Take precautions to avoid gift card fraud

Gift cards are a convenient way to give your friends and loved ones "just the right thing" at holiday time. They also give thieves an opportunity to make off with your money, according to a public service announcement issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

How can you protect yourself from gift card scams? Here are pointers.

• Buy directly from reputable stores. If you're getting a restaurant gift card, stop by the restaurant in person or visit their web site. That goes for airlines and big box stores too.

• Check reviews of sellers of gift cards in online auctions. There's a reason someone's selling the card at a discounted price – it may be stolen or counterfeit. Are you willing to take the risk?

• Examine the card. Before purchasing a gift card, inspect the front and back for tampering. Some cards have PIN codes that must be exposed before use. Make sure the PIN is still hidden.

• Register the card. Some issuers let you register the card at the store's web site. By registering, you'll be able to check your balance on a regular basis and identify any misuse.

Need money to pay bills? Raiding your 401(k) is not a good idea

When you're short of cash, raiding your 401(k) plan may seem like a good idea. Here are two reasons why it isn't.

Penalties and taxes. If you're not at least 59½ years old, you'll be hit with a 10% penalty for early withdrawals except in certain limited cases, and the money you withdraw will be taxed at your regular tax rate.

Lost opportunity. If your 401(k) earns an annual return of 5% over the next 30 years, an account with a balance of $50,000 could grow to over $215,000. A withdrawal taken and spent today will cost you that growth.

Bottom line: If possible, find other ways to pay your bills, even if that means contributing less to your 401(k) in the short term. While it's wise to match funds your company provides, you might consider temporarily reducing contributions that exceed the matching amount.

What about loans? A 401(k) loan also has drawbacks. Again, money that's not in your account won't grow. In addition, if you lose your job, you'll have to repay the outstanding loan balance or face tax penalties.

If you need assistance with financial issues, give us a call.

Seek liquidity for short-term investments

The stock market may not be the right place for all of your money at all times. Here are two situationswhen cash accounts can be a better solution.

Situation #1. Generally, the stock market is not a good place to invest funds you will need during the next two to three years, such as when you need to pay ongoing living expenses in retirement. In that case, the money you'll need would be better stashed in stable investments such as money market funds, bank CDs, or bonds with maturities matched to your needs. The idea is to eliminate the risk that you'll be taking withdrawals when the stock market is depressed.

Situation #2. Your emergency fund – three to six months of current living expenses – has one purpose: to provide the money you might need for crises such as job loss, illness, or major unexpected repairs. These are situations when you can't afford to wait until the market recovers to get your funds.

Cash savings do carry risks, such as losing purchasing power during times of inflation. And historically, the stock market has provided superior returns over long time periods. But those returns come at the price of volatility. If you need to withdraw your savings during a market downturn, you might not recover your investment. Wherever you choose to invest your other savings, consider keeping some of the funds you will need in the short-term in less volatile, old-fashioned cash investments.