Money Disasters: Fraud, Scams & Other Financial Dilemmas
You may have heard the claim that money is one of the most common causes of discord, stress and tension in a family or among couples. Most people want more of it but not very many know what to do with it once they’ve got it. When we are bombarded by messages that encourage us to consume, borrow, mortgage and spend, we become vulnerable to the twin forces of greed and fear. The world of money can be fraught with potholes and wrong turns. We’ve created this section to discuss the common problems that come up when we are dealing with money and our assets. We discuss some of the more insidious ways that money affects our relationships and our lives.
Managing our finances is not just about “knowing”, but also about “doing” (or avoiding). There are many potholes and pitfalls that may greet you in life, as you try to grow your net worth and seek financial independence. We discuss some of those negative aspects of money here, as a way to help deter you from problematic situations; we hope that some of our own mistakes and errors in judgment can help you sidestep these types of scenarios.
How does one deal with financial scams, fraud, identity theft and other money problems? We discuss various dilemmas that beset our finances and our lives, how we can protect ourselves from these risks and how these problems may be resolved.
When should you transfer your brokerage account? As a risk analyst, I suppose it’s not too far off to say that I’m also a paranoid individual. No, I’m not looking over my shoulder, waiting for the bogeyman to get me — rather, I now rarely take anything anyone says to me at face value. I […]
A lucky few become millionaires overnight by winning the lottery. But before you start playing the game, know that rich people have their own set of problems. Many of them have their own share of headaches that I’m sure you wouldn’t want to have. Most people harbor the dream to hit it big in some […]
All of us know someone who is crazy about shopping. If you are an avid shopper, take heed: before you embark on your shopping sprees, take note that the thieves and ne’er do wells may be out and about to prey on the unsuspecting. It’s quite obvious why this would happen — crowds attract opportunists […]
It’s Earth Day and another time to remind ourselves about what we can do to be kinder to our environment. I actually asked my 8 year old about Earth Day and what suggestions he had in mind, to take care of our planet. He said: consume less, don’t throw bottlecaps and plastics in the wrong […]
What if your partner is racking up the credit card debt, and having a hard time putting a halt to their unnecessary spending? Then it can get pretty dicey. If your personal or spousal debt is starting to look unmanageable due to a spending addiction, here are a few ideas that you may try out […]
Be aware of the possible dangers and risks that are associated with the holiday season. We discuss those things to watch out for so we can be safe during the holidays. The yuletide season is a time devoted to family reunions, merry-making and giving back. But it’s also a time that can be stressful. But […]
What happens when you mix anonymity and emotions with money? Be careful when you make financial or romantic connections through the Internet. Sometimes, it does not pay to go online, especially if you have money! Sometimes the price is just too high, such as when people forgo their relationships by spending too much time on […]
It’s as old as dirt and has been going on throughout history, ruining lives across the world. What is this, you may ask? Well, it’s the Ponzi scheme. My Brush With The Ponzi Scheme I actually know quite a number of people who’ve been affected by this particular form of fraud (unfortunately, from both sides […]
Don’t mean to be a downer, but it’s been a tough week. Everyone has been following the events unfolding in Japan over the last week and we’re all praying that this will somehow resolve positively and avoid a catastrophic conclusion. I haven’t really expressed this before, but I have the greatest admiration for the Japanese, […]