How to Build a Successful Campaign with Facebook Ads for Financial Advisors
January 6, 2026
Since the beginning of civilization, humans have survived by cultivating instincts that helped us avoid predators, treacherous terrain, harsh weather, and disease. As we evolved, so did our challenges, with some of the most significant threats to our modern way of life being nearly invisible.
Unlike physical threats, digital risks rarely present themselves in obvious or intuitive ways. They do not rely on proximity, visibility, or force. Instead, they exploit scale, automation, and human behavior—often originating thousands of miles away and operating continuously in the background. In this environment, traditional instincts offer little protection, and small lapses in digital discipline can have outsized consequences.
Weak passwords remain one of the most common entry points for bad actors attempting to access digital assets, including money, data, and sensitive information. The consequences of non-compliance during a ransomware attack are often financial but can also include emotional or reputational damage. In 2024 alone, hackers captured approximately $813 million USD from ransomware attacks, with the average payout nearing $2 million USD. In a 2024 study analyzing 19 billion leaked passwords, only 6% were unique; the vast majority were weak, predictable, or reused.
The good news is that many of these risks are avoidable through education, best practices, and straightforward software tools. Digital hygiene, behavioral security, and physical and privacy protection form three major pillars of effective cyber defense.
Digital Hygiene
Password Managers
Use a reputable password manager across all devices. Many include built-in generators that create strong, unique passwords and save them automatically. Password managers remain one of the most effective defenses against attackers who scan the internet for weak entry points.
Avoid: Passwords based on birthdays, common phrases, or pets; bad actors easily predict these.
Alden enforces the use of enterprise-grade password management across its advisor platform, leveraging widely adopted, best-in-class solutions such as 1Password.
MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication)
Multi-Factor Authentication provides a second verification layer for access to financial, business, and data-related accounts. Many password managers can function as MFA authenticators; Google and Microsoft also both offer strong authenticator apps.
MFA significantly reduces the likelihood of account compromise, even when passwords are exposed through phishing or data breaches.
Home Devices
Routers, Wi-Fi networks, and smart home devices are common targets of attack and often represent the weakest link in an otherwise secure environment. Issues most frequently arise when individuals attempt to save money by purchasing and managing their own consumer-grade routers rather than using equipment supplied and supported by their internet service provider.
Personally owned routers are often installed once and then forgotten. Firmware updates, security patches, and configuration reviews are rarely performed, allowing these devices to operate for years with known vulnerabilities. As a result, outdated personal routers remain a common attack vector for hackers, providing persistent access to a network without obvious signs of compromise.
While ISP-supplied equipment is not immune to risk, it is generally updated and supported more consistently. Regardless of the source, any router should be protected with strong administrative credentials and kept up to date, but extra diligence is required when managing personally owned hardware.
VPNs
A Virtual Private Network encrypts your data and routes your internet traffic through a secure remote server. This is particularly important when traveling or using public Wi-Fi, which should be avoided for sensitive or financial activity.
During overseas operations in restricted network environments, VPN technology has been used to maintain secure communications and access critical information—illustrating the importance of encrypted connectivity when operating outside trusted infrastructure.
Alden deploys secure, enterprise-grade VPN solutions to support remote access and travel, including platforms such as Nord Layer.
Pro Tip: A quick way to confirm that your VPN is functioning properly is to run a DNS leak test.
Backups
Regularly back up devices using encrypted external drives or organization-approved cloud systems to facilitate data recovery if a device is compromised.
Behavioral Security
Double-Check URLs
Website addresses beginning with HTTP or HTTPS represent “Hypertext Transfer Protocol” and its secure, encrypted variant. The difference may appear subtle, but the security implications are significant.
Links and Phishing
Refrain from clicking on links in emails or messages from unfamiliar sources. Phishing attacks often mimic reputable senders but are designed to extract sensitive information such as account credentials or credit card numbers.
Common examples include account alerts, invoice notifications, or messages requesting urgent verification of login or payment details.
Email Discipline
Pay attention to the writing style and tone your contacts typically use. Hackers may attempt to impersonate authority figures or trusted individuals. Unusual urgency, requests for cryptocurrency or gift card payments, or deviations in tone may indicate an account compromise. Family-owned businesses are particularly vulnerable when official documentation or sensitive communications are routed through or accessed via personal accounts. Establishing a separate email for subscriptions and non-critical services is a simple way to add an additional layer of isolation.
Things to Avoid
Avoid using public generative AI tools to handle sensitive family office or business issues, as submitted content may be retained, logged, or exposed outside your control or used to train the AI chat model.
Avoid posting real-time photos or location details online, as it can expose you to identity theft, burglary, stalking, or personal injury. Those with sensitive family or business responsibilities should delay posting until after travel or significant events.
Physical + Privacy Protection
Traveling Tips
RFID-protected garments, wallets, and bags can help prevent unauthorized scanning or cloning of devices, including key fobs and contactless credit cards.
Avoid posting location-revealing photos until after critical trips; even small delays significantly reduce the ease of stalking or profiling. Devices should remain in your possession during travel, and unattended charging stations or public USB ports should be avoided.
Alden deploys additional access safeguards when systems are accessed during travel or from unfamiliar locations, helping reduce exposure without disrupting legitimate work.
Summary
Digital threats are far less visible, and ultimately more dangerous, than the physical dangers people are conditioned to fear. As a financial advisor in today’s rapidly evolving world, I encourage my clients to maintain sound cybersecurity practices as part of their broader financial and personal protection strategies. The information in this document is general in nature and is not a replacement for dedicated cybersecurity professionals or frequent cybersecurity audits that your family office, business, or organization might require. Our world evolves, and so must we.
