Your financial security includes not only your cash, assets and investments, but also your credit and personal information.
Unfortunately, those we unwillingly entrust with our information have failed to protect us.
Your credit may have been recently compromised by Equifax and the situation could escalate as agencies struggle to protect our data.
Due to this unfortunate event, Equifax has agreed to free lifetime credit lock service.
Take advantage of this service to freeze and unfreeze your credit file, when needed!
Start here, by checking if your credit details were among the thousands breached.
Depending on which state you live in, you may have to pay a small fee to lock your credit file on TransUnion and Experian, but it may be worth it as more hackers gain access to our information.
If a hacker gains access to your personal information, there is a risk of them filing a falsified tax return to generate a tax refund. This is a process not easily fixed.
Many affluent individuals and business owners file their tax returns late in the year, which gives hackers a window of time to file a false tax return first and claim a refund before you even file.
As a preventative measure, some states are now requiring individuals to use a PIN to verify the filing of the tax return. Read more here.
Verify your financial security with these steps:
- Visit CreditKarma.com: Identify Monitoring
- Consider freezing your credit. This service comes with a small fee.
- Check your exposure on Equifax.
- Visit Experian’s Dark Web Search.
What is the Dark Web?
Identity thieves use the Dark Web to buy and sell personal information.
If Dark Web users have access to your email address, criminals can potentially gain access to accounts associated with it.
Scanning your email is a great first step to better protecting your identity and giving you the knowledge you need to act.
Do not ignore this email; be proactive and take the time to protect your financial life.
We Can Help
There are lots of ways to take control of your financial future.
The Smart Asset Formula is one of them. Try it out and learn what you need to retire, then take action!