Stay Smart - Resources for Seniors

Identity Theft

Avoid Identity Theft - Identity theft is much more than an inconvenience—it can devastate your credit rating and derail financial security.

Fighting Back Against Identity Theft - This website is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

Identity Theft - Resources from the government.

Avoiding Fraud

Affinity Fraud - Affinity fraud refers to investment scams that prey upon members of identifiable groups, such as religious or ethnic communities, the elderly, or professional groups. You can minimize your risk of investing unwisely by asking questions and getting the facts about any investment before you buy.

Avoid Investment Fraud - Even if you have never been subjected to an investment fraudster's sales pitch, you probably know someone who has. These resources can help avoid financial fraud.

Frauds that Target the Elderly - Details types of fraud where seniors may be the target.

Internet Fraud - This alert tells you how to spot different types of Internet fraud, what the SEC is doing to fight Internet investment scams, and how to use the Internet to invest wisely.

Risk Meter - Use the Risk Meter to see whether you share characteristics and behavior traits that have been shown to make some investors vulnerable to investment fraud.

Scam-meter - While there's no clear way to know, in just four questions the Scam Meter will help you tell if an investment you are thinking about might be a scam.

End of Life Planning

Estate Planning - If you'd like to ensure your assets are distributed as you'd like them to be when you die, estate planning is the answer.

Living Trusts - How to make sure living trust offers are trustworthy.

Smart About Money - Information includes Planning for Death, Planning Ahead for a Funeral, and Death of a Relative: Attending to Insurance, Assets and Debts.

Wills and Estates - Helpful advice on wills and estate planning.

Retirement and Saving

Ballpark retirement estimate calculator - The Ballpark E$timate is an easy-to-use, two-page worksheet that helps you quickly identify approximately how much you need to save to fund a comfortable retirement.

Calculators

Helping Your Money Last: After Your Last Paycheck - To help you set or adjust your own plans for affording retirement, FDIC Consumer News offers this look at some different sources of money, including some potential pitfalls to avoid.

Retirement Benefits - Shows retirement benefits by year of birth and gives pros and cons of early retirement.

Retirement Planner - Factors that may affect your retirement benefits.