Tools
Worksheets
Understanding your Expenses is critical in developing a financial plan.
Use our Goal Development worksheet to list your goals and set priorities.
Use our What to Bring checklist to prepare documents for the planning process.
What is Mint.com and why should I use it?
Mint.com is a free, online account aggregation tool that can help you plan, manage and stick to your budget.
Setup is quick and easy—you can expect to have your accounts linked to Mint within a couple of minutes! Security is good, being at or above most institutional banking websites.
Avoiding Elderly Fraud
Contact numbers to report fraudulent activity:
NC Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office: 1-877-5-NO-SCAM
Fraud Fighter Line: 1-800-646-2283
NC Task Force Chair: 919-716-6000
Website of to see recent scams:
The NC Division of Aging and Adult Services Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force
Real example of elderly fraud and tips for avoidance:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124520056162621509.html
Link to article for new elderly fraud legislation:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/09/16/2009-09-16_us_sen_kirsten_gillibrand.html
The legislation would accomplish the following objectives…
- Charge an additional $50,000 civil fine for each violation that is targeted or is committed against a senior.
- Create a national grant program for states to protect seniors from misleading financial advisors claiming to specialize in seniors
- Direct the FTC to establish a one-stop-shop for consumer education on mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud against seniors.
- Establish a grant program to give states and local organizations the resources they need to initiate local mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud prevention and education programs for seniors;
- Declare a “National Senior Fraud Awareness Week” in May – coordinated with Elder Abuse Awareness Month – to increase public awareness of the enormous impact that mail, telemarketing and Internet fraud have on senior citizens in the U.S.
- Initial workshops to educate seniors on how to recognize risk factors and learn about who can help them if they are exploited.
Charity Research
Use Charity Navigator to do some homework make sure that your money will get used for the purpose you care about.
Read our blog post Checking up on your Charities for more information.
