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| Safeguarding Your Identity – and Your Finances |
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Identity theft costs Americans more than $50 billion a year, according to the Better Business Bureau, and more cases are being reported every year. A recent survey by the Federal Trade Commission revealed that nearly 4 percent of the adult population—more than eight million Americans—are victims of some form identity theft each year.
How can you avoid ID theft? The fact is, you may not be able to avoid it entirely because it can happen anytime, anywhere to anybody. But there are some steps you can take to make it more difficult for thieves to steal your identity and to protect yourself in case you do become victimized.
Credit cards, bank accounts and Social Security numbers are among the most common targets of ID theft, but brazen thieves have also tapped into health insurance accounts to pay for their own medical services and ripped off the identities of college students to take out... MORE |
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| CLICK HERE to get your free copy of our 24-page retirement booklet, “Planning for Retirement – Strategies for Your Life, Your Finances, and Your Future”. In this booklet, you’ll learn more about strategies and options for your future. |
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CLICK HERE for your FREE Financial Review. Because we place such a high priority on mutual trust in our client relationships, we offer this free analysis to help us both decide if we are a good fit. |
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Financial Planning:
Special Needs Trusts
Many families go through the painful experience of seeing someone they love face life with a disability. Whether you are the parent of a child with a disability or other relative, you... MORE |
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Tax Planning:
Estate Planning in the Face of Uncertainty
Because the federal estate tax laws will change in each of the next few years, it is difficult for many individuals to plan for the efficient transfer of wealth to their heirs. Although many of you... MORE |
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Mortgage Tips:
Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac Takeover
The federal government took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday 9/7/2008 in a bid to keep the two mortgage giants from filing bankruptcy. Together, Fannie Mae and... MORE
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Insurance Insights:
Contingent Wealth
When planning your financial future it is not at all uncommon to spend considerable amounts of time, money and effort plotting a course. Specifically this often manifests itself in various... MORE |
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Investment Management Updates:
How to Weather a Stock Market Correction
When stock prices are falling, some investors find themselves trapped in a vicious emotional cycle: fear of losing money often leads to anger, and anger can lead to a quick, poorly... MORE
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Thoughts from Bruce Helmer:
Necessities or Luxuries
Most spending falls into two simple categories: necessities and luxuries. Almost every dollar you spend could be divided in that way. The challenge of dividing our spending in such... MORE |
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Sudoku Puzzle:
When you play sudoku you qualify to win a FREE $25 Gift Card for any participating T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant. This month's puzzle... MORE |
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Upcoming Events:
As most of you know, one of our main goals is to educate our clients and our community. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming seminar... MORE |
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Minnesota: Blaine, Brainerd, Burnsville, Edina, Mankato, Oakdale, Plymouth, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Vadnais Heights
Iowa: West Des Moines – North Dakota: Fargo |
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