The Personal Financial Organizer
One of the least discussed, but most important, items to have available to your survivors is a binder or file that contains all the information regarding where your accounts, documents, insurance policies, etc. are located. Further, you must include in the information everything that is needed to access the accounts, like phone numbers, names, passwords, etc. We offer a Personal Financial Organizer on the Alloy Silverstein Financial Services website at no cost to you.
Why is this so important? If you have already lost a loved one and then had the responsibility of settling their estate or other financial matters, you already know the answer.
Specifically:
- You are already in an emotional state. It helps to be able to open a document and know immediately whom to call for information regarding Wills, Trusts, insurance policies, bank and investment accounts, and any other asset or liability pertaining to the estate.
- If the deceased’s widow or widower, children or other decedents, need to obtain insurance proceeds or access to bank accounts in order to pay bills and/or taxes, this information is quickly accessible.
- If the deceased has completed the Personal Financial Organizer then assets that might have been passed over will not be lost or go to escheat.
- One can list various wishes regarding final arrangements, or anything else not usually covered in the Will. This can be as simple as a song that the deceased would like to have at the memorial service, or as complex as listing the burial site arrangements and where to have the luncheon.
Of course, the Personal Financial Organizer is not a replacement for the various legal documents needed; but it does help your surviving loved ones to make clear-headed financial decisions during an emotional time; and helps to ensure that your wishes are clearly understood.
I can tell you from personal experience, it is a final gift to your loved ones.
Click Here to Download Our Personal Financial Organizer template.
We recommend saving a secure electronic copy, or printing out the completed Organizer and keeping the contents in an organized binder.