2022 AFBA Financial Planning Guide

specify the medical care that you want and/or do not want if you become terminally ill. With a Durable Power of Attorney you appoint another individual to direct the medical treatment that you receive. You can specify the level of treatment in the document or give the individual broad authority regarding the extent of your medical care.

9–5. HEALTH CARE DECISIONS. The Supreme Court has ruled that every individual has a right to control the medical treatment administered on their behalf. As a result, all states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws which allow individuals to create a legal document regarding medical care. Most states use one of two types of documents — a Living Will or a Durable Power of Attorney. A Living Will is a statement made by you to the treating physician in which you

9-6. PERSONAL RECORD SYSTEM

Outlined below is a suggested format for organizing your personal and family records. This system suggests 14 major categories. Each category can be maintained in separate accordion files with individual folders containing the various documents associated with that category. Records that are maintained on a computer should be printed and filed in the appropriate category. You may want to keep the original of some documents in a safe deposit box. Copies of all original documents that are stored elsewhere should be kept in your Personal Record System.

Category

Title

Documents

Birth, death, and marriage certificates; Social Security cards; adoption, divorce, and citizenship papers. Current budget; personal financial statements; list of important people; list of financial goals; contents of safe deposit boxes. Bank statements; bank reconciliations; checkbook and blank checks. Mortgage documents; deed; lease (when renting); home repair receipts; property tax documents. Auto title; service and repair receipts; purchase documents; warranty information; owner’s manual.

1

Family

2

Financial Management

3

Financial Services

4

Housing

5

Automobile

6

Insurance

All policies (home, auto, life, health); claim papers.

Receipts (purchase, service, repair); owner’s manuals; warranty information. Credit card statements and receipts; installment loan contracts and payment books. Prior tax returns; receipts for current year tax deductions; 1099 and W-2 forms.

7

Major Purchases

8

Credit

9

Taxes

10

Employment

Resumés; current pay and benefit information.

Broker and savings statements; investment documents (stocks, bonds, mutual funds); 401(k) and IRA documents. Will; power of attorney; pension plan information; Social Security documents. Enlistment & discharge papers (DD 214); military awards and training certificates; promotion and assignment orders.

11

Investments

12

Estate Planning & Retirement

13

Military & VA

14

Medical

Medical reports and prescription information.

CHAPTER 9: IMPORTANT PAPERS, WILLS & TRUSTS

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