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Financial Scams: 6 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones

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wall art protect your heart like from financial scams

More than 1.4 million fraud reports were filed in 2018 according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In those reports, 25% of people said they lost money and the total amount of losses reported was approximately $1.48 billion. 

I recently listened in on the AARP webinar “How to Protect Your Loved Ones from Fraud”. Don’t let the fact that AARP hosted this event lead you to believe that seniors are only people susceptible to financial scams. In the FTC report mentioned above, younger people reported losing money more often than older people. The bottom-line is financial fraud can happen to anyone. 

During the webinar, the speakers shared several practical takeaways about protecting against financial scams that we could all use. 

  1. Stay current with the news. Last year’s scams might not be this year’s scams. A good case in point is the phone call scam that’s supposed to be from the Social Security Administration. This scam is so prevalent that the Social Security Administration is issuing warnings about it. Both the FTC and AARP have fraud alert resources on their website so you can stay informed about the latest tactics from scammers.
  2. Heighten your awareness about financial scammers. During the AARP webinar, they discussed the psyche of a scammer and reminded us that scammers are looking for individuals who are vulnerable, trusting, and are perceived to have wealth or valuable items. This doesn’t mean we can’t be nice. It does mean we need to pay attention to the world around us.  
  3. Screen your phone calls. Protecting ourselves from financial scams would be easy if they identified themselves on our phone’s caller ID. Unfortunately, they do not. It’s sad to say but it could be in our best interests to send calls to voicemail if we don’t recognize the caller. If you choose to do that, let close friends and family know this is your standard operating procedure so they don’t worry if you don’t answer right away. 
  4. Practice good technology usage. Today’s technology advances are wonderful but that doesn’t mean we should abandon the principles of good technology usage. For instance, having strong passwords for our accounts – especially ones where we have financial information stored – is essential. Also, making sure that the software on our devices is up to date. Outdated software could expose devices to malware or security breaches, which can lead to identity theft. 
  5. Research the credentials of financial advisors. It can make a lot of good financial sense to tap into the expertise of bankers, accountants, and financial advisors. Sharing your financial status with others is sensitive and personal. Knowing that your financial advisors are bound by a professional code of ethics is key. Individuals in the financial services industry should be prepared to discuss with you their experience and credentials. 
  6. Monitor your credit report. Don’t forget that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies to provide you with a FREE copy of your credit report every twelve months. Other organizations use this information to evaluate your credit, insurance, employment, and housing. Even if you’re not planning to make a major purchase, make sure the information is accurate. 

My big takeaway from the AARP webinar was that these activities are things I should be doing anyway. We should stay current with the news. We should use technology, including our phones, in a safe and secure way. And we should check out the credentials of the people we work with. 

Consider this article to be a reminder of the things you should be doing to protect yourself from possible financial scams and fraud. Maybe you want to share this list with a loved one, so they remember to do these things as well. It’s easy to get settled into a routine and not be as diligent with keeping your software up to date. Or you ran the free credit report a few years ago but haven’t done it lately. Well, now’s the time to get back on track. No one wants to be the victim of a financial scam or fraud.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Las Vegas, NV

What We Are UP To – Working From Home Edition

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Atlanta airport artwork clean hands and cover sneeze when not working from home

Given the COVID-19 news, many employers are asking employees to start working from home right now. I realize this could be a PITA, but it could also be an opportunity to test drive what working from home is like. If being a freelancer or consultant is part of your unretirement strategy, use this time – however long it may be – to see what you think about working from home.

Keith and I have been working from home for over a decade. We’ve learned a lot about how we like to work in the process. So, here’s what we’ve been up to this month along with a few tips about working from home. 

Reading | About Social Distancing

> Until recently, I had never heard the term “social distancing”. Now it seems to be all we’re reading about. And it’s one of the reasons that employees are being asked to work from home. I found this article on The Atlantic titled, “The Dos and Don’ts of Social Distancing” to be very interesting and helpful.

Feeling | The Need for Balance

> One of the biggest challenges of working from home is creating balance between your work life and your home life. It’s so much easier when you work in an office to leave the work behind. Find a way to shut the door – both literally and figuratively – to your work and enjoy being at home. 

Watching | Jumanji

> I’ve mentioned before that we seem to be gravitating toward funny movies lately. We rented Jumanji and Jumanji: The Next Level starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Very funny and a nice message about the importance of teamwork. 

Remembering | To Practice Self-Care

> I’ll admit it. Sometimes the news can be overwhelming. Especially when we’re working from home and can tune into it all day long. It’s important to take breaks, have a nutritious lunch, and practice self-care. And it’s okay to take 5 minutes to solve The New York Times Mini Crossword then go back to work. 

Loving | My Herman Miller Chair

> Another aspect of working from home that’s worth mentioning is your posture. I’m very fortunate to have a Herman Miller Embody chair. My back thanks me every day for it. When you’re working from home, find a place where you can be productive and kind to your body. Ergonomics matters.

Working On | Cleaning Everything

> One of the nice things about Gainesville, FL is all of the trees. Unfortunately, it also means we’re in the middle of pollen season. So in between work, we’re tackling a few cleaning projects. That’s a nice thing about working from home. It’s easy to throw in a load of laundry or set up the Roomba while you’re answering emails. 

Geeking | Silicone Muffin Tins

> Since I haven’t been traveling much lately, we’ve also been using our time to do some meal prep. One thing in particular we made was chicken stock. I like to freeze stock in muffin tins and then just use what I need. We purchased a silicone muffin tin and it’s fabulous! I have no idea why we didn’t buy one sooner.

Planning | Regular Walks

> Last month, I mentioned that we were starting up Pilates again. And we love it. But with all the COVID-19 talk, we decided to take a break from going to a group workout space. But we’ve discovered that we can take a lap in our neighborhood and it’s exactly one mile. So far, we’ve walked a mile every day. 

What’s UP with you? Any questions about working from home? Let us know and we’ll try to get some answers. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, GA

7 Reasons to Learn About Medicare Early in Your Career

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sunset on the beach in Waikiki thinking about the answer to Medicare problems

Last year, I wrote an article about the importance of understanding Social Security early in life. Social Security is complex and it’s going to take a while to understand all of the nuances of the program. In addition, whether it’s an election year or not, Social Security is a program that is being talked about by both Democrats and Republicans. If you have an opinion about Social Security (and you should) then you will want to pay attention to what the candidates have to say and make sure your legislators know your views. 

A program that is often included in the same sentence with Social Security is Medicare. It’s a national health insurance program started in 1966. Medicare primarily provides Americans over age 65 with health insurance but it does also provide benefits to some younger people with disabilities. 

Medicare has four parts. Here’s a really high level overview: Part A covers hospital services. Part B covers doctors services. Part C is an alternative to Parts A & B called Medicare Advantage. And Part D covers prescription drugs. I’m sure you can already see how this is going to get complicated. 

AARP recently held a webinar series called “Making Sense of Medicare” that I thought was very interesting. In fairness to them, it by no means answered everything you might want to know about Medicare. But it did provide a good foundation that you can build upon. Here are a few of my takeaways from the webinar:

  1. Like Social Security, Medicare is age driven. The enrollment window for Medicare begins three months before you turn age 65 to 3 months after. You can sign up online or at a Social Security office. There are consequences if you don’t sign up within your enrollment window. 
  2. Unlike Social Security, Medicare involves making a decision. When you sign up for Social Security, that’s it…you sign up. Medicare involves making a decision: Do you want the Original plan or the Advantage plan? There are pros and cons to each. Good news though, neither plan has a pre-existing condition clause.
  3. The Original Plan offers more choices. Under the Original plan, you can choose any doctor. For some people, that is a very important consideration. It also means that your costs could be a bit higher. But having the freedom of choice could be worth it. Oh, and there’s no dental or vision. Individuals who choose the Original Plan often make up the difference by purchasing Medicare supplemental coverage.
  4. With the Advantage plan, you could have lower out of pocket costs because you’re working within the Medicare network of doctors, hospitals, etc. This could be frustrating because you have to find doctors and providers who will take your coverage. But the savings might be worth it.  
  5. Obviously, the decision about whether to go with the Original plan or the Advantage plan is entirely yours. Everyone’s medical and financial situation is different. The good news is resources are available. AARP has a Medicare Resource Center on their website. There’s also the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), a network on free, one-on-one counseling and assistance, designed to help people navigate the complexities of Medicare. 
  6. Keep in mind that while Medicare could be years away for you, it’s possible you have a parent or loved one that is close to Medicare age and they might be looking for resources. The AARP Resource page and SHIP could be a way that you can help them. 
  7. You will want to plan on reevaluating your coverages every year. The good news is that once you make a decision, it is possible to change your coverage. Granted, there might be consequences, but it could be worth it. If you’re in the corporate world, then you’re familiar with the term “open enrollment”. Well, guess what? Medicare has open enrollment too. When you sign up for Medicare, plan on participating in open enrollment for the rest of your life. 

Health insurance has never been an easy subject and it doesn’t look like it will get any easier when we retire. That’s why it’s important to spend time learning about Medicare now. So, when it comes time to make health insurance decisions, we can make the best ones possible for ourselves and our families.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby during sunset at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, HI

Caregivers: How to Discuss Your Needs with Your Employer

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continue your success story airport sign encouraging caregivers

A few months ago, I shared with you some “tips for working caregivers” from an AARP webcast on the topic. In the second part of the AARP webcast series, the conversation turned toward how to have caregiving conversations with your employer. While the webcast didn’t offer XX steps you should follow, I thought it might be helpful to outline what you could do if and when you need to discuss your caregiving responsibilities with your manager.

1. Understand the law. In January 2018, the RAISE Family Caregivers Act was signed into law. This legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop, maintain, and update a strategy to recognize and support family caregivers. I’m not aware that the details of the program have been finalized yet, but it is something to watch. Also be sure to check the laws of your state to see if there is legislation covering caregivers.

2. Read your employee handbook. One of the most eye-opening portions of the webcast was when the host asked polled listeners how many people had read their handbook or talked with human resources about their benefits. More than 75% had not. As a HR pro, I understand that the handbook isn’t the most riveting reading, but it contains essential information. Check it out. Talk with HR. Know your benefits. 

3. See what services your employee assistance program (EAP) can offer. Speaking of benefits, a common one that many organizations offer is an EAP, also known as an employee assistance program. EAPs provide employees with confidential resources and guidance in areas like mental health, financial well-being, etc. Again, this is a benefit that is already yours. Take full advantage of it.

4. Think about the objections. Whenever I’m getting ready to pitch an idea, I think of all the objections. And come prepared to address them. While the crux of your conversation is “I’m responsible for family caregiving and I need my company’s support.”, put yourself in your manager’s shoes. What might their objections be? Some of the things that immediately come to mind are quantity and quality of work. Know the answers.

5. Have proposed solutions. This is the hard part. Be prepared to propose some steps that will allow you to be a caregiver and still get work done. Some of the proposed solutions could involve working from home, or a flexible schedule. But if those proposed solutions involve shifting work to others, consider how you’re going to introduce that idea. Chances are, you wouldn’t want someone to do it to you, so you probably don’t want to do it to them.

6. Plan your conversation. Put a few talking points down on a piece of paper. You might want to talk about your current performance, your caregiver needs, and your proposed solutions. If your work performance has been less than stellar, be prepared to address that. The company is going to have a hard time buying into your ideas if you can’t convince them that you’re able to deliver.

7. Don’t expect an immediate “yes”. After you pitch your plan, don’t expect your manager to immediately respond. They might ask a few questions. Or offer some sort of non-committal reply like, “I’m going to have to discuss this with HR.” Especially if you’re the first person that’s ever made this type of request. Just because you don’t receive an immediate “yes” doesn’t mean you’re going to get a “no”. Be patient.

8. Have a Plan B. Speaking of “no”, I don’t know that you need to present this during your initial conversation, but it might be worth considering on the front end what happens if the company does say “no” to your request. I’d like to think that companies do understand that caregiving is an issue. Maybe your manager is a caregiver and can empathize. But it’s better to have a Plan B and never use it than the other way around.

9. Thank the company for considering. Regardless of the outcome, thank your manager and the company for considering your request. It is possible that even if the answer in your situation is “no”, that you’ve opened the door for a conversation long overdue. It’s also possible that the company might come back to you weeks or months later with a change of heart. 

Tomorrow (February 20, 2020) is National Caregivers Day. As we age, we not only have to think about our own caregiving needs but the caregiving needs of those around us. Proper research and planning will help us have the open conversations we need. 

Aging In Place: 7 Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Home

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fenced yard in New Orleans for aging in place

When Keith and I were making the decision to move to Gainesville, Florida, we also talked about staying put in South Florida and renovating our current home. It was the live version of “Love It or List It” with David Visentin and Hilary Farr. LOL! Deciding whether to stay and renovate or move is a big decision. Especially when you consider aging in place.

Ultimately, we decided to move. But as we were building our current home, we kept in mind that this was going to be a place where we wanted to age comfortably. This played a role in many of the decisions we made during the construction process. 

As you talk about your aging in place plans, think about your home. It could be done as part of a renovation to the home you have right now. Or building something new. Maybe a bit of both – buying a new home and then renovating it. Regardless, here are a few things we learned along the way when it comes to aging comfortably at home.

1. Appliances: I’m specifically talking about refrigerators, washers, and dryers. I know the current trend is to have the refrigerator freezer on the bottom. But that means bending over all the time! Same with front load washers and dryers. Think about how much bending you want to do all the time and are there options to have the latest while saving you some back pain.

2. Bathrooms: Three things to consider: adult height vanities (again, be kind to your back), “comfort height” toilets, and shower bars. If you’re not ready to look at shower bars in your bathroom, it is possible to have them pre-blocked during construction. Then that support structure can be utilized later. 

3. Ceiling Height: We love high ceilings. They can make small rooms look very spacious. But changing out light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries can mean climbing very tall ladders. At some point, we must decide how many times we want to climb up on ladders when we’re 60, 70, or older. I hate climbing on ladders now and want to do even less of it when I’m older. 

4. Drawers and cabinets: Just like ceiling heights, tall cabinets look fabulous. But depending on how tall those cabinets are, it might involve using a step stool to reach those top shelves. And our builder told us to focus on drawer pulls versus knobs. The idea being to minimize the amount of gripping we would need as we age. And as lovely as some drawer pulls look, they also suggested steering away from ones that might accidentally grab or snag clothing.

5. Flooring: This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be helpful to have all wood or tile floors so there are no thresholds to possibly trip over. But then again, if we put rugs on the wood or tile floors, we run the risk of tripping over them. I wish I had an answer. It’s definitely an important conversation to have. 

6. Landscaping: I love beautiful landscaping. I’m not a fan of yardwork. Keith likes yardwork. He finds it cathartic. We spent a lot of time talking about how much yard would give us the beautiful part we love without being a huge burden. While Keith loves doing the yardwork today, there might be a time when he doesn’t want to, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

7. Lighting: Our home in South Florida was filled with natural light. We rarely turned the lights on during the daytime. Yeah, in the evening we turned lights on but not during the day. Gainesville is different. The natural light isn’t the same. Lighting is important because we need it to read, clean, etc. Not only do we need to plan for built in lighting, but we need to consider additional lighting in terms of lamps, night lights, outdoor lighting, etc.

I don’t know that anyone should duplicate what Keith and I did on our home. But I put this list together so you can have the same conversations and make the right decisions for you. I’d like to think that most of us want to enjoy our homes as we age. That means planning for both form and function when it comes to aging in place.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Orleans, LA

Older Drivers: Learning Technology Can Extend To Your Car

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drivers and their old cars on the streets of Havana, Cuba

At some point, Keith and I are going to have to think about getting a new car. Years ago as drivers, we became a one-car household. And our current car is over 15 years old. Having a reliable vehicle is important so we shouldn’t wait until we have to buy a car.

But you can see where I’m going with this. Today’s automobiles have a lot of technology! Our old car has a GPS system. Which of course we don’t use because it’s easier and more accurate to use our phones and Google Maps. But 15 years ago, GPS technology was fancy and a luxury! Since we tend to keep cars for a while, it’s important that we get the right technology that’s going to help us have a better driving experience. And what I mean by that is drive more safely.

If you’re not aware, AARP has a 90-minute self-guided online workshop about today’s smarter vehicles. It covers technologies like assistive parking systems, blind spot warning systems for drivers, and crash mitigation systems. The purpose of the workshop is to help people understand what these technologies do (and don’t do) so we can make educated decisions about the types of technologies we want to include in our vehicles.

As we age, one of the things that remains important to our wellbeing is having the ability to still get around. I think it’s fair to say that we don’t want to have to rely on people to drive us around for errands, etc. While those activities aren’t the most exciting, they do represent being mobile. And I’m sure we want to be independent as long as we can.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) talks about how older drivers need to be aware of the changes that happen to our driving skills as we age. Falls and motor vehicle crashes are the two leading causes of injury and death in older adults. The good news is that the latest technologies can help. They’re not designed to be a replacement for our driving skills, but they can offer assistance. If you know about them and you know how to use them properly.

While we’re talking about driving, there are other resources out on the Interwebs that can help you with your driving skills as you age.

  • AAA has a Senior Driving site which includes each state’s licensing laws, a driving health check-up, and how to have a conversation with an older adult about their driving.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers something similar to AAA with videos and resources to support older drivers including how certain medical conditions can have an impact on driving abilities.

Having a conversation about driving is very difficult. Many of us have been driving for decades. Maybe we haven’t had a traffic ticket in years. That doesn’t mean we can let our guard down about our driving skills – or those of other drivers on the road. And when it comes time to replace our current vehicles, we need to understand the latest automobile technologies so we buy features that make sense for our situation.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Havana, Cuba

What We Are UP To – The Grateful Edition

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sign saying this is a good day next to a graffiti heart being grateful

Thank you so much for being an Unretirement Project reader. We’re grateful for your support. We’ve been UP to lots of exciting things in November. 

Feeling | Excited (and Exhausted!)

> Five years ago, we decided to move from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville. Three years ago, we put a deposit on a house. Last week, we finally started moving into our forever home. To say it’s been a rollercoaster is an understatement. But we’re grateful to be spending our first Thanksgiving in our mess of a new home. 

Working On | Unpacking

> Needless to say, it’s all about the unpacking right now. And we’re tackling a few boxes a day. After having most of our belongings in storage for the past few months, it’s quite a treat to open a box and say, “Yea! I found it.” And “OMGosh, I forgot we owned this!” When we put our things into storage, we were wearing shorts. Today, we’re grateful to find our sweaters. Ha.ha.

Watching | Football

> Thanksgiving is a day for being grateful. But it’s also a day of celebration. We like to spend ours watching parades, football, and the Turkeys Away episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. We lived in Cinci years ago and always loved how the city embraced this wacky show and episode. 

Reading | Warranties and Manuals

> It’s not the most exciting reading. But it’s essential. While appliances are usually very intuitive, they also have more features. The hardest part is figuring out how to store all of these documents. In our last home, we created a file for each room and stored the manual for the item in the room’s folder. Very efficient and easy to locate the manual when necessary.

Remembering | Past Thanksgivings

> I don’t know why but holidays are always a time for remembering past holidays. This one will be particularly special since we’re in our new home. But last year, we took a cruise and it was fun. I guess what makes a holiday special is who you spend it with not where you spend it. 

Planning | Alton Brown’s Aged Eggnog

> I read an article recently on the Serious Eats blog about Alton Brown’s aged eggnog. We like eggnog. It’s a once a year treat. So now that we have a home and a new refrigerator, I thought that I would break it in by making fresh eggnog and aging it for one year. Ask me this time next year if I’m grateful for it. LOL!

Loving | Versed

> I’ve mentioned before that taking care of my skin is important. Especially as I’m aging. But I will admit that I’m not interested in having a 20+ step skin care regimen. Thankfully, I recently discovered Versed. It’s a Target-exclusive skin care collection that’s free of toxins, added colors, and fragrances. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. Lastly, each item is under $20. 

Geeking | MOTILE Backpack

> I love traveling with a backpack and recently found one with a charger. Walmart’s MOTILE brand includes a laptop backpack with a wireless powerbank and a wallet with a Qi wireless charger. I decided to give them a workout on a recent trip and loved the storage. It’s great when form and function come together. 

We are truly grateful that you join us in this project. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And let us know, what’s UP with you?