Personal Affairs Checklist

Executive Assistant

Life is busy, isn’t it?  Filled with surprises and unexpected events.  It helps to utilize little tips and tricks for being organized during unavoidable bumps in the road.

Let us share with you the “Personal Affairs Checklist” (PAC) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba.  The list helps you look at your personal affairs, important papers and documents, and where each item of significance is kept.    Section A is a compilation of professional services used for accounting, finances, doctor, lawyer, spiritual leaders, and other pertinent information your family would need in the event of your death.  Section B covers money matters like accounts, investments, credit cards, properties and policies.  Section C is for a more general information guide.  Then there is a section for “Other Details” which may not have been covered in the previous sections.  The PAC would then be utilized by family to take care of matters in an appropriate fashion.

Knowing death is a fact of life, it’s important to be prepared.  The TEC organization has done “The Green Box Exercise” which is similar to PAC but in more depth.  Their exercise begins with a story which relays a message of making sure your loved ones know what to do in the event of tragedy.  It suggests that when these events happen, family, close friends, business partners and employees are left with questions.  The Green Box idea is to anticipate those questions and to address them.  Some of the items which catch my attention are:  letter to your spouse or significant other, letter to child(ren), letter to employees or employer, list of trusted advisors and their roles, computer passwords, medical/dental charts, mementos and to whom you’d like them to go; to name a few.

If you have been a reader of our articles over the years, you would know Joel Lazer’s personal favorite is the article on personal retreats.  Personal retreats are done on a regular basis setting apart time to address the items on the two lists mentioned above as well as determine if you have accomplished all the things you would like to do in your lifetime.  It helps to prepare and accomplish items which would be on your “Bucket List”.  I encourage you to review the article – and others – on our website at www.lazergrant.ca/articles

We are delighted to share information and help people and businesses to grow.  If you would like a copy of the PAC or more information on The Green Box, please contact me at 977-3507 or cborges@lazergrant.ca.  For your convenience we have attached the printable .pdf of the PAC.
The information in this article is intended for general guidance only.  Readers are requested to contact their professional advisor prior to acting on the basis of material contained herein.