Tips for Maintaining Financial Wellness in the New Year
Tips for Maintaining Financial Wellness in the New Year
January is National Financial Wellness month, and an opportunity for a fresh start. Start off your new year on the right foot, and set your self up for a year of financial wellness by following some of these tips:
- Online Security.
Take an overall review of all your PINs and passwords and consider changing any that haven’t been changed since last year. While they may be easy to remember, avoid using personal information to create your PINs, like the last four digits of a Social Security number, a family birth date, or part of a phone number. When choosing a new password, consider a short phrase with a series of numbers or special characters. - Avoid Phishing Scams.
Always avoid suspicious emails or calls from numbers you may not recognize. When in doubt, it is always best to contact the company or person they might be claiming to be through their official channels and check the information. Remember, UNCLE will never call or email you asking for specific information such as account number, mother’s maiden name, etc. - File Important Numbers
Keep a record of your account numbers and the contact information for each card issuer or creditor. Often, people rely on the number printed on the back of your card, but if your card is lost or stolen, you may spend extra time finding contact information while your finances are vulnerable. - Shred all Secure Documentation
Destroy old cards by shredding or cutting them up, making sure to destroy the account number before disposing of them. In addition, any account statements you receive in the mail should also be shredded and disposed of properly. Pro tip, enrolling in online banking at UNCLE or another financial institution will help minimize a paper trail with your personal information. - Check your Accounts Regularly
It’s always important to regularly check your accounts to catch any fraudulent activity. This is another case where online banking is a useful tool, since you can check your balances anytime online or on your mobile device. - Report any Discrepancies
Should you find any discrepancies or fraudulent activity on your accounts, alert UNCLE or your other financial institution right away. This will prevent any further fraudulent activity and help avoid any delays in reconciliation.
Some of these tasks may seem tedious or unnecessary but are important for your overall financial well-being. Putting in a little work at the beginning of the year will set you up for success through 2022. Your future self will thank you!
