SINGAPORE: Anita Fam is well-known in the social service sector as a former lawyer who, more than 20 years ago, became a full-time volunteer in the areas of disability, palliative care, family, healthcare and mental health.Her dedication saw her recently appointed President of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), a role she takes on formally on Aug 1. From the get-go in our conversation she concedes that she is among the privileged few who can afford to volunteer full-time as she doesn't have financial constraints that others do. But she also reveals that, in a way, she has been part of the sector since she was born.It’s a story she says she doesn’t tell very often and it’s related to the fact that she is an adopted child, something her mother disclosed to her when she was four years old.“It’s so important to tell your kids that they are adopted,” says Ms Fam. “If they find out one day in a way they never expected … [Read more...] about Personal shame, stigma and doing good: Incoming president of the National Council of Social Service Anita Fam goes On the Record
After you die where do you go
Planning can help you make sure your retirement savings will last
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By Ellen Roseman Personal Finance Columnist Mon., June 11, 2018 I’m waiting for my 2017 tax return to be processed. That’s because I’m expecting a large refund, which I plan to save and use for future tax payments. Taxes are a huge issue for me since I took a retirement package in late 2015 and started writing a freelance column for the Toronto Star. In 2016, I had multiple streams of income from self-employment, pensions and investments. Much of it was not taxed at source, leading to a five-figure tax bill in April 2017. I had to pay quarterly tax instalments, based on my 2016 income. But since my income was lower in 2017, I’ll get a nice refund (soon, I hope). Becoming a self-employed contractor was a major shift after spending 45 years as a full-time employee with taxes deducted at source. Article Continued Below There were so many decisions to make. When do you apply for Canada Pension Plan retirement benefits? Under new … [Read more...] about Planning can help you make sure your retirement savings will last
Defendant tells trial he had to shoot mobster Rocco Zito or he ‘was going to die’
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By Peter Edwards Staff Reporter Fri., May 18, 2018 Domenic Scopelliti told a court Friday he shot mobster Rocco Zito to death to save his own life. “Why did you pull the trigger,” defence lawyer Brian Ross asked Scopelliti, 54, in the University Ave. court. “He had a gun pointed straight at me,” Scopelliti said. “I was going to die.” Scopelliti is charged with first-degree murder in Zito’s death. He acknowledged he shot Zito, 87, three times in the chest shortly after 5 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2016 in the bungalow where they both lived, at 160 Playfair Ave. in North York, near Caledonia Rd. and Lawrence Ave. W. Article Continued Below The circumstances of the shooting remain in dispute. Moments before he pulled the trigger of his semi-automatic pistol, Scopelliti said Zito threatened his life, saying, “I’m going to die but you’ll die first.” At the time, Scopelliti was married to Zito’s … [Read more...] about Defendant tells trial he had to shoot mobster Rocco Zito or he ‘was going to die’
Immigration detainee Ebrahim Toure marks five years without freedom: ‘What’s going on with me is not right’
By Brendan Kennedy Investigative Reporter Sun., Feb. 25, 2018 At Ebrahim Toure’s first detention review hearing, three days after he was arrested by Canada’s border police, immigration authorities said his detention was not likely to be “unduly lengthy.” They just had to get him a travel document and put him on a plane. That was five years ago. Toure is still behind bars. The federal government, meanwhile, appears to be no closer to deporting the 46-year-old failed refugee claimant to Gambia, where he is believed to have been born. He has no identity documents and Gambian officials have given no indication they will issue him any. So Toure continues to wait, with no idea when he will be free. Article Continued Below “What’s going on with me is not right,” he told the Star from inside the Immigration Holding Centre on Rexdale Blvd. in Etobicoke. “You can’t put somebody in jail for five years with … [Read more...] about Immigration detainee Ebrahim Toure marks five years without freedom: ‘What’s going on with me is not right’
A Walmart executive who sold his 1st startup for $6 million, 2nd startup for $550 million and 3rd startup for $3+ billion reveals how to become wildly successful
Marc Lore is the president and CEO of Walmart eCommerce in the US. He founded Quidsi and sold it to Amazon in 2011 for over $500 million. Then he founded Jet.com and sold that to Walmart in 2016 for $3 billion and stock. His first startup was acquired for $6 million. Lore says radical transparency, choosing the right cofounders, knowing finance, and selling to the right company are key to his success as a business person. Marc Lore’s first big startup sold diapers before it was bought by Amazon for more than $500 million. But after it was acquired, Lore says he felt let down. “It was this really depressing sort of moment where we didn’t even want to go out for a [celebratory] drink,” Lore said on Business Insider’s podcast, “Success! How I Did It.” “It wasn’t a celebration. It was sort of like mourning.” After Amazon he went on to found a competitor, called … [Read more...] about A Walmart executive who sold his 1st startup for $6 million, 2nd startup for $550 million and 3rd startup for $3+ billion reveals how to become wildly successful