9 things retirees should never keep in their wallets

9 Things Retirees Should Never Keep in Their Wallets

You and your hard-earned savings have finally made it to retirement. Why risk losing anything if your wallet goes missing or is stolen?

Because with every new bank slip that bulges from the seams, your personal information is getting less and less safe. With just your name and Social Security number, identity thieves can open new credit accounts and make costly purchases in your name. If they can get their hands on (and doctor) a government-issued photo ID of yours, they can do even more damage, including opening new bank accounts. These days, con artists are even profiting from tax-return fraud and health-care fraud, all with stolen IDs.

We talked with consumer-protection advocates to identify the nine things retirees should purge from their wallets immediately. And when you’re finished, take a moment to photocopy everything you’ve left inside your wallet, front and back. Stash the copies in a secure location. The last thing you want to be wondering as you’re reporting a stolen wallet is, “What exactly did I have in there?”