5 Items You Should NEVER Keep In Your Wallet

American Investment Planners LLC

500 North Broadway, Suite 260, Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 932-5130 / (866) 932-5130

No one ever wants their wallet to be stolen or lost, but since anything is possible at any moment, the least we should all do is be smart about what we carry with us - losing a few dollars is one thing, but losing confidential information is another (did you know that more than 40% of identity fraud cases are a result of stolen/lost wallets and purses?).

The next time you have a minute to spare, go through your wallet and take these items out immediately if you're currently carrying them:

1. Your social security card. Never, ever, ever carry your social security card with you in your wallet - if an identity thief gets a hold of this, they can basically get a hold of everything. 
2. Your birth certificate. Your birth certificate is just as important as your social security card and contains vital information that only you should have your hands on. That said, unless you're traveling or heading somewhere that requires you to present your birth certificate as proof of identity, you'll want to leave this home.
3. Blank checks. Some people prefer to write checks instead of using cash or credit cards and that's okay, but that doesn't mean you should carry a ton of blank checks with you all the time. If someone steals or finds these, they can easily start taking money out of your account.
4. Additional credit cards. Having more than one credit card is normal for most people, however, you shouldn't have all of them on you at once. Not only does this give identity thieves more of your money to work with, but it makes the process of canceling credit cards and closing accounts harder for you if something should happen.
5. Passwords. And bank account numbers, and pin numbers. If you need to write these down to help yourself remember, store that piece of paper in a safe place at home. Then, in situations where you know you'll need that information (such as if you're about to head the ATM), review it before you leave the house and don't bring it with you.

Remember, the more accessible your information is, the easier it becomes for identity thieves to utilize, so you must always be cautious and make sure you're doing everything you can to keep yourself protected!

American Investment Planners LLC is an independent financial planning firm that offers services such as retirement planning, estate planning, portfolio and asset management, and taxes and accounting. To learn more, please call (516) 932-5130 or email info@americaninvestmentplanners.com.