“Charles, that binder saved us. We didn’t have to guess. We didn’t have to fight. We just followed the list.”
A client came into my office a few months after her husband passed. They’d been married 47 years. He’d always handled the finances—paying bills, filing taxes, managing accounts. She told me, “He always said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of.’ And I believed him. But I had no idea where anything was.”
What surprised her most was the binder.
When her kids came to help sort through his office, they found it tucked away in the back of a closet. Nothing fancy—just a plain black binder from an office supply store. Inside were divided sections—some labeled, some not—holding account statements, insurance policies, tax returns, and a few handwritten notes:
“Call Charles first—they'll knows the big picture.”
“Life insurance auto-renews—don’t cancel anything.”
“All passwords stored on USB in top drawer.”
Taped to the inside cover was a list titled: “For My Family If Something Happens to Me.”
She looked at me and said, “Charles, that binder saved us. We didn’t have to guess. We didn’t have to fight. We just followed the list.”
It wasn’t perfect—some accounts still needed follow-up, and a few documents were outdated—but the intent was clear. And that made all the difference.
I’ve seen the other side too. Families left with no documents, no updated beneficiaries, no powers of attorney, no idea of their loved one’s wishes. In those cases, grief is compounded by urgent, painful decisions—about care, money, property, and sometimes… about who gets what.
Estate and legacy planning isn’t about how much you own. It’s about making sure your wishes are clear and your loved ones are prepared to carry them out.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a labeled binder in a closet—thoughtfully prepared with love.
FYI: Key documents to share with your family
Make sure to include the following information in a binder or digital file:
Will or trust
Powers of attorney for finances and health care
Organ donation form
Living will
Letter of instruction for your heirs
Beneficiary designations
HIPAA release (allows health care providers to share information about you with authorized individuals)
Bank and financial statements
Real estate deeds and titles
Retirement-account documents
Life insurance policies
List of important personal property, such as jewelry and artwork, and estimated values
Funeral instruction
That man gave his family more than his assets. He gave them peace. A calm voice in the middle of a storm.
And that, to me, is the heart of a true legacy.
If you need help getting started with YOUR "Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of" BINDER, give me a call, 480-513-1830.
All the best, Charles
All the best, Charles
Charles C. Scott AIF®, CDP®
ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY®CERTIFIED DEMENTIA PRACTITIONER®
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