Most of us are glad to see 2008 finally come to a close.  So much has taken place, including the historic election of a new President and records set in all directions on the economic front.  The economy is indeed what most of us will remember for years to come, especially those last few months of the year when we were hit hardest by the mortgage crisis, the stock market crash, rising unemployment, and the latest recession (twice in the past 10 years).

As the new year begins, we need to do everything within our grasp to maintain control over our own personal and professional situations.  That means protecting identity, securing and protecting assets, and maintaining employment and income in our personal lives.  For businesses, we need to be especially conscious of our bottom lines and not allow potential problems to infiltrate our organizations, whether it be employee theft, mismanagement of records, or employee conduct that could adversely affect the company's performance.  When individuals are faced with the reality of having lost up to 50% of their savings, retirement accounts, or college education funds, or if they are faced with foreclosure on a home, unemployment, or bankruptcy...  Well, desperation causes people to take irrational measures to combat these hardships.

Let us know if we can assist or support your efforts to maintain balance in your personal or professional situations as we work through the months ahead.

Best wishes for a prosperous 2009!

 -  Lou

Next time you pick up your cell phone, think "ICE".  Nothing to do with the temperature, but it's a cool thing to do.  "ICE" on your mobile phone means "In Case of Emergency".  Most newer phones come with ICE in bold or red letters as the permanent first entry in your contact list or phonebook.  Take a minute or two to add a few contact numbers (some phones will allow 3 or more different contacts within ICE).

Why?  If you are in an accident and can't communicate or if you are lost or missing and your cell phone is recovered, emergency personnel or a fellow citizen can assist by contacting a family member, friend or medical care by simply dialing one of your ICE numbers.  Most of us load dozens of speed dial numbers into our mobile phones - too many for a stranger to sift through in order to guess at and eventually contact the proper person.  Speed is critical in an emergency, and your life could depend on it.

If your mobile phone is older and does not have an automatic ICE entry, create your own.  If someone scrolls through your contact list, they will find it and be able to help if you have an emergency.

So, remember - regardless of the weather outside, think "ICE" to keep yourself safe in an emergency.

- Lou

Well, it's Valentine's Day - typically one of the busiest days of the year for Private Investigators working in "Domestic" matters.

Whenever a client or potential client calls to tell me that they believe a spouse or partner may be cheating on them and that they would like to do something about it, my first response is "If you are suspicious enough to share such difficult news with me, then chances are your hunch is correct."

Now the question is, "If you hire me to secure information and gather evidence, what do you hope to accomplish?  Are you seeking to confront someone with the evidence, are you satisfying your curiosity and looking for personal closure, or are you building a case for divorce, custody or support?" 

As difficult as it is, when you engage a PI in the matter of a cheating spouse or partner, try to put your emotions aside and work with your PI and your attorney to map out the "what" and "why" of your case and the surveillance or research that may be involved.  Always ask yourself the question... "Do I really want to know, and do I really want to see the evidence of my suspicions?"