Contributed by: Lauren Adams, CFA®, MBA
From presidential campaign email hacking to “zombie” internet-enabled devices, it’s hard to watch the news lately and deny that cybersecurity will likely be one of the most important issues and challenges of our time. Cybersecurity is a constant threat for individuals, businesses, and governments alike, and it’s a subject that we take very seriously here at Center for Financial Planning.
That’s why we continually work to find ways to make sure your personal information is kept safe and secure. Going forward, you should expect to see messages from us that contain personally identifiable information (such as Social Security Numbers or account numbers) sent via Raymond James’ Secure Messaging system. Secure Messaging allows us to encrypt the entire message we send, not just the attachment. Opening and replying to this email is fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it, and the process depends on whether or not you have an Investor Access account.
For Clients That Have Investor Access
You can receive and view a secure email on your computer, open the secure email, and open the secure email attachment entitled SecureMessageAtt.html (opening the attachment may differ slightly depending on the internet browser you use). If viewing from a mobile device, just click the link embedded within the message itself. Then, you will be able to click a button to “Read secure message” by logging in with your Investor Access email address, password, and security question. Your secure message will then appear. Need to send us an attachment back? Make sure you reply within the Secure Messaging system (not just to the email you received alerting you that have received a secure message from Raymond James Financial), and use the Attach a File, Add, and Upload buttons to send us the document back.
Want step by step instructions with screenshots? Check out this link.
For Clients That Do Not Have Investor Access
You can receive and view a secure email on your computer, open the secure email, and open the secure email attachment entitled SecureMessageAtt.html (opening the attachment may differ slightly depending on the internet browser you use). If viewing from a mobile device, just click the link embedded within the message itself. Then, you will be able to click a button to “Read secure message.” The first time you open a secure email, you’ll go through a one-time registration process. After that, you access a secure message by logging in with the password you’ve established. Your secure message will then appear. Need to send us an attachment back? Make sure you reply within the Secure Messaging system (not just to the email you received alerting you that have received a secure message from Raymond James Financial), and use the Attach a File, Add, and Upload buttons to send us the document back.
Want step-by-step instructions with screenshots? Check out this link.
Other Secure Ways to Send and Receive Information
Furthermore, as an alternative to Secure Messaging we also continue to use e-Signature, to allow clients to easily and securely sign forms electronically, and, our online content management and file sharing platform, the Vault. Haven’t tried the Vault yet? Get signed up for Investor Access and discover this easy way to upload secure information for your planner to review! Check out the blog articles we’ve already written on e-Signature and Vault for more information, or contact your Client Service Associate. We love when clients start using these tools for the first time, and we’re happy to walk through Secure Messaging, the Vault, or e-Signature together!
Lauren Adams, CFA®, MBA is Director of Client Services at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®
The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Lauren Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James.