Summer’s approaching, and that means vacation for lots of people. Whether you hit the road, the rails, or the skies, you may feel more relaxed if you do some personal planning before you leave. An important –and very helpful – item is a list of personal important information for your loved ones. And let them know where it is! Once the list is done, you won’t have to do it again, except perhaps an annual update before vacation or the New Year. The job is simple. Make a list of the following items:
1. Bank account locations with account numbers
2. Financial institutions that manage stock portfolios, IRAs or other accounts, and your financial advisor’s name and phone number, if you have one
4. Insurance policies
5. Location of safe deposit box, if applicable
6. Location of important documents, e.g., birth certificates, marriages licenses, divorce papers, social security info.
7. Names of relatives and friends you would like notified
8. Doctors, dentists, attorneys or other businesses you use
9. Any information you think is pertinent to your situation.
Some of the financial information should already be included in the schedules attached to your trust, if you have one. The list could be longer, but this example illustrates the kind of information it’s important for your loved ones to know. Your mind can rest a bit easier whenever you get things organized. And your loved ones, albeit belatedly, will thank you.
