Was your Gmail account hacked recently or are you in fear of it being hacked? A few week ago I received an email from a close friend of mine that looked a bit odd. The email looked legit though because it had my friends email contained in it. However when I opened the email it seemed a…
Negotiating with car dealers for a car purchase is better accomplished by extensive research on rebates, dealer invoice, holdbacks, and dealer incentives. Knowing how much a dealer paid for a certain car provides an estimate to what kind of offer might be accepted. Use online tools and make phone calls to dealers to obtain quotes…
Do you have a copy of your proprieties deed? Have you ever priced one lately, or considered how much it will cost to get one? Recently, I’ve been learning about a new scam that has been going around claiming that you must have a copy of your properties deed on hand. The worst part about this scam…
Borrowers should know what is an adjustable rate mortgage before choosing a loan for their home acquisition. The definition of adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) applies to loans with changing interest rates. The rates on this type of loan usually start with lower payment amounts than mortgages with fixed rates. However, ARM payments can vary greatly…
Do you have a strong password? Recently, you may have heard of the popular social networking site LinkedIn getting hacked. I know when the news first hit I immediately changed my password like so many others did. The real question is however are we really safe online and are we doing enough to protect ourselves. The truth…
Beth Givens, director the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, says that “Ultimately, you cannot prevent identity theft from happening to you […] You can only reduce your chances.” While there are many things you can do to make it more difficult to steal your identity, identity theft can happen to anyone. If your information is in a…
As often as I have been asked, when should I start saving for retirement, over the last several years while working in financial services I can answer it in five short words, Start As Soon As Possible. That’s right, whether you are going to be retiring in Utah, or Florida, or anywhere in the country, there is…
Despite identity theft being common, many people aren’t aware of what the phrase means. To protect yourself from identity theft, it is important to understand what it is. In this post, I will try to clearly answer “What is identity theft?” Identity Theft Definition The FTC defines identity theft as “when someone uses your personally…
Few people are truly aware of how commonplace identity theft has become. According to research firm Gartner, the incidence of identity theft has risen sharply since 2003. In this post, we’ll show you some identity theft statistics that should make you think differently about it. The Internet in particular has given hackers new ways to…
There are many different types of identity theft, and it’s important to be aware of them. One of the things that makes identity theft so problematic is how a criminal can put your information to so many different uses. They can make payday loans in your name or open new bank accounts. They can even…