Nearly every scam relies on one weapon: urgency. They rush you so you act before you think. The Pause Protocol is the four-step habit we follow — and share with every client — to take that weapon away. Four steps, in order, any time something feels urgent or unexpected.
A real bank, agency, or family member can always wait a few minutes. Only a scam can't.
Stop before doing anything. Urgency is the warning sign — the more pressure you feel, the more reason to slow down.
Don’t click, pay, or share. Nothing genuine ever requires it instantly — a real bank, agency, or family member can always wait a few minutes.
Confirm through a trusted channel you already know — the number on your card, the contact already in your phone — never the one they gave you.
Only proceed once you’ve confirmed, independently, that it’s genuinely safe. If anything still feels off, it can wait.
With Meridian, your advisor is one call away to verify anything — a suspicious email, an unexpected charge, a voice that sounds like family. When in doubt, you pause, and we confirm.
Private assessment · By discreet arrangement · A limited number of households