List of advisors, including name, address, and telephone number:
Attorney ________________
Accountant ________________
Insurance Agent(s) ________________
Financial Advisor ________________
Banker ________________
Guardian (for minors) ________________
List of documents and where they can be found:
Will(s) ________________
Safety deposit box number and keys ________________
Insurance contracts ________________
Deeds ________________
Contracts ________________
Appraisals ________________
Mutual fund certificates ________________
Stocks ________________
I.R.A.s ________________
Retirement plans ________________
Old tax returns ________________
Pre-nuptial agreements ________________
Trusts ________________
Benefits booklets ________________
Military records ________________
Important numbers:
Social Security numbers ________________
Insurance policy numbers ________________
Tax I.D. numbers ________________
Credit card numbers ________________
Account numbers:
Checking ________________
Savings ________________
Money markets ________________
CDs ________________
Now that you have all this, what do you do with it? You need to create a list that will be handy for your use and accessible to your family. You can put this list on a computer program, if computers are your thing. You can just write it down; not very sexy, but it works. How about putting this on your Rolodex? Now you have it at your fingertips and can keep it updated very easily. Whatever works for you is fine. Just do it, and do it now. By the way, if you come up with a creative way to deal with this list, let me know. I'm always looking for new and creative ideas I can use. I'll even give you credit for it, so drop me a line.
I might not hurt to keep a list of outstanding loans as well. This could also be kept in your Rolodex. Not a bad way to keep track of your loans. List the terms of the loan, interest rate, length of the loan, payments, when due, loan number, lender, and maturity date.
If you use this system and put it all in your Rolodex, you can really "let your fingers do the walking" when you need any information.
Your comments and inquiries may be directed to:
Stanley Greenfield, R.H.U.
7240 Swansong Way
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Thank you.
Click here for previous articles by Stanley Greenfield, RHU.