Do you have an estate directory?

Have you ever thought about what would happen in the event of the untimely death of a family member? Of course not. This is a topic most will avoid ever thinking about. On top of that, few families speak openly and honestly about finances on a regular basis. We tend to assume that our spouses and children know where the money is kept and whom to contact should tragedy strike. However, the fact is that you are likely the only one to be familiar with all the details of your current financial situation. If you have ever managed an estate, you will understand how difficult it is to uncover the mysteries surrounding a person's finances.

This problem can be easily solved with a simple document called an "Estate Directory". This is a document containing the details of your personal financial information that family members or professionals need to know in the event of death or incapacity.

The Estate Directory will help you and your family because it clearly states:

• Your stated wishes in the event of a tragedy
• A record of all your assets and liabilities
• Detailed information about all of your investment and savings accounts
• And who to contact for further information - financial advisor, banker, accountant, lawyer, next of kin, etc.

We recommend that you give a copy to your children and your spouse as well as your lawyer, accountant and financial advisor.

It takes about an hour to complete your Estate Directory properly but can save your family much time and possibly thousands of dollars if they have access to this document.

To ensure that it remains accurate, we recommend that you update your Estate Directory every two years or whenever major changes to your financial situation take place.

If you would like a copy of an Estate Directory and some help with its completion, please call our offices and we will send you out a copy. Should you have any question or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask our office for assistance.