The Identity Theft Shield gives you easy access to the resources you need to understand your credit ratings and to fight back if an identity thief threatens your financial standing. This benefit is designed to alert you to suspicious account activity, and to restore any resulting damage to your credit history.
1. Credit Report
2. Continuous Credit Monitoring
3. Fraud Restoration Service
2. Continuous Credit Monitoring Through Experian
First of all it’s important to understand that credit monitoring alone is not really enough to protect your identity. It’s one aspect that is the most commonly thought of by most people. It is important because you need to learn of suspicious activity before your credit is ruined. A professional thief can assume your identity in just a few hours. But it can take years for you to repair your credit standing. Early detection is key to minimizing the damage caused by thieves who steal you name. With your Identity Theft Shield membership, your credit files will be monitored through Experian daily. Suspicious activity will be brought to your attention, providing you with early detection. You’ll receive prompt notice if any new accounts are opened in your name . . . or if negative notations are added to your credit report.
You can learn more about this identity protection service on my website, 5identities.com.
From the whimsical imagination of my five-and-a-half year old son. A spider and an octopus courtesy of some K’nex toys from Christmas.
The Identity Theft Shield gives you easy access to the resources you need to understand your credit ratings and to fight back if an identity thief threatens your financial standing. This benefit is designed to alert you to suspicious account activity, and to restore any resulting damage to your credit history.
1. Credit Report
2. Continuous Credit Monitoring
3. Fraud Restoration Service
1. Credit Report
Make sure your financial records are accurate. Your credit standing is one of your most important financial assets. It not only affects your ability to get credit, it often dictates the interest rate at which you can borrow. It can also affect your ability to purchase insurance or to find employment. Some insurance companies and prospective employers use your credit rating to gauge your sense of responsibility.
Experts recommend you review your credit report regularly. The Identity Theft Shield makes it easy. Members are entitled to an up-to-date credit report from Experian at no additional charge.
Your credit score is derived from the information in your credit report. This score is used by lenders to determine your creditworthiness. The higher the number, the better your chance of being approved for the credit you want. A detailed analysis of your personal credit score will be included with your Credit Report. You can use this analysis to evaluate your current credit standing.
You can learn more about this identity protection service on my website, 5identities.com.
Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. is a pioneer of the legal services industry. With more than 30 years of experience in providing legal rights protection to members. Pre-Paid teamed with Kroll Inc., the world’s largest risk consulting company. For more than 30 years, Kroll has helped companies, government agencies and individuals reduce their exposure to risk and capitalize on business opportunities. Kroll is an operating unit of Marsh Inc., the risk and insurance services subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., the global professional services firm. With offices in more than 60 cities in the United States and abroad, Kroll can operate and restructure businesses; scrutinize accounting practices and financial documents; gather and filter electronic evidence for attorneys; recover lost or damaged data from computers and servers; conduct in-depth investigations; screen domestic and foreign-born job candidates; protect individuals, and enhance security systems and procedures. Kroll has developed a unique solution for victims of identity theft. This new service is now available to Pre-Paid Legal members through the IDENTITY THEFT SHIELD benefit.
So while many credit card companies offer some form of identity theft protection, it’s not comprehensive. And in the event part of your identity is stolen, where would you turn? Would you know where to start to clear your name? I’ve put my confidence in Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. They offer a comprehensive solution unlike anything else on the market today. What’s more it costs the same or less than what most credit monitoring services charge to cover myself and my wife. You can learn more about their services on my website, 5identities.com.
“May you live every day of your life.”
–Jonathan Swift
Part of what I enjoy about working at Walmart are the axioms for building a business that Mr. Sam wrote down and the 3 corporate beliefs he instilled in this organization. His perspective and wisdom helped create an amazing community and culture. We are honest, friendly, hard-working people that rely on and care for each other. We are in business to serve the needs of about 200 million customers per year. We strive for excellence in all we do.
These things excite me and inspire me to work hard, work smart and take risks. Another wise man once said, “Those that find their life will lose it, and those that lose their life will find it”. You’ve probably heard that before but have you ever thought deeply about what that means? Have you ever thought deeply regarding what you like about your job?
It’s about living life. If you cower away from a challenge, you may prevent loss but you’ll lose your passion for living. If you press forward into a challenge despite fear, you’ll risk loss and find a passion for life. Think of the epic movies that you know, Braveheart, Gladiator, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings. Everyday people, not just he heroes in these stories were confronted with choices. They were afraid and still they acted with courage. Were you inspired by their actions? I hope so. We are those everyday people living in the real world. Stuff happens. We get wrapped up in our lives until something happens to nudge us into a situation where we must make that choice between the status quo and attempt something great. You get to decide as long as you’re paying attention and recognize the choice.
What would Mr. Sam say? “High standards of operation and a desire to be the best have been the hallmarks of Walmart since the founding days of our Company. It is for this reason that we must strive for excellence regardless of our position or responsibility with the Company. It is through the sum total of our individual efforts that we guarantee our continued success for many years to come.” (emphasis added) The people that came before us have built something amazing. What we leave for those after us will depend in no small part on our ability to recognize the choices that come our way and how we decide. I will chose life.
We live in an information-oriented society. Technology allows us to do business and make transactions literally in a matter of seconds. This abundance of information gave rise to the crimes commonly referred to today as identity theft. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, approximately 27 million Americans fell prey to identity thieves between 1999 and 2003. Each year that number climbs higher and higher. Current estimates state 9 million people in the United States are victims of some form of identity theft annually.
So what does that mean? If someone has stolen your credit card – your credit card company can help you with that, right? Well, according to the FTC, almost 60% of identity theft issues don’t pertain to your existing credit card accounts. Identity theft can occur as a result of new lines of credit being opened in your name either through credit cards or bank loans, as well as phone/utility fraud and even employment related fraud. Because we are susceptible through so many avenues in our daily life, we are all at risk. There are 5 fundamental forms of identity we have and need to protect.
What can you do? Where would you turn if you found yourself in this situation? Would you know where to start to clear your name? I’ve put my confidence in PrePaid Legal Services, Inc. They offer a comprehensive solution unlike anything else on the market today. In fact, I liked it so well I bought the company. Not really. But I have signed on as an independent associate. You can learn more about their services on my website, 5identities.com.
Ever have one of those epiphany moments? Something you already knew or heard suddenly becomes more real and more true to you than before.
I spent part of this past weekend clearing out some large limbs that had fallen from a tree in our backyard. There I was with goggles and chainsaw about to clear this stuff away under the close supervision of my viking dwarves. Can you guess what happens next? “Dad, what can I do”, “Daddy, I want to help”. I point out to my kids that this is a dangerous tool that only dad should use and that they need to stay back because I can’t watch them and pay attention to cutting if I’m worried about how close they are. Being the obedient, thoughtful kids they are, they complied.
I go to work. As soon as the saw falls silent the first time: “Dad, what can I do”? I quickly realize my kids are more than a little interested in participating in the work because of the cool saw and because it’s dad. In fact, they’ve even gone back into the house to get their work gloves, a toy saw, hammer and pliers to use. To buy a little time I tell them I need to cut some more first. I start sawing and thinking. I devise a plan.
Some of the debris will make decent fire wood and some just needs hauled away or shredded into mulch so I start a pile of the smaller stuff and ask them to use their tools and start breaking it apart. Happy work ensues as that red toy saw starts to buzz. Then the epiphany comes.
I was intent on getting this work done so I could spend time with my kids. I was trying to be efficient with my time and get this honey-do wrapped up quickly. My spirit sighed with a little frustration that this wasn’t going to be quick or efficient as long as the vikings are helping. In that pause something I’ve heard and taken to heart before bubbled to my consciousness: Sometimes the fastest way to get a job done isn’t the best way to do it.
I was already spending time with my kids. They were having a great time. Why was I in a hurry at all? Feeling hurried was about to rob me of a father’s joy and duty. From that point on getting the work task completed was secondary to sharing the work with my children. Russell would stand back while I cut some and then help me stack the cut pieces a few at a time. Zoe graced us with her presence as only a 3 year old daughter can and she move a few smaller pieces to the mulch pile for later. We laughed, talked and shared a couple hours together.
I repeat my weekend lesson here as an example and reminder for you. I encourage you not to run your life as if you’re always in a hurry to get things done. Your benefit to stepping out of that hurried mode will be a greater investment in important relationships.
“we don’t get to wait to offer our lives until we have our acts together. We don’t get that luxury. If we did, would anyone ever feel like offering anything? God asks us [as leaders] to be vulnerable. He invites us to share and give in our weaknesses. He wants us to offer the beauty [and confidence] that he has given us even when we are keenly aware that it is not all we wish it were. He wants us to trust him.”
Reading “Visioneering” by Andy Stanley I came across a thought that I want to share:
“The wedding often distracts a couple’s attention away from the main thing: marriage. To a couple anticipating life together, marraige is a vision….Unfortunately, most couples spend far more time preparing for the wedding than they do the marriage….I have suggested to couples that they postpone their wedding. In all but one instance, the objections cited by the couple were wedding related.”
In times of excitement and stress we tend to lose focus on the things that matter. We become distracted by the scenery at the expense of the journey. This can lead to depression, conflict, contempt and disatisfaction in our work and relationships. We are the people that others will be watching and learning from. You have been chosen and set apart from the crowd in order to lead and influence people. Remeber we are here to worship God, serve others and connect in lasting relationships in our community.
A pastor friend handed me a good article not too long ago, 4 Sunday School ‘do overs’. It’s been a reminder of a couple of important things touching my role as a church leader and even as a father and husband.
It sometimes seems easier or better to do more for church by touching more people with phone calls, emails, blogs. It’s also easy to let hours and days slip by at home with only passing interaction with my children. Make face-to-face interaction a higher priority. It’s more gratifying for me and more meaningful to those I want to influence.
Don’t fret and stress over things that don’t go according to my hopes and plans. Rather, spend that energy building on successes. In church, it’s sometimes hard to acknowledge something isn’t working and let it go. As a father, I should spend more time encouraging and developing my children’s strengths and interests than I spend criticising and pushing them to improve.
Look for growth opportunities. New ways and places to engage and communicate the gospel. New ways and avenues to relate to my children. New way to romance my wife. Change is constant but growth is optional.
