Final Instructions
The Web helps you write practical tips for your heirs.
If something were to happen to you - and who isn't thinking of mortality at least a little more these days - would your heirs be able to locate your key paperwork and computer files? Would they know how to fix the furnace? Financial planners often recommend writing some nitty-gritty instructions (in addition to a will), and the Web can make that difficult task a little easier.
North Carolina law firm "Booth Harrington Johns and Toman" offers a sample "letter of instructions" at it's website, ww.nc-law.com. This covers such basics as the location of bank accounts and the names of key people to contact.
An outfit called "DesignCamp" sells a convenient, four-page LifeFile, a form that asks you to fill in similar information ($6.95 www.lifefile.com) Perhaps the most comprehensive is The Beneficiary Book, available from "Active Insights" (www.active-insights.com) either as a 118-page loose-leaf binder ($29.95) or as software ($49.95). You record everything from your investment strategy to your pet's eating habits. It's a lot of work, but it could bring you some peace of mind.
Best Sites for Choosing Life Insurance
- Answer Financial - www.answerfinancial.com
- QuickQuote - www.quickquote.com
- Insurance.com - www.insurance.com
- Pivot - www.pivot.com
- INSWEB - www.insweb.com
