The Protection Stack
Five defenses. A beginner who has all five, reviewed annually, is better protected than 90 percent of American households. Check yours; this page remembers.
An emergency fund at stage one or better
One month of expenses minimum, in its own account, before any investing beyond the match.
One month of expenses minimum, in its own account, before any investing beyond the match.
Basic insurance, reviewed annually
Health, auto, home or renters, term life if anyone depends on your income.
Health, auto, home or renters, term life if anyone depends on your income.
Beneficiary designations, current on every account
They override your will. Fifteen minutes per account, online, today.
They override your will. Fifteen minutes per account, online, today.
A simple will
Who gets what, who raises the kids, who executes. A Saturday, not a someday.
Who gets what, who raises the kids, who executes. A Saturday, not a someday.
A password and document system your family can find
If you died tomorrow, a competent adult should find every account within two hours.
If you died tomorrow, a competent adult should find every account within two hours.
The show-me-five email
Before any significant money moves toward any unusual deal, send this. Legitimate sponsors produce the references happily.
Subject: A few reference questions before I go further Thank you for the opportunity. Before I move ahead, would you connect me with five investors who put money into a prior deal with this sponsor at least eighteen months ago, who have been paid the returns as projected, and who are still invested today? I would like two or three short calls. If that is difficult to arrange, help me understand why. I sleep on every significant decision for a week, so there is no rush on my side.
The fingerprint of a bad pitch
Guaranteed. Risk-free. Insider. Time-sensitive. Exclusive. Double-digit monthly. Effortless. Any two of those words together, walk away. And remember the rule: if it mentions double-digit guaranteed monthly returns, it is a fraud. Full stop.