Protecting Yourself from Cybercrime: The Third of a Three-Part Series. Read Part One Here and Part Two Here
A hacker may gain control of your computer if your password has been compromised. Often, the hacker will send an email demanding money along with a deadline. You can potentially avoid this stressful situation by taking the following precautions:
Create strong, uniquepasswords for each site and do not reuse passwords. Never use your name, birthday, or other easily identifiable information in your password. Passwords should be a minimum of 14 characters and contain at least one upper and lowercase letter, number, and special character. Consider using a passphrase or another language.
Use a password encrypted vault such as Keeper Security or SafePass to store your passwords.
Use two-factor authentication for your email account(s) and financial institution(s). This creates an additional level of security beyond your password. For example, each time you log in to your bank you will receive a unique code via a text message. A hacker would need both your password and the text message to access your account(s).
If you are hacked and receive an email demanding ransom, do not engage with the hacker. Reach out to an IT professional for help (Geek Squad at Best Buy provides 24/7 support). Hackers will often deposit a new virus on your machine after receiving a ransom payment.
Additionally, you should set-up alerts with your financial institution(s). Most institutions offer several options to help you monitor the activity in your account(s). Read the alerts carefully and contact them quickly if you do not recognize a transaction. Again, do not call any telephone number contained in an email or text. It is best to go to the website and find a telephone number. For credit cards, use the telephone number on the card.
It is also important to remember to protect data contained in your home just like you would protect a piece of jewelry. Keep financial statements and other documents that contain sensitive information such as your social security number stored in a secure location. If you have the ability, scan important documents to a secured encrypted file in the cloud. If you maintain paper documents, lock them in a safe deposit box, secured vault, or cabinet. Your data is an attractive target to a burglar or a household professional.
Last, but not least, please inform us if your personal information is compromised. We are here to help!
At Strategic Wealth Partners, we strive to keep your personal information safe in multiple ways. Please see our previous post, Your Privacy is Important to us – And You!, to learn more about what we do.
People often ask me, “is now the right time to get into the market?” If I had a crystal ball that told me when to buy and when to sell, I probably would not be writing this piece! With the highest inflation numbers since the 1980s, concerns about an economy potentially in recession, and the most prolonged downturn in stocks since the Great Financial Crisis, there is no question that investors have been challenged this year.
The good news is that there are always opportunities for long-term investors with the right plan.
Whether you are an experienced investor, have recently come into cash, or are new to the financial markets, below I discuss some things to consider when asking if now is the right time to invest.
This week has been another extremely turbulent one in the stock market. While it is never comforting to see large, red numbers, volatility can be even more uncomfortable for recent retirees or those considering retirement. A colleague of mine recently told me that he has seen more of his clients retire in the last two years than in his first ten years of working at SWP. This got me thinking a lot about the notion of retirement. Retirement is a huge life event and adding volatile markets can compound the feeling of uncertainty. In this article, I will share some of the concepts we have been discussing with our clients.
Strategic Wealth Partners is proud to be listed in the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Investment Management Firms ranking. The list is ranked by firm assets under management from December 31, 2021.
“We are so pleased to be included in this list of the largest investment advisors in the Milwaukee area. We first entered the Milwaukee market in 2018 because we saw tremendous potential to combine forces with some outstanding professionals,” says Principal and Co-Founder Neal Price. “Kathy Klein, Joe Thompson, and the entire Milwaukee team are best-in-class. We are excited to expand our presence and become the go-to firm for comprehensive wealth management services in the Milwaukee area.”
“Our success comes from a solid and loyal client base who believes in our personalized solutions. Our work on behalf of our clients is far-reaching, but it all comes down to our unique process that is client focused, manages complexity, delivers simplicity, and guides our clients to their goals,” states Wealth Advisor Kathy Klein.
Strategic Wealth Partners is an independently managed wealth management firm that has been partnering with clients since 2008 in Deerfield, IL, and since 2018 in Milwaukee, WI. For more information on services, please visit www.stratwealth.com.
