- 2-Minute Article
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- May 11, 2018
How to Prepare Financial Information For A Trusted Contact
Use this checklist to talk about your finances with your adult children or other trusted contacts.
- What financial information should I share with my adult children or other trusted contacts?
- How can I make it easier for my trusted contacts to help me manage my money as I age?
- What estate planning documents should I have?
Created in collaboration with Kiplinger.
While it may feel uncomfortable, sharing information about personal finances and estate matters with your adult children or other trusted contacts can bring many benefits. Communicating important financial details can:
- Make it easier for a trusted contact to step in and help manage your daily finances if necessary
- Help ensure that your wishes are taken into account when your assets are managed and distributed
- Clarify the plans you have in place to help avoid the probate process, which can incur costs and delay transfer of assets
- Empower you and your family to plan for the future as you intend
Here is a checklist of important documents and details to prepare and discuss during these conversations.1
Information about accounts with banks or credit unions
Contact information for a financial professional, tax preparer, attorney, and insurance agent
Copies of insurance policies
Information about pensions, investment accounts, and annuities
Copy of most recent income tax return
Social Security number(s)
Be prepared to share copies of the following documents along with instructions on where to find the original versions.
A healthcare directive, which spells out your medical treatment preferences, and a healthcare agent, who makes medical decisions for you if you can’t
A power of attorney for finances
Trusts or wills
Deeds to real estate, including cemetery plots
Vehicle titles
Birth and marriage certificates
List of household expenses and recurring bills
Information about outstanding debts
Safe deposit box information and where the key can be found
Passwords for devices and digital accounts
Best practices for sharing digital assets2
- Store written passwords in a secure place such as a safe deposit box or home safe
- Consider password management programs such as Keeper or LastPass to store and share passwords1
- Authorize a successor contact (often called a “legacy contact”) with online service providers
- Include specific clauses in estate planning documents that allow individuals you designate (also known as your “digital executor(s)”) to manage your passwords and digital assets
Ask a financial professional to refer you to an attorney who can help you plan and complete the estate documents outlined in this checklist.
Keeping a trusted contact informed can help everyone feel more confident and prepared.
Read How to Start the Legacy Planning Talk With Your Family to learn more about creating an ongoing dialogue with your loved ones.