Author Archives: Melissa Hart

Apr 25 2026

JOB SEARCH SCAMS

Fraudulent activities and scams are present with all financial decisions, and that includes career planning. When seeking employment, beware of these deceptive practices:

  • fake jobs and phony companies are designed to obtain your personal data or to get you to accidentally sign up or buy something.
  • impersonation scams involve fake job postings using real names, actual companies, or university staff, which can result in identity theft.
  • ghost jobs are postings that do not exist; recruiters may use this tactic to build a talent database. 
  • phishing involves emails designed to collect sensitive financial information.
  • upfront payment requests to pay for training materials, background check, or an application fee.
  • too-good-to-be-true job that promises high pay for very little work.
  • unsolicited job offer for a position for which you did not apply.
  • fake interview to try to get bank account numbers or personal information.
  • fake recruiters tempt you with attractive opportunities and try to get your personal or financial information.

Job scam warning signs include: (1) a sense of urgency; (2) emails and websites with grammar and spelling errors; (3) generic email domains, instead of company name; (4) vague job descriptions; and (5) requests for upfront money.

To help prevent job scams, consider these actions:

  • be wary of job offers with high salaries, requiring you to work from home, and a rushed hiring process.
  • verify the company on their official website and check online reviews.
  • be cautious before providing personal information and financial data.

For additional information on job search scams, go to:

https://clark.com/employment-military/job-search-scams/

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/common-job-search-scams-how-to-protect-yourself-v2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to learn about actions they have taken for successful job searches.
  • Have students conduct online and AI research to create a video with warning signs to avoid job scams.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What things might you hear or see that would make you suspicious of a job posting or job offer?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to avoid job scams.    
Apr 11 2026

PRICING TRICKS

Extensive information is collected on every buying action. This deep data allows companies to adjust prices in two ways:

1) Surveillance pricing uses personal data and past behaviors to adjust prices for a person’s willingness to pay. To minimize this situation:

  • shop online in private mode.
  • compare prices before logging onto the shopping site.
  • use a price-tracking website to know if an item costs more than you are willing to pay. 
  • don’t be tempted to “buy-up” by purchasing a more luxurious item than the basic model you intended to buy.

2) Surge pricing adjusts the price of an item based on demand. When demand is high, prices are raised for ride sharing, hotel rooms, air travel, concerts, or online products. To avoid:

  • plan ahead to take advantage of off-peak times.
  • use a price alert app.
  • look for discounts and promotions for frequent buyers. 

For additional information on pricing tricks, go to:

https://clark.com/shopping-retail/surveillance-pricing/

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students observe prices online and in stores to monitor trends for items they have bought or plan to buy.
  • Have students do online research to identify price alert apps and to develop a strategy to obtain the best prices for items they buy frequently.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What features of a price alert app could help consumers make better purchasing decisions?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to minimize the influence of surveillance pricing and surge pricing on a person’s buying activities.
Mar 28 2026

NET WORTH: A DIFFERENT APPROACH

In basic terms, net worth, the difference between a person’s assets (what they own, items of value) and liabilities (amounts owed), is viewed on a person’s personal balance sheet. Assets in the amount of $196,000 minus liabilities of $63,000 results in a net worth of $133,000. However, the amount of net worth may not truly reflect financial security.

When viewing net worth, remember, not all assets have the same financial benefit:

  • Productive wealth involves assets that are actively working for you generating income, dividends, interest and capital gains. These include savings accounts, retirement accounts, investment accounts, and rental property.
  • Sellable wealth includes assets with a market value that you could and would sell under certain circumstances. While these assets are not generating income, the value would be available if you needed the money.
  • Estate wealth includes assets with paper value but that you either can’t or are unwilling to sell. These include your primary home, car, business ownership, and sentimental assets such as family heirlooms and antique collectibles. Home equity and other estate items will usually not be viewed as available wealth.

While home equity and business ownership increase net worth, these have limited usable wealth due to illiquidity. When planning finances, emphasize productive or sellable assets for usable wealth; don’t just seek a larger net worth.

For additional information on net worth, go to:

https://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/a-better-way-to-think-about-your-net-worth/

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students create a proposed future balance sheet that emphasizes productive and sellable wealth.
  • Have students use AI research to obtain suggestions for increasing a person’s productive and sellable wealth.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Why might a person overlook the value of productive and sellable wealth over estate wealth?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to emphasize productive and sellable wealth.   
Mar 14 2026

Shopping for life insurance

esent and future sources of income, other savings and income protection, group life insurance, pension benefits, Social Security, and, of course, the financial strength of the company.  Here are some tips in purchasing life insurance.

  • Make sure the agent and company are licensed to sell insurance. If you buy from an unlicensed company, your beneficiary might not get paid if the company fails. Licensed companies belong to a guaranty association that pays claims for failed companies.
  • Check a company’s financial rating and complaint history. To learn about a company’s financial rating and the number of complaints against it, call your state’s Consumer Help Line.
  • Shop for a low- or no-load policy. You might save money if you buy a policy with low commissions and fees, which are known as the load. Financial planners who are licensed insurance counselors often sell these policies. They usually charge clients a flat fee.
  • Get quotes from several companies. Rates vary by company.
  • Compare “apples to apples.” Be sure the policies you compare offer similar coverage. A less expensive policy could have fewer features or a lower death benefit. A more expensive policy might be a better value when you consider the amount of the death benefit per premium dollar. Don’t choose a policy on price alone.
  • Know how much coverage you’re buying. Talk to your agent about the coverages and amounts you need. Think about how much you’ll need to help your dependents after your death.
  • Know how much your policy will cost. Your company should tell you exactly how much your policy will cost. If you’re not OK with the cost, ask the company if they have a different policy.
  • Use your free-look period. Most policies have a free-look period of at least 10 to 20 days. During this time, you may cancel the policy for any reason and get a full refund. Use this time to be sure the coverage is right for you.
  • Review the information an agent gives you. Agents often use charts to show how a policy’s cash value might grow. These are usually projections and aren’t a promise of a policy’s performance. You could earn less than the projection. Ask for a history of the actual growth of cash values.
  • Watch out for illegal acts. Agents can’t offer you a gift or a discount on an investment or loan to encourage you to buy life insurance. If you think an agent has made an improper offer, call your states’ Consumer Help Line.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions:

  • Ask students why it is important to understand and know what your life insurance needs are before you make any purchase?  Also, why is it important to review the company to ensure they can meet your needs?
  • Ask students if they check their coverage periodically, or whenever their life situation changes, to ensure that it meets their current needs.

Discussion Questions:

  1.  Why is it important to know the ratings of the insurance company?

  2.  What should you do in examining a policy before and after the purchase?

Feb 28 2026

Were you in a wreck? Tips for auto insurance claims

It helps to know what will happen with your insurance claim after you’re in a wreck. Use these tips to learn what to do and what to expect.

  1. At the accident scene

If no one was injured, move out of the road. If someone was injured or the other driver drove away, call the police. Get a copy of the police report for your insurance company.  If you can’t drive your car, the police will call a tow truck driver. You can tell them to take it to a car storage lot or body shop of your choice.

Get this information for your claim:

  1. Collect the other driver’s information. Take a picture of their insurance card and driver’s license. If they don’t have an insurance card, ask for their name, phone number, insurance company name, and policy number. Give the other driver your information.
  2. Take pictures. Get pictures of the other cars involved, including license plates and damage. Also get pictures of street signs and road angles.
  3. Talk to witnesses. Ask for names and phone numbers. 
  4. Write down details. Include the location, time of the wreck, weather conditions, and what happened.
  5. After you get home
    • Call your insurance company to report the accident.
    • Get the name and phone number of the adjuster assigned to your claim.
    • If you go to a doctor, keep medical records and bills to show your insurance company.
  6. Getting your car repaired

Your insurance company might give you a list of body shops, but you can take your car to any shop you choose. Before you leave your car, read any agreement the body shop gives you.

Your insurance company will give you a repair estimate. If it costs more to repair your car, the body shop will give your insurance company a new estimate. Your company will pay for the extra repairs if it agrees with the estimate.

  1. The other driver was at fault

If you think the other driver caused the accident, you can report the wreck to the other driver’s insurance company. Their insurance should pay for your car repair, medical bills, and a rental car.

If the other insurance company won’t pay the full amount or refuses to pay, file a claim with your company. Your insurance company will try to recover the money, including your deductible, from the other driver’s insurance and give your deductible back.

  1. The other driver didn’t have insurance or drove away

Most auto policies include collision coverage that will pay for your car repairs. Your auto policy might have medical payments and personal injury protection coverage that will pay medical bills.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions:

  • Ask students if they or their family members had filed an insurance claim after a car accident.  If so, what was the outcome?
  • Ask students what steps should be taken if they are in a car accident.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it important to take pictures of the cars involved in an accident?
  2. If your car needs repairs, must you take your car to a repair shop recommended by your insurance company?
  3. What should you do if you believe the other driver caused an accident?
Feb 14 2026

Looking for health insurance? Make sure that’s what you’re getting

Are you looking to get or switch your health insurance? Know that some dishonest marketers might lie about what your plan would cover, make it seem like they’re selling health insurance when you’re just getting a discount plan, or try to sell you something else entirely.

If you’re looking for health insurance, make sure that’s what you’re buying:

  • Don’t decide on the spot. Get details in writing before you sign up. If the marketer won’t give you information in writing about the plan’s benefits and limitations before you give a credit card number or other payment information, that’s a major red flag.
  • Review the plan documents carefully and make sure it’s what you want. Is it health insurance, a medical discount plan, or something else? Call your health care providers directly to find out if it would cover your care, and how much it would cost you for things like going to the emergency room or being admitted to the hospital. Call before you enroll or pay any fees.
  • Search online for any company or plan name listed in the documents with the words “complaint,” “scam,” or “fraud.” Read reviews and see what others have to say.

Spot a misleading ad? Tell the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For more information, click here.
 
Teaching Suggestions:

  • Ask students if they know the difference between health insurance and a medical discount plan.
  • Ask students to make a list of steps to take if they want to get or switch their health insurance.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it important to get details of your medical plan and review it carefully before you sign up?
  2. How do you check if your medical plan provider is a legitimate business?
Jan 31 2026

Do you need life insurance?

Think about your age, your financial situation, and if you have people who depend on your income. If you do decide to shop for life insurance, here are some things to consider.

1.   How much life insurance do you need?

Life insurance is there to help your loved ones with financial needs if you aren’t there anymore. Consider your mortgage and other debts, how much income would need to be replaced, money to cover a funeral, and college for the kids. Add those up, and you’ll have a good idea of how much insurance you’ll need.

2.   Term or permanent?

There are two main categories of life insurance:

Term life insurance is the simplest and least expensive option. It covers you for a set period of time. You might consider term life insurance when you have a family that depends on your financial support or while you have a mortgage. For example, you may want a term life policy that lasts until your children are out of school.

Permanent life insurance provides coverage for your entire life as long as you keep up the payments. Because of the length of coverage, it costs more than term life insurance. These policies may have features that offer a cash value that can be used to invest or pay some of the premiums later in life. Permanent life policies are complicated so it’s best to talk to a financial planner when deciding if one is right for you. If you do buy a permanent life policy, make sure to check with your agent each year to see how the policy is doing and if you need to adjust your payments.

3.   How much will it cost?

Insurance companies consider things like your age, health, job, and tobacco and alcohol use when setting prices. It will cost more to purchase life insurance as you get older and if you have health problems. Some companies may require a medical exam before selling you life insurance.

4.   Who will benefit?

You can leave money to a spouse, children, other family member, or friend. This is known as the policy’s beneficiary. You can also name an institution as your beneficiary, such as a business or charity. And you can choose more than one beneficiary and specify how the money will be divided.

For more information, click here.

Teaching Suggestions:

  • Ask students what is the primary purpose of life insurance?
  • How do you determine an appropriate amount of life insurance?

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do you evaluate your need for life insurance?
  2. What is the difference between term or permanent life insurance?
  3. Should you start budgeting for your life insurance premiums while you are still young and healthy?
Jan 17 2026

STORING YOUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

Apartment lease, insurance policies, credit card receipts. These are just a few of the many financial documents you may encounter. To maintain control over these records, consider a system of paper copies, digital versions, or both.

When sorting and tossing financial documents, be sure to keep these documents for the time suggested:

  • Tax records – seven years; unless you have a simple tax return, then three years
  • Bank, investment statements – keep annual statements indefinitely
  • Estate plan documents, social security card, birth certificate, marriage, divorce, adoption records – indefinitely
  • Insurance policies – only keep current policies, not expired ones
  • Loan documents – until debt is paid off
  • Real estate transactions – three years after closing
  • Proof of ownership (titles) – as long as item is owned
  • Medical bills – one year after paid

When in doubt as to the length of time to keep an item, create a digital copy of the financial document. Paper copies should be shredded when the document is no longer needed.

Three common options for the physical storage of documents are:

  1. A locked cabinet allows you to have easy access to financial records in your home. Beware that the contents may be accessed by a thief or damaged by a fire or flood.  
  2. A fireproof safe offers greater protection. However, it could be stolen without proper precautions such as bolting it to the floor.
  3. A safe-deposit box at a bank (for a fee) can provide greater security for your documents and valuables.

Digital storage of documents might include your home computer, an external drive, or a cloud service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, iCloud or Amazon Cloud Drive. For your digital documents:

  • download from the source (or scan) each document, saving them into folders by type of record
  • secure your information using password protection, file encryption and two-factor authentication
  • back up your data on a regular basis

A hybrid system (physical and digital) is often recommended. Then, if paper copies are lost or destroyed, or computer files crash, you are protected with access to the other source.

Organizing financial paperwork to allow access by family members is especially important for estate plan documents. Your attorney can store original documents. Online document storage services for estate planning can be located with an Internet search.

The main documents that should be part of an estate plan file are:

  • Will or trust; Powers of attorney for finances and health care
  • Organ donation form; Living will; HIPAA release
  • Letter of instruction for your heirs; beneficiary designations; password list
  • Bank and investment statements; retirement account documents
  • Real estate deeds and titles; life insurance policies; funeral instructions
  • List of important personal property, such as jewelry, artwork, and estimated values

Updating estate plan documents when a life change occurs is vital. Your attorney can assist with this process whenever a death, birth of a grandchild, divorce, or sale of property takes place. An annual review of your estate documents is also recommended.  

For additional information on storing financial documents, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students list the financial documents and records they currently use.
  • Have students create a visual to communicate the system they might use for storing their financial documents.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What features would you recommend for an effective and efficient financial document storage system?
  2. Describe financial difficulties and money management concerns that could occur if a person doesn’t have an appropriate financial documents storage system.
Jan 3 2026

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHERE YOU LIVE MAKES SAVING EASIER?

The state you live in can influence how well you’re able to save money. A bankrate.com study analyzed economic conditions, interest rates for certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings accounts, and taxes to rate the places easiest to save.

The ten states that were most favorable to savers were Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Kentucky, South Dakota, Louisiana, Indiana, and Michigan.  Many of these states have areas with a low cost of living. Some don’t have state income taxes, these include Florida, Tennessee, South Dakota, and Texas.

In contrast, the ten states that were least favorable for savers were Hawaii, Connecticut, Vermont, California, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington, New York, and Oregon. These states tend to have a higher cost of living; many of them have higher taxes.

No matter where you live, you can increase your savings by:

  • using a budgeting app to maintain a complete record of your finances. By tracking your spending, you can target an amount each month for saving.
  • automating your monthly saving with online transfers to a separate account. 
  • researching online banks to take advantage of higher savings rates for CDs, money-market accounts, and high-yield savings accounts in other geographic locations. 

For additional information on the best saving states, go to:

Link #1

Link #2

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students obtain suggestions from others on how to increase their savings.
  • Have students search online for websites and AI prompts that would help them increase their savings.

Discussion Questions 

  1. Other than the interest rate, what features of a savings account might be considered when deciding where to save?
  2. Describe actions a person might take to obtain a higher return on their savings.
Dec 20 2025

LOW-TECH BANK SCAMMERS

Digital scams and fraud reported by banks are increasing, and not all involve new technology. Many of these deceptions involve low-tech human error. 

Fraud involves an unauthorized person accessing your bank account to make purchases or other transactions. While scams occur when a criminal tricks a person into sending money under false pretenses.

Social engineering scams involve a fraudster attempting to trick a victim into sending them money.  This cybercrime may occur as phishing (by email), vishing (voice messages), or smishing (text messages).

To protect yourself, cybersecurity experts suggest the following:

  • Confirm that a sender’s email is valid. Scammers use similar but slightly different email addresses than the official ones.
  • Don’t click on suspicious links, which could result in going to a false website.
  • Be skeptical of messages with generic greetings and signatures; also, beware of poor grammar and spelling in the message.
  • Avoid downloading attachments in suspicious, unsolicited messages.
  • Verify money requests. Be sure to look up a company’s legitimate phone number and address online rather than the one provided in an email.
  • Beware of the safety of your phone and home computer.  You may have accidentally checked a box in the past to allow access to what you thought was a “trusted” device.

For additional information on bank scams and fraud, click here.

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students talk to others to obtain suggestions for avoiding scams and fraud.
  • Have students create a one-minute podcast with a scam example and how to avoid it.

Discussion Questions 

  1. What suggestions might be offered to a bank or credit union to help them inform their customers about how to avoid scams and fraud?
  2. Describe actions a person might take if they were a victim of a scam or fraud.