On Your Side is always working to warn people about the different tactics bad guys are using to steal money and information. Today we’re talking with Brian Watson on the On Your Side podcast. He’s a retired special agent with the IRS’ Criminal Investigation and now he works with an organization called ROSE which stands for "Resources and Outreach to Safeguard the Elderly."

We’ll talk about scam losses, the things most scams have in common. And the schemes you may never see coming, particularly for senior citizens.

October is National Estate Planning month, which may be more important than you think. It's a time when individuals and families are reminded of the importance of creating or maintaining a trust or will. One myth is that you have to be wealthy or have a substantial real estate portfolio in order to have a will or trust. But nothing could be further from the truth. For instance, if you have minor children then a trust or will is extremely important.

On this episode, Mitch Mitchell joins us on the On Your Side Podcast. He's a lawyer for a company called Trust & Will. He explains everything you need to know about estate planning, pitfalls to avoid and how much it will cost.

October here is here already and that means it's time to make sure you enroll in health insurance and everything else that goes with it for 2024. We're talking life insurance, hospital indemnity plans, disability. It can all be overwhelming. For instance, should you go with a high-deductible policy and if so, what are the risks? Remember, the decisions you make now will be in place for all of 2024.

To break it all down and to figure out what's right for you, we're talking to Darin Reeser, who's with Securian Financial. He'll help all those hard to make decisions a little more understandable before you officially sign up. 

Today we’re talking about smart TVs. Of course, we flip of the TV to stream our favorite movies, shows and sports. But the latest TV technology could also help us stay healthy with access to telehealth and virtual clinics.

Our guest today is Patrick Pannett. He is the Director of Industry Communications with the Consumer Technology Association. He’s going to help guide us through smart TV technology that’s available now and what’s on the horizon. We’ll also talk about what TV shoppers can expect this holiday season. And we’ll get a little inside information about the Consumer Electronic Show coming up in January 2024, where all of the latest and greatest consumer electronics will be on display.

Sixty-eight percent of American households own a pet, and many of them are of course dogs and cats. But owning a pet comes with added expenses. Vaccinations, healthcare and unexpected visits to the vet all add up quickly. And one of the number one reasons owners have to take their pets for an emergency vet visit has to do with eating something they're not supposed to eat. 

Today, Dr. Ricky Walther joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's a veterinarian and Chief Medical Officer for Pawlicy Advisor. He tells us what you should and shouldn't feed your pets and other little secrets to keep them out of the emergency room. 

When it comes to finding a good restaurant, a caring doctor or maybe even a talented contractor, consumers have learned to rely on Internet reviews. But how legitimate are those reviews and more importantly, can you really trust what they all say? The answer is "no" because many
of the reviews we read are "fake," put on the Internet to reel in new customers.

Today, Kay Dean joins us on the On Your Side podcast. She's a former federal criminal investigator  who currently has a YouTube channel called Fake Review Watch. She tells us how to spot fake reviews and what to do if you come across one.

For all parents, the path to parenthood is unique, and for many families, it includes adoption. It can be an emotional process. And now scammers are preying on people who desperately want a child.

Today, Nicole Witt joins us on the on your side podcast. She is the executive director of the adoption consultancy – and the host of ‘adopting! The podcast’ helping families who want to adopt with education, information, and guidance. She’ll reveal several common scams, like the phantom birth mother scam. What you need to know to protect your family.

Student loan payments have been on hold for years. But they’re back beginning in October. At the same time, millions of borrowers are enrolling in a new income-driven student loan repayment plan called “SAVE” which is reducing monthly student loan bills.

It may feel complicated, so today Robert Farringdon joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He’s the founder of ‘The College Investor’ and calls himself “America’s millennial money expert.” The company’s mission is to help people get a grip on student loan debt using SAVE and to begin building wealth at the same time. He’s helping us navigate the new SAVE program, how it works, and who qualifies. We’ll also talk about life after student loans.

Like it or not, Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. We have self-driving cars, smart assistants, manufacturing robots and countless other examples of machines acting like humans. Artificial intelligence is already available in hundreds of different industries and it's only a matter of time before the number starts to increase. So, don't get left behind in the world of AI. Colleges are starting to introduce AI classes to prep students for the next generation.

On this episode, Juanita Sorrano from edX is on the On Your Side podcast. edX is an online platform founded by Harvard and MIT to help students immerge themselves into learning artificial intelligence and to earn certificates which always looks good when looking for a job.

The real estate market across the nation, including here in Phoenix, has really slowed down due to higher interest rates and low inventory. So, if you're even thinking of trying to sell your home, what can you do to get it SOLD? Well, you want to set your home apart from your competition and that includes updating your house.

Olivia Mariani from Curbio joins us on the On Your Side podcast. She tells us about a new method of updating your home and how to get the most return for your investment.