There’s something about March that feels transitional. We’re not quite in winter, not quite in spring. The clocks spring forward, stealing an hour of sleep but promising longer daylight ahead. For some, it’s a season of renewal. For others, it’s cabin fever giving way to restlessness.
Transitions can be invigorating or unsettling. The same is true in our financial lives. Whether you’re navigating a job change, retirement, a move, or simply the passage of another year, transitions remind us to check the security of what we’ve built and refresh what feels stale.
March, with National Consumer Protection Week, offers a natural prompt to ask: How protected are you, really?
The Security You Can’t See
We spend a lot of time thinking about investment returns and savings rates. But financial security isn’t just about accumulation; it’s about protection.
Cybersecurity has become as important as locking your front door. Yet many people use the same password across multiple accounts, ignore software updates, and click links in emails without a second thought.
Your March security checklist:
Update your passwords. Yes, all of them. Use a password manager if you haven’t already. Each account should have a unique, complex password. If a data breach occurs at one company, you don’t want it to cascade across your entire financial life.
Update your software and hardware. Those annoying update notifications. They’re often security patches. Set your devices to auto-update or schedule a specific time to run through them manually. Your hardware may also need to be updated. Much of our information needs to be stored these days electronically, and having a robust scanning system is very important to handle these growing tasks.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Especially for financial accounts, email, and any account that holds sensitive personal information. It’s an extra step that significantly reduces your vulnerability.
Review what you’re sharing online. Social media posts about your vacation might seem harmless, but they can signal to thieves that your home is empty. Posts about your mother’s maiden name or your first pet? That’s often security question material.
Ways to Protect Your Financial Information
Beyond cybersecurity, there are practical steps to safeguard your financial life:
Beware of current scams. Scammers evolve quickly. Right now, we’re seeing sophisticated phishing emails claiming to be from tax preparers, fake calls from “Social Security” threatening to suspend your benefits, and AI-generated voices impersonating family members in distress. The common thread? Urgency and fear. If someone is pressuring you to act immediately, pause. Verify independently before responding.
Check your credit report. You’re entitled to free credit reports from each of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) through AnnualCreditReport.com. Space them out—pull one every four months to monitor throughout the year. Look for accounts you didn’t open, inquiries you didn’t authorize, and incorrect personal information.
Freeze your credit if you’re not actively using it. A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name. It’s free, easily lifted when you need it, and one of the most effective tools against identity theft.
Shred, don’t just toss. Old bank statements, credit card offers, tax documents, medical bills—anything with account numbers or personal information should be shredded, not just thrown in the trash.
The Insurance Audit You’re Probably Avoiding
When was the last time you actually reviewed your property and casualty insurance? If you’re like most people, you glance at the renewal notice, maybe wince at the premium, and move on.
But here’s what we see: coverage limits that haven’t been updated in years, endorsements that were added for items you no longer own, and gaps in protection that only become apparent after a loss.
Before severe weather season arrives, ask yourself:
Do your dwelling coverage limits reflect the current cost to rebuild your home? (Construction costs have risen significantly in recent years.)
Do you have enough liability coverage? Umbrella policies are relatively inexpensive and can provide an additional layer of protection.
Do you need flood insurance? Standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage. If you’re in or near a flood zone, or even if you’ve experienced heavy rain issues in your area, it’s worth investigating. Flood insurance typically has a 30-day waiting period, so don’t wait until a storm is in the forecast.
Have you documented your personal property? A video walkthrough of your home, stored in the cloud, can be invaluable if you ever need to file a claim.
Are your deductibles still appropriate for your situation? Maybe when you first bought your policy, a lower deductible made sense. Now, with a stronger emergency fund, you might save on premiums with a higher deductible.
The Bigger Picture
Cybersecurity, credit reports, and password updates can feel tedious, but they’re not separate from your financial goals. They’re foundational.
You can have the best investment strategy in the world, but if your identity is stolen or your home isn’t properly insured, you’ve introduced unnecessary risk into your financial life. Protection and growth aren’t competing priorities. They’re complementary.
This March, as the seasons shift and we spring forward into longer days, take the time to secure what you’ve built and refresh what needs renewing.
Because financial security isn’t just about accumulation. It’s about protection, adaptation, and living well through all of life’s transitions.
AUTHOR: Alexander Financial Planning, Inc.
This material is distributed by Alexander Financial Planning, Inc. (AFPI) and is for information purposes only. Although information has been obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy. AFPI assumes no liability for the interpretation or use of this information. No portion of this writing should be construed as legal or accounting advice. All rights reserved.