Education & Information Center

Ledyard is dedicated to making its clients smarter, more informed consumers of financial products and services. Our goal is to offer quick and easy access to the most relevant sites that address finance, economics, banking and general money matters. Here you will find
links to those instructional materials and tools.

Investment & Wealth Management
Tax Info
Economic & Financial Education
Bank Products
Fraud / Identity Theft
Travel & Foreign Currency
Consumer Credit Counseling
Small Business Counseling
Automobile Pricing
Local

INVESTMENT & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Bloomberg – Provides business and financial professionals with the tools and data they need on a single, all-inclusive platform.

Investopedia – A financial website containing articles, dictionary entries and tutorials on nearly all aspects of finance and investing.

Big Charts - An investment research Web site, providing access to professional-level research tools such as interactive charts, quotes, industry analysis and intraday stock screeners, as well as market news and commentary.

IRS - Provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.

Wall Street Source - A financial technology company that provides news and research for professionals in the financial services, media, and corporate markets.

Contributions From Our Ledyard Experts

Editorials written by Ledyard Financial Advisors

Proactive Tax Management - Written by Dennis Mitchell, CFP® - June 2008

Seniors and Asset Management - Written by Dennis Mitchell, CFP® - August 2009

Seniors and Finances - Written by Dennis Mitchell, CFP® - August 2010

Investment Thoughts

Light and Shadow - Written by J.T. Underwood, Chief Investment Strategist - August 2011

Hurricane Season - Written by J.T Underwood, Chief Investment Strategist - September 2011

When In Rome - Written by J.T. Underwood, Chief Investment Strategist - October 2011

We Need a Global Positiong System (GPS) for Markets - Written by J.T. Underwood, Chief Investment Strategist - November 2011

Finanzpanik and Global Growth - Written by J.T Underwood, Chief Investment Strategist - December 2011

The Ledyard Advisor

November 2011 Issue

December 2011 Issue

January 2012 Issue

February 2012 Issue

Market Week

Annual Market Review 2011

January 30, 2012

February 6, 2012

February 13, 2012

February 21, 2012

TAX INFO

IRS Tax FAQ - Frequently Asked Tax Questions & Answers

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION

Federal Reserve Education - Links to instructional materials and tools that can increase your understanding of the Federal Reserve, economics and financial education. All of the Fed web sites, curriculum, newsletters, booklets and other resources are free.

Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks - Helps you find answers to your National Banking questions.

Informational video about FDIC Insurance

FDIC Insurance Information and Customized Information Estimator (EDIE) – Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator

The ABCs of 123s: Raising Financially Intelligent Children - A webcast presented by State Street Global Advisors. The webcast covers the importance of financial education for you and your family, financial education for different developmental stages as well as tips and techniques for training your children.

BANK PRODUCTS

Insured Investments

Treasury Direct – Information on Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and TIPS.

CDARS - Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service® - The most convenient way to enjoy access to full FDIC insurance on deposits of up to $50 million.

FRAUD / IDENTITY THEFT

Internet/Cyber Fraud

Internet (or Cyber) Fraud is a growing concern in the financial services industry. Cyber fraud occurs when perpetrators of a scam entice internet users to give them critical information such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, bank account information, or other types of account information.

Most internet scams are done via e-mail. However, other methods can utilize the internet itself. For example, banks and other financial institutions are seeing a rise in a different type of cyber fraud known as ACH fraud. While ACH fraud seems to hit Small- and medium-sized businesses more frequently, ACH fraud can target individuals’ personal accounts, as well. This major cyber-security threat involving ACH fraud is perpetrated by criminals who steal banking credentials and then make use of those credentials to initiate wire and ACH transfers from the victim’s account(s), out to mules and then back to where the cybercriminals are based - often in Eastern Europe. Small-medium sized businesses, as well as individuals, are typically targeted for this crime because they're viewed - relative to enterprise businesses - as lacking IT sophistication and staffing.

FBI Fraud Advisory for Businesses: Corporate Account Takeover

Cyber criminals are targeting the financial accounts of owners and employees of small and medium sized businesses, resulting in significant business disruption and substantial monetary losses due to fraudulent transfers from these accounts. The FBI has released a fraud advisory with recommendations and resources. All banks with corporate and government accounts should read this advisory.

To learn more about ACH fraud, please click on the link below to read the full article:

Corporate Account Takeover PDF

To learn more about how to protect yourself from Cyber Fraud, please read the attached document that offers safety tips to minimize exposure to such crimes. Please be aware that this list offers suggestions that may or may not be right for each circumstance. Further, it is not intended to be a complete and all-inclusive solutions manual.

Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Site – a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.

United States Department of Justice Identity Theft Site – Frequently Asked Questions about Identity Theft and Identity Fraud.

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - Tips to reduce fraud and Identity Theft – Tips to reduce fraud and identity theft

Credit Report – annualcreditreport.com - a centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports.

OCC Consumer Advisory - Avoiding Fraudulent Cashier's Checks.

Identity Theft Protection & Security Center*

Protect your identity and secure your credit with the Identity Theft Protection & Security Center† offered through GenGold®. A GenGold® membership is free with your Ledyard
Plan relationship or $2.00 per month with any other account.
* You must activate the Identity Theft Restoration Coverage to be covered.

TRAVEL & FOREIGN CURRENCY

Travelex - Travelex is the world’s largest retail foreign exchange specialist, with over 700 branded retail stores, principally in airports and tourist locations. The business sells banknotes and other foreign exchange and travel related products and services to individuals traveling for business and leisure purposes. The business also provides outsourced travel money services by supplying the foreign currency needs of financial institutions and travel agencies, as well as by fulfilling the individual orders of their customers.

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING

GreenPath Debt Solutions - A nationwide, non-profit financial organization that assists consumers with credit card debt, housing debt and bankruptcy concerns.

SMALL BUSINESS COUNSELING

Small Business Administration – To aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.

SCORE - Counselors to America’s small business- They provide free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.

VEDA - The Vermont Economic Development Authority - manages a wide range of low-cost lending programs for businesses of all sizes, customized to each client's individual needs.

VTSBDC - to strengthen existing business entities and assist start-ups with high-quality, no-cost counseling and affordable training programs.