NEW TOAST TO RETIREMENT Episode OUT NOW! EPISODE #5 | OPERS & STRS

Teachers, state employees, and public service pros—this one's for you. We're breaking down OPERS and STRS in plain English. What you need to know, how it impacts your future, and how to make the most of your benefits.

At McCarthy & Cox, we know that education and understanding are key factors in planning the best possible financial future for you and your family. We hope to cover topics that address many of our services, such as retirement planning and welcome experts to share about topics such as estate planning. Join as we Toast to Retirement and learn about topics that are important to you as you approach or enjoy retirement.

Have an idea for a future topic? Tell your advisor or let us know at info@mccarthyandcox.com.

Check it out, share and listen where you enjoy your favorite podcast!

Be SCAM Aware

With the rise in use of technology also comes the rise in scams using the same technology we use to make our lives easier. Social Security related scams are one of many scams we see - check out these tips on how to spot a scam and stay safe.

The The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) has received reports of Social Security Administration (SSA) phishing emails.

The emails contain SSA branding to appear legitimate and claim to be from the SSA. However, upon further inspection, they were sent from non-.gov top-level domains (TLDs) with the sender’s display name as “Social Security administration.” The subject line displays, “Your benefits statement is now available for download.” The emails create urgency to convince potential victims to download and review their Social Security statements immediately to ensure uninterrupted access to their benefits and prevent processing delays. The emails also instruct potential victims to click the “Download Statement” button and install the required file specifically on PC/Windows systems. If clicked and installed, sensitive information and devices may be at risk.

These communications are not legitimate, as the SSA will not ask for personally identifiable information (PII), including Social Security numbers or dates of birth, or financial information via email, phone, or text message. Also, the SSA will not threaten to suspend your Social Security number, demand immediate payment, warn of legal action, download “secure” software, or request permission to access your device.

Recommendations to stay scam aware:

• Refrain from responding to unsolicited communications, clicking links, or opening attachments from unknown senders.
• Exercise caution with communications from known senders.
• Confirm requests from senders via contact information obtained from verified and official sources.
• Navigate to official websites, such as the SSA, by typing official website URLs into browsers manually and only submit account credentials and sensitive information on official websites.
• Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available, choosing authentication apps or hardware tokens over SMS text-based codes.
• Confirm the legitimacy of the requests by contacting the SSA directly through their official website.
• Report these fraudulent scams to the SSA, the FBI’s IC3, and the NJCCIC.

Advisory services offered through McCarthy & Cox, a Registered Investment Adviser.