Arizona’s Family On Your Side

Moving! Whether it’s across town or across the nation, moving is never fun. And the industry is known for having some unscrupulous companies. So on this episode, Justin Hart, the owner of Just-In Time Moving and Storage in Mesa, joins us. He’s been in the moving business for two decades and is the recipient of the Independent Moving company of the year. He’s got advice for all of us who are planning a move. He’ll also let us in on some of the nightmare scenarios he’s encountered with other moving companies and how to avoid pricey mistakes.

Are you ready to retire? Maybe at least dreaming of life after the 9-to-5? For a lot of people, retirement feels out of reach. So today, we’re talking with Angelica Prescod, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Scottsdale. Whether you’re retiring soon or still have decades of work head, there are things you can do right now that your retired-self will thank you for later. We’ll talk about the things to consider before retirement, and it’s not all about money in your account. 

Do you need a break? Maybe more than you realize! According to a new report from FlexJobs, 23 percent of workers haven’t taken a single vacation day in the past year. Today, we’re talking with Toni Frana. She’s a career expert manager for FlexJobs. We’ll ask her why aren’t workers taking their PTO. And if you’re on the job hunt, learn how can you find an employer that values time off.

There’s been a lot of talk about artificial intelligence and its benefits. But there can be a huge downside as well. Scammers are using AI to impersonate people you know. These deep fakes are almost impossible to detect.

Today Jon Clay joins us on the podcast. He’s with Trend Micro, a cyber security software company. He’ll tell us how to spot these new wave of AI scams and how you can keep from being duped.

The cost of a new car just hit a major milestone. For the first time, the average transaction price for a new vehicle topped $50,000. So today, we’re talking with Kelley Blue Book’s Brian Moody about what’s driving the increase in cost. We’ll also ask him what’s to come? Are prices going to get even higher? What about those sky-high car loans? Are people actually keeping up with payments? And are there ways to save on a new ride?

Today on the On Your Side podcast, hosts Gary Harper and Susan Campbell discuss the upcoming end of support for Windows 10 with consumer technology expert Dan Ackerman from Microcenter. Starting October 14, Microsoft will stop providing updates and security patches for Windows 10, potentially making many PCs vulnerable to security threats. Dan explains the implications of this change and offers guidance on transitioning to Windows 11, which includes a free update for most current users. He further elaborates on identifying if a computer is eligible for the upgrade and warns about potential scams related to this transition. The episode also includes information about the upcoming opening of a new Microcenter store in Phoenix.

Today on the On Your Side podcast, we’re talking about the Phantom Hacker. Scammers are draining bank accounts and you need to know about it. Our guest is Erik Beguin, an expert in the banking industry. He’s served with several groups including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Community Bank Advisory Council. He’ll help us understand how this three-prong attack is happening and we’ll also reveal simple things you can do to make it harder for someone to steal your savings.

It’s just September, but the holidays will be here before you know it and some shoppers are getting a jump-start on wish lists. So, when it comes to tech gift, we want to know: Buy now, or wait for deeper discounts? On this episode, our guest is Russell Holly. He’s the Commerce Managing Editor at CNET. We’ll ask him about this season’s hot gifts and sales on consumer tech products. We’ll also talk why this year is more difficult than most to predict price trends.

 If you're a parent, you know there are a lot of unexpected costs that pop up. The extra fees for field trips, sports gear, music lessons, it all adds up. A recent Vanguard survey shows almost 70% of parents say they're spending more than expected on their kids this year.

It also shows people are missing out on opportunities to save. We're joined by Sabino Vargas, a  a certified financial planner with Vanguard. We'll talk about saving for the short-term expenses and emergencies that pop up. We'll also tackle long-term plans for education and beyond. 

Automotive recalls seem to happen more than you think, whether the recalls are for faulty windshield wipers or something more serious like brake problems. Sometimes, the recalls can be downright dangerous. In some cases, car manufacturers will issue what's called a "Do Not Drive" recall, and the spike in those recalls is staggering. So, today Patrick Olsen joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's the Editor-in-Chief for Carfax and he'll explain why Do Not Drive recalls are increasing and how to know if your vehicle is affected.