Articles by Will Osagiede, CFP®, AWMA®
Browse OnWealth articles written by Will Osagiede, CFP®, AWMA®.
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Personal Finance
How to Talk to Aging Parents About Money Before There Is a Crisis
Talking with aging parents about money is easier before bills, care needs, or documents become urgent. Start with respect, focus on preparedness, and gather enough information to help without taking over.
Fraud Prevention
How to Protect Your Email and Phone From Account Takeover
Email and phone access can control password resets, verification codes, bank alerts, and account recovery. Learn how account takeover happens and how to protect the access points behind your financial life.
Fraud Prevention
How to Avoid Recovery Scams After a Financial Loss
Recovery scams target people after a financial loss by promising refunds, returned crypto, chargebacks, legal help, or stolen-money recovery for an upfront fee. Learn how to verify real recovery options without creating a second loss.
Fraud Prevention
Employment Scams: What to Check Before You Accept or Deposit Anything
Employment scams use the promise of a job to steal money, identity information, or account access. Before you accept, deposit a check, buy equipment, or share sensitive documents, slow down and verify the employer outside the message that reached you.
Personal Finance
How to Pay for a Parent's Care Without Paying for Everything Yourself
A parent's care plan should start with the parent's income, assets, insurance, benefits, housing options, and care setting before adult children quietly become the default payer.
Fraud Prevention
How to Avoid Charity Scams Before You Donate
Charity scams turn generosity into pressure. Before donating, verify the organization independently, avoid rushed payment requests, check tax-deductible status when it matters, and give through a channel you trust.
Retirement
What Is the Rule of 55 and Who Can Use It?
The Rule of 55 can help some workers access money from a workplace retirement plan before age 59 1/2 without the 10% early distribution tax, but it is narrower than many people assume. It depends on separation from service, plan type, timing, and whether the money stays in the right account.
Fraud Prevention
What to Do if Someone Opens Credit in Your Name
If someone opens a credit card, loan, or other account in your name, the issue is bigger than one charge. Freeze your credit, place fraud alerts, create an identity theft report, contact the lender, dispute the account, and keep watching for related fraud.
Fraud Prevention
What to Do if You See a Fraudulent Credit Card Charge
A fraudulent credit card charge should be handled quickly, but calmly. Confirm the charge, contact the card issuer, secure account access, document the dispute, and check whether the issue points to broader identity or account risk.
Fraud Prevention
How to Help an Aging Parent Avoid Financial Scams
Helping an aging parent avoid scams is not about taking over. It is about reducing isolation, spotting pressure patterns, setting verification habits, and knowing when to involve banks, family, professionals, or protective resources.
Fraud Prevention
What Is Deed Fraud and How Can Homeowners Reduce the Risk?
Deed fraud happens when someone uses forged, deceptive, or unauthorized documents to interfere with property ownership. Homeowners can reduce risk by monitoring records, protecting identity information, reading documents carefully, and acting quickly on suspicious notices.
Personal Finance
How to Decide Whether an Aging Parent Can Stay at Home
Staying at home can be the right goal for an aging parent, but the decision should account for safety, care needs, home modifications, paid help, family support, transportation, isolation, and cost.
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