Let’s Organize!

Hi Planning People - What’s one thing you can do now, for free, to help loved ones when you pass? Yes, of course estate planning is my jam, but there are so many additional, supplemental things you can do to help things go as smoothly as possible during a time of transition. One of those things is to organize your monthly bills. Don’t leave your loved ones waiting for your past-due bills to come in the mail or to search every nook and cranny of your home office space for clues (all the while, hoping they’ve found everything). Make a list now. Have an estate plan already? Keep the list with those documents. No planning documents yet? Keep it in a safe…but find-able place. Make a list of these bills (and others you may have), along with how you pay them, any contacts that someone might need and other relevant notes:

• Mortgage/Rent;

• 2nd Mortgage;

• Taxes (as applicable);

• Home Insurance;

• HOA Fee/similar;

• Life Insurance;

• Misc. Insurance;

• Car Insurance;

• Car Payment;

• Health Insurance;

• Dental Insurance;

• Vision Plan;

• Long-term Care;

• Professional License (as applicable);

• Tuition;

• Electric;

• Gas;

• Water/Sewer;

• Trash;

• Phone(s);

• Internet;

• Cable/satellite;

• Trash/recycling;

• Pest Control;

• Credit Cards;

• Student Loans;

• Other Loans/Debts;

• Extracurricular Activities (ex. gym/club memberships);

• Religious/Charitable Donations;

• Subscription Services (ex. Netflix, magazines, Amazon, iTunes, etc.).