Protecting Against Financial Scams

Financial scams are increasingly sophisticated and deliberately designed to work on careful, thoughtful people. My focus is helping you get ahead of it, identifying where you or someone you love is most exposed and putting simple, specific protections in place before something happens. We go at your pace and focus only on what actually matters for your situation.

I'm Shari Wooton, founder of Mountain Compass. I help individuals and families in Western NC identify where they are most exposed and put simple, specific protections in place, at a pace that works for them.

How It Works

Everyone's situation is different. The risks that matter most for someone who manages finances alone are different from someone whose aging parent lives independently, or someone who is active on social media and online platforms.

We start with a conversation. I listen first, what's on your mind, what you're already worried about, what's already in place. From there I ask a small set of focused questions to identify your highest areas of exposure.

Then we build a path together. Not a generic checklist of everything that could go wrong. A focused set of actions specific to your situation, worked through at your pace, with me available when something is not clear or does not seem to apply to you.

The goal at the end isn't that you know more about scams. It's that you have specific protections in place and simple habits that make you meaningfully harder to target.

What I Help With

This work is right for you if:

• You want practical protections in place but don't know where to start
• You have an aging parent living alone and want to help without it feeling like an intrusion, honoring their independence while acknowledging changing times
• You or someone close to you has already been targeted and you want to make sure it doesn't happen again
• You've read about scams and felt overwhelmed by the complexity

A Client Story

An older adult living alone wanted to make sure her accounts and habits were as secure as possible after a neighbor was scammed. We identified her three highest areas of exposure, set up protections at her financial institutions, and worked through a small set of habit changes at her pace. She finished knowing exactly what was in place and why.

Working Locally

I work with individuals and families across Western North Carolina including Sylva, Franklin, Bryson City, Waynesville, Asheville and surrounding communities. This work is done at your pace, on your schedule, with as much or as little support as you need.

Ready to Talk It Through?

Book a free 15-minute intro call. There is no obligation, just a conversation about where you are and whether this kind of support might help.