oust fans belonging to the general public sector. Although Ticketmaster later apologized, groups of outraged fans reached out to lawmakers in Congress to put an end to the unethical ticket selling practice of allowing speculative prices that have become a norm among sellers; allegedly ever since Beyonce and Taylor Swift concert tickets became highly in demand.

Democratic Representative Schakowsky issued a statement stating:

. “Ticket consumers deserve protection against fraudulent ticket selling and excessive fees and surprise costs.

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Actions To Manage Tow Business Finances

by Heather Feliks

Running a small business can be challenging. With the need to supervise staff, deliver products and services, and promote the business, it can seem like there are a lot of tasks that you need to accomplish at the same time.

Managing finances is crucial. However, this is an often overlooked aspect of running a small business. By managing your finances effectively, you can optimize the performance of your Towing San Jose business. Fortunately, some simple strategies can help you manage your small business finances.

Strategies to effectively manage your towing business finances

Use a software

Consider using an invoicing app designed for small businesses to simplify monthly red tape. A useful strategy could be to create a visual representation of the operations and processes within your business. This can make it easier to identify areas that need improvement and increase efficiency. By using specialized software, it is possible to automate tasks such as invoicing. This leads to significant time savings.

Benefit from tax deductions

An important part of running a small business is taking advantage of the available tax deductions for which you are eligible. You can deduct any expenses related to your business, such as computer equipment and office supplies. It is essential to keep accurate records and documents to support your deductions and avoid tax liabilities. Knowing what deductions are available to you can help reduce stress during tax season and minimize the taxes you owe.

Call on the services of a financial consultant

By now, managing the finances of a small business can seem like an overwhelming effort, even to the point of becoming devastating, causing you to procrastinate. If this resonates with you, hiring a financial advisor might be an option. Financial advisors are experts who provide financial advice to businesses and individuals. They can provide assistance with investments and retirement planning, among other things.

A financial advisor can help you manage your finances so you don’t have to go it alone. In addition, they are a great resource to rely on when you need financial strategies or a second opinion on your ideas.

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Is a College Degree Still Worth All the Trouble?

by Paden Kegan

Recent surveys report that more employers are realizing that a 4-year college degree isn’t the best gauge of an applicant’s real value as a potential worker. That being the case, three educational institutions namely: Miami Dade College, Dallas College and Western Governors University, have launched an initiative to define and to establish individual skills that a broad range of employers consider as important. That way, providing education will either separate or combine relevant course work as requirements for earning a college degree.

Apparently, there is a need for colleges and universities to overhaul the kind of college education programs being offered in preparing students for different careers. Needless to say only the high cost of education and not the quality of education has been experiencing growth.

Not Enough Returns Gained from Investing on a College Education

A recent survey conducted by Harris Poll shows that 51% of Americans surveyed say that the cost of education have prevented them from completing a 4-year college degree. Actually, there is already an ongoing lack of enthusiasm in obtaining a college degree, as many degree holders are expressing disappointment over their earning capabilities. Their job is not bringing in higher returns after payment of taxes and student loans.

Previously, a college education was seen as the “golden ticket” for realizing the American Dream of landing a career that offers job security and a lifetime of earnings. In recent decades however, many college graduates landed jobs that paid meager salaries, barely exceeding the amount they paid in settling student debts.

Major Businesses Hire Graduates with Skills in Computer Technology

Since most businesses today have a need for a workforce with technological skills, liberal arts graduates are finding it hard to compete in the jobs market. Even if they do get a job, they are disappointed that despite the expensive higher education, their skills are not enough to earn returns that compensate for the amount and hard work they invested in obtaining a college education.

The broader knowledge and understanding of how the global community thrives can be obtained through liberal art studies. Yet major global powers have not made any remarkable improvements in solving important issues like environmental threats, foreign policies, ethics, and national and international security issues, despite high levels of learning in the fields of liberal arts. As a result, many industries prefer to bank on artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies when needing to arrive at major decisions.

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Fastest Rising Inflation Rate Ever, from 0.4% in November to 7% in December

by Paden Kegan

Economists surveying the Dow Jones are satisfied the rise in inflation rate didn’t exceed predictions, and expectations of how fast the CPI would increase. Based on the CPI gauge, the percentage increased by 7% last December 2021. It has been the fastest increase since June 1982, as the November gauge reflected only 0.4% increase in inflation rate.

What Exactly is CPI?

 

CPI stands for consumer price index, which is an inflation gauge as it considers the costs of so many items in its calculations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage had increased by 0.5% every month .

The core CPI increased by 5.5% which excludes food and energy, and is deemed as the largest increment ever recorded since February 1991. The increase last year came even though there were shortages of workers and supply of goods. At the same time there’s the availability of stimulus funds infused into the economy by Congress and the Federal Reserve.

Costs related to shelters make up almost ⅓ of the total percentage, and it increased by 4.1% based on annual gauges, and at 0.4% on a monthly basis. On the other hand, https://youtu.be/ReRYI86Ovmsthe CPI of used vehicle prices increased by 3.5% in December. Actually, it is one of the main reasons the inflation increase during the pandemic. As it is, there is limited new vehicle production, as a result of supply chain limitations.

On the other hand, energy prices went down for the month by 0.4%, specifically gasoline prices dipped by 0.5%, while fuel oil dropped at by 2.4%.

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Biden Administration To Reduce Homeless Population via the “House America” Program

by Paden Kegan

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki recently announced the Biden administration’s “House America” initiative in bringing down the rate of homelessness, occurring throughout the country. Ms. Psaki mentioned that “House America” will be calling on state and local leaders to help in the attainment of ambitious goals that aim to reduce the size of the country;s homeless population.

The related government agencies will ask officials of states, counties, and cities to pledge their participation in suppressing homelessness. In return, the federal government will furnish them financial support and other resources to use in working toward the achievement of two important goals: . The federal government will be giving support and guidance in attaining two goals:

  • Build new affordable units for those who are on the point of becoming homeless and;
  • Provide permanent housing for homeless individuals.

List of Local and State Leaders Who Have Aready Pledged Commitment to the “House America” Program

Currently, several mayors and state governments have a;ready [ledged their commitment to participate in the federal government’s “House America”, namely:

  • The mayors of Austin, Oakland, Washington, D.C., and Seattle;
  • The governors of California and Maine to which the first to put in place policy for the homelesness reduction initiatives are Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti together with Holly Mitchelln the LA County Supervisor and Chuck Hoskin Jr, the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

The ambition is to have a repeat the success of the Obama’s administration;s 2016 campaign in curbing veteran homelessness by 50%. During that time, around 800 city mayors and county executives worked hand in hand with the federal government to achieve the goal.

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Biden Says Bipartisan Deal on Infrastructure Funding Reached

by Paden Kegan

After meeting with several Republican senators last month, POTUS Joe Biden announced a bipartisan deal that works toward the passing of the infrastructure bill. Biden candidly mentioned that although they had arrived at a bipartisan deal that did not give him all that he wanted, he said the GOP senators gave more that what they were originally inclined to offer as their commitment.

According to the members of the group, the agenda was mainly about the funding for the package to which a framework has been agreed upon. It included a proposed amount of $579 billion in new spending, and an almost $1 trillion funding that will be spent during a five-year period. There’s also an option to increase funding to $1.2 trillion but to be spread across eight years.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins told reporters that discussions delved mostly on the scope, the costs and the method of paying for the such costs. Senator Collins added that although the three items were not easy to be agreed to, doing so was necessary.

Agreement Over Proposed Funding for the Entire Infrastructure Package

The White House has released details related to the proposed new funding, which will be financed using the money gained from reducing fraud in unemployment insurance as well as from the unused unemployment relief package from last year’s emergency relief bill and from “tax gaps”.

In addition, other funding sources would come from the following:

  • State and local investments in broadband infrastructure;
  • 5G spectrum auction proceeds;
  • Extending expiring customs user payments;
  • Reinstating Superfund payments for chemicals
  • Extending “mandatory sequestration”action
  • An estimated sale of the country’s petroleum reserve;
  • Public-private partnerships and private activity bonds;
  • Asset recycling and directly paid bonds for infrastructure investments
  • Resulting macroeconomic impact of Infrastructure improvement investment
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IRS Warns of New Phishing Scam Targeting Taxpayers with Claims for Tax Refunds

by Paden Kegan

Last week, the IRS warns about a phishing scam that has been on college students and staff of educational institutions expecting to receive pending tax refunds, The warning was published last week after the tax agency received reports that government’s phishing@irs.gov email received numerous complaints related to impersonation scams that have been generally targeting persons whose email addresses with “.edu”.

How the Tax Refund Phishing Scam is Being Perpetuated

Using fake emails supposedly coming from the tax agency, which included logos to make their messages more believable, scammers sent notices that made references to “Recalculation of your tax refund payment.” and “Tax Refund Payment”. The fake email also asked the recipients to click on a link to a fake website where they will fill out the necessary info to facilitate the processing of their claims for a tax refund.

In filling out the form, the victims were required to provide the usual personal information like first and last name, present address complete with info about city and state, postal code and date of birth, Since the form looked legitimate, the victims were also dupped into providing their Prior Year Annual Gross Income (AGI), Social Security Number, Driver’s License and IRS Electronic Filing PIN.

While other taxpayers might also receive this kind of emails,the IRS warns not to click on the link in the email but instead report it to the government agency. They can also save the email and simply forward it to phishing@irs.gov since the investigators from the IRS Criminal Investigation and from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) are already looking into this latest phishing scam..

Action That Refund Victims Have to Take

In order to prevent the scammers from having unauthorized access to the IRS accounts that were compromised as a result of the phishing scam, the IRS recommends for the victims to immediately acquire an Identity Protection (IP) PIN.

An IP PIN can prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using the victim’s name, as it requires a different set of a six-digit password. Taxpayers who believe they still have a pending tax refund to claim, can check the status of their claim through the IRS website via the “Where’s My Refund?”/Refund page.

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Sen. Warren to Continue Pushing for Wealth Tax as Member of Senate Finance Committee

by Paden Kegan

Despite not winning the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Elizabeth Warren says she will still push for her radical campaign calls for Wealth Tax.

Last Tuesday, February 02, Senator Warren confirmed that she will soon be joining the Senate Finance Committee. The committee membership is considered a choice assignment since she will have greater ability to push for a tax legislation that will impose levy on amassed wealth amounting to more than $50 million. In fact her announcement served as an ominous warning to the super rich, saying that introducing a WealthTax will her first order of business.

During President Biden’s campaign for presidential nomination, his tax proposal was to raise taxes on households with more than $400,000 in annual earnings, and to hike up the rate of corporate taxes, as well as to make certain modifications on Capital Gains Tax. Despite the contrast, the former Vice President still won the primary elections, relegating Wealth Tax proponents Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren to second and third positions, respectively.

Brief Overview of Senator Warren’s Forthcoming Wealth Tax and Other Legislation Proposals

The Massachusetts senator’s office said that the Wealth Tax she plans on legislating is basically the same as the “two-cent tax” she voiced during her campaign, plus an “additional surtax” that will be imposed on every dollar of wealth exceeding $1 billion. The surtax rate, though, is yet to be determined.

Moreover, Senator Warren promised that she will still continue to push her campaign calls for cancellations of student loans, for changes that will make college education more affordable and for increasing funding for K-12 education. In a related statement, Senator Warren said she will continue to fight for the working families to provide them with meaningful relief, by being a progressive voice in instituting long lasting economic security for struggling American families.

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Trump and Biden Raising Funds for Election Lawsuits but with a Difference

by Paden Kegan

As Trump insists he won the presidential election, his campaign team is raising funds to finance the legal costs of proving he lost due to election fraud. Trump supporters have been receiving emails in which donations are being solicited to financially support the filing of lawsuits filed in several stated to prove Trump won the presidency.

Some Republican voters who received such emails spoke to the press people but on conditions of anonymity. While the emails gave estimates that the anticipated legal costs will amount to as much as $60 to $100 million, the donation page revealed additional information that many supporters found disturbing.

Trump’s Current Fund Raising Drive, a Last Ditch Effort to Fill Campaign Coffers

Apparently, the fundraising emails are last ditch efforts to get hold of money that will cover the unpaid balances of contracts entered by Trump’s campaign team. As stated in fine print in the donation pages, the funds that will be solicited by the Trump campaign will be distributed as follows:

1.  Sixty percent (60%) of every donation that will be collected will be used to pay off unsettled obligations incurred during Trump’s 2020 campaign activities.

2.  The remaining 40% will go to the operations account of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

3.  Any funds remaining after all obligations have been settled, will be the amount that will go to the Legal Proceedings Account of the Republicans, for use in the payment of litigation expenses related to the electoral fraud lawsuits.

Based on the most recent finance reports of federal campaign funds, Trump and his campaign team had access to $60 million dollars in early October. However, in weeks prior to the day of the election, reports have it that Trump’s campaign team had contracted a hefty amount $160 million for television advertisements, which quite obviously, is way above the actual money that was available.

Actually, Trump will likely face more lawsuits once he steps out of the presidential office, and the filing of legal complaints regarding the results of the 2020 election is seen as the only legal means of delaying the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden.

Biden Camp is Also Soliciting Similar Donations from Supporters

In fairness, the former president is not the only one who is currently taking actions for the lawsuits. President-elect Biden’s campaign team has also established a new committee called the Biden Fight Fund.

This committee will help shield Biden’s campaign from the lawsuits that Trump and his party are poised to file. Emails have been sent to Biden supporters, encouraging them to donate $25 as aid to the team in constructing legal efforts, which accordingly will work toward making sure democracy will triumph.

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A Quick Look at the Differences of PPP in the HEROES Act vs. HEALS Act

by Paden Kegan

While the House of Representatives passed a 4th coronavirus relief bill last May, the Senate House did not put it up for review before Congress went into an August recess. Instead, the Republican majority passed its own version, calling it the HEALS Act, as opposed to the Heroes Act passed by the House in May.

The first distinguishing aspect about the Republucan’s HEAL Act is that the amount being pushed for by the Senate is only $1 trillion, which cuts down the $2.2. trillion of the original CARES Act. In contrast, the House of Representatives is proposing to increase the stimulus fund to $3 trillion.

Although many of the states in the U.S. opened their economies much earlier than what health experts recommended as safe, the premature opening failed to launch many businesses on the road to recovery. The economy hardly improved as the disregard for safe distancing measures only resulted in the rapid increase of COVID-19 infection cases and deaths in most states.

Many commercial establishments also suffered as a result of the protest movements combined with the looting and burning incidents instigated by agitators. Although millions were able to go back to work, millions also lost their jobs. Most nonessential businesses had to close shop again, especially in regions where on a daily basis, tens of thousands had been testing positive with the coronavirus disease.

Congress is about to put the two proposals up for deliberation and hopefully for finalization next week when sessions reconvene. Yet it appears strong oppositions coming from both sides will slow down the legislation processes. A number of Democrats are not too keen on approving additional funds for the contentious Payroll Protection Program (PPP), since reports have it that large take outs went to companies that did not meet the eligibility criteria.

Currently, more than $100 billion of the PPP funds lay unclaimed. Many small business owners are wary that the present on and off reopening will make it difficult for them to meet the forgiveness feature of the PPP loan.

Differences in PPP Proposed by HEROES Act vs. HEALS Act

Inasmuch as the PPP dole outs have been reported as faulty, and with $100 billion still available, House Democrats are not proposing additional funding for the program. Nonetheless, their Heroes Act recommends the elimination of the 75% payroll requirement as forgiveness criterion, whilst moving the application deadline up to December 31, 2020.

On the other hand, the HEALS Act of the Republicans intends to inject an additional $190 billion to the present PPP fund balance. Moreover, if the HEALS Act PPP passes both Houses, eligibility requirements will be expanded in order to qualify those disqualified under the CARES Act. Although the HEALS Act also proposes the elimination of the 75% payroll expense requirement, it also wants to expand fund usage that will qualify PPP borrowers for forgiveness.

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Trump Still Aims to Control the CARES Fund

by Paden Kegan

Trump recently removed the Inspector General who was supposed to head the committee tasked to oversee the disbursements of the CARES Act Fund. The creation of an oversight committee was one of the conditions fought hard for by both Democratic and Republican Senators in approving the release of the $2.2 trillion government funds under the guidelines of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act or The CARES Act.

 

Yet Trump who had stated beforehand that he intends to be the sole “oversight” in controlling and monitoring the release of the funds, has taken action to circumvent that condition. In a move that is typical of this incumbent U.S. president who has no regard for ethics, Trump removed Glenn Fine as acting Department of Defense Inspector General.

IG Fine gave Congress no reason to worry in leading the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee that was set up in connection with the approval of the CARES law. After all, he has served as Inspector General for the Department of Justice for 11 years, whilst keeping an excellent nonpartisan record in carrying out his duties.

Trump did not fire Glen HInes but merely sent him back to his former position of principal Deputy Inspector General for the Dept. Of Defense (DoD) before he assumed the position of Acting IG for the said department. Had Trump designated another Inspector General to replace Fine as DoD head, Trump’s action might not be a cause for concern.

Instead, Trump designated Jason Abend, a Trump-appointed senior policy adviser at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as the new Inspector General of DoD. The move also effectively placed Abend as head of the CARES oversight committee.

How Jason Abend’s Qualifications Compare to Glen Fine

Glen Fine has a long record of serving as Inspector General for the Department of Justice, a position he held during the presidency of Bill Clinton. In 2015, Fines accepted a post to become the Principal Deputy Inspector General of the DoD. In January 2016 and under the Obama Administration, Fine became the acting inspector general for the same department.

Apparently, what Trump did was to demote instead of promote Fine as a full-fledged Inspector General at the Department of Defense.

In contrast, before Jason Abend was appointed by Trump as Senior Policy Advisor of the U.S. CBP, he worked as a special agent of the Inspector General offices at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and at the Federal HOusing Finance Agency.

A special agent is basically a federal law enforcement officer tasked to conduct investigations related to minor criminal or non-criminal cases. A special agent has no authority to investigate major criminal cases, Obviously, Abend’s credentials in becoming the Inspector General of the Department of Defense is not as well-founded as that of Glen Fine’s.

 

After announcing Abend as the new IG for DoD, Trump had given instructions for the CARES Act oversight committee, to first pass on to the White House any information that it intends to forward to Congress.

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House Ethics Committee Orders Republican Rep. McMorris Rodgers to Return $7,500 in Misused Funds

by Paden Kegan

Prior to the close of 2019, the House Ethics Committee concluded its 5-year investigation on how the staffers in Rep, McMorris Rodgers office made improper use of campaign funds and official resources! including staff time, travel funds and congressional office space in carrying out political activities. According the Ethics Committee Report, poor record keeping and “sloppy practices” dating as far back as 2008 had contributed to the improper use of campaign funds.

In light of the findings, the panel chaired by Florida Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch, imposed sanctions on Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, ordering her to pay over $7,500 as reimbursement of the misused government funds, including payments for official consultants using campaign funds, as well as accepting voluntary services for political purposes.

The extensive documents compiled reflected a “concerning pattern” of how the staffers in the office of Representative McMorris Rodgers frequently demonstrated indifference to the laws under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and the rules and regulations set forth in House Rule XXIII. House Rule XXII of the House Code of Official Conduct,

What the FECA Laws and Rules Describe as Proper Use of Campaign Funds and Resources

The House Rules state that Campaign Funds, which include goods and services procured with campaign funds, are separate from the official resources available to congressional members. House rules govern campaign funds including those allotted for state or local elections. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) on the other hand, governs campaign funds used for election to a federal office.

Primarily, a House Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner shall keep campaign funds separate from personal funds; nor in any manner convert campaign funds for personal use even if said amount represents excess of a legitimate and verifiable use for campaign purposes. Basically campaign funds cover only bona fide political or campaign expenditures.

Moreover, there are certain exceptions and limitations that must be observed if ever campaign funds will be used for official House purposes.

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Facebook’s Libra Cryptocurrency Facing Oppositions on All Sides

by Paden Kegan

Facebook’s planned introduction of its Libra cryptocurrency is facing opposition on all sides that an actual launch by year 2020 could be stalled. As it is, U.S. legislators, financial regulators and government officials not only in the U.S. but also in EU countries are wary that a payment processing system running on blockchain technology and operated by Facebook, presents serious concerns and issues.

Lawmakers cannot accept the social media company’s motives at face value, since the Libra business model when combined with the Facebook social site is regarded as much too invasive over users’ private information. In enticing FB denizens to use the Libra cryptocurrency, Facebook will likewise gain access to credit card, bank account and ewallet data as well.

After all, the main problem with Mark Zuckerberg’s social media company is the laxity by which they have been handling data entrusted to them by millions of users. Legislators on both political sides insist that for them to allow the rollout of Libra cryptocurrency and its blockchain platform, Libra operators must do so under strict government oversight and regulations.

House Representative Maxine Waters, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee cited Libra’s potential use as medium for carrying out money laundering transactions and other illegal financial activities. She also demands Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance before her and in her committee hearings. That way, Zuckenberg will provide clear and definite testimonies on how his newly formed subsidiary Calibra, intends to address all issues being raised against the Libra cryptocurrency project.

Although Facebook claims that Libra cryptocurrency operations will run under the governance of the Libra Association, it does not serve as a guarantee that all issues raised against the cryptocurrency project will be effectively addressed. After all, the Libra Association represents about 28 multinationals and non-profit organizations that will contribute $10 million or £8 million dollars each before one becomes an official Libra Associate.

Obviously, they are first and foremost investors whose interest in providing financial backing is to profit from Libra’s future cryptocurrency operations.

Financial Backers of Facebook’s Libra Project Led by PayPal, Showing Signs of Withdrawing Commitment

PayPal has already pulled out from its Libra-partnership commitment, while representatives of credit card companies Mastercard and Visa are set to meet on October 14, to finalize decisions on whether or not they will become official members of the Libra Association. More companies who had signed letters of intent to provide support as a Libra Associate, are reportedly having doubts about finalizing plans to join Facebook’s Libra project.

Apparently, commitments are being shaken by the growing opposition and potential regulatory problems; especially if EU countries like Germany and France will block the Libra digital money should it move forward. Both countries issued a joint statement conveying that

”no private company must claim the right to have monetary power that belongs inherently to the sovereignty of nations.”

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Full Grasp of Your Loan Options

by Herman Shane

When in search for a debt financing option to launch or expand your business, you are quite in luck for there are numerous options that you can turn to. This includes but not limited to:

  • Commercial lenders
  • Banks and;
  • Personal credit cards

The best thing about this is that, you do not have to pinpoint the exact loan type you needed before approaching a lender. It’s for the reason that they are the one who would help you decide what kind of financing is suitable for your needs. On the other hand, you need at least a general idea of the available loans. This is the only way that you can understand what is being offered to you by the lender like (link).

Line of Credit

This loan is useful for those who have small business. Truth is, it a permanent loan arrangement that business owners have with banker. This gives protection to businesses from stalled cash flow and emergency situation.

More often than not, line of credit loan is used for payment of operation costs for business cycle needs, working capital as well as purchasing of inventory. However, they are not designed to buy serious business assets like real estate or major equipment.

Installment Loan

Technically, these loans are paid every month that’s either equivalent to the amount of loan initially applied for or with interest. Installment loans might be written to suit all kinds of business requirements.

You get to receive the amount in full after the contract’s been signed and the interest has been calculated from the approved date to final day of your loan.

Balloon Loan

Despite the fact that this type of loan is written under a different name, this is still identifiable by the amount received after the contract is signed. However, only when the interest has been finally paid off during the life of loan. With balloon payment, the principal is due on final day.

What happens often is, the lender offers loan to which both the principal amount and interest are paid in a single balloon payment. It is because of this why balloon loans are reserved for instances when the business needs to wait for a specific date before they receive payment from client for a product purchase or a service that has been rendered.

Interim Loans

With this loan, bankers are more concerned with who’ll be paying the loan and whether they can bank on that commitment. Interim are designed to make periodic payments to contractors when the mortgage on that building would be used to pay off interim loan.

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Dems Harness Political “Dark Money” to Launch Ad Blitz Amplifying House Majority Agendas

by Paden Kegan

Strategists of the Democratic Party led by Robby Mook, president of the House Majority Political Action Committee (PAC), quietly formed a non-profit organization in March of this year. The main purpose of which is to broadcast actions taken and undertaken by the House Democrats. The new organization called House Majority Forward will serve as an affiliate of the House Majority PAC.

Through publicity launched by way of TV and digital advertisements, House Majority Forward will disseminate to the American public, information about important progressive legislations accomplished by House Democrats; and of how they were held up by the Republican-controlled Senate led by Senate President Mitch McConnell.

According to documents gathered by political news website POLITICO, the new nonprofit group is registered with the state regulators of North Carolina as a 501(c)(4) organization. Its aim is to raise $20 million this year, of which half ($10 million), will be used to run advertising blitz promulgating House Democrat agenda; with particular focus on White House investigations and resolutions put forward by a group of outspoken freshmen.

Inaugural TV and Digital Ad to Rollout on August 08, 2019

The House Majority Forward’s first ad features a female working out in a darkened gym. She pummels a punching bag while a narrator goes through the motion of ticking House Bills embodying resolutions that Include a proposal to

The narrator continues by saying

“The new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives is proving they are up to the challenge.” “But Mitch McConnell has blocked every one of these important bills from getting a vote in the Senate.”

As a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, this new House Majority Forward group is one of such organizations allowed to receive funds known in the political arena. as “dark money”

Democratic Strategists Decide to Harness “Dark Money”

Although one of the resolutions filed by House Democrats is the move to curtail secret or dark money coming in for political purposes, proponents of the House Majority Forward say they have no issues in using “dark money” to support House legislators proposing to move dark money out of the political arena.

What is Dark Money?

Dark Money is money donated for political spending but without requiring the recipient organization to disclose the name of the donor who contributed the funds. Basically, this applies to 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations, but not to political nonprofits like the traditional Political Action Committees (PACs) organized by political parties.

However, PACs are also open to receiving “dark money” since they are allowed to receive contributions coming from shell corporations and other political parties that mask their true owners or organizers. That is why House Democrats have introduced a bill proposing ‘dark money’ restrictions.

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Puzzled why You’re Declined with Personal Loans? Have it Overturned!

by Herman Shane

Have you applied for a Zebra loan or any other kind of personal loan before and unfortunately, been declined? It was never a nice feeling particularly when you badly need money. However, this is inevitable and it does happen. In an effort to help you be in control of this situation, it is essential to understand why you’re denied and what you can do to have higher approval.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0TlaKxjzhU

One thing that you should know is that, errors in credit reporting are very common and it could significantly impact your score. In return, lowers your ability to get loan approval. Some errors may include outdated information or having same debt listed several times which create a duplicate.

Are all Information Correct?

The incorrect record of amount of credit inquiries listed on file and the adverse notices can bring down your credit score. So, if inaccurate information is the reason why your personal loan is denied, your lender will likely send you adverse notice informing of the probable reasons of the denial of the loan. The accuracy of such information is vital so it is wise to grab a copy of the credit report. Once done, get it amended ASAP if you think that there’s incorrect data.

Despite the fact that personal loans could be a smart move of consolidating existing debts, loan application may still not push through if the overall amount of your debt is too large. Lenders are going to look at how much of your income is going towards the debt or otherwise known as debt to income ratio. They do this in reviewing your application.

Therefore, pay off any balance before filing an application for new loan to help secure an approval.

Proof of a Permanent Job

For a great number of people, the primary source of income is their employment. In relation to this matter, to pay for the loan monthly, it is necessary among lenders to see that you do have stable stream of income. If you have been jumping from one job to the other every couple of months and can’t prove that you have regular income, there is a big chance that you’ll be declined for your loan application.

Keep in mind, these lending institutions are still businesses. Even though they wanted to help you keep up with your life, they have a business to protect, and uses these factors to ensure that you’re not a risk to their personal investment.

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Amazon Credit Builder : Deposit-Backed Credit Card for Members with Poor or Bad Credit Score

by Paden Kegan

Amazon Credit Builder is the newest program of the Amazon Store Card, and is extended to Amazon.com members who do not qualify for a regular Amazon Store Card. This new credit offering is designed to give customers with poor or bad credit scores, a chance to build credit card history that will be tracked by TransUnion CreditView.

Offered by Amazon in collaboration with Synchrony Bank, the Amazon Credit Builder comes with the same amenities as the regular Amazon Store Card, including the five percent (5%) cash back reward on every purchase made at the Amazon Store.

An important aspect to understand is that a credit builder account requires a minimum deposit. Amounts of credit-builder purchases including interests, will be limited to the amount required as deposit upon approval of one’s credit-builder card.

It would be wise to look closely at the features and requirements of the Amazon Credit Builder program to determine if this new credit offering will work well for you.

The Finer Details About the Amazon Credit Builder Card

Amazon’s Credit Builder program is touted as a “no annual fee offering,” but an application is still subject to credit approval by Synchrony Bank. Also, know beforehand that in order to qualify, you have to have an Eligible Amazon Prime Membership,

An approved credit-builder account starts off as an Amazon.com Store Card Credit Builder. After seven (7) months from the date of activation, Synchrony Bank automatically evaluates the Amazon.com Store Card Builder to determine if the card holder qualifies for an upgrade into an Amazon Prime Store Card Credit Builder.

Approval of a credit-builder card into a Prime Store Card Credit Builder depends on the cardholder’s payment and other credit history details, which include:

  • Seven (7) consecutive on-time settlement of credit purchases made using the Amazon.com Store Card Credit Builder account over a period of 12 months.
  • The cardholder’s credit file does not show recent records of bankruptcy declaration, foreclosure or repossession proceedings or delinquency events
  • The cardholder meets a credit score qualified under Synchrony Bank’s underwriting criteria.

After seven (7) months as holder of the upgraded Amazon Prime Store Card Credit Builder, Synchrony will once again evaluate if the cardholder qualifies for another upgrade, based on the same set of criteria. This time, evaluation is geared toward determining if the credit-builder qualifies for upgrade as holder of a regular Amazon.com Store Card.

By the way, in order to mitigate its risks as credit provider, Synchrony charges interest on every purchase made using the credit-builder card. Widely known in the credit industry as Annual Percentage Rate or APR, the Amazon.com Store Card Credit Builder interest rate starts at 28.24% per annum.

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The Impact of Politics on Fiscal Policy

by Sissy Hall

The financial structure in a country echos and forms various business and political organizations. Financial markets are always at risk due to changes in the political, social or technological circumstance of a country. In order for a nation to have a balanced financial structure, its governance will need to have risk modeling which means the application of tactics to be able to identify the financial risk. The approaches involve identifying the risks in the market, valuation, historical simulation, or intense value principles in order to assess a financial scenario and predict the deficits.

Politics is regarded as among the operational risks (apart from legal risk) in finance which can be handled by operational risk management. This form of challenges confronts the investors, regulators, and businesses in all areas including trading companies such as pheeva.com. Politics have macro and micro-level risks. The macro-level have identical influences throughout all foreign personalities in a specific area. Consequently, it impacts all players in a country. The micro-level centers on a firm, sector or project-specific issues.

The political environment has a direct effect on the finances of every single business regardless of the size. Politics is a process by which selected individuals make collective resolutions to create public regulations. Politics demonstrate authority by which the government manage and control to obtain internal stability. When the government fails to control and keep stability in social, economic, and political security, this highly affects the financial aspect of the nation resulting in possible inflation.

Political Freedom and Economy

The link between political freedom and the economy is critical. Political freedom is associated with the principles of equal rights, human rights, and civil protections. It offers the nation a chance to start a new that betters people’s well being. Failure in political governance as a result of corruption, unjust economic conditions, and divided decision lead to political revolutions.

  • State authority crisis represented by military pressure, succession crisis or serious corruption. This could indicate the surge of private sectors opposing the ruling government.
  • Considerable divisions between national, military, economic as well as religious groups.
  • An unfavorable economic situation for workers may be a major factor in government failure.
  • Extensive opposition culture uniting various social and political organizations and promotes opposition towards the government

Political revolutions are classified as activities that seek to alter the federal government as well as the political structure which leads to lack of stability in the inner political scenario which has an unfavorable impact on the economy besides the damage of the framework.

Every country has a unique and different socio-economic and political issues. And with this unique structure of each political system, it has to be dealt with differently in accordance with the needs of the people. Severe socio-economic conditions highly affect the financial aspects of all areas in the community. High costs in consumer products, high demand-low supply, decrease in the value of a currency, and more can lead up to serious poverty within the nation.

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College Affordability Proposal : A Likely Topic Up for Debate in DNC’s Presidential Nomination Contest

by Paden Kegan

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is all set to stage the first of the sanctioned candidate debates, come June and July 2019. One important topic stands out as a common proposal among candidates qualified to participate in the debates: College Affordability.

Mark Huelsman, a prominent think-tank Senior Policy Analyst, believes qualifying candidates for the debate, will likely argue on which college affordability proposal makes the most sense; or if it is even sensible at all.

A nationally recognized expert on college affordability and Asso. Director of Policy and Research at Demos, Huelsman says that during the past years, left-leaning policymakers and economists have been building a consensus that some kind of student-debt cancellation may actually be beneficial for the U.S. economy. Huelman mentioned further that


“You’re going to see some pretty bold proposals on debt relief or debt cancellation from candidates.”

Only one candidate thinks that free college tuition or debt-free college is not viable. Minnesota Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar said

“I wish — if I were a magic genie and could give that to everyone and we could afford it, I would.”

College Affordability Proposals Backed or Mulled on by Democratic Presidential Candidates

College affordability proposals come in 7 topics: Tuition-Free College, Debt-
Free College, Student Loan Servicer Regulation, For-Profit College Regulation, Student-Loan Refinancing, Debt Relief and College Accountability. Of the 7 proposals, only Tuition-Free College and Debt-Free College have definite plans for whom and on how they will be carried out.

Tuition-Free College

This proposal vows free tuition for all, regardless of financial need; allowing students with low income or coming from low-income households to actually have a chance to participate. Free-college for all intends to include those coming from wealthier families as it may attract political buy-ins that would make the program work.

Bernie Sanders, Vermont’s longest serving Independent Senator, will continue to push the tuition-free education in public colleges that he unveiled previously in the 2016 elections. His proposal includes imposing taxes on institutions involved in investments trading of stocks, bonds and their derivatives, as a way of raising government funds for the program.

Debt-Free College

Although similar to the Tuition-Free College proposal, it has a different context as embodied in the Debt-Free College Act of 2018 introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), along with House Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisconsin-2). The proposed bill aims to create a new partnership between federal and state governments, focused on providing funds to the country’s neglected system of public colleges. The goal is to provide students with free and flexible training, without having to worry about steep tuition fees or onerous student loans.

Here, students from working-class families will have priority, and will extend to students coming from public and private Minority Serving Institutions. The Debt-Free College Act will also restore eligibility of non-violent drug offenders.

Current Democratic presidential candidates who co-sponsored this bill include Sen. Elizabeth Warren (MA), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Sen. Kamala Harris (CA) and Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.).

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The Guardian Identifies 3 Foreign Personas Whose LLC Contributed Funds to Trump’s Inauguration

by Paden Kegan

Under US election laws, foreigners are barred from contributing money as aid to finance political campaigns, including inaugurations. Non-resident foreigners in particular, who are found to have knowingly or unwittingly violated such rule will be fined and/or prosecuted. In Trump’s case, the inaugural committee in charge of handling the presidential inauguration, accepted donations from US registered shell companies that had direct connections to foreign nationalities.

In business parlance, a legal entity becomes a shell company if after incorporation and registration it continues to exist only on paper, as it does not engage in any business activity, maintain employees, or set up an office, but may hold a bank account and other types of passive investment.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) asserts that the use of shell companies poses as problem in determining and ascertaining the legality and transparency of political donations. However, recent developments related to other investigations concerning Donald Trump’s activities as incumbent president of the US, have prompted Attorney Generals in Washington D.C. and in New Jersey, as well as federal prosecutors in New York to demand documents supporting the contributions accepted and spent by Trump’s Inaugural Committee.

The Guardian Follows Paper Trails Leading to the Identification of 3 Foreign Nationals

In verifying the list of donations accepted by the Trump Inaugural Committee via documents submitted to the FEC, the Guardian took note of three (3) indeterminate corporations that handed over $25,000 donation each for Trump’s inaugural ceremonies. In following the paper trail, The Guardian was able obtain documents and information that led to the identity of foreign nationals connected to the shell corporations.

Cyrus Vandrevala, a London-based financier tied to a shell company registered as Sierra Vista LLC in Delaware but with business address in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Born in Mumbai, India, Vandrevala holds an Indian passport obtained from Delhi. He is related by affinity to Niranjan Hiranandani, president of a prominent real estate lobby group in India, and is recognized as one of the country’s wealthiest member of the Indian real estate industry.

Cyrus Vandrevala, a son-in-law of Hiranandani, claims he funds property developments in India, whilst also operating property development firms in the US. The firm claims to have amassed $7 billion in investment funds for building homes in Mumbai and Pune, cities in which Trump Towers are located.

David Sean, an American-Taiwanese businessman also known as Pong Hsiang and creator of Jan Castle LLC, a shell company with only a mailbox address to show, yet able to have made a $25,000 donation to the Trump Inaugural Committee.

Records obtained by The Guardian from various state authorities across the US show that Sean has created several other shell companies somewhere in California, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and Wyoming during the past two decades; using only 10 mailboxes as addresses.

In a telephone interview with Sean’s wife, The Guardian learned that Jan Castle LLC was created for and in behalf of 3 Chinese investors, one of whom was identified through the company’s original filing documents as Jianning. David Sean though, later denied his wife’s interview statement, and refused to discuss the business activities of Jan Castle LLC and the people behind it.

Elon Lebouvich, an Israeli real estate businessman who created a company called New York State Property Management Corporation. It paid a $25,000 contribution to the Trump inaugural fund 3 days before Trump was sworn-in.

The Guardian got hold of information from Brooklyn City records that Lebouvich, currently has an ongoing retail property development project in Crown Heights, worth $5 million. The property being developed is owned by another LLC owned and controlled by the mother of Lebouvich’s legal counsel.

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How to Legally Protect Your Business During a Financial Crisis

by Sissy Hall

A financial crisis—whether triggered by a recession, market downturn, or global event—can shake any business to its core. While focusing solely on cash flow and cost-cutting is tempting, legal protection is just as crucial. You could face lawsuits, penalties, or regulatory issues without proper precautions. Working with experienced attorneys in Orlando, Florida can help ensure you make smart legal moves during uncertain times. Here’s how to legally protect your business during a financial crisis, step by step.

1. Review All Contracts and Agreements

Start by reviewing your key business contracts—leases, supplier agreements, service contracts, employment agreements, and client contracts. Look for:

  • Force majeure clauses: These can sometimes excuse performance during extraordinary events.
  • Termination clauses: Understand the notice periods, penalties, or fees for ending contracts early.
  • Payment terms: Can you renegotiate to get more favorable terms or payment deferrals?

If cash flow is tight, talk to vendors and partners before you fall behind. Most would rather renegotiate than end a business relationship or pursue legal action.

2. Stay Compliant with Employment Laws

When revenue drops, businesses often consider layoffs, furloughs, or reduced hours. But employment laws still apply—sometimes even more strictly—during a crisis.

Before making any decisions, check:

  • Federal and state labor laws include termination notice, severance pay, and unemployment eligibility.
  • Employee classification: Avoid reclassifying employees as independent contractors unless it’s legally sound.

It’s a good idea to consult an employment attorney before taking major staffing actions. A lawsuit from a former employee can be costly—and preventable.

3. Protect Your Intellectual Property

Your brand, trademarks, or proprietary work becomes even more valuable in hard times. Protect your intellectual property:

  • Register trademarks and copyrights: If you haven’t already, now is the time.
  • Secure IP ownership: Confirm that contracts with freelancers or agencies assign IP rights to your business.
  • Monitor for infringement: Look for others using your branding or content without permission.

IP disputes can cost thousands to resolve. Proactive protection now can save you big later.

4. Keep Business and Personal Finances Separate

It’s tempting to blend personal and business finances during a crisis to stay afloat. However, doing so can expose you to personal liability.

Make sure you:

  • Keep separate bank accounts and records
  • Avoid using personal funds to pay business debts (or vice versa)
  • Maintain proper corporate formalities—especially if you’re an LLC or corporation

Piercing the corporate veil is a legal risk that could make you personally responsible for business debts or lawsuits.

5. Update Insurance Coverage

Review your business insurance policies with your broker. Some types of coverage may help during a crisis:

  • Business interruption insurance might help cover lost income due to specific disruptions, though many policies exclude pandemics.
  • General liability insurance: Make sure your coverage is current and adequate.
  • Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI): Covers legal claims related to layoffs or discrimination.

If your policy has gaps—or if you’ve made changes to your business—update it accordingly.

6. Document Everything

In a crisis, decisions often need to be made fast. But that doesn’t mean skipping documentation. Keep a clear record of:

  • Financial decisions
  • Contract changes or renegotiations
  • Employee communications
  • Board or owner meetings

Well-kept records can help defend against claims and show good-faith effort if you’re ever audited or sued.

7. Consult with a Lawyer Early

Legal advice might feel like a luxury when money’s tight. However, the cost of not getting legal input can be much higher in the long run. A short conversation with a business attorney can help you:

  • Understand your legal risks
  • Plan layoffs or downsizing correctly
  • Renegotiate contracts wisely
  • Avoid bankruptcy pitfalls

You don’t need a full-time legal team—just someone you trust to call when decisions carry legal weight.

Legal protection isn’t something you do after a crisis hits. It’s part of surviving one. Taking these steps early can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your business standing when the economy turns around.

You don’t have to do it all at once. But start with what’s most urgent—contracts, employment decisions, and liability exposure—and build from there.

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How Politics is Shaping the Global Economy

by Kaeden Karly

Online Broker Trading in Finance

Political Decisions Impact Financial Markets

Political decisions have a significant effect on the global economy. From changes in trade policies to government regulations, political shifts can drive economic growth or cause stagnation.

The Role of Trade Policies

Trade policies have become a hot topic in recent years. Governments are increasingly focused on securing advantageous trade deals to boost national economies. The US-China trade tensions have highlighted the influence of trade policies on financial markets. The ongoing trade war has created uncertainty for businesses and investors.

How Trade Wars Affect Markets

Trade wars can disrupt supply chains, cause stock market fluctuations, and increase the cost of goods. When countries impose tariffs, tensions ripple through global markets. However, some sectors benefit from trade conflicts as companies seek alternative suppliers and markets.

Government Stimulus and Economic Recovery

Governments worldwide have implemented stimulus measures to recover from the pandemic’s economic impact. These policies have injected liquidity into the financial system, helping businesses stay afloat and encouraging consumer spending. However, critics argue that long-term dependence on government support could harm economic growth.

Can Stimulus Packages Sustain Growth?

While stimulus packages provide short-term relief, there is debate over their long-term effectiveness. Some economists argue that excessive government spending can lead to inflation and fiscal instability. Others believe that stimulus is necessary to support recovery during times of crisis.

Political Uncertainty and Global Investments

Political uncertainty can lead to market volatility. Elections, policy changes, and geopolitical events are just a few of the factors that can influence investor behavior. For example, the recent US elections brought about concerns regarding tax policies and regulatory changes that could affect corporate earnings.

Investor Caution During Political Transitions

Investors often become more cautious during periods of political transitions. Uncertainty about future policies can lead to market declines as investors wait for clarity. However, markets tend to stabilize once new policies are implemented.

Conclusion: Politics and Financial Markets Are Inextricably Linked

The relationship between politics and finance is undeniable. Political decisions affect every aspect of the global economy, from trade to regulations to stimulus programs. Investors must keep an eye on political developments to make informed financial decisions.

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