As a gentle reminder, the safest and most reliable way to request any money withdrawal from your account is by calling our office directly. In today’s environment, where online scams and identity fraud have become more sophisticated, speaking with one of our team members ensures your request is handled securely and accurately. A quick phone call allows us to verify your identity, confirm details in real time, and protect your funds from unauthorized access. We appreciate your understanding and partnership in helping us keep your accounts and personal information safe.
We’re excited to welcome a new group of Normal Community High School interns to our Bloomington office this semester. They’ll be spending a few hours each week with us over the coming weeks learning more about the finance field so they can grow their understanding of business and finance as they pursue their academic goals. You can learn more about them in our upcoming newsletter. And if you stop in to our Bloomington office over the next couple of months, be sure to say hello and welcome them!
Have you considered including family in conversations about finances and how you would like your estate handled at your death?
These can be difficult conversations, but so worthwhile. We’ve had clients invite children/beneficiaries and their attorney to an annual review so everyone is on the same page. If you’re interested in a Beneficiary Book, which is a binder to keep all your pertinent information in one place, give our office a call and we’ll have one ready for you to pick up. Also, keep an eye out for our “Educating Executors” seminar coming this fall to our Bloomington office.
Recently, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) has released three Investor Alerts related to investment scams.
Social Media and Stock Tip Scams
Natural Disasters and Investment Scams
Against this backdrop, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you about imposter scams. Specifically, scammers may impersonate financial professionals by, for example, creating a fake version of a public FINRA BrokerCheck report for a legitimate investment professional. The scammer might then send the fake report to potential investors, using their name and registration number to solicit potential investors. More information about imposter scams can be found at https://www.finra.org/investors/insights/be-alert-signs-imposter-investment-scams
If you have concerns that someone is using your name or information as part of a potential scam, contact Cambridge’s Disclosures and Dispute Resolution Team (disclosures@cir2.com), and alert FINRA by calling the BrokerCheck hotline at (800) 289-9999 or emailing BrokerCheck@finra.org.
Judy Sypult joined Douglass Financial Services in February 2025 as a Client Services Assistant. As the CSA, she assists the Financial Advisor Assistant with key processes as it relates to client operations and helps prepare client tax return paperwork and invoicing.
Judy grew up in the Pontiac and Cornell area and graduated from Pontiac Township High School in 1989. She married her husband, Keith M Sypult in May 1996. She's a very proud mom of 2 adult children. Rachael is 26 years old and lives in Phoenix, AZ and Connor, a 24-year-old from Pontiac, IL. She loves spending time with her family and also enjoys being outside working in her yard and planting flowers. In her free time you will find her relaxing in her hot tub.