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.