If you are in your 50s or 60s and are comfortable sharing details about your life situation and personal finances for publication, we'd love to hear from you.

For a story that will run in an upcoming issue, the magazine will pair different families with a financial MORE]]> Are you a retiree who would like a free makeover of your investment portfolio by a top financial professional? MONEY magazine would like to help.

If you are in your 50s or 60s and are comfortable sharing details about your life situation and personal finances for publication, we'd love to hear from you.

For a story that will run in an upcoming issue, the magazine will pair different families with a financial planner for a free portfolio makeover. In each case, a professional adviser will suggest a new investment plan tailored to the family's goals and financial situation, and be able to address other financial concerns.

We'd like to find families soon, so if you think you'd like to participate, please send an email to MakeMeOver@moneymail.com. You'll get an automated reply explaining what information we need from you to consider you for a makeover.

Do you wonder whether you are taking too much risk with your investments? Or do you worry you might not be able to fund all your retirement goals? Is there a better way to structure your portfolio? If you'd like answers to these questions, let us know.

To get an idea of what these makeovers look like, you can check out this article from a past issue:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/31/pf/financial_makeover_toy_family.moneymag/index.htm


Everybody has a story, so let's hear yours!

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We'd like to find families soon, so if you think you'd like to participate, please send MORE]]> For a story that will run in MONEY's January/February 2012 issue, the magazine will be pairing different families with a financial planner for a free portfolio makeover. In each case, a professional adviser will suggest a new investment plan tailored to the family's goals and financial situation, and be able to address other financial concerns.

We'd like to find families soon, so if you think you'd like to participate, please send an email to MakeMeOver@moneymail.com. You'll get an automated reply explaining what information we need from you to consider you for a makeover.

We're particularly interested talking with people in their 50s and 60s who are nearing retirement or have recently retired. Do you wonder whether you are taking too much risk with your investments? Or do you think you might not be taking enough risk? Is there a better way to structure your portfolio? If you'd like some answers to these questions, please let us know.

To get an idea of what these makeovers look like, you can check out this story from a past issue:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/31/pf/financial_makeover_toy_family.moneymag/index.htm

Thank you for your consideration.

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For people who will be covered by Medicare next year, it's almost time to pick a plan. If you or a relative uses Medicare for health coverage, you'll need to be wary of marketing programs that could persuade you to make a bad choice.

Three years ago, in response MORE]]> Do you have a story to tell about how someone sold you a Medicare plan? MONEY magazine would like to hear about it.

For people who will be covered by Medicare next year, it's almost time to pick a plan. If you or a relative uses Medicare for health coverage, you'll need to be wary of marketing programs that could persuade you to make a bad choice.

Three years ago, in response to rampant abuses in the sale of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans -- health insurers stalking seniors outside grocery stores, for example -- Medicare enacted stricter guidelines on how these plans could be sold. The new rules have helped a lot, but problems persist.

Have you or a relative had issues with what an agent or insurer did to sell you a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan? These actions might include:

• Cold-calling or knocking on your door unannounced in order to sell you a plan.

• Pitching you something very different from the plan you've requested information about.

• Telling you that your doctor or medicine was covered by a plan, even though they weren't.

• Not explaining the full costs of coverage, such as co-pays or out-of-network fees.

People have found that it's not easy to get out of the wrong plan once you're in it, so knowing how to avoid these problems in the first place is extremely important.

If you'd like to share your story with MONEY and its readers about your Medicare marketing mess -- and how you fixed it, if you could -- please fill out the confidential form below. A MONEY staffer may follow up to ask more about your situation. In no case will the magazine publish your name or your story without speaking with you first to get your permission.

Thanks!

Got a trick for getting great customer service? We'd like to write about it in a forthcoming issue of MONEY magazine.

If  you regularly run into rude behavior, or simply a lack of friendly service, from the companies you do business with, you're definitely not MORE]]> (Update, Oct. 10: If you submitted a suggestion before Oct. 9, please re-send! Because of a technical glitch, many of your responses were deleted by our system.)

Got a trick for getting great customer service? We'd like to write about it in a forthcoming issue of MONEY magazine.

If  you regularly run into rude behavior, or simply a lack of friendly service, from the companies you do business with, you're definitely not alone. A third of consumers report being treated rudely once a month, says a new study by professors from Georgetown and USC published in the Journal of Service Research. Unsurprisingly, such episodes make consumers less likely to patronize those businesses.

But what if you're unable to take your business elsewhere? You can't stop talking to the cable company if it's the only provider in your area. And you're stuck if you've already shelled out dough for, say, an airline ticket and you're standing in the airport.

We want to hear your stories. How do you handle poor service? More importantly, what are your secrets for wrangling good customer service out of any business? Do you have special tactics to ensure red-carpet treatment? Share your experiences — and especially your success stories — below. For example:

• The airline industry has made the term "friendly skies" into an oxymoron: lost luggage, delayed flights, high fees. How have you cajoled an airline into fixing your problem — or treating you right from the outset?

• How do you score hotel upgrades without paying upgraded prices?

• Have you ever complained after being treated poorly or receiving defective merchandise and gotten good results, including financial compensation? What strategy worked?

• Have you sweet-talked your way into a better deal on your cell phone, cable or other subscription service? What did you say?

Since 2008, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has dramatically changed the way millions of families manage their money and their lives.

Now, more than three years after the collapse of financial institutions, stock prices, and home values, enough time MORE]]> Come back in a few days for more extras from our financial values survey: A reader gallery, a video exploring people's shifting attitudes, and a quiz for you to take!

Since 2008, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression has dramatically changed the way millions of families manage their money and their lives.

Now, more than three years after the collapse of financial institutions, stock prices, and home values, enough time has passed to ask a critical question: Which of our newfound habits and values will really stick, lasting even after the economy rebounds — and which won't?

To help define the new normal, MONEY and Time magazines collaborated on a pair of wide-ranging surveys in late summer to explore Americans' changing financial values.

MONEY survey results

Many surveyed families reported that they are relenting on knee-jerk resolutions made at the height of the crisis. But many also have stuck with big behavioral shifts such as quality time with family and saving more for retirement — two areas where the readings today are even higher than they were at the deepest point of the pullback.

MONEY will publish a full report from these surveys — including commentary from different families who embody changing financial values — in our November issue, which will arrive on newsstands October 14th. In the meantime, here are key takeaways and statistics from our research (http://www.m-rr.com/money_financial_values_poll.pdf).

And for additional survey coverage from TIME, visit TIME's Moneyland blog.

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For the magazine's regular "Financial Fix" feature, we're looking for families who would like a free consultation with a financial planner to address their money-related problems and concerns. Participating families must be comfortable with sharing details of their financial life in the magazine, and they will MORE]]> Do you have a money challenge you need help solving or a financial goal you need help reaching? MONEY magazine may be able to help.

For the magazine's regular "Financial Fix" feature, we're looking for families who would like a free consultation with a financial planner to address their money-related problems and concerns. Participating families must be comfortable with sharing details of their financial life in the magazine, and they will be photographed for the story.

If you're interested, please send an email to makeover@moneymail.com. Include your name, your home town or city, a phone number where you can be reached, and a brief description of the challenge you're facing or the goal you're aiming for. Please also tell us about a little about your family's finances, including household income, assets and debts. Finally, please attach a recent photo or photos of household members.

We'll follow up with potential candidates.

Thanks!

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Specifically, we're looking for husbands and wives in the U.S. who each work full-time in an operation that is their primary source of income, and has had at least $100,000 in sales over the prior year. Our preference is for a business with no additional MORE]]> For an upcoming story about the challenges of running a family business, MONEY magazine is looking for married couples who work side-by-side in their own business.

Specifically, we're looking for husbands and wives in the U.S. who each work full-time in an operation that is their primary source of income, and has had at least $100,000 in sales over the prior year. Our preference is for a business with no additional employees. We are interested in all types of businesses other than financial services, real estate and franchise operations.

As part of the article, we will provide to the family a free, in-depth consultation with a personal financial planner who can study the family's finances and give advice relevant to the family's financial goals and concerns; we will also be able to connect the family with a consultant who can address small-business issues. If you're the participating family, you'll also have the opportunity to raise awareness of challenges faced by people in circumstances similar to yours.

Participating families must be comfortable with having details of their personal finances published in the magazine, including household income, savings and debt. Families will also be photographed for the story.

If you're interested, please send an email to MakeMeOver@moneymail.com containing the names and ages of everyone in your household, your hometown or city, a phone number where you can be reached, and a brief description of your situation, including the nature and size of your business, household income, and assets/debts separate from the business. A MONEY editor will follow up with you.

Thank you!

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For a forthcoming story in the magazine, we'd like to interview people about how the downturn of two years ago changed people's lives — and how it didn't. After the economy and the markets collapsed, did you vow to change your personal financial MORE]]> Did the economic meltdown of 2008-2009 change how you handle your finances? Have some of your financial priorities and beliefs shifted as well? MONEY magazine wants to know.

For a forthcoming story in the magazine, we'd like to interview people about how the downturn of two years ago changed people's lives – and how it didn't. After the economy and the markets collapsed, did you vow to change your personal financial behavior – and did you follow through on those resolutions? Did you change all of your habits? Some of them? Are you back where you started? Wherever you fall, we'd like to know.

What are you doing differently today, and what are you doing the same? Maybe you reevaluated your priorities, choosing a walk in the park over a walk in the mall. Maybe you changed the way you save, budget and invest. Or maybe you tried to tweak those financial behaviors, but found it too difficult. Old habits die hard.

We want to know about everything: the changes that stuck, the ones that didn't, and what your attitudes toward money are like today. Are you finding unexpected benefits or disadvantages? If you have kids, we'd like to know what it's been like for them, too.

If you're interested in sharing your experience and advice in the pages of MONEY, please fill out this brief, confidential form. None of the information you supply here will be published unless you give us the okay in a follow-up interview.

Thanks!

Find MONEY on Facebook. Follow MONEY on Twitter.

Movies

You can overcome this inertia, however, by MORE]]> Investing in energy-efficient home technology is like buying a home gym: Though you may be tempted by the promise of a long-term payoff, it's easy to be turned off by the upfront cost. "That's really what the challenge is — to move customers to action," says Stephen Cowell, CEO of Conservation Services Group, a company that works with utilities and conservation groups to improve energy efficiency.

You can overcome this inertia, however, by taking advantage of numerous strategies and programs that both ease the financial pain of energy-saving home improvements and make it possible to keep cool for the rest of the summer. Here's a sample of what's available:

 Federal help

Currently, you can get a federal tax credit for energy-efficient home improvements (such as sealing your house better to keep the cool air in): 10% of your cost, excluding labor, up to $500. The program expires at the end of the year. More advanced energy-efficient improvements – such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heating, photovoltaic systems and small wind turbines – lead to a tax credit worth 30% of the cost, with no maximum credit. This arrangement lasts through 2016.

State funds

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, states were allocated money they could distribute to customers in the form of rebates on purchases of energy-efficient appliances. While most of the states have distributed their money and ended their rebates, you can still find an official list of states with active programs (or at least waiting lists). Beware of fake rebate websites. A total of 21 localities — states, territories and the District of Columbia — still have open programs. Massachusetts, for example, recently reinstated a rebate program covering room air conditioners and refrigerators.

Company discounts

In the hopes of drumming up business, private companies are cutting prices, too. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer Lennox, for example, is running a promotion offering up to $1,400 in rebates on selected systems this summer. It's also possible to find relevant discounts in Groupon's Home & Garden category, launched earlier this year and available in several cities.

Your local utility company is likely offering rebates linked to energy efficiency: Roughly two-thirds of Americans, estimates Cowell, have access to such a program. To find what your utility may be offering in the way of rebates or loans, you can start at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (where you can also learn about other public and private programs). The summer-related products most often covered by utility-run rebate programs are air conditioners and pool pumps, says Cowell.

At home

Finally, some energy-efficient moves don't require much spending, or any at all, to save you money over the rest of the summer:

• Switch off your air conditioner in favor of ceiling fans or portable fans, which use less electricity and can make you feel five degrees cooler.

• If you are using an air conditioner, clean its vents and filters. Otherwise, your a/c will have less airflow and work inefficiently, according to Cash Money Life .

• For swimming pools used only on weekends, reduce the heater or heat pump thermostats around 10 degrees during the week, according to pool company Pentair Water. When you're using the pool, don't heat it above 78 degrees – a healthy temperature for recreational swimming.

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Read just about any survey about Americans' retirement readiness, and you might worry that you'll be stuck at your desk forever. A study released recently by the Employee Benefit Research Institute concludes that even delaying retirement may not be enough to make up for paltry savings; many Americans, especially lower-income Americans, will have to keep working into their 70s MORE]]> Are you living a successful retirement? Share your story in MONEY magazine!

Read just about any survey about Americans' retirement readiness, and you might worry that you'll be stuck at your desk forever. A study released recently by the Employee Benefit Research Institute concludes that even delaying retirement may not be enough to make up for paltry savings; many Americans, especially lower-income Americans, will have to keep working into their 70s or even 80s to have a good shot at affording retirement, EBRI says. In a recent survey by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 40% of working Americans say they'll never be able to retire.

What's more, a new survey from SunAmerica finds that pre-retirees, while more hopeful about their retirement prospects than during the depths of the recession, are nonetheless planning to delay retirement and work part-time. One-third of this group of 55-year-olds and up report that their portfolios have still not recovered; almost half say their home is worth less than before the crash.

Amid this bad news, however, millions of Americans are enjoying a fulfilling retirement. If you're one of those people, you may hear a lot of scary numbers from the financial services industry (and the media!) about the millions you need and your dire prospects if you fall short. But you've found that you can enjoy retirement to the fullest with whatever you managed to save. Sure, maybe you work a few hours a week or have found efficiencies in your budget, but you're not depriving yourself: You're seeing friends and family, embracing a new hobby, and traveling. Maybe the pros think you can't make it work without multi-millions, but you're proving otherwise.

If this describes you, we'd love to hear from you for an upcoming story in MONEY magazine. If you're interested in sharing your experience and advice, please fill out this brief, confidential form. None of the information you supply here will be published unless you give us the okay in a follow-up interview.

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The worst-case scenario would be that the U.S., running out of cash on August 2, ends up defaulting on its outstanding loans. A default would MORE]]> With the debt ceiling deadline just days away, all eyes are on the government's ability to borrow money. But if the ceiling isn't lifted, it won't be just the government having problems taking out a loan; everyday Americans will likely encounter new costs and difficulties as well.

The worst-case scenario would be that the U.S., running out of cash on August 2, ends up defaulting on its outstanding loans. A default would affect the supply of money and of credit, says Keith Gumbinger of HSH, which collects mortgage and consumer loan information. An interruption in the flow of credit, beginning with Treasuries, could make it more difficult for consumers to get a loan, he says.

"Our biggest concern in the default scenario is not the interest rates — it's restricted access to credit," says Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

While the ensuing credit crunch would be similar to that of 2008, it wouldn't be quite as catastrophic. And it would be brief, because most analysts believe that the U.S. would quickly find a fix and raise the debt ceiling.

A more likely scenario is that the U.S.'s credit rating would be downgraded — a development that, unfortunately, would be longer-lasting than that of a default and more difficult to reverse.

Without a long-term solution to address the budget deficit, the U.S. could see a credit downgrade even if the country avoids a default. A July 22 statement from credit rating agency Standard & Poor's described a 50 percent chance of a downgrade in the next three months if Washington fails to achieve what the agency considers a "credible" solution to handle future budget deficits.

Moving from a AAA credit rating to a AA credit rating would bump up interest rates modestly,  McBride says. Credit would still be available, but it would be more expensive.

Interest rates for mortgages could see an increase of an eighth to a half of a percent, Gumbinger says — small enough that it wouldn't be a disaster for the real estate market. While people with fixed rate mortgages won't be affected by rising interest rates, any increase would make refinancing seriously unattractive, and some new buyers could be hit with costs that are higher than expected.

The staying power of higher interest rates could be the real problem. A rise in interest rates could dry up business financing and consumer spending, exacerbating unemployment and pushing a troubled economy back into recession.

"The longer it drags on, the more damage it's going to cause," Gumbinger says. "For lack of a political solution, are we willing to wreck the economy again?"

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But Monday came and went without the kind of market slump that could MORE]]> When last Friday's debt ceiling talks came to a frustrating end just hours after the market closed, it made sense to expect a repeat of what happened during the TARP debate. In 2008, the Dow plunged 777 points after the House voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Congressional representatives turned around and later approved the bailout package.

But Monday came and went without the kind of market slump that could push lawmakers to a debt ceiling deal. When markets closed on Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average had dropped 88.36 points, or 0.7%. The S&P 500 fell 7.59 points, or 0.56%. Numbers for the year were up.

The bond market, too, didn't see dramatic shifts. Yields for short-term Treasuries — which would be the most immediately affected in the event of a U.S. default — stayed calm. Yields for 10-year Treasuries ended the day just four basis points higher, at 3.00%.

With just eight days left before the Aug. 2 deadline, the debate in Washington is still roiling. But the market response has been subdued.

One possible reason for the markets' unexpected stability: Fox Business News reported on Monday that White House officials have privately told major U.S. banks that a default won't happen, even without a debt ceiling deal. But that still doesn't eliminate the looming threat of a credit downgrade brought about by the impasse.

Perhaps the markets are calm because there's no certain way to hedge against a U.S. default. After all, economists don't know what exactly will happen if the U.S. fails to raise the debt ceiling — just that it won't be pretty, either for the global economy or for the average consumer's pocketbook.

Then there's the nature of Wall Street. Recent reports of healthy second-quarter earnings suggest that there's money to be made — as long as you're a corporation or a forward-looking investor. People riding that wave may be keeping one eye on Congress, but many still remain confident that lawmakers will come to a deal, especially because of the severe consequences of failing to do so.

And that's part of the paradox that has led to the markets' surprisingly understated response. The scenario if the debt ceiling isn't raised has been described as catastrophic — and investors are betting that lawmakers won't let it come to that.

At least for now. As of Monday evening, it looks as if  Wall Street has called Washington's bluff. But unless the debt ceiling is raised, the markets may feel the full impact of the political debate after Aug. 2. And then we might actually see a TARP debate redux.

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But what happens if the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, which places a legal cap on the amount the country can borrow — and which the U.S. actually hit on May 16 — isn't raised?

"Frankly, MORE]]> Washington may reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2, the date after which Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the US will no longer be able to meet its debt obligations through accounting tricks.

But what happens if the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, which places a legal cap on the amount the country can borrow — and which the U.S. actually hit on May 16 — isn't raised?

"Frankly, no one knows," says Matt Slaughter, a professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. "There's no historical precedent for what happens if the US defaults on part of its outstanding debt obligations."

But it's clear the outcome won't be good, Slaughter says.

Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke says the result would be a "huge financial calamity." And economists predict serious global implications, as the security of US Treasuries, considered by most investors to be the closest thing to a risk-free investment, comes into question. Already, ratings agencies are indicating they could downgrade the AAA credit rating of the U.S.

Here's how it would affect you:

Government payments

Alan Blinder

"By dint of what comes in on a day-to-day basis, the government can keep paying about 60 percent of its bills, and will fail to pay the other 40 percent," says Alan Blinder, a Princeton professor and former vice chairman of the Fed.

If you're relying on a government check — a benefit check or a paycheck — you may or may not get it after Aug. 2. (The government is scheduled to deliver a round of Social Security checks on Aug. 3.)

Some lawmakers are trying to figure out who's first in line. A trio of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday that would have the government prioritize military salaries and debt payments. Not on their list? Social Security and unemployment.

Interest rates

 Interest rates are extremely likely to rise. That means higher rates for credit cards, home mortgages, auto loans, and student loans, among others. How much they go up depends on how panicked the market gets.

"Even if it doesn't turn out to be calamitous, almost surely it's going to raise Treasury interest rates," Slaughter says.

That would bring the borrowing capacity of families down, and could seriously slow down business investment — which means less hiring.

The worst-case scenario? "If the markets really go into a tizzy, we may get to a situation in some markets where the rates hardly matter at all because you just can't get credit," Blinder says.

Another recession

If the impasse lasts for more than a few days, the economy will "almost certainly" be pushed back into a recession, Blinder says. That's because of an unprecedented cutback in government spending. Even if the government avoided default by paying off its debt, losing the ability to borrow would mean a 40 percent drop in government spending — about 10 to 11 percent of GDP.

The stock market is very likely to tank, as well, driven by a serious loss of confidence in the U.S. government.

"You will get the investing community, not just of the United States but of the entire world, thinking that we've lost our marbles over here," Blinder says. "And we will have — because [failing to raise the debt ceiling] is a completely crazy thing to do."

Is it likely to happen? Only if politics gets in the way.

"It doesn't matter how you'd like to resolve the future budget deficits of America…we just need to raise the debt ceiling," Slaughter said.

That's a plan Washington seems to be slowly and painfully hammering out. In a Friday morning press conference, President Obama said he was "expecting some answers" from congressional leaders in the next couple of days.

"It wouldn't be a bit surprising to me if they settle this at midnight on August 2," Blinder said.

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Maybe you had a setback — your investments took a big hit in the market downturn, or you retired early because of a health issue or job loss. Maybe you just tired of the MORE]]> Are you a retiree who has a smaller nest egg than you'd planned for — but who is still enjoying a high-quality, satisfying retirement? If so, MONEY magazine would like to interview you for an upcoming story.

Maybe you had a setback — your investments took a big hit in the market downturn, or you retired early because of a health issue or job loss. Maybe you just tired of the rat race and quit work sooner than you had planned. In any case, we are looking for retirees and near-retirees who are living on less income than expected but are still able to enjoy their retirement life.

We want to know how much you have saved, the reason for your smaller nest egg and what strategies you're using to adjust to a lower income. Are you working a part-time job, cutting expenses, moving to a lower-cost area, or trying to boost your investment income? Are you finding unexpected benefits from this different lifestyle — for example, fulfillment from a part-time job or less stress after downsizing? We'd love to know how you're living on less but still living well.

If you're interested in sharing your experience and advice for an upcoming story, please fill out this brief, confidential form. None of the information you supply here will be published unless you give us the okay in a follow-up interview.

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A recent string of cyber attacks on companies such as Sony, Citigroup and Nasdaq — organizations you'd hope would know something about data security — has spotlighted the vulnerability of personal information that could be used to steal your identity. The latest breach of customer MORE]]> If some of the world's largest corporations can't manage to keep your personal and financial data safe, is there anything you can do to protect yourself?

A recent string of cyber attacks on companies such as Sony, Citigroup and Nasdaq — organizations you'd hope would know something about data security — has spotlighted the vulnerability of personal information that could be used to steal your identity. The latest breach of customer privacy came a week ago, when gaming company Sega admitted that the email addresses, dates of birth, and encrypted passwords of nearly 1.3 million customers had been compromised.

The frequency and scope of these successful attacks is shocking. This year alone, more than 13 million records have been involved in security breaches related to hacking or malware, according to non-profit consumer group Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. And that's only from 58 such incidents that were made public.

One possible solution is stronger legislation. Earlier this month, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) reintroduced the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act for the fourth time since 2005. The bill, which requires companies to strengthen protections and imposes stricter penalties on hackers, would supersede a patchwork of state data breach laws. The bill also makes it a crime to conceal a security breach, unless the compromised information poses "no significant risk of harm."

The recent spate of high-profile data breaches may provide political momentum to Leahy's bill. But strengthening protection of sensitive information requires a technical fix, not just punitive measures, says Lauren Weinstein, cofounder of People for Internet Responsibility.

Evidence for that, says Weinstein, can be found in May's Citigroup hack. On June 15, the company announced that its credit card breach affected more than 360,000 customer accounts, a significantly larger figure than previously stated. According to The New York Times, hackers exploited a simple loophole to access financial data, logging on to Citi's credit card customer site and plugging different numbers into the web browser's address bar, giving them access to other accounts.

"They did it by using the oldest trick in the book," Weinstein said. "That's the kind of problem we were seeing in the very early days of web commerce, and for something like that to show up now is depressing. I don't think you can legislate away that mistake."

So what can you do to minimize the damage of a data breach? That depends on what information is stolen, says Paul Stephens, director of policy and advocacy with the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Here's his advice:

1. Social Security numbers

If your Social Security number has been exposed, says Stephens, you should check your credit reports regularly, and place a fraud alert — or perhaps a security freeze — on your credit report. Start at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site to get a free credit report from each of the country's major consumer credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. (Each offers one free credit report every 12 months.)

Fraud alerts notify potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft, so that they'll tread more carefully when setting up a new financial account. A call to just one of the credit reporting companies will help you set up a fraud alert with all three for at least 90 days.

A security freeze can "lock" your credit report, to prevent potential identity thieves from opening any new accounts. Each company — and state — has its own policies regarding setting up and removing freezes, but the process is usually free if you're a victim of identity theft. (Consumers Union offers a comprehensive list of policies.) Keep in mind that taking these steps could also make your own applications for new credit more difficult.

2. Financial account information

If information about your debit or credit card is stolen, you should immediately cancel the account, says Stephens, and carefully monitor your financial statements to make sure your information is not being misused. This is particularly true if it's information about your debit card, he says, since it offers consumers fewer protections against misuse. "A debit card is a direct pipeline to your checking account,"he says. "The money is almost immediately drawn from your account, and you'll have to fight with your bank to get it back."

3. Email addresses

Compared to a compromised credit card number or Social Security number, an exposed email address may seem innocuous. But when your email or other account details are compromised, Stephens says, you should be on the lookout for spear phishing: targeted email that poses as a legitimate message to solicit even more information.

"Unless you're 100 percent certain that an email is legitimate, our advice is, when you receive an email asking for any information, don't respond to it," he says. Instead, if it appears to be an email coming from your bank or credit card company, give the company a call, or pay a visit to the official website.

As for protecting yourself in advance, the most important thing you can do is use different passwords for every account, since hackers who have your password for one website can easily test to see whether it works with similar usernames on other websites.

Unfortunately, nothing is foolproof. "The only way you can limit your exposure is to never give your information out to anybody — and you'd have to live on a deserted island to do that," Stephens says.

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