Month: September 2024

You Just Never Know 

By Caitie Leibman, Director of Communications

We’d like to think that with age comes wisdom. But it’s not just racking up the years. We try to learn from our experiences—and integrate those lessons into our thinking.

I can’t speak for anyone else on our 228 Main team, but I can say that I am still a little surprised I’m here.

And I mean that in every way. I didn’t know the turns my career would take, and yet the path I took here is still the one that made the most sense. It’s led to the best possible outcomes. I didn’t know my current neighborhood even existed until we found a place to live in it. I didn’t know the mental health struggles I would explore in my early 30s, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

What’s it all mean? The lesson I take is this: I couldn’t have called any of this ahead of time, so, therefore, maybe there are more surprises ahead.

We’ve heard from a few of you about the unexpected turns in your lives. One of them was, “I never thought I’d own a yoga mat.”

Another one was, “I never thought I’d be living in a house again.”

Big stuff, small stuff—you just never know. It’s possible to feel like you’re in the driver’s seat and that the road will keep bringing us twists and turns. Sometimes we crest a hill in the sunshine, and it’s like our whole future is laid out before us.

And sometimes we can only see as far as the headlights reach.

Having a team to support us along the way can make such a difference. I wasn’t alone through any of my own twists and turns. My team included professionals and specialists, everyone from my primary care doc to a new accountant to help my household.

It included my loved ones, friends, and the people in my life I knew I could text any time, day or night.

Who’s on your team?

Let’s assume the twists and turns will continue to surprise us—and sometimes delight us! We’re here for all of it. You just never know.

And we’re glad to share it with you.


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Play the audio version of this post below:

The Power of Dominoes

It might help to think about financial goals like a line of dominoes. Only one domino needs to fall at first, and the momentum will build. We don’t have to do it all at once 🙏


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What to Do When Something Smells “Phishy” 

By Greg Leibman, Office Manager

As summer gives way to fall, we’re already thinking ahead. The end of the year will be here before we know it, and there are things we can do now to “winterize” our thinking. Because the truth is, the winter holidays are a busy season for everyone—including scam artists.

One of the most common forms of fraud is known as “phishing.” Phishing attempts may take the shape of an email, text message, website, or automated phone call that sounds like it comes from an official source.

Identity thieves have been known to pose as businesses or government entities to trick consumers into sharing their information with someone they thought was an authority. Often, identity thieves will claim there is some sort of problem and that you need to cooperate with them. (You can understand how someone might panic if they got a phone call suggesting they were in trouble with the IRS, right?)

Another tactic may be telling you that you are entitled to money or other rewards, if you only give them what they need.

The best way to protect yourself against identity theft is to stay calm and try to view the situation for what it is. Not sure whether you may be dealing with an imposter? Consider…

How is the message arriving?

Government agencies that have important matters to discuss with you will contact you via certified mail on official letterhead, not in a call or text message. Expect official correspondence to sound professional and not contain obvious spelling or grammatical mistakes.

What are they asking for?

There is no reason for government authorities to ask you for your personal information such as a Social Security number or date of birth. (They already have access to it: officials would be able to look it up themselves!)

If someone is legitimately trying to give you money, they should not need money from you to facilitate the payment that is supposedly coming your way, nor would they need your Social Security number or other compromising personal details in order to send you money.

Are they hurrying you?

If you owe money to the government, officials will not try to get a credit card on the spot, and they will definitely not ask you to use PayPal or other online money transfer services. Remember that time is on your side. Very few legitimate issues are so urgent that you couldn’t hang up and take time to verify the situation.

Bundle up: add layers for protection.

We don’t need to wait for the weather to turn colder to put on more layers! One way that we work to protect your accounts in case of identity theft is LPL’s Trusted Contact system. If we ever suspect that a request related to your account is fraudulent or that you are being manipulated, your Trusted Contact is someone we have permission to talk to about the situation to make sure that you are not being defrauded of your hard-earned money.

Trusted Contacts do not have authority to make changes on your accounts, but they can help verify that requests are actually coming from you and are on the level. It is up to you whether you want to designate a Trusted Contact with us, but it is another layer of protection in case your identity is stolen.

Clients, when you have questions about this or other topics please reach out. In any season, we’re here to help.


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Play the audio version of this post below:

What To Do When Something Smells “Phishy” 228Main.com Presents: The Best of Leibman Financial Services

This text is available at https://www.228Main.com/.

Investing Well? How to Make Your Time Pay Dividends

Our spending habits matter, but it’s not just about investing our money. How do we get our time to pay us dividends?


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Up the Creek, With a Paddle!

Our daily struggles might have more going for them than we first think. Imagine tripping on the coffee table and thinking, “Gee, it sure is nice to have toes to stub!” A little perspective goes a long way. So “rock bottom” may sound like a terrible place to find oneself, but it also could make a solid place to push off from. This week’s video: a serious lesson from a funny show. 


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