Ring, Ring — It’s a Robot
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself From Phone Scams and Robocalls
Two of the most common scams are phone scams and robocalls. These calls are incredibly annoying and can trick you out of valuable information if you’re not careful. While it might seem like these scams are inescapable, there are some precautions you can take to avoid their traps. Give them the silent treatment. One thing you can do to avoid these fraudulent, time-wasting calls is to simply hang up. If possible, it is best to not answer at all. It’s always good to have a list of numbers you can reference, so you never have to guess who is calling. Think of it as going one step beyond caller ID.
often gets put on an “active number” list that can then be sold to other scammers who market in these types of phone numbers. If you can’t verify who is calling without picking up, don’t answer. Let it go to voicemail. If it’s important, the person will leave a legitimate message and you can respond afterward. Put up some deterrents. You can even go a step further and block the calls. Many phone service providers offer call-blocking options, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. You can sign up for this service in-store or on your service provider’s website. Each service costs about $4 per month. There are also a number of call-blocking apps available on Android and Apple devices, but if you subscribe to a blocking service through your phone provider, these apps are unnecessary. Finally, you can sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s “Do Not Call” program (DoNotCall.gov). While the Do Not Call program can help cut back on calls, this list is largely ignored by scammers. If you’re getting a ridiculous number of robocalls every day, signing up can offer you some brief respite. Thankfully, Congress is already attempting to fix this problem by making it harder for scammers to call you. But until they are able to pass tough, effective legislation, it is up to us as consumers to remain vigilant and do what we can to keep our personal and financial data safe and secure.
In some cases, answering and then hanging up can actually do more harm than good. Answering the phone gives
the scammers confirmation that the number works and that they should try again. Once your number is confirmed as active, it
The decision to end a marriage after many years is never an easy one. After decades together, some couples simply grow apart or struggle with bouts of infidelity. There are many reasons why couples over 50 choose to separate, and things can be extra complicated in this type of divorce, also known as “gray divorce.” Financial Adjustment Gray divorce has become more common over the last 20 years. When couples split during this phase of their lives (peak career/ pre-retirement), it can be a financial shock. After decades of marriage, it’s likely they rely heavily on one another in terms of financial stability. It’s even more challenging if one spouse handled all the bills and expenses. Income and Support In some cases, partners are not equally able to support themselves. A great example is one spouse who focuses on career while the other stays at home to raise their children. Following divorce, the stay-at-home parent will be at a severe disadvantage. This disparity will come into play during court proceedings. The court will determine how to divide the couple’s assets, including savings and retirement accounts. The court will split the assets equitably — or roughly 50/50. That said, one spouse may also be required to pay alimony.
Retirement During divorce, the couple will need to consider their respective retirement funding sources and how the divorce will impact them. Keep in mind that retirement accounts are part of equitable division, and the court may split the accounts or funds within these accounts. Much of the time, each person must adapt to a retirement plan that lacks the funding it once did. Additionally, a divorce may even postpone retirement, especially if the funds are no longer enough to make retirement possible long term. Divorcing later in life creates unique financial and estate planning challenges. Call us today if you have any questions or need help navigating these complex issues.
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