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QUINCY, ILL. -- The weather has been warm all across the country, but the stock market has been cooling off this summer.

It's bringing to light several scams that can cause you to lose your money.

Here's some important KHQA Safe Family tips to keep your finances in check.

KHQA spoke with Jeffrey Kennedy, a Senior Financial Advisor with Kennedy Wealth Group.

He said he read a quote that makes perfect sense.

It is "knowledge, attention to detail, and a healthy sense of skepticism are a triple threat to fight investment fraud."

He says possibly the best weapon you should have is a good, trusted financial advisor.

He says a Fiduciary Advisor is paid to keep your best interest in mind.

Kennedy also adds less than five percent of advisors are fiduciaries, so it's important to research your advisor.

Here's another tip he gave for fighting financial fraud.

"People when they are making investments, if they've been unsolicited or it's an online thing, don't ever make a check out to or give cash to an advisor. It should be custody to the third party like Pershing or Ameritrade," says Jeff Kennedy.

The North American Securities Administrators Association recently released the top ten investor traps.

To read them, click here.