The Steps to Reclaiming Your Financial Security: Protecting Yourself In A World That Won't
Breaking down how you can take control of your financial security in a world of exploitation.
In an era of cyber threats, financial fraud, and ever-evolving scams, taking control of your security is no longer optional; it’s essential. Protecting Yourself in a World That Won’t is a blog series dedicated to equipping individuals, entrepreneurs, and microbusinesses with the knowledge and tools needed to safeguard their digital and financial lives.
Being Aware of Bad Actors
The modern world demands constant vigilance in protecting one's personal information. Whether it be your social security number, your credit card information, or even just the log-in information to your Netflix account. Almost everyone with a digital presence has experienced a breach of their personal information. In the contemporary political climate, it is becoming baldly apparent that the institutions that have been trusted to safeguard our data are failing us.
In a world where data is currency, it's time to take security into our own hands.
How to Keep Your Money Yours
Over 60% of credit users in the U.S. have been victims of credit card fraud.
When powerful entities profit from exposing your personal information, the first step is cutting them off at the source. One of the most effective ways to do this is by freezing your credit, preventing fraudsters from opening credit accounts with your personal information.
When your credit is frozen, creditors and lenders cannot access your credit report. This makes it nearly impossible for identity thieves to take out loans or open credit cards in your name.
When A Total Freeze Is Not An Option
For more flexibility, consider switching to a credit union. Unlike big banks, credit unions prioritize their members over corporate profit, offering better rates, lower fees, and ethical management of funds.
Traditional banks may use your money for questionable investment practices without your knowledge, while credit unions, with their cooperative and not-for-profit structure, reinvest directly into local communities. According to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), credit unions offer better rates, lower fees, and a more ethical approach to managing funds, prioritizing member benefit over profit.
By making the switch, you stop fueling exploitative financial institutions and take control of where your money goes. Choosing a credit union isn’t just a financial decision—it’s an act of resistance against systems that prioritize profit over people.
Keeping The Power In Your Pocket
We have more power than the big guys in charge want us to believe. Financial institutions thrive on consumer action and dependency. They create systems that make it difficult for people to move away from their services. This dependency is built through complex fees, long-term contracts, and limited options, which lock consumers into relationships where they feel they have little choice but to continue using the same institutions.
By creating systems that keep consumers dependent, financial institutions gain power over how your money is used, often without your input.
However, when you withdraw your support, whether by switching to a credit union or choosing ethical alternatives, you directly weaken their influence.
Your decision to move your money is a powerful statement that disrupts the cycle of exploitation and shifts control back into your hands.
Boycotting is a tool of power.
What We Can Do To Help
At art|Works Initiative, you're not alone in navigating online security challenges. We provide tools to protect against cyber threats and offer trustworthy financial advising to support your business.
As a member, you can expect meticulous bookkeeping, tax preparation, and careful oversight of your most vulnerable assets.
As a subsidiary of inWorks LLC, art|Works adheres to stringent security standards to protect sensitive information. inWorks LLC is committed to safeguarding personal data, using it solely to provide services, enhance user experience, and comply with legal requirements. They do not share personal information with third parties without consent, except as required by law.
To prevent unauthorized access, inWorks LLC employs robust security measures, though they acknowledge that absolute security cannot be guaranteed. Recognizing the evolving nature of security threats, inWorks LLC offers comprehensive cybersecurity and privacy protection services, including cloud infrastructure, technology support, and business continuity solutions.
By aligning with inWorks LLC's protocols, art|Works ensures the protection of your sensitive information with the same level of diligence and expertise.
At art|Works Initiative, we are here to help you do what you do best; that includes keeping your information safe. If you have any questions or concerns, you can find us at The Longview Gallery every Friday for "Work from the Office Fridays" or stop by any Wednesday during Office Hours with our IT team. We're always ready to help troubleshoot and answer any questions you may have.