Financial Estate Planning: Get Organized Before It’s Urgent

End of An Era Team
Jun 29
2 min read

Updated: Jun 29

Money doesn’t talk when you’re gone. Your estate plan does.

The strongest estate plans combine clear documents with smart organization. Here's how to align your assets and intentions to protect your family.

1. Create a Master List of Assets and Liabilities

Start by creating a master list of assets and liabilities, including:

Bank, investment, and retirement accounts
Life insurance policies
Business interests
Property titles and deeds
Outstanding debts (mortgages, credit cards, loans)

2. Check Your Beneficiary Designations

Make sure each account has clear beneficiary designations, and verify they align with your will or trust. In some cases, named beneficiaries override what’s written in your will, leading to confusion or legal disputes.

3. Secure and Share Your Digital Footprint

To make sure it’s easy for your loved ones to access your digital assets after you die, don’t forget:

Passwords stored in a secure manager (1Password, LastPass, Dashlane, or iCloud Keychain)
Cryptocurrency access (wallets, keys, recovery phrases)
Peer-to-Peer Payment platforms that hold transaction histories and balances that are part of the estate (Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, Zelle)
Banking and Investing Portals
- Traditional banks - Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, American Express, Citi Bank
- Brokerages - Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, Robinhood
- Robo Advisors - Betterment, Wealthfront

4. Don’t Forget Subscriptions and Services

Auto-renewing subscriptions can rack up charges or expose your estate to fraud if not canceled:

Subscription Services - Canceling unused subscriptions prevents ongoing charges and protects against fraud.
- Amazon Prime, Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, YouTubeTV, AppleTV
- Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud)
- Paid software accounts (Adobe, Microsoft 365)
Email Accounts - Email is often the backbone of account verification. Without access, many password resets are impossible.
- Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, custom domains
Social Accounts - These accounts can hold sentimental value and may also contain messages, photos, and business contacts.
- Facebook (can designate a legacy contact or set for memorialization)
- Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads
Streaming & Gaming Accounts - Some of these accounts hold valuable digital libraries or even revenue streams.
- Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Nintendo
- Twitch, YouTube, Discord
Loyalty & Rewards Programs - Many can be transferred, but only if you’ve planned ahead.
- Airline miles, hotel points, credit card rewards (Amex, Chase, Marriott Bonvoy, etc.)