Asset Planning, Inc Blog

The latest from the team.

A Recent Survey Suggests You Can Save Money by Making One Simple Call

Most people assume that things such as, annual fees, interest rates and late fees are non-negotiable when it comes to credit cards. A new survey from creditcards.com is showing us that this is not the case. In most circumstances all you have to do is call your credit card company and ask. The survey asked 952 American cardholders and the majority received what they asked for. The problem is that hardly anyone asks.

Here are the results from cardholders who asked:

  • 87 percent received a late payment fee waiver.
  • 69 percent got a lower interest rate.
  • 89 percent received a higher credit limit.
  • 82 percent had their annual fee waived or reduced.

If you are looking for ways to reduce or eliminate fees on your credit card it doesn’t hurt to call and ask. The worst they can say is no. This can save you lots of money in the long run, if you carry balances on your cards, so it’s definitely worth a call.

Continue reading
  1558 Hits

Mobile Banking Security Tips

 

Mobile Banking Security Tips     

Whether using your phone or a tablet, mobile banking is a wonderful tool that gives you access to your financial world with a touch of a button. Almost all banks and credit cards now have apps that allow you to access your account information, make deposits, complete transfers and make payments directly from your smartphone. While we love the convenience of mobile banking it can also be a way for a thief to obtain your personal information if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to keep you secure while enjoying all of the convenience that mobile banking offers.

  1. Always download banking apps directly from the banks website or the app store.
  2. Never download banking apps on “jailbroken” phones. Phones that have been “jailbroken” or modified no longer have the operating system’s security in effect and are more likely to be hacked.
  3. Always secure your phone with a strong passcode and enable the auto-lock feature in case your phone is lost or stolen.
  4. Never use public Wi-Fi when logging into the app. That is a common way for hackers to get your personal information.
  5. Never respond to a text or email requesting your banking/login information. A real bank will never send a request for this info.
Continue reading
  1889 Hits

Checking Your Own Credit Score

 

Everybody knows how important maintaining a good credit score is. Having a good credit score will get you better interest rates on home mortgages, car loans and credit cards. Landlords and even employers are looking at this number when making decisions to rent/lease to you or hire you. With credit being such an important factor in life it’s crucial that you know what your credit score is and checking your own credit score does not impact your credit. Luckily for you there are many new and free credit monitoring services out there to help you do just that. So if your credit needs a little help, don’t despair, check out these free tools to help guide you on the path to great credit!

Creditscorecard.com

 

Creditsesame.com

 

Creditkarma.com

If you choose to sign up for one of these websites they will ask you for personal information to identify yourself to verify that it is in fact you signing up. These websites are all free monitoring services and they will not ask you for any credit card information. They will however send you marketing materials with offers based on your personal information. It seems like a small price to pay in order to be able to monitor and take control of your own credit. Good luck on your journey to overall better credit health!

Continue reading
  1978 Hits

Search Blogs Module

Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
2017 IRA contributions trust earthquake app money scams stimulus package pets phone companies years insurance policy pet supplies Auto insurance investment statements home Fox News story July 3 rd Orange County blog post fun atmosphere cell phone carriers partner /owner retirement plans credit monitoring service Labor Day CA FTB home break-ins Open House Supplemental Security Income ID card email notifications company tax returns water … interest Victor Dergunov credit card company disaster areas estate planning direction checklists June 29 COVID -19 virus home emergency preparedness kits prescription eyeglasses phishing scams identity theft spring cleaning TD Ameritrade market turmoil retirement accounts health care services clone counterfeits trustee text messages tax season September 30 2020. Flexible Spending Account breach VOIP landline phones portal September 9 wells Fargo National Ice Cream month 2017 TD Ameritrade National LINC Conference IRA accounts April 15 emergency kit Medicare question https :// car loans markets emergency kits paper records spread summer fees operations manager interest rates Independence Day Part B student loans emergency folder life saver news coverage pet industry Economic Security Part D premiums . insurance policies Asset Planning credit card fraud home mortgages rescue organizations identity thieves media accounts information official certification Affordable Care Act DNA test kits payments 401K clients show support donation items Kiplinger Letter Joey Gonzales ice cream records Financial Planning Magazine relief efforts earnings fallout coronavirus Medicare plan card reader birth certificates “ skimmer ”. cell phone SIM swap scam retirement Open Enrollment 70 1/2. check lists policy Treasury Department Shred paperwork padlock account numbers tax deadline retirement planning Charles Schwab Medicare Part B Amazon ice cream event non-prescripstion sunglasses January 10 home emergency kit estate EEChecklist-Kits.pdf stockpilingchecklist.pdf Healthcare Roth IRA April 11 fun facts phone 900 number phishing sites 23 andme cell phone service provider 20 year anniversary house sitter drive /usb July 4 privacy notices pet donation drive cell phones health care costs executive order settlement options CARES Act California Lions Friends FSA Two-Step Verification flash drive tax deadlines 2018 IRA contributions 4 pm -8pm Coronavirus Aid donation counts gap insurance Brexit vote Social Security Administration illiegal robocallers CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER exam credit score people medications privacy settings Social Security pet 2017 Equifax breach paperwork clutter Facebook profile credit cards Medicare Advantage contribution limit vacation bottom line information Facebook family members toilet paper jury duty client portal Notary Public Medicare Part B premiums Orange County Superior Court IRS deadline borrowing money credit freeze driver license business hours Expired medications self-help topics increase February 14 home security April 18 2017. Federal Trade Commission website CFP ® tax filing deadlines Medicare app web address integral member assets memorial Day weekend chip-enabled EMV cards cell phone provider asset Planning estate planning IRS https ://seekingalpha cell phone carriers offer clients documents Kraig Mathias stock pile notary services Ice Cream Social vision screening FEMA website Puerto Rico tax records debt October 1 2020. hurricane Dorian July 6 items offering insurance Erin Nelsen Wells Fargo customers consumer spending banking D premiums Legal robocalls spam phone team members Retirement Contribution Limits Wells Fargo employees September 8 president Trump Mobile Banking Security Tips parking spots opt-out July weekend holidays approach