Business & Real Estate

A four-year bachelor’s degree is commonly considered the minimum entry point for the higher-paying jobs of the future. But if you are going to borrow money to complete one, you can and should determine in advance how much you can afford to borrow based on the career you wish to pursue.

Suppose you are interested in becoming a software engineer. You can use data from PayScale.com to figure out how much you can borrow. Visit payscale.com/college-salary-report/majors-that-pay-you-back/bachelors and click “Major” to sort the data. Software engineer is the degree with the 48th best earning potential.

Megan V. Winslow/Town Crier
Local software startup Netskope Inc. has moved its headquarters from downtown Los Altos to Santa Clara after outgrowing its Third Street space, above.

Local software startup Net- skope Inc. has moved its headquarters from downtown Los Altos to Santa Clara after outgrowing its Third Street space.

According to Netskope’s website, the growing company has three locations outside the U.S., in India, London and Melbourne. Employees at the now-vacant 270 Third St. office have relocated their main hub to 2445 Augustine Dr. in Santa Clara, said Netskope’s marketing director Fitz Barth.

Courtesy of Jason Davis
Jim Davis Automotive last week marked 36 years of operations under owner Jim Davis. Davis, center, is flanked by BJ Correia, left, and Brian Nakai, mechanics at the shop.

A well-loved auto shop that services cars for customers all over the South Bay, including residents of Los Altos and Mountain View, hosted a celebration Nov. 8 for the man behind the muscle, Jim Davis.

Jim Davis Automotive at 3972 El Camino Real in Palo Alto boasts a 4.5-star rating on Yelp, with his perfect rating broken by a single one-star review from a Seattle woman who had a poor experience with one of the mechanics. The owner apologized personally in a response to her post.

The lights adorning the trees in downtown Los Altos each holiday season will have a new look this year. Energy-efficient LED lights are currently being installed in trees lining Main and State streets and some parking plazas, and will make their official debut during the Los Altos Village Association’s 16th annual Holiday Stroll Friday.

’Tis the season for giving, and one of the best ways to feel good while making a difference in the world is to donate to charities. However, how you donate can significantly affect your tax bill, especially given the tax reform package passed last year.

Following are some strategies to consider, though please consult your tax professional to see how these strategies apply to you.

Trusts, wills and probate court are tricky topics that often don’t come up until a family is at its most fragile: following the loss of a loved one. Getting a sense of the basics of these financial terms can help prevent familial discord.