Author Archive zhengerya.com

As we delve into the topic of wealth management, there are critical changes that individuals with substantial assets should be aware of. With over $13 million in net assets and more than $5 million invested in IRA and Roth IRA accounts, future tax implications are becoming increasingly important. The tax reform introduced by the Trump administration in 2017 is set to expire at the end of 2025, which means that the current high lifetime gift and estate tax exemption will revert back to $5 million, adjusted for inflation. We need to proactively consider how to navigate potential tax reform legislation that could take effect retroactively as of December 31, 2024, possibly missing out on significant tax planning opportunities.

If estate tax seems inevitable for you, leveraging the $13.61 million gift exemption before the year ends could be a smart move. With strategic asset transfers and discounts, individuals could potentially move assets worth up to $20 million. It’s crucial to assess which type of irrevocable trust aligns with your financial goals. First-generation parents, for instance, should think beyond their lifetime and consider placing their wealth in an irrevocable trust, which could help them avoid estate taxes entirely. This option also allows parents to retain income rights from their properties, ensuring a comfortable retirement. Furthermore, these irrevocable trusts can be integrated with charitable trusts or foundations, providing high-net-worth individuals with viable strategies to mitigate income and estate taxes. We will unveil the nuances of these wealth management techniques in our upcoming lecture series—an event you won’t want to miss!

Our lecture topics include:

**Main Topic 1: Proactively Tackling Tax Challenges of High-Value Assets**
– We’ll kick off with an overview of the proposed tax reforms for 2025, including how to effectively utilize the $13.61 million lifetime gift exemption before the year concludes.
– Attendees will learn about innovative strategies to minimize high capital gains taxes from asset sales through lesser-known installment sale trusts and advanced arrangements with indexed stocks.

**Main Topic 2: Are You Prepared for Retirement Without Facing Severe Tax Burdens?**
– Together, we’ll explore three crucial areas: understanding types of income derived from your assets and their tax implications, and considering asset reintegration for potential tax savings.
– We’ll discuss when it makes sense to convert to a Roth IRA and the scenarios to be cautious of.

**Main Topic 3: Trust Planning for Effective Wealth Management**
– Is your revocable living trust addressing estate tax concerns? We’ll distinguish between revocable and irrevocable trusts and how an irrevocable trust can offer benefits.
– We’ll also examine two types of charitable trusts that could be advantageous for you.

**Special Sessions Featuring Acupuncturist Dr. Duan Xumin:**
– Discover the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine for early disease prevention and treatment.
– Learn about meridians and how to apply meridian and acupuncture points in treating various ailments, supported by insightful case studies.

**First Session:** October 9, 2024, Wednesday, 4 PM – 5:45 PM (Online, In English)
**Second Session:** October 10, 2024, Thursday, 2 PM – 4 PM (Online & In-Person, In Chinese)
*Location: Ameriprise Irvine Office, 2 Park Plaza, #1100, Irvine, CA 92614, Tel: 949.863.9400*
**Third Session:** October 11, 2024, Friday, 4 PM – 6 PM (Online & In-Person, In Chinese)
*Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, 888 Montebello Blvd., Rosemead, CA 91770 USA*

Please ensure you register by 12 PM on October 8, Tuesday. To sign up, email [email protected] with your name, number of attendees, and whether you will attend online or in-person.

Upon registration, participants will receive an email with a link to the online lecture. This event is free of charge, but the organizers reserve the right to deny access to professionals in investment or financial insurance.

On October 8, the Taiwan Children’s Rights Convention Alliance unveiled a survey in Taipei that revealed some troubling statistics about bullying among sixth graders. According to the findings, 36.4% of these students reported that they had been victims of bullying, while 46.1% mentioned they had been involved in such incidents in some capacity.

Dr. Wu Jiayun, the Executive Director of the Children and Family Research Center at National Taiwan University, presented these results during a recent press conference. She emphasized the diverse and complex nature of bullying, which can manifest in various forms, including relational, verbal, physical, and cyberbullying.

Interestingly, the survey showed that a significant 65.7% of sixth graders said they would comfort a friend who was being bullied, and 56.7% indicated they would report the bullying to a teacher. However, the data also revealed some concerning trends: 18% of students admitted to ignoring bullying situations, while 9.1% confessed they would participate in the bullying themselves.

Dr. Wu highlighted a troubling cycle where those who experience victimization may sometimes turn into perpetrators, noting that approximately 20% of children identified themselves as fitting both roles. She stressed the need for a deeper understanding of the traumatic experiences faced by children and called for proactive dialogues around anti-discrimination and anti-bullying initiatives to help break this cycle.

A student representative at the press conference shared concerns about the current complaint mechanisms in schools. He pointed out that many victims fear retaliation, which often leads them to stay silent about their experiences. The representative proposed that schools create safer reporting channels that allow victims to file complaints anonymously, reducing their psychological burden. He also emphasized the necessity for schools to take a more active role in addressing these bullying issues.

To combat bullying in schools, the Taiwan Children’s Rights Convention Alliance suggested several measures, including fostering an appreciation for diversity, prioritizing counseling services, improving teacher training, and implementing trauma-informed practices.

This impactful survey was conducted by the National Taiwan University Children and Family Research Center in collaboration with the Taiwan Good Neighbor Association between 2022 and 2023, gathering responses from 3,793 sixth graders across 19 counties and cities in Taiwan.

On October 9th, the Public Security Bureau of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture addressed a troubling incident that recently surfaced on social media. A user had claimed to be “scammed at Kunming Changshui Airport.” After a thorough investigation, authorities confirmed the allegations were accurate. Officer Chen, who had been dispatched from the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture to support airport operations, was found to have acted independently in conducting what he termed a “registration” and collecting fees. Consequently, Officer Chen has been suspended from his duties, and the case has been forwarded to the disciplinary inspection and supervision department for further review and action.

On October 9, the Nanjing Housing Provident Fund Management Center revealed an innovative pilot project that introduces monthly direct rental payments using housing provident fund contributions, a first for Jiangsu Province.

This pilot program will be implemented at “Southeast Youth Haven,” a long-term rental apartment complex. Nanjing employees who contribute to the housing fund will have the opportunity to apply for direct monthly rent payments. By submitting their application to the rental outlet, their information will be processed through the system. Upon approval, funds will be automatically transferred from their housing provident fund to the rental agency’s account, removing the hassle of separate rent payments. This streamlined approach offers a single application process, efficient data management, and a smoother rent payment experience.

Covering ten projects within the “Southeast Youth Haven,” this initiative spans seven major administrative districts in Nanjing and the Jiangbei New Area, providing access to over 5,000 rental units. Employees who complete the application process successfully will be able to withdraw funds each month from their housing provident account to pay their rent. They will also enjoy additional benefits such as deposit waivers and rental discounts. The goal of this initiative is to significantly ease the rental burden on employees, especially addressing the varied housing needs of new residents and young professionals.

Interviewer: It’s been a year since EA transitioned from the FIFA branding to EA Sports FC for their flagship football game. How was this change received at launch?

Keith Stuart: The rebrand did see a slight dip in sales—around 5%—but interestingly, profits increased. This was largely due to the success of the Ultimate Team feature, which continues to be a significant revenue driver for EA.

Interviewer: Now, looking at EA Sports FC 25, what differentiates this version from its predecessor?

Keith Stuart: While it doesn’t introduce any groundbreaking innovations, EA Sports FC 25 offers some exciting enhancements. Last year focused on HyperMotion2 animation technology, and this year’s highlight is FC IQ. This feature deepens the strategic gameplay, allowing players to customize their teams and individual players’ approaches. For instance, you can adjust a player’s aggressiveness, like Saka at Arsenal, instructing the AI to prioritize offensive runs over defensive responsibilities.

Interviewer: That sounds like a compelling addition. Can you share more about the gameplay modes available in this edition?

Keith Stuart: Of course! It retains familiar modes like Manager and Player Careers, Seasons, Tournaments, and Clubs. The new standout mode is Rush, which takes over from the previous street football option, Volta. Rush presents a fast-paced five-a-side format that emphasizes quick passes and targeted play. Ultimate Team is back as well, featuring minor updates but maintaining the addictive format that fans love.

Interviewer: What’s the gameplay experience like in terms of graphics and animations?

Keith Stuart: The graphics and animation engine has undergone a significant upgrade, resulting in a visually stunning and immersive experience. Player movements are smooth, with dynamic responses to the ball creating a richer gameplay feel. I played several matches with my sons, and we really noticed how distinct each team felt—attacking with Juventus was a different experience compared to playing with Real Madrid, which was very apparent this time around.

Interviewer: What were some memorable moments for you while playing as the star players?

Keith Stuart: Playing as elite players like Foden, Haaland, or De Bruyne is truly exhilarating. You can really feel their unique traits; for example, Foden’s acceleration is remarkable. There are moments in gameplay where executing skillful moves with players like Jamal Musiala or Aitana Bonmatí feels almost genius-level—similar to the thrill of mastering complex combos in classic fighting games.

Interviewer: Did you encounter any technical issues during your gameplay?

Keith Stuart: Unfortunately, yes. I experienced some graphical glitches, like overlapping HUD text and awkward player collisions during chaotic goal scenarios—it felt a bit surreal, like a scene out of a Cronenberg film. The first-person camera, which lets you see through players’ or even the referee’s eyes, can also be a bit disorienting at times.

Interviewer: Would you say EA Sports FC 25 represents a significant advancement over its predecessor?

Keith Stuart: It’s more of an evolution than a revolution. To fully appreciate the new technical features, players will need to explore the complex pre-match menu systems, which might not cater to everyone. Additionally, Ultimate Team continues to face scrutiny regarding its in-game purchase mechanics.

Interviewer: Lastly, who would you recommend this game to?

Keith Stuart: If you enjoy playing with updated rosters and stats or perhaps missed the last edition, EA Sports FC 25 will definitely keep you entertained for hours. It has high aspirations and, more often than not, meets them. It’s set to launch on September 27 across various platforms, including PC, PS4/5, Switch, and Xbox One/Series X.

John J. Chin has officially taken on the role of Acting Director of the Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) at Queens College, which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). The university has announced plans to initiate a formal search for a permanent director within the next year. AAARI is committed to advancing and sharing research and educational resources that highlight Asia, Asian Americans, and their communities.

Before this appointment, Chin held the position of chair of the Urban Policy and Planning Department at Hunter College. With over three decades of research experience in Asian communities, he has a strong focus on improving access to social and health services for underserved populations, particularly among Asian immigrants.

In reflecting on his new role as Acting Director of AAARI, Chin emphasized the importance of amplifying the stories within the Asian community that often go unheard. “Many contributions and needs are not fully understood, so I see this position as a crucial opportunity to ensure these narratives are represented accurately,” he remarked.

Queens College President Frank Wu highlighted AAARI’s vital function as a connector between CUNY and New York City’s Asian community. As the search for a permanent director unfolds, Professor Chin is expected to lead effectively, especially in relation to public policies affecting the health of immigrant workers.

Chin’s recent research has delved into the health requirements of immigrant communities. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, he examined how Asian immigrant organizations communicate information about HIV prevention while working to diminish the stigma surrounding the disease within their communities.

According to the National Healthcare Security Administration’s website, various healthcare insurance departments across China have stepped up their oversight of healthcare funds this year, implementing stringent measures to combat fraud and abuse. A number of notable cases of illegal use of healthcare funds have come to light, particularly from Liaoning Province.

**1. Issues at Kangda Hospital in Yingkou Economic and Technological Development Zone**
In September 2023, following tips from a provincial inspection team, an investigation was initiated into Kangda Hospital. The inquiry uncovered numerous violations, including duplicate billing, swapping of treatment items, charging inflated fees, conducting unnecessary tests, excessive medical procedures, fragmented hospitalizations, and including non-reimbursable expenses in settlements with the healthcare fund. As a result, the Yingkou Healthcare Security Bureau mandated that the hospital correct its practices, return 116,296.80 yuan in improperly used funds, and pay an administrative fine of 141,413.11 yuan. The hospital has since reimbursed all misappropriated healthcare funds and settled the fine in full.

**2. Problems at Beipiao Tonghe Hospital Co., Ltd.**
In October 2023, the Chaoyang Healthcare Security Bureau conducted an onsite inspection of Beipiao Tonghe Hospital Co., Ltd. The audit revealed issues such as charging above standard rates, duplicate billing, and the inclusion of non-reimbursable medical expenses in the healthcare fund. In accordance with relevant regulations, the bureau required the hospital to rectify its practices, return 83,773.19 yuan in improperly used funds, and imposed a fine of 108,905.15 yuan, which is 1.3 times the amount misused. All funds have been recovered, and the fine has been fully paid.

**3. Violations at Qinghe Kangseng Hospital in Tieling**
In March 2024, the Tieling City Qinghe District Healthcare Security Bureau, while investigating cases transferred from the Tieling Healthcare Bureau, identified violations at Qinghe Kangseng Hospital. From November 19, 2021, to December 31, 2022, the hospital engaged in excessive billing and unnecessary treatments that contravened medical norms. The bureau’s actions included warning the hospital’s leadership to rectify the situation, demanding the return of 19,776.61 yuan in misused funds, and imposing a fine of 25,709.59 yuan, at 1.3 times the amount misused. The hospital has returned all wrongly used healthcare funds, and all fines have been paid.

**Editor: Ye Pan**

In a recent move aimed at reshaping the admissions landscape, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a significant bill that bans legacy admissions at private higher education institutions. Set to go into effect on September 1, 2025, this new legislation, known as AB 1780, stipulates that private colleges and universities in California cannot grant preferential treatment solely based on an applicant’s status as the child of an alumnus or a major donor. Institutions found to violate this law will face penalties, and while specifics about preferential admissions will be made public, the identities of admitted students will remain confidential.

As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, this legislation particularly affects private universities that benefit from state funding, including renowned institutions like Stanford University and the University of Southern California (USC).

Assemblymember Phil Ting, who sponsored AB 1780, criticized legacy admissions as “affirmative action for the wealthy.” He advocates for a system where universities focus on admitting students who exhibit diligence, strong academic achievements, and diverse experiences, rather than those who simply have familial ties or deep pockets.

While California has no blanket prohibition on legacy admissions at public universities, both the University of California (UC) system and California State University (CSU) system have implemented their own restrictions against such practices. However, a 2020 audit highlighted some discrepancies; it found that UC Berkeley admitted at least 55 students who did not meet standard criteria, a decision that was sometimes influenced by connections and donations, including interventions from the UC Board of Regents.

Under the current California law, private universities are required to report annually on the number of students admitted through legacy admissions. This summer, six private universities, including Stanford, submitted these reports. The findings revealed that Stanford admitted 295 alumni children in the previous year, which made up 13.6% of their incoming class, while reiterating that all these students met the required criteria.

In the same academic year, USC reported admitting 1,791 legacy students, while Santa Clara University admitted 38. Claremont McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College each admitted 15 legacy students, and Northeastern University in Oakland accepted fewer than ten.

The weather in the UK this June has sparked a wave of responses on social media, with some users attributing the unusual conditions to “weather manipulation” and “geoengineering.” More strikingly, a number of individuals have gone so far as to accuse meteorologists of concealing the truth about the climate situation.

For much of June, temperatures were about 2°C (3.6°F) below the average, a change largely influenced by colder air descending from the Arctic. However, the last week of the month saw a shift as warmer air moved in, pushing temperatures closer to the norm, though they still remained 0.4°C below average. This, combined with one of the wettest winters in recent memory, has left many questioning the current state of British weather. Unfortunately, many of the explanations circulating on social media lack scientific backing.

Some users argue that the cooler weather challenges the reality of climate change. However, it’s important to note that short-term weather patterns do not reflect long-term climate trends in the UK. In fact, recent decades have recorded warmer, wetter, and sunnier conditions when compared to the 20th century, as climate change continues to progress.

A worrying trend has emerged among skeptics of climate change, with some promoting a conspiracy theory that the government is systematically manipulating weather and climate for sinister purposes. Variations of this theory have circulated online for years, often gaining traction after unusual weather events. BBC Verify used social media analytics to reveal a notable uptick in conversations around these topics, with mentions of #GeoEngineering on X (formerly Twitter) more than doubling globally since January compared to late 2023. The outlet uncovered thousands of tweets spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, often conflating concepts like weather modification and geoengineering.

The most recognized form of weather modification is cloud seeding, a technique that releases small particles into clouds to induce rain or snow. This method has been utilized for decades in various countries, primarily to alleviate water shortages. However, some social media users have mistakenly claimed that the heavy rainfall seen in the UK can only be explained through large-scale cloud seeding, a notion that is unfounded. As the planet warms, warmer air can hold more moisture, resulting in more intense downpours. While climate change is not the sole factor behind the UK’s unusually wet winter, it is a significant contributor.

Although the UK government funded cloud seeding experiments back in the 1950s, the Met Office currently reports no knowledge of weather modification activities in the UK in recent years. Moreover, cloud seeding has limited, localized effects and does not alter long-term weather patterns or climate, where concepts of geoengineering become relevant.

Geoengineering encompasses attempts to manipulate the environment to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Current climate models indicate that, without significant intervention, global temperatures could rise more than 1.5°C in the coming decades, surpassing a critical threshold. In response to these challenges, some scientists advocate for governments to investigate alternative cooling methods, such as capturing and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, a field actively researched in the UK. However, there is no evidence to suggest that removing gases like carbon dioxide would affect short-term weather patterns. Another proposed method, solar radiation management, would aim to reflect some sunlight back into space.

Injecting gases like sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere could theoretically cool the planet, although research in this area is still in the early stages. The UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero maintains that it is neither currently implementing solar radiation management nor plans to do so in the future. Still, some users on social media allege, without substantiation, that a cover-up is occurring, implicating BBC Weather and other forecasters.

One social media user expressed, “Imagine watching the geoengineers at work while weather reporters omit the truth about what’s really happening. That is sick!” Many of these users frequently reference “chemtrails,” a thoroughly discredited conspiracy theory suggesting a covert effort to spray harmful chemicals over the population.

The Royal Meteorological Society has condemned the abuse that weather forecasters face, noting that such disrespect can hinder scientific communication. Prof. Liz Bentley, CEO of the Royal Meteorological Society, expressed concern about the chilling effects this may have on young scientists who might hesitate to share their research due to fears of online trolling. Additionally, Dr. Ramit Debnath, an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge, pointed out that skepticism surrounding funding for geoengineering research may grow as conspiracy theories proliferate. “There’s an overarching belief that there’s an attempt to manipulate our natural resources and environment, possibly compromising people’s freedom,” he noted.

Interviewer: During menopause, many physical changes occur, but one aspect that often goes unnoticed is oral health. What insights can you share about the oral health challenges women face during this time?

Expert: Menopause indeed brings about various health issues, and oral health is frequently overlooked. One of the key changes during menopause is a decline in bone density and saliva production. If women aren’t mindful of their diet and oral hygiene, they could easily face problems like cavities, periodontal disease, and burning mouth syndrome.

Interviewer: Are there specific recommendations you would provide for maintaining oral health during menopause?

Expert: Absolutely. It’s essential for women to focus on a balanced diet rich in nutrients that support bone density, such as calcium and vitamin D. Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices—like brushing and flossing daily—are also crucial to prevent these potential issues.

Interviewer: Thank you for shedding light on this often-neglected topic. It’s important for women to be proactive in caring for their oral health during menopause.