Personal Finance - latimes.com

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  1. Trial attorney Jamon Hicks grew up in courtrooms
    As a child, Jamon Hicks studied lawyers and judges in courtrooms where his mother worked as a clerk. Now an attorney with the Cochran Firm, he is president of the California Assn. of Black Lawyers.

    The gig: As a kid Jamon Hicks spent many afternoons in courtrooms where his mother was a clerk. He still spends a lot of his time in courtrooms, but now Hicks, 32, is a trial attorney with the Cochran Firm in Los Angeles.
  2. Facebook shareholders are wedded to the whims of Mark Zuckerberg
    Because of Facebook's two-class stock structure, the social networking giant's founder and CEO can do whatever he wants with the company, no matter what other shareholders may vote.

    So, against all odds, you managed to get your hands on a few shares of Facebook stock via one of the most hyped initial public offerings of all time and managed to survive its messy first day of trading.
  3. Helping an indigent parent access social service benefits
    Services for older adults and their families can be found through the federal government's Eldercare Locator. Also consider hiring a geriatric care manager, who can conduct an evaluation, review options and make recommendations.

    Dear Liz: Our mother just turned 64, and our father is divorcing her. She hasn't worked in years because of significant physical and mental health issues. My sister and I have been trying to figure out how she's going to survive on $750 a month, which is the equivalent of half his Social Security. She has always had serious issues with money management, which is why there are no retirement savings or a house. We are now about to embark on the maze of social service benefits that an older woman below the poverty line can receive, partly so we can decide whether she's better off staying put where she is in Arkansas, moving to my sister's in Texas, moving to be near me in Maryland, or moving to her childhood home of Chicago, where most of her friends are. For a lot of complicated reasons (mostly related to the mental health issues), we are trying to avoid having her live with either of us full time, and she expresses no desire to do so. So we have to figure out the ins and outs of Medicaid, food stamps, subsidized senior housing and anything else in four different states and then try to explain it to her. If you have any hints about helping an indigent and somewhat incapacitated mother access services, we would love to hear them. We feel a little overwhelmed at the moment and aren't even sure whom to call in each place.
  4. Searching for a way to get a human being on the phone at Google
    The Silicon Valley tech giant makes it virtually impossible to speak with an actual employee or service rep. Yet any business that provides services to millions of customers should provide a number they can call that a real person will answer.

    If there's one issue that consistently cheeses off consumers, it's being unable to get a human being on the phone when you have a problem with a company.
  5. Wal-Mart posts 10.1% profit increase, possibly ending its struggles
    The retail giant earns $3.74 billion in its first quarter as sales rise 8.6%. Meanwhile, Gap's earnings are flat, Sears swings to a profit and J.C. Penney loses $163 million.

    Despite multiple corruption probes into its Mexican subsidiary, retail giantWal-Mart Stores Inc.reported first-quarter profits that exceeded Wall Street expectations as more shoppers returned to its U.S. stores.
  6. Facebook IPO: Buy early or wait and see?
    High investor demand prompted Facebook to raise its expected IPO price. But there were signs this week that the smart money is already heading for the exits.

    Facebook Inc. is certain to make a dramatic entrance to the stock market Friday with its hotly awaited initial public offering.
  7. Skechers agrees to pay $50 million to settle toning-shoe cases
    Skechers had been accused of false advertising by the Federal Trade Commission, 44 states and the District of Columbia. Most of the money will go toward partial refunds to consumers.

    WASHINGTON — Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana said they improved his strength and posture. Celebrity Kim Kardashian boasted they allowed her to ditch her personal trainer.
  8. Small investors shut out of Facebook IPO, and that's a good thing
    Investment frenzies almost never end prettily for the participants.

    If you're a small investor seeking a piece of the Facebook initial public offering, here's the bad news: You're too late and you're too poor.
  9. Hollywood lobbies to extend state film tax credit through 2018
    Amid mounting evidence that rival states are chipping away at California's movie and TV production business, a coalition of entertainment unions and film industry officials is renewing a push to provide long-term funding for California's popular film tax credit program.
  10. Retail sales are soft in April; inflation eases
    The Commerce Department said retail spending last month rose a tiny 0.1% from March, seasonally adjusted. A separate report showed the consumer price index is unchanged in April.

    Add slowing retail sales to the story of the payback for the warm winter weather.

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