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.

Football season is here and lots of fans are placing bets on the games. The American Gaming Association estimates people will wager $30 billion on the 2025 NFL season through legal sportsbooks. That’s an 8.5% increase compared to last season. On this episode, our guest is Lori Kalani, the Chief Responsible Gaming Officer at DraftKings. We’ll talk about that growth, the future of sports betting, and new tools available for people who want to get into the game responsibly.

It’s a love story, and she said yes. Everyone’s buzzing about the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and that new rock on her hand. So on this episode, we’re talking all about engagement rings with Rachel Akmakjian. She’s a gemologist and jeweler with Briteco. We’ll ask her how much are people actually spending on engagement rings? What are the trendy cuts? How about mined versus lab-grown stones? And is there a way to get a ring that looks just like Taylor’s for less?

Real estate experts will tell you that traditionally, August and September are the best time to buy a home. And scammers know that. Cybercriminals are targeting homebuyers and defrauding them with wire fraud scams during closing, and many victims don't realize it until it's too late. On this episode Ian Bednowitz joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's the general manager with LifeLock and says cybercriminals are spoofing emails, posing as lenders, and then asking for bogus closing funds. He'll tell us what to look out for so you don't wind up giving your down payment away.

Do you have a will? A lot of people die without one, and it can make things really complicated for your loved ones. But there’s an easy solution. August is Make a Will Month, and on this episode, we’re talking with Allison Kierman. She's an estate planning attorney in Scottsdale. We’ll ask her, who needs a will? Can you make one online or do you need an attorney? We’ll also talk about some of the most common mistakes to avoid.