Tag: CFP

Identity Theft Revisited In the wake of the recent Equifax data breach, I thought I’d update and republish my article on identity theft from earlier this year. Identity theft is becoming a greater concern as our personal information becomes easier for thieves to access. While you can’t stop someone from hacking your employer’s or your favorite retailer’s data centers, there are things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of having your information stolen and minimize the potential losses if a theft occurs.

Identity Theft Revisited In the wake of the recent Equifax data breach, I thought I’d update and republish my article on identity theft from earlier this year. Identity theft is becoming a greater concern as our personal information becomes easier for thieves to access. While you can’t stop someone from hacking your employer’s or your favorite retailer’s data centers, there are things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of having your information stolen and minimize the potential losses if a theft occurs.

While many same-sex couples have done some estate planning, few have truly created an estate plan as a couple. For example, most people name a beneficiary on their retirement accounts or insurance policies, but fail to name a back up or contingent beneficiary. As I tell my clients, it is important to have a back up just in case it’s a tie!

Why early birds get smaller worms When considering Social Security income, most people think it best to take the income as soon as they are able. In most cases, this would be starting their income at age 62. While this strategy works for some, there are some other options to consider.  

Historically, people have looked to bonds for stability, income, and security. As people approach retirement, they tend to take a more conservative risk position with their portfolio. The more conservative people become with their investments, the more bonds they typically add to their mix. For some time now interest rates have been falling or have stayed relatively stable. If that trend changes and interest rates move up, then the value of your bonds may go down.

Although some same-sex couples may not want to admit it, divorce may be on the horizon for them. It’s the unfortunate reality in today’s world. With ambiguous laws and some states still not realizing certain types of civil unions, the division of assets could be much hazier when it comes to same-sex couples separating. If you are getting ready to tie the knot or enter into a partnership, it may be a good time to consider obtaining a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement to protect your assets.

Before money can be invested, the wise investor must believe in this crucial concept: don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Asset allocation is the art of balancing risk and reward through the diversification of your investments into appropriate asset classes. It’s one instrument that helps to determine the appropriate blend between fixed and equity assets. It helps to smooth out the peaks and valleys that you find in the more volatile portfolio.