IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
The following presentation by New England Capital Financial Advisors, LLC (“NECFA”) is intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from NECFA or any other investment professional of your choosing. Please see additional important disclosure at the end of this penetration. A copy of NECFA’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at www.newenglandcapital.com.
Who Is Your Trusted Contact?
Investment firms, like Fidelity and Schwab have a client service feature that may be a benefit to certain investors. They will ask you whether you would like to provide the name and information of a trusted contact.1
You do not have to supply this information, but it may offer some advantages. The request is made with your best interest in mind – and to lower the risk of someone attempting to make financial decisions on your behalf.1
Why is setting up a trusted contact so important? While no one wants to think ill of someone they know and love, the reality is that there is $3.4 billion worth of suspicious transactions a year related to elder financial exploitation, according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.2
The trusted contact request is a response to this reality. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) now requires that investment firms make reasonable efforts to acquire the name and contact info of a person you trust. This person is someone that investment firms can contact if they suspect the investor is making an “unusual financial decision” or appears to be suffering a notable cognitive decline.3
Investment firms may put a hold on disbursements of cash or securities from accounts if they suspect the withdrawals or transactions may involve financial exploitation. In such circumstances, they are asked to get in touch with the investor, the trusted contact, and other agencies, if necessary.3
One thing to note is that a Trusted Contact is not the same as a Power of Attorney. Trusted contacts cannot act on your behalf on an account or request information. They are simply someone that could be contacted if there are questions about unusual financial behaviors or suspected cognitive decline.
Who should your trusted contact be? At first thought, the answer seems obvious: the person who you trust the most. Yes, that individual may be one of the best choices – but keep some factors in mind.
Ideally, your trusted contact is financially savvy, or at the very least, has some basic financial knowledge. You may trust your spouse, your sibling, or one of your children more than you trust anyone else, but how much does that person know about investing and financial matters?
You should have a high level of confidence that your trusted contact will behave ethically and respect your privacy. This person may be given confidential information about your investments.
It is encouraged that your family members know who your designated trusted contact is. That way, any family member who might be tempted to take advantage of you knows another family member is looking out with your best interest in mind, which may be an effective deterrent to elder financial abuse.
Your trusted contact is your ally. If you are being exploited financially or could be at risk of such exploitation, that person will be alerted and called to action.
As the old saying goes, money never builds character, it only reveals it. The character of your trusted contact should not waver upon assuming this responsibility.
As always, our team here at New England Capital is here to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to find out who your trusted contact is on your accounts or to add or change a trusted contact, please contact our service team. They can be reached by email at service@newenglandcapital.com or by calling the office.
Thank you and have a great day!!1. FINRA.org, 2023
2. FinCen.gov, 2023
3. FINRA.org, 2023
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION
Please remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by New England Capital Financial Advisors, LLC [“NECFA”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from NECFA. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. NECFA is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the NECFA’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.newenglandcapital.com. Please Note: NECFA does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to NECFA’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly. Please Remember: If you are a NECFA client, please contact NECFA, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. Unless, and until, you notify us, in writing, to the contrary, we shall continue to provide services as we do currently. Please Also Remember to advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.