The Inside Story

Happy New Year

First Quarter Meeting
The First Quarter of 2005 meeting will focus on review of your goals, objectives, risk tolerance, and time frame.  We will also review your estate plan and decisions on taking mandatory IRA distributions (if applicable).  We will examine portfolio updates and reinvestments if securities were sold for tax benefits at your end.

Proxy Voting
Financial Freedom Associates does not exercise voting authority for Proxy Voting on any client account.  Please contact us for details on our policy.

50 Things
How are you doing on the “Fifty things I want to do before I die?”  One thing we might plan to do this year is to check off a couple of them.  It could be great fun planning and help to enrich your life.  I checked off two of mine in 2004 and am working toward another two in 2005.     - Sylvia

A New Look — A New Face

FFA has changed its look - notice the changes in our newsletter, our cards, our new brochure and, believe it or not, a website!  Check it out at www.ffafeeonly.com.

For those of you who have asked, yes, we are taking new clients, so we are open to your referrals.

Also - a new face and voice.  Bill Holliday is joining me as a partner in FFA and I am delighted.

Bill is currently taking classes toward his CFP certification and training to become a comprehensive financial advisor.

 He came to Tucson after serving in the Peace Corp in Nicaragua.  In Nicaragua, Bill taught entrepreneurial business courses and worked with small businesses to improve their productivity and profits.

Bill earned his MS in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and his BS in ME from Lehigh University.

Oh—if you think he has a familiar look— you’re right, this is my son.

Deterring Identity Theft

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in America, and ranks first on the American Bankers Association’s list of fraud concerns.  There are some simple actions you can take to protect yourself from identity theft.  We hope the following information is beneficial.

What is it?  How does it happen?
Identity theft occurs when someone acquires your personal information, such as Social Security number, credit card number, and/or bank account number, and then uses it to establish credit, borrow money, or commit fraud or other crimes in your name.

What can you do to protect yourself?
Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming an Identity Theft victim…

· Be careful disclosing information to strangers via the Internet, telephone, applications or through the mail.  Never give out personal financial information unless you have initiated the contact.

· Be especially cautious when sharing information over the Internet, and ensure the web site is secure.  Web sites are secure when a closed padlock is in place in the lower corner of the computer screen.

· Use a separate credit card for online transactions.

· Do not include your Social Security number, driver’s license number or other unnecessary information on your printed checks.

· Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus at least once a year.  Contact information for the bureaus are included at the end of this article.

· Avoid using obvious passwords, personal identification numbers, and debit cards on your computers.

· Understand how your information will be used before sharing it with merchants and others.

· Do not share personal information through Internet chat rooms.

· Install firewall and anti-virus software on all of your computers.

· Have checks printed by a reputable check printer that uses paper stock embedded with security features that exceed industry guidelines.

What do I do if I am a victim of Identity Theft?
The most important thing you can do if someone steals your identity is to act quickly.  Identity thieves can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time, so you need to take the following steps immediately after you suspect you are a victim…

· Contact all affected credit card issuers, financial institutions, telephone service providers, and any other organizations that you have relationships with.

· Keep a list of your credit card companies and their phone numbers in a secure location so you can quickly contact them in case of a theft.

· File a report with the local law enforcement agency and get a copy of the police report.

· Contact the fraud department at any one of the credit bureaus.  Whichever bureau you contact will notify the other two.

· Ask that a fraud alert and victim’s statement be placed on your account file and request a copy of your credit report.

· Review your credit report(s) carefully for fraudulent activity.  After four months, order copies of your reports again and continue the review process.

· Immediately alert financial institutions, credit card issuers or any other organization if there is new fraudulent activity occurring.

· If the crime involved theft from the mail, contact your local Postal Inspections office.

· Call the Federal Trade Commission identity theft hotline to file a report.

What can I do to prevent Identity Theft from happening to me?
Take additional precautions to keep your information out of the wrong hands and detect possible fraud faster.

· Shred or destroy credit card offers and other documents that contain personal information

· Consider purchasing a shredder and a locking mailbox.

· Do not leave outgoing mail in your mailbox.

· Remove credit card numbers from receipts submitted for rebate offers.

· Photocopy both sides of all credit cards and store copies in a safe place.

· Pay attention to your statement’s billing cycles for missing bills.

· Examine statements for unauthorized charges.

· Do not carry your Social Security card or birth certificate with you.

Important Contact Numbers
Credit Bureaus:

Equivax
www.equifax.com
Order a credit report: 1-800-685-1111
Report fraud:1-800-525-6285

Experian
www.experian.com
Order a credit report: 1-888-397-3742
Report fraud: 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion
www.transunion.com
Order a credit report: 1-800-916-8800
Report fraud: 1-800-680-7289

Federal Trade Commission:
1-877-438-4338

Article printed with permission from:  Southern Arizona Community Bank www.southernarizonabank.com   and Deluxe Check Printers