Why a financial checklist matters
Most people know it is important to have a Will, keep financial records and make sure loved ones know who to contact in an emergency. However, those details are often spread across filing cabinets, email accounts, online platforms, bank statements and old paperwork.
That can create unnecessary stress at exactly the wrong time.
The “What I own, and where I keep it” checklist is designed to help you record the practical information your family, attorneys or executors may need if you lose mental capacity or die unexpectedly. It is not about replacing professional advice. Instead, it gives your loved ones a clear starting point when they may need to deal with your affairs.
Why this information matters
When someone becomes seriously ill, loses capacity or passes away, their family may need to find important information quickly. That could include details of a Will, financial adviser, solicitor, accountant, bank accounts, pensions, life assurance policies, investments, trusts, gifts, property, funeral wishes and other key documents.
Without a clear record, even straightforward tasks can become difficult. Loved ones may not know which firms to contact, where documents are stored, whether accounts are held in single or joint names, or whether there are policies and assets they were unaware of.
A checklist helps bring that information into one place.
What to include in your checklist
A useful record should start with your basic personal information, including your name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number, tax reference and contact details. It should also include where your Will is held, when it was dated and who your executors are.
From there, it can help to list your professional contacts. This may include your financial adviser, solicitor and accountant, along with their telephone numbers, addresses and email details.
You can then build a clearer picture of your financial life. This may include savings, investment bonds, ISAs, shares, life assurance policies, pensions, bank accounts and credit cards. Where possible, include provider names, account numbers, approximate values and whether each asset is held in single or joint names.
Do not forget powers of attorney and trusts
Powers of attorney are especially important if someone may need to make decisions on your behalf in the future. Your checklist should record who the attorneys are, their contact details and whether the power of attorney has been registered.
Trusts and gifts can also matter, particularly when families are dealing with tax, inheritance or estate planning questions. Recording gifts made in the last seven years, details of trusts you benefit from, and any inheritances received can help your advisers and executors understand the wider picture.
Practical details can make a big difference
Financial information is only one part of the picture. It can also be helpful to record details of utilities, memberships, charities, clubs, regular payments, standing orders and direct debits.
You may also want to include funeral wishes, such as whether you would prefer burial or cremation, the name of a cemetery or crematorium, memorial details and any other arrangements you would like your family to know about.
These details can feel uncomfortable to write down. However, they can reduce uncertainty for loved ones and help them make decisions with greater confidence.
Where should you keep the checklist?
The checklist should be kept somewhere secure, but accessible to the right people when needed. You may decide to tell your executors, attorneys or close family members where it is stored. However, be careful about including sensitive information such as passwords or access codes unless these are protected appropriately.
It is also worth reviewing the checklist regularly. Your accounts, advisers, assets, beneficiaries and wishes may change over time. A document created once and never updated can quickly become less useful.
A simple step that can help your family later
Organising your affairs is not only about money. It is about reducing confusion, saving time and giving your loved ones a clearer route through a difficult process.
A well-prepared checklist can help your family understand what you own, where key information is kept and who they may need to contact. It can also support your wider estate planning, financial planning and later life conversations.
Dartington Wealth Management has created a practical “What I own, and where I keep it” checklist to help you record your key personal, financial and professional information in one place.
Putting your affairs in order can be one of the most practical gifts you leave behind.
If you would like help reviewing your financial arrangements, your adviser can help you understand what information to record and how it fits into your wider planning.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINANCIAL, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. ESTATE PLANNING, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, TRUSTS, GIFTS AND INHERITANCE TAX CAN BE COMPLEX. YOU SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BASED ON YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
SOURCE DATA
[1] Dartington Wealth Management, “What I own, and where I keep it”, Version 04.2026.