Canyon Creek Allstate Insurance
How to Keep Your Information Safe This Holiday Season
by Wilson Allen - Owner
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t’s the most wonderful time of the year – and for a lot of us, that means holiday shopping. But how careful are you when you’re entering personal information online to purchase gifts for your loved ones? Today’s technological landscape allows and requires us to share more of our personal information online, whether we’re updating our social media profiles or shopping. Sensitive data is freely exchanged and can be found in many different places across the Internet, so it is crucial that families learn how to protect their identity and integrity. According to recent reports, experts predict that consumers will spend $89 billion online this gift-giving season (Forrester). The ease of purchasing last-minute gifts online or making quick bank transactions over public Wi-Fi may make your life easier, but it could also lead to the unwanted exposure of your financial information or even identity theft. To keep your data safe, it’s a good idea to routinely change your passwords and stay away from using your birthdate, your name or even your pet’s name, as this information can be easily discovered on the Internet. Other crucial cyber security tips:
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1. Keep it a secret: When shopping online, provide the minimum amount of information necessary to complete your order and be wary of questions that seem unrelated to your purchase. Maintaining privacy is the best way to ensure fraud protection. 2. Don’t click to win: If an email or social media post seems suspicious, delete it or mark it as spam. Some have malware embedded within them set to attack your computer files. Exit out of new windows and turn on your browser’s pop-up blocker. 3. Avoid public Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi hotspots are unsecured networks that criminals use to distribute malware. If you are hopping online for gifts, it’s best to make sure you do so from a secure network rather than transmitting your sensitive data over public Wi-Fi. 4. Read privacy policies: As tedious as it seems to read the fine print on a website, it’s a smart idea to make sure that your information won’t be sold to third-party marketers. 5. Get protected: many personal data protection services are available today - they can help monitor and block suspicious transactions.
Reasons to Add Life Insurance to Your Christmas List by Michael Shay - Life Insurance Sales Representative
ou can’t drive it around the block. You can’t wear it for an evening out. You can’t watch anything on it. And chances are it won’t elicit squeals of delight when opened. But of the many gifts you can give, life insurance might make the biggest difference to those you love. Here’s why: 1. It’s a generous thing to do. Purchasing an insurance policy isn’t about you at all, because you won’t be around to benefit. It will, however, benefit your family, loved ones, and even organizations that are important to you. 2. Freedom from worry. Knowing that your family is prepared financially if you’re no longer around can provide an incredible sense of reassurance. It can help provide your loved ones a measure of security when everything else in their life is being shaken. 3. It’s a cornerstone of a sound financial strategy. People often underestimate the extent to which a premature death affects a family’s income and assets. 4. It sets a good example. Being financially prepared for an unknown future can speak volumes to those around you - and as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. 5. It may assist with paying final expenses. It’s easy to underestimate the amount of money needed to pay for a funeral and other final burdens left behind. 6. It may help pay off debt. Funds from a life insurance policy can alleviate debt that might be hard to pay off in the event of
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an unexpected death. Survivors can use those funds to cover credit cards, car loans and even mortgage payments. It may help pay for college. Leaving a legacy for your children or spouse through the gift of education might be one of the more meaningful ways benefits could be used. Your gift could open doors for them to build a solid financial future for themselves through a life-long career. It may help provide for retirement. Depending on the financial circumstances of your loved ones, life insurance benefits can be invested in different ways to provide for retirement. Leaves a legacy. Life insurance benefits can help more than family members or loved ones. You can use the benefits to donate to charities or causes you care about and leave a legacy of generosity. It demonstrates you care about your loved ones. With each bill that is paid, with each gift to charities that were important to you, with each act of financial generosity, those you loved will be reminded of the care you took to help ensure they were left with a healthy financial future.
There are endless possibilities of gifts you could put under the Christmas tree this season. And if someone depends on you financially, you sure need life insurance. It’s that simple. So with the gifts all wrapped up, consider adding life insurance as one that could wind up being far more meaningful than any others.
www.CanyonCreekLifeMedia.com
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