Get organized
Get your financial house in order
Retirement planning starts with knowing where you stand. These tools, checklists, and document guides help you gather what matters — so nothing falls through the cracks.
Why getting organized matters
Most families discover gaps in their financial picture only when it is too late to fix them. A missing beneficiary designation, an unsigned power of attorney, or an undocumented account can cost your family time, money, and heartache. Getting organized now means your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.
Planning tools
Start with these four tools to build a complete picture of your financial situation.
Personal Financial Inventory
Document every account, policy, and asset in one place. This is the foundation of every retirement plan — and the first thing your family will need if something happens to you.
Beneficiary Designation Review
Beneficiary designations override your will. Outdated designations — an ex-spouse, a deceased parent — are one of the most common and costly estate planning mistakes.
Retirement Income Worksheet
Map out every income source for retirement: Social Security, pensions, RMDs, annuities, and investment withdrawals. Know your monthly number before you retire.
Retirement Readiness Assessment
A guided self-assessment to help you understand where you stand today — and what gaps need to be addressed before you retire.
Essential legal documents
Every retirement plan needs these three documents in place. Without them, your family may face costly delays and difficult decisions at the worst possible time.
Power of Attorney
Financial & legal authority
A durable power of attorney designates someone to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need a costly court process to act on your behalf.
- Designates a trusted agent to act on your behalf
- Covers financial accounts, real estate, and legal decisions
- Becomes effective immediately or upon incapacity
- Avoids the need for court-appointed guardianship
Healthcare Directive
Medical decisions & end-of-life wishes
A healthcare directive (also called a living will or advance directive) documents your medical wishes and designates a healthcare proxy to make decisions if you cannot speak for yourself.
- Documents your wishes for life-sustaining treatment
- Designates a healthcare proxy or agent
- Reduces family conflict during medical crises
- Required by most hospitals and care facilities
Trust
Asset protection & estate transfer
A revocable living trust allows your assets to pass to your heirs without going through probate — saving time, money, and keeping your affairs private.
- Avoids the probate process entirely
- Keeps your estate private (wills become public record)
- Allows for seamless management if you become incapacitated
- Can include specific instructions for distributions
Your retirement organization checklist
Work through these steps to make sure your financial and legal affairs are in order.
Financial documents
- List all bank and investment accounts with account numbers
- Document all insurance policies (life, health, long-term care)
- Record all retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pension)
- Note all real estate holdings and mortgages
- List all debts and liabilities
Legal documents
- Execute or update your will
- Create a durable power of attorney
- Complete a healthcare directive / living will
- Consider a revocable living trust
- Store originals in a fireproof safe or with your attorney
Beneficiary designations
- Review all retirement account beneficiaries
- Review all life insurance beneficiaries
- Add contingent beneficiaries where missing
- Confirm designations match your current wishes
Print this page or save it to work through at your own pace.
Not sure where to start?
Schedule a no-cost conversation with David O'Bryan, CPA. We will walk through your situation and help you identify the most important steps to take first.
Schedule a Conversation