This month marks the annual observance of National Financial Wellness Month, pointing out the importance for consumers to pay close attention to their financial health. Now, more than ever, it is important for consumers to be smart about their incomes and protect their nest eggs. 

It's also important for consumers to take control of securing another of their most important assets – their identities. Identity theft is on the rise, and consumers have to become more proactive to fight this growing threat.

Here are some suggestions that you can use to protect your financial health and wellness:

• Educate yourself on the different kinds of identity theft and scams that are out there. 

 • Review your monthly credit card and banking statements. Contact your bank or card issuer if there are any questionable or fraudulent entries.

• Shred documents that contain your personal information before disposing of them. This includes receipts, bills, bank statements, credit card applications and any other documents that contain your data.

• Safeguard your identity by enrolling with an identity theft protection service. While none of these services can prevent identity theft, they can help stop the damage it causes. Be sure to choose a proactive service, so that you'll know about the theft before any real damage can be done.

And be more proactive yourself. You don't want to find yourself asking "Why?" later – it's much better to ask "Why not?" now.