Private Markets • Identity Theft
Monthly AIRE Perspectives – May 2025
Dear Friends and Valued Clients,
Please see below for The MAP – Monthly AIRE Perspectives for this month.
The Case for Private Markets
We believe that investments in private markets should have a place in most portfolios. The diversification, lower correlation to other assets, and generally more attractive risk-reward parameters of private markets investments are just some of the reasons why, even with their lower liquidity, they can produce beneficial results in portfolios. To this end, we would like to share an informative article on the topic, courtesy of Ares.
This Affects 1/3 of Americans: Your Guide to Identity Theft
In February, my identity was stolen, and I have been dealing with it daily since then. Although we have brought Cybersecurity experts in the past to present to clients on cybersecurity risks, I have gained a lot more expertise on this topic in the past few months. There is a relatively high risk that you could be impacted by identity theft at some point in the future, as more than one out of three Americans have had their identity stolen at some point. Given my experience, I wanted to share some important preventative measures everyone should take, as well as some additional measures you should take if your identity has been stolen.
1. Preventative Measures Everyone Should Take to Guard Against Identity Theft
Digital & Device Security
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all financial, email, and social media accounts.
Use a Password Manager to create and store strong, unique passwords.
Keep Devices Updated with the latest security patches and antivirus software.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi when accessing sensitive information—use a VPN when necessary.
Credit & Financial Monitoring
Check Your Credit Reports at least once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Set Up Alerts with banks and credit cards for all transactions.
Use Credit Monitoring Services like Aura, Experian, or LifeLock for real-time alerts. I chose Aura and have been very happy with it. In fact, it was a notification from Aura that allowed me to block three separate transactions that attempted to move more than $18,000 from my bank account.
Privacy Best Practices
Limit Sharing of Personal Information online (e.g., birth date, address, etc.).
Shred Sensitive Documents before discarding.
Opt Out of Pre-Screened Credit Offers at OptOutPrescreen.com.
Be Skeptical of Phishing Emails & Texts – never click suspicious links.
Proactive Credit Defense
Freeze Your Credit proactively with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). It’s free and reversible.
2. Immediate Steps to Take If You're a Victim of Identity Theft
If your identity is compromised, quick action is critical to minimize damage. Here’s a checklist of essential steps:
Report and Document
File a Report at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC): Creates a recovery plan and documentation.
File a Police Report if needed (some banks or agencies may require this).
Contact Affected Companies (banks, credit cards, utilities) to close or freeze accounts.
Freeze & Monitor
Freeze Your Credit at all 3 credit bureaus immediately:
Equifax
Experian
TransUnion
Place a Fraud Alert on your credit report (free and lasts one year).
Monitor Your Credit Continuously via services like Aura, Experian IdentityWorks, or LifeLock.
Financial & Banking Response
Report Fraud to Your Bank/Credit Union and request new cards/account numbers.
Review Bank Transactions and close compromised accounts.
Check ChexSystems for fraudulent checking/savings account activity: chexsystems.com → request your report and place a security alert or freeze if needed.
Government Agencies
IRS:
File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if a fraudulent tax return is filed.
Consider requesting an IP PIN from the IRS: a 6-digit number used to prevent unauthorized tax filings.
Social Security Administration:
Contact SSA if your SSN is compromised: 1-800-772-1213.
Monitor your account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
If necessary, you can apply for a new SSN, but this is rare and should be a last resort.
Mail & Utilities
Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if you suspect mail fraud.
Freeze Utility Accounts (electricity, gas, etc.) through NCTUE (National Consumer Telecom & Utilities Exchange): nctue.com.
Ongoing Monitoring
Sign up for ID Theft Insurance (many monitoring services include this).
Check Public Records for any new or suspicious entries (court records, business filings).
Update All Passwords and activate 2FA on every account.
If you are a victim of identity theft in the future, please be sure to contact us to help guide you through the above steps and more.
Once again, we would like to thank you for your trust and loyalty, and look forward to speaking with you in the upcoming month.
The commentary and opinions expressed in our articles on this page reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the AIRE Advisors, LLC employees writing the article. The articles on our website should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by our firm or performance returns of any AIRE Advisors, LLC’s clients. Any past performance discussed in these articles is no guarantee of future results. The views reflected in the articles are general in nature and made to provide education about the financial industry. These views and opinions are subject to change without notice. Any mention of a particular security, sector, and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security or in that sector. Our firm manages client accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the articles. To determine what kind of investments may be appropriate for you, please consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Also, please note that all investing involves risk and the possible loss of principal capital.
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