Introducing uSolutions Articles, a financial literacy program that is designed to provide you with real, practical information that you can use to help manage your financial matters. We will be offering fresh new articles on a regular basis that range from Tax scams to how to get the most from your IRA to saving for college to the best mortgage loan for your needs. And, if you have a topic you are interested in or a question you'd like answered, email and us and we'll post it in a future article.

Understanding & Preventing Elder Financial Abuse

Please take this opportunity to educate yourself about elder financial abuse—the warning signs and how to prevent it.

Eight Prime Opportunities for Fraud and Exploitation of the Elderly and
How to Avoid Being a Victim

Fraud by Friends and Family — New "best friends"; thieving "caregivers"; religious con-artists; financial abuse by family members. Beware of a "friend" who offers to help you out, suggesting all you need to do is appoint them to handle your affairs with a Power of Attorney. Their "help" may be exploitation and should be reported to Oregon Adult Protective Service.

Report instances of fraud as described below to the appropriate Attorney General's office in your State or contact your APS office for the appropriate referral.

Home Equity Fraud — Homeowners may be tricked into signing over the deeds to their homes. Often this scam is done by a person pretending to be a repairman or someone offering another service. The elderly person signs a contract believing it to be for roof repair, for example, and does not read it carefully enough to realize that it is a deed to their own home.

How to Avoid Home Equity Fraud — Make sure the contractors you hire are licensed, bonded, and insured; hire only attorneys with malpractice insurance; keep current with property tax bills; sign a grant deed with an attorney present; have a reputable attorney or trusted people examine documents before you sign them; don't use your home as collateral; get several estimates from contractors and check their references; contact the Better Business Bureau; read the fine print; check with your city or bank for home repair financing programs.

Telemarketing Fraud — Some examples of telemarketing schemes which target elders are the "You Are A Winner!" pitch, which misleads victims with a non-existent prize in order to get them to buy something; offers to "get your stolen money back for you"; great loans or "fixing" bad credit; fantastic low prices on merchandise; any caller requesting your bank account or credit card number.

How to Avoid Telemarketing Fraud — If you hear these tip-offs just say NO and hang up!: act now or the offer will expire; you've won a "free" gift, vacation or prize, but you must pay for "postage and handling" or some other charge; you must send money, give a credit or bank card number, or have your check picked up by courier before you can think it over; you can't afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer; we can get your money back!; make a decision based on trust; use of high pressure sales tactics when you say no.

Mail Fraud — If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch for fake contests, prizes, lotteries, chain letters, insurance deals, land and advance-fee selling swindles, franchise and charity schemes, work-at-home and fraudulent diploma schemes, and promotions for fake health cures, beauty devices, and diets.

How to Avoid Mail Fraud — Don't believe you have won any contest until you receive the check, and if you have to pay money or buy something to get the check, it is a scam. For more information contact Postal Service Mail Fraud Complaint Center at 1-800-372-8347 or National Fraud Information Center 1-800-876-7060.

Health Fraud — Some health fraud scams to watch for are advertisements for fake "cures"; fraudulent medical and health services marketed via the television or telephone (victims send in their money and never receive the ordered item or receive a copy rather than an authentic product); "free" hearing tests and hearing aids; health care fraud where phony or real physicians take advantage of patients as a means of getting money from the victim's insurance company; and bogus insurance companies.
How to Avoid Health Fraud — Beware of "free hearing tests" and never agree to a hearing test in your home; shop around before buying; question any "free" medical service or quick or painless cure; avoid special, secret, ancient, or foreign formulas that are only available by mail or from only one supplier.

Money-related Fraud — Theft of stocks and bonds that are stored at home; mismanagement of assets by caregivers; real estate rip-offs; ATM "repairman" thefts of cash, ATM cards, or account passwords; check forgery; non-refundable fees for services not delivered.
How to Avoid Money — related Fraud-Avoid or hang up on strangers who want to take your money or know about your finances; say "No!" to anyone who presses you to make an immediate decision; never give anyone a blank check; count your change and check your receipts; don't give your credit card number over the phone unless you have made the call to what you know is a reputable company; be cautious if you don't have experience in handling money. Contact the Financial Information Program of the American Association of Retired Persons for more information at 1-202-434-6030.

Slamming — Your telephone long distance carrier service is changed without your permission. It is illegal.

How to Avoid Slamming — Check your telephone bill carefully every month.

Cramming — Charges are made to your credit card or phone bill which you did not authorize. You don't have to pay for fraudulent charges.

How to Avoid Cramming — Carefully review your telephone bill and credit card bills each month; if you fill out a form to enter a contest or sweepstakes, read the fine print to be sure you are not authorizing changes or charges to your telephone.

If you are being threatened or abused, you need to ask for help immediately. Call 911 or the Oregon Abuse Hotline 1-800-232-3020. To find your local senior services office you may contact the Oregon Adult Protective Services office by calling 1-800-232-3020 TTY/Voice 503-945-5811.

Common Warning Signs of Financial Abuse
Do you recognize yourself in any of these situations?

Frequent, expensive gifts from an elder to a caregiver.
Personal belongings, papers, credit cards are missing.
Bills start to stack up and are not paid, often leading to shut off notices.
A recent will is made when the person doesn't seem capable of writing a will.
A caregiver's name is added to the bank account or credit cards.
The elderly person is unaware of his or her monthly income.
There is an increase in the number of checks made out to "cash."
There is unusual or erratic activity in the bank account that is uncharacteristic of the account holder.
There are irregularities on tax returns.
The elder is unaware of the reason for an appointment with their banker or attorney.
Caregiver refuses to spend money on the older person including grooming items and food.
Caregiver is spending an excessive amount on new clothing, jewelry, cars and other items for himself or herself.
Signatures on checks or other documents do not resemble the older person's signature, or signatures appear when the older person cannot write.
Unusual or inappropriate activity surrounds investment properties or bank accounts, including the use of ATM cards to make large or repeated withdrawals.
Power of Attorney is given, or recent there are changes in or the creation of a will or trust, when the person is incapable of making such decisions.
The elderly person is missing personal belongings such as art, silverware or jewelry.
Someone sells elder's assets and properties.

Protect Yourself from Financial Abuse

Plan ahead. The more you plan for your future, the more control you will have later.

Document all your financial arrangements. Putting things in writing can prevent future misunderstandings and legal problems.

Stay active. If you are involved in your community, know the places and organizations where you can turn, and have a large circle of friends, you are less likely to be abused or exploited.

Protect your money. Your credit union may be able to help you by providing suggestions on how to protect your money by arranging your accounts to control access to your funds.

Stay on top of your finances.

Keep blank checks in a safe place.
Never sign the back of a check unless you are in your credit union and ready to cash or deposit it.
Never lend your ID, credit card, ATM card or checks to anyone.
Be extremely cautious about adding anyone to your accounts. Ask for input from your credit union and legal professional first. Don't be intimidated by fear of probate and the state taking your money, or someone pressuring you to do something you don't want to do in order to avoid those circumstances. In many cases, Oregon law allows for the simple transfer of ownership of your funds upon your death.
Check your bank statements carefully to make sure all of the charges are for items you purchased or paid for.
Never be pressured into withdrawing large amounts of money.
Use direct deposit for all regular checks such as Social Security.
If you don't use your ATM card, cancel it now.

Be cautious about signing documents. Never sign anything you don't understand and don't let anyone pressure you into signing until you are ready.

Ask for help. Financial matters can be confusing. Many social service agencies have people who can help. If you are being threatened or abused, you need to ask for help immediately.

Call 911 or the Oregon Abuse Hotline 1-800-232-3020.

To find your local senior services office you may contact the Oregon Adult Protective Services office by calling 1-800-232-3020 TTY/Voice (503) 945-5811

Guard personal information.

Do not give out Social Security Numbers, ATM cards or PIN numbers to strangers or anyone who does not need them.
Do not give out credit card information, your social security number or account numbers over the phone unless you initiated the call to a well-known, reputable company.

A House: To Buy or Not To Buy?
With home prices supposedly dropping, some people question whether this is a good time to buy or not. Will prices go down further? Will they get a better deal if they 'hold out' just another few months?

Before answering that, let's take a look at the question.

Why are you buying a home?

Is it because you want to rent it to other people and hopefully generate a profit? Are you buying a house to fix up and sell it for a profit? If you're a real estate investor, or want to be, the question may have some relevance. But if you're looking to buy a home for yourself and your loved ones to live in, the real question is this: did you find the home that has what you're looking for? Do you qualify for a home loan at the credit union? And, most importantly, are you comfortable with the payments?

If you answered 'yes' to all of those questions, you're ready to become a homeowner, regardless of where the market is headed.

No one can predict the future...at least not accurately. Whether prices are going up or down, nothing changes the fact that it's nice to own the home where you live. Your payments (provided you choose a fixed interest rate, which is a good idea in any case) will never go up. You don't have a landlord that may ask you to leave if he wants to move in himself. You can remodel, replace or redesign any part of your home. It's yours!

You probably don't check out the commodities market before stocking up on pasta. And you don't do research on how well appliances are selling this year compared to last year before buying a washing machine. Your family enjoys your Fettechini Alfredo. And your old washer is on the blink.

That's how it is when you're buying a home. It's a personal purchase. It's a personal decision. When YOU'RE ready, that's the best time to buy. Come in to any branch or call 503-423-8713 and speak with one of our mortgage pros about your options for financing your home. While some pundits suggest that this may not be the time to buy a home, as your credit union, we're here to support your decision to become a homeowner when the time is right for you...with a home loan that's right for you.

Understanding the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007
The year has just begun, and already the dreaded tax season is bearing down upon us. But those of you who faced financial hardships due to the depressed real estate market may get some good news from the IRS. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 was signed into law in December. The bipartisan legislation offers tax breaks specifically designed to help homeowners who are under duress.

Debt Relief Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income so-called "forgiven" debt on a taxpayer's principal residence. Sometimes a homeowner will negotiate with a lender to have a portion of their mortgage debt waived and forgiven, in a strategic effort to avoid foreclosure. Before the new law was passed, the IRS viewed that forgiven debt as ordinary income. Distressed homeowners were forced to pay taxes on the forgiven balance, adding financial insult to injury.

The exclusion is limited to $2 million and only applies to situations directly related to a decline in the value of the residence or the financial condition of the taxpayer. The exclusion is technically calculated by lowering the original cost basis of the property by an amount equal to the amount that was forgiven. The bill also extends the tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums or so-called PMI payments through 2010.

Another part of this legislation allows a surviving spouse to exclude up to $500,000 of capital gains from the sale of a principal residence that was jointly owned with the deceased from his or her gross income. However, the sale must close within two years of the death of the spouse.

Donating Items for a Tax Deduction: How Do You Calculate Value?
It's tax time again! If you're looking for another tax deduction while clearing clutter from your house, you might want to donate your used clothing and other household items to your favorite charity.

If it's things you don't want anyway, everyone wins. You get rid of your clutter without the hassle of trying to sell your items at a garage sale or consignment shop. You also get a tax deduction while the worthy cause you choose to support gets a donation. And, if they go on to sell your things to someone who can't afford to buy them new, there's another person who will benefit.

Figuring out the value of these items, however, can be tricky.

On the one hand, you don't want to underestimate the values, because why take a lower deduction than you have to? On the other hand, you don't want to raise the eyebrows of your friends at the Internal Revenue Service either. You surely know the old adage: it's better to be safe than sorry!

Government manuals on the topic are too vague to be useful, but several software programs on the market can help you figure out the value of donated items. Typically priced at around $20, these programs give you what you need to claim an accurate deduction.

Another benefit of using this software is that you'll have something to back you up in the event that you might need to defend your deductions to the IRS.

How to Deal With Credit Card Debt
Consumer debt is a major problem for millions of people. If you've charged more than you can afford to repay in full, take action now to repay the balances. You can efficiently whittle your debt down with a simple five-point plan:

Total the amount you owe to all of your credit card accounts.

Rank the accounts by finance fees – the more you're being charged, the greater the priority.

Assess your overall finances to determine a set monthly sum that you can dedicate to debt repayment.

Apply most of the fixed amount to the account with the highest fees, and pay the minimum to the others. When you've paid off the most expensive debt, shift your attention to the next most expensive account.

Suspend credit use during your structured repayment period! It doesn't make sense to add to the balances while you are trying to eliminate them.

Besides the five-point plan we've outlined above, another option it to look at consolidating your current credit card debt. You may be able to lower your interest rate, cut down on fees, and possibly lock in a fixed rate. Currently, Unitus is offering Special Lifetime Fixed Rate balances transfers on our Platinum Rewards Card. We also offer numerous Home Equity Loan and Lines, which allow you to leverage your home's equity to possibly lower your interest rate and payment amount. For more information, feel free to contact one of our representatives at (503) 227-5571, option 2 or toll free at 1-800-452-0900, option 2.

Alternatively, and as a benefit of membership with Unitus Community Credit Union, you have access to personal financial counseling at no charge through BALANCE. A counselor can review your budget to see how much you have available for your debt, help you prioritize your accounts, and provide guidance on how you can improve your overall financial situation. Call BALANCE at 888-456-2227, or visit BALANCE.

Credit cards are tools, and you can use them to your advantage by charging only what you can afford to repay by the time the bill comes in. Make a commitment to spend within your means and regularly save for the future.

Financial Goals for the New Year
While New Years resolutions often don't last, this is a great time to be thinking about goals. Specifically, financial goals.

No business in the world would consider going into a year--or even into a quarter--without goals. Why shouldn't your personal finances benefit from the same type of organization? Your own financial success is at least as important to YOU as the success of a company is to an executive. And since studies have shown that those who set specific, tangible goals are more likely to meet them than those who approach their lives with a 'well, let's see where this goes' attitude, the time and effort invested in setting a financial goal for yourself is well worth it.

So where do you want to be?

Take a quiet hour or two to write out your financial vision. Do you want to have a specific amount saved? For what purpose? Do you want to start your own business on the side? Become completely debt-free? Pay off the mortgage early? Take an early retirement? Remodel your home? Build an investment portfolio? Become a major supporter of your favorite charity? Go back to school and finish that degree? Have enough money so that work becomes a hobby and not a necessity?

Don't limit yourself to what you THINK you can do. Give yourself the freedom to dream, to come up with your ideal financial scenario. And here's an important tip: Write it as if it's already in existence. Then put your ideas aside for a day or two and come back with fresh eyes and see what you've written. While it may not be completely realistic, chances are, you can find one solid goal that will bring you closer to your ideal financial scenario.

Set that as a goal for the coming year. It might be something small, such as putting 10% of your paycheck toward debt payments, and another 3% towards savings. But if you stick with it, your debt will eventually be paid off and you'll have 12% to put towards savings. A small step? Sure. But there's no telling where one small step in the right direction will take you.

Your personal finance is in your own hands. No one else can take responsibility for it. It's a new year, the chance for a fresh start. Make it a successful one.

New Year's Resolutions
There's something about the new year that brings out the child in all of us. That's the excitement of being on the threshold of something new, a fresh beginning, another chance to get it right. This is going to be the year. The year I give up smoking. The year I get myself organized. The year to put an end to all those bad habits and start some new, good ones. The year I'm going to get my finances in order.

It always starts out great, but, by the middle of January, well...does it have to wear off?

It doesn't. Here are some ideas from Unitus that will make those resolutions last well into the year. When next December comes around, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment knowing you set out to do something and actually completed it.

FOCUS. This is the key to success in every undertaking. There may be an itemized list of things you want to change, such as exercising more, eating nutritiously, paying off debts, spending more time with the family, and starting investing for retirement. If you try for everything, you'll just end up with the same list next year. Instead, try to focus on the one aspect that is most important to you, even if it means temporarily forgetting about other resolutions you would have liked to consider. Your chance for success in that one area will be so much higher than if you attempted to take on more.

PLAN . Think of the obstacles you may face and plan to overcome them. Perhaps you're trying to lose weight and know that evenings are the hardest time to stay away from your favorite ice cream. Think of a replacement and stock up on it.

DO WHAT IT TAKES . Read up on what it is you're working on, purchase anything you may need, and speak to family members to get their support. By next year, you'll be on to another resolution. You'll know that you followed through and can now put this one behind you.