Choosing the Right Trust to Meet Your Family’s Needs
November 19, 2021 | 4 min. read
Not all that long ago – depending, perhaps, on the vantage point from which you are currently viewing life – people thought nothing of having to wait several weeks to receive a statement in the mail providing them with the balances in their checking and savings account, or having to complete and mail in the proper paperwork (literally) just to redeem a few shares from their brokerage account or mutual fund. Today, the same information can be accessed online from our phones in a few seconds. We’ve come a long way, baby.
But as is inevitably the case with progress, there are tradeoffs. In order to have instant access to our personal information, we’ve had to make some concessions when it comes to protecting and securing that information. Stated simply, more than ever before, we are being asked to trust the financial institutions with which we do business to ensure our personal information cannot be accessed by what seems to be an ever-growing number of identity thieves and cybercriminals.
At First Command, we understand and embrace this responsibility. Here are some specific examples of steps we take and procedures we follow in the interest of protecting our clients:
ENSURING PRIVACY AND SECURITY DURING ONLINE SESSIONS
The information you provide to us online is protected by Secure Socket Layer (SSL technology). SSL technology is the industry- standard security protocol for data transfer on the Internet. SSL technology scrambles your information as it moves between your PC's browser and First Command's computer systems. When information is scrambled or encrypted in this way, it helps protect the safety and confidentiality of your information when you interact with us online.
E-MAIL SAFETY
To safeguard your email communications with us, we have implemented an encryption system. Any email communication that is sent to you which contains your sensitive personal information (i.e., your name in combination with your social security number, account number, driver’s license number, or similar information that can be used for identity theft purposes) will be sent through CommandCenter, OnCommand, our secure email vendor, or other encryption tool. Email is generally not a secure method of sending your sensitive personal information unless it is encrypted, and we advise clients that they should never send or reply to any emails containing their sensitive personal information without encryption protection.
VERIFICATION OF TRANSACTION REQUESTS
It is important that you do not use email, text or voicemail to request, authorize or effect the purchase or sale of any security or product, or send fund transfer instructions, or any other time sensitive transactions. Any such requests, orders, or instructions that you send will not be accepted and will not be processed. This procedure is in place for your protection as it allows us to verify your identity and your intentions before we take actions impacting your assets and/or insurance policies.
For more detailed information on First Command’s information security practices and procedures, view our Online Security Notice and Privacy Notice.
Despite all of our efforts to protect our clients, we fully understand that information security is a never-ending battle. As technology evolves, regulations are updated and identity thieves and cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated, it is essential that we keep pace. And we’re going to need your help. So please take a moment to review these useful tips for safeguarding your financial and personal information:
For more on how to protect your identity, check out these tips from the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS. And if you believe you are a victim of identity theft, take immediate action and keep records of your conversations and correspondence. While the steps you must take will vary with your individual circumstances, four basic actions are appropriate in almost every case:
1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file:
2. Contact the creditors for any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
3. File a report with your local police, or the police in the community where the identity theft took place, and get a copy of the police report.
4. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Complaints can be filed by phone, 1-877-IDTHEFT, or through the FTC’s identity theft Web site.
To help clients avoid fraud and identity theft, as well as to easily monitor their personal credit scores, First Command Bank offers Your Credit Score, a free online banking dashboard feature that allows them to:
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES OF INTEREST ON THIS TOPIC:
Preventing Fraud as a Veteran or Military Member
Answer just a few simple questions and — If we determine that you can benefit from working with us — we’ll put you in touch with a First Command Advisor to create your personalized financial plan. There’s no obligation, and no cost for active duty military service members and their immediate families.
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