The most recent Equifax data breach has left the door wide open on personal security. Getting your credit report is just the first step in protecting your identity. To fully protect your identity, you'll need to go beyond the three big credit bureaus to protect yourself against banking fraud, tax fraud, Social Security fraud, and other criminal activities.
YOUR ESTATE PLAN NEEDS ONGOING MAINTENANCE
Do You Know How Your Advisor is Licensed
Between the wide range of meaningless job titles and the alphabet soup of certifications and designations, it's easy for an advisor to hide how they truly do business. One thing an adviser can't hide, however, is how they're licensed. Knowing the license will tell you what they can advise on, how they are compensated, and whether they are fiduciaries.
How Much Life Insurance Is Enough
Calculating the right amount of insurance is as much art as it is science. There are a wide variety of methods developed to calculate life insurance needs, including ones that rely on rules of thumb and make it easy to come to a number. Simpler methods make calculating your life insurance needs so simple you can do it in a few seconds with a calculator. But are they accurate?
Don't Wait Until January First to Plan Next Year
Signs You Need A Financial Adviser
For those who regularly read and learn about their personal finances, it is easy to fall into the thinking you don't need a professional financial adviser. For some, do-it-yourself financial management can work quite well when you are first starting out. As your life and your finances become more complex, doing it yourself can cause unforeseen problems. Here are some of the signs that indicate you might need a professional financial adviser.