The holidays should be a time to celebrate good times and be merry. This week, we reinforce a theme we touch on regularly–scams to watch out for.
This time of year many of us are taking a look at our investments–especially as we prepare for tax season and consider the forecasted increase in capital gains taxes. Investor-seminar scams promote themselves as “educational opportunities” with the added enticement of free food, entertainment, and even travel promos. They then promise to show how to to turn mud into gold. Well, they’re not all that bad, but many times the opportunities are misleading and/or inappropriate for attendees.
The best way to protect yourself is to deal only with long-time, trusted financial advisers. Never sign a blank authorization form or anything else you don’t understand. Your private information in mischievous hands will likely cause seemingly endless aggravation at best and financial ruin at worst.
It may not always seem most economical on the surface, but there truly is something to using a local business. People in your neighborhood have an added incentive to provide service and quality and will often save you money in ways you’ll never know because you didn’t have to go through the heartache of being swindled by the company hoping to capitalize on the gimmick sale.
In this holiday season, think local first and get value and feel good about supporting your community and getting exactly what you need and what you want.
For more on identity theft protection, visit www.hvshred.com