Privacy and security when your wealth becomes more visible

This isn't about assuming the worst. It's the same kind of preparation as an umbrella insurance policy: a few low-cost steps now remove a real category of risk later.

Why this matters more now

Wealth has become easier to trace through public property records, social media, and news coverage, especially for people whose employers are high-profile. Scams have also become more convincing, including voice-cloning schemes that impersonate a family member in distress.

Your accounts and devices

• Use a password manager and a unique password for every account.
• Turn on two-factor authentication for email and every financial account, using an authenticator app or security key rather than text messages where you can.
• Treat unexpected calls, texts, and emails about your equity or accounts as suspect, and verify them through a number you already have.
• If you hold cryptocurrency, use secure wallet practices and keep recovery phrases offline.

Your home and public records

Property records usually show the owner's name, the address, and the purchase price. Buying a home through an LLC or a trust can keep your name off the direct public record, making it harder to connect an address to you. It doesn't make you invisible, and it has legal and tax considerations, so it's a decision to make with an attorney.

Your family

• Agree on a family code word to confirm identity if someone calls in an emergency asking for money.
• Be thoughtful about what you and your family share publicly, including home locations and real-time travel.
• Consider kidnap and ransom (K&R) insurance. It was once bought mostly by companies for executives traveling abroad and is now increasingly common among individuals and families.

Your insurance

As your net worth grows, review your liability coverage. An umbrella policy, which adds liability protection above your home and auto policies, is inexpensive relative to the protection it provides.