E307: Why We Avoid Looking at Our Finances (And What It Costs)

Identity theft and financial fraud are not abstract problems that happen to other people. They happen to people who are careful, educated, and financially stable. The good news is that most identity theft and fraud can be prevented with a few deliberate habits.

Understanding where the 20% number comes from, and what your actual options are, can help you make a decision based on your finances instead of someone else's rule of thumb.

You did everything right. You gathered your tax documents, filed your return on time, and finally felt that satisfying sense of closure. Then, sometime in May or June, an envelope shows up with yet another tax form inside.