test

Here's another article for the newsletter.

10 Common Scams and How to Avoid Them

As we age, we may become more susceptible to fraudsters who make a living preying on retirees. This can be especially true for widows and widowers who are making decisions alone and may be particularly trusting of friendly strangers. In order to protect ourselves and those we love, it’s important to be aware of the most common scams older Americans fall for.

1. Lottery Scam

You get an unsolicited phone call or email saying you’ve won a large prize. All you need to do is send money to pay for shipping, taxes or some ancillary fee. You send the money, but the fictional prize never arrives.

2. Grandchild Scam

Your grandchild calls to confess her troubles. Or so you think. It’s not uncommon for someone posing as your grandchild to call and, preying on your compassion, claim to be in a crisis situation and need money urgently. She may also beg you not to call her parents (which would give the scam away).

3. Charity Scam

You donate to one charity and end up being on every charity list. That’s because they sell your name, phone number and email to other nonprofit and commercial organizations. These could include companies with similar names to charities you support – but they exist solely to scam donations.

4. Computer Scam

Someone calls pretending to be from a major company, such as Microsoft, and says he can see that your computer has a virus. He offers to help you get rid of it by asking you to log into a website that lets him control your computer – then steals your ID information.

5. Timeshare Scam

If you own a timeshare, you may get a call from someone claiming they’re authorized to sell it for you, for a fee. After paying, however, you never hear from them again.

6. Homeowner Scams

A man comes to your door and offers to clean your gutters or trim your trees, which sounds like a good idea. Until he asks for prepayment and never completes the job.

7. Medical Scam

You get an unsolicited call about a discounted price for some kind of medical equipment (i.e., heart monitor, wheelchair or bathtub bench). He asks for a deposit and your personal information or Medicaid number to send the equipment, which never arrives.

8. Foreclosure Scam

You’re approached by a “professional” who claims your home is under threat of foreclosure and offers to pay off your mortgage or taxes if you sign over the deed to the property. With your deed, the fraudster can then refinance the mortgage for the full value of your home and take the money. Keep in mind, even if you sign over a deed to someone, you are still liable for your mortgage obligations.

9. Caregiver and Sweetheart Scams

These predators claim to care deeply for you or your well-being, but after winning your trust, they gain access to your accounts to steal money or identity information. 10. Title Company Scam Before purchasing or closing on a new property, a scammer intercepts an email from your realtor or title company. You’re then sent fraudulent payment instructions to complete the transaction. Red flags include last minute changes to instructions, a change in tone or word choice from prior emails, a new sender address and multiple payment requests. These scams are common and widespread. But speaking with trusted loved ones or your financial professional before making decisions can help you avoid these traps. Additionally, keep in mind these tips for staying safe: Don’t pay for things you don’t remember ordering. Don’t give your personal information to unknown third parties. Work with financial institutions that use fraud protection to safeguard your credit card and banking information. Don’t click links in the body of suspicious emails, especially if they claim to come from your bank, credit card company, realtor or title company. Instead, log in to the company’s official website or call them directly to verify. Don’t let strangers into your house. Instead, ask for a business card and say your spouse, kids or lawyer will be in touch. Be wary of caregivers and suitors, especially if you notice signs of substance abuse or other red flags. Limit the purchases and donations you make by check, which may list your home address or other key data. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website’s users and/or members. Raymond James does not provide tax or legal services. Please discuss these matters with the appropriate professional.et dolore magna aliqua. Quis ipsum suspendisse ultrices gravida. Risus commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel facilisis.

Dear Valued Clients and Friends,

As we take time to reflect on the year, spend time with loved ones and enjoy the season of good cheer, the team at CrossleyShear Wealth Management would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season. Thank you for your business and for placing your trust and confidence in us. In honor and appreciation of our clients, we continue our tradition and dedication to giving back. With much thought and consideration, we have each chosen the following charities near and dear to our hearts.

Evan Shear, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

This year my family and I have chosen our donation to be directed to the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. Their mission is to use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to build a just and caring community free of antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry. Their center is in Maitland, FL and is one of the oldest facilities in the nation of its kind.

Through their extensive outreach of educational and cultural programs and exhibits, they use the lessons of the Holocaust as a tool. They teach the principles of good citizenship to thousands of people of all ages, religions, races, sexual orientations, abilities and backgrounds each year.

In a world filled with much divisiveness and hatred, we hope that the lessons of the past can be a reminder of what happens when we forget that ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL and that as a great man once said, “All We Need is Love!”

Dale Crossley, JD, Financial Planner

This year I have elected to direct my donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Their mission is to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. While most of us have been affected by cancer and more specifically breast cancer, the timing of this year’s election is especially important to my entire family in the midst of supporting my mother through her current battle. After being diagnosed earlier in the year with stage 3 breast cancer I am happy to say that she finished her final chemo treatment in October and will finish her radiation by the end of January. Her attitude and optimism are an inspiration to us all.

Carrie Barnes, AAMS®, Financial Advisor

Last year, my husband and I learned that our son, Jason, had been diagnosed with Linear Scleroderma, en Coup de Sabre, at the tender age of 5. It is for that reason that I’ve chosen to contribute to the Scleroderma Foundation this year. Scleroderma comes from the Greek words “sclero” meaning hardening and “derma” meaning skin, so it’s a hardening of the skin. While there are varying types of Scleroderma, this rheumatic disease impacts less than 300,000 people in the United States, which means, quite frankly, there is simply not enough information known about it and currently there is not a cure. Although Zack and I remain cautiously optimistic about the prognosis for Jason, I continue to pray that someone will develop a cure for this chronic condition in Jj’s lifetime.

Tracy Stuck, Operations Coordinator

Keeping kids in supplies all year is difficult and teachers end up spending their own money. I was impressed when I
read about Tools 4 Seminole Schools. This program allows Seminole County Public School teachers to “shop” for classroom supplies and materials at no cost to them. Their goal is to ensure all students have the supplies needed to be in school, ready to learn. They strive to keep their shelves stocked all year long, which is why, this year, I’m happy to put my support behind this charity.

Karin Hobin, Marketing Director

The charity I have chosen to donate to this year is The Treatment Advocacy Center. This charity is dedicated to
eliminating legal and other barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness. The organization promotes laws, policies and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. When untreated, these individuals are at high risk for a number of negative circumstances that profoundly impact them and those around them. The human, social and economic impact of not treating serious mental illness is beyond calculation.

Jenny Vantassel, Client Services Representative

Our family has chosen St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude develops and improves treatments for children with cancer. No family ever receives a bill from St. Jude. They cover travel, food, housing, and treatment so the families can worry about helping their child. They also provide continuing education during their treatments with teachers on staff to ensure the children do not fall behind in school. Children are our future and we can help make their future brighter just by giving.

Catalina Mejia, Client Services Associate

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the The Boys and Girls Club of America here in Brevard. I was touched by how this organization impacts children in our community. I had an opportunity to learn from a few kids how The Boys and Girls Club changed their life and their future. Their mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential. Fostering productive, caring, responsible citizens, their innovative programs are designed to empower youth to excel in school, become good citizens and lead healthy, productive lives. The future is our children and it is up to all of us to help them succeed.

We hope the holiday brings you great joy and prosperity.

Evan, Dale, Tracy, Carrie, Karin, Catalina and Jenny

HEATHROW/MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA, December 2, 2019 – CrossleyShear Wealth Management (CrossleyShear), a premier financial services and investment company based in Merritt Island and Heathrow, Florida, announced today that they were recognized on the Orlando Business Journal (OBJ) List of Top Philanthropic Companies and Organizations for the third consecutive year. The list highlights the many corporate-sanctioned giving and volunteer programs that stand out in the community by businesses with a physical presence or office in metro Orlando, limited to Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake Counties.

Throughout the year, CrossleyShear Wealth Management’s employees offer their time, talent and funding to very worthy organizations that benefit the greater Orlando area and beyond. Whether participating in hands-on beach clean ups with clients or providing financial support to organizations such as the For a Day Foundation or local high school sports teams, the company fosters a culture of social responsibility among its employees.

“2019 has been a tremendous year for our company and this recognition brings with it a special meaning to our team. We understand the importance of community partnership and giving back. To be recognized for a third consecutive year is a tribute to our employees and clients and their continued charitable support,” stated Evan Shear, Co-Founder and Branch Manager of CrossleyShear Wealth Management and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

In addition to their own corporate social responsibility efforts, CrossleyShear also assists clients by maximizing their charitable donations. “Helping our clients strategize their contributions is an important service we provide to our clients – one that’s not only something we enjoy but also hugely rewarding to our clients and the charitable organizations that are close to their hearts,” stated Dale Crossley, Co-Founder of CrossleyShear Wealth Management, Branch Manager and Financial Planner – RJFS. “Too often, we find that individuals don’t fully understand the benefits of giving. For example, we advise our clients to take a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from their IRA. This allows them to make their donation directly to an eligible charity, bypassing the owner of the account. It’s a win-win for both the client and the charitable organization recipient. A QCD counts towards a client’s minimum distribution for the year, reducing their adjusted gross income and ultimately providing some tax savings. Most importantly, it helps our clients maximize the impact they have with qualified charitable organizations.”

Visit CrossleyShear.com to learn more about CrossleyShear Wealth Management, CSsports and the firm’s financial planning and wealth management solutions.

About CrossleyShear Wealth Management | Since 2003, CrossleyShear Wealth Management has served as a premier financial planning team dedicated to helping provide clients and families with innovative financial solutions and wealth management strategies. With offices in Heathrow and Merritt Island, Florida, the company’s tailored customer care philosophy and customized planning process helps empower its clients to achieve their financial goals and provide financial independence for those that matter most. For more information about CrossleyShear Wealth Management and its client-centric approach to financial planning, visit CrossleyShear.com.

This ranking is not based in anyway on providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Raymond James is not affiliated with Orlando Business Journal.

1515 International Parkway, Suite 2019, Heathrow, FL 32746 | 407.215.7575

2395 N. Courtenay Parkway, Suite 201, Merritt Island, FL 32953 | 321.452.0061

Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. CrossleyShear Wealth Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.