Saving time and energy often involves clearing clutter and disorganization from our lives — even with our finances. Consolidating your financial records will ultimately ensure that when you need a piece of information or documentation, it will be in an easily accessible, convenient place. Having a manual spreadsheet, software, or online system to handle and store routine paperwork, important documents, and monthly bills in one specific location eliminates hours of backtracking and searching for misplaced documents.
The following section highlights answers to three common questions about documentation reviews you may find helpful.
What is the purpose of a document review?
As we mentioned above, the primary reason to conduct a document review is to help you get organized so you and a trusted financial advisor can take stock of your current financial situation.
Secondly, the document review will show you whether changes need to be made to align with your short and long-term goals. What may have made sense for your financial plan five years ago may no longer apply to your current situation. That is why it is important to review all aspects of your financial life, including changes to your investment allocation, updating beneficiaries on retirement accounts, or reviewing options for a life insurance policy which no longer has a purpose.
Lastly, while a document review can be labor intensive, once completed it can help provide peace of mind knowing your affairs are in order and loved ones can avoid lengthy wealth transfer issues once you are gone. You do not want to leave your goals up to chance, and a periodic review can ensure you are doing everything possible to achieve them.
What documentation is necessary for the review process?
Your bank accounts, savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, etc. are good starting points for gathering information to review your assets. Examine your most recent statements for the following information:
How often should you do a document review?
Your assets and liabilities should be reviewed by your financial advisor at least annually, if not semi-annually. An easy way to keep track of your account documentation is to create a balance sheet listing each account with its owner, custodian, and current balance. Estate documents and beneficiaries should be reviewed every three to five years or as major life events take place.
Next steps
Having an accurate, real-time perspective of your financial documents is an important part of determining whether you are on track to meet your long-term goals. Your Commerce Trust team of professionals is here to help you take the necessary steps toward enjoying the benefits of an organized financial life and making your dreams a reality. For more information regarding a document review, contact us today.
COMMERCE TRUST IS A DIVISION OF COMMERCE BANK. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. The opinions and other information in the commentary are provided as of April 12, 2023. This summary is intended to provide general information only, and may be of value to the reader and audience. This material is not a recommendation of any particular investment or insurance strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor or investment professional. While Commerce may provide information or express opinions from time to time, such information or opinions are subject to change, are not offered as professional tax, insurance or legal advice, and may not be relied on as such. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NO BANK GUARANTEE
The following section highlights answers to three common questions about documentation reviews you may find helpful.
What is the purpose of a document review?
As we mentioned above, the primary reason to conduct a document review is to help you get organized so you and a trusted financial advisor can take stock of your current financial situation.
Secondly, the document review will show you whether changes need to be made to align with your short and long-term goals. What may have made sense for your financial plan five years ago may no longer apply to your current situation. That is why it is important to review all aspects of your financial life, including changes to your investment allocation, updating beneficiaries on retirement accounts, or reviewing options for a life insurance policy which no longer has a purpose.
Lastly, while a document review can be labor intensive, once completed it can help provide peace of mind knowing your affairs are in order and loved ones can avoid lengthy wealth transfer issues once you are gone. You do not want to leave your goals up to chance, and a periodic review can ensure you are doing everything possible to achieve them.
What documentation is necessary for the review process?
Your bank accounts, savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, etc. are good starting points for gathering information to review your assets. Examine your most recent statements for the following information:
- Ownership and titling of accounts. Check to make sure each account is correctly titled. If an account was opened in your individual name, and you have since created a revocable trust, it might make sense to retitle the account. If you have an account under an individual name with no beneficiary, it could potentially lead to probate, which can be costly and time consuming.
- Balance information and investment allocation. Obviously, you will want to know the current balances compared to historical balances. However, you should also review the asset allocation and underlying investments. Is your allocation still in line with your risk tolerance? Does your allocation need to be adjusted to better align with your goals?•Outstanding liabilities and the underlying interest rates. If a loan was taken out during a period of high interest rates, maybe there is an opportunity to refinance the debt at a lower rate. Reviewing this information can also help you develop a plan to pay down your liabilities, starting with high interest credit cards or student loan debt.
- Estate documents. It is extremely important to periodically review your estate documents. As life events occur, such as marriage or death, it is important to update your estate documents accordingly. Also, the documents may need to be amended for any tax law changes. In addition to estate documents, beneficiaries of retirement plans and life insurance policies should be reviewed and updated, if necessary.
- Life insurance policies and annuity contracts. Many people have life insurance policies they purchased at a young age and have now accumulated large cash values. If the life insurance is no longer needed, there may be other opportunities to better leverage the cash (e.g., a hybrid long-term care insurance policy). It is also important to periodically obtain in-force illustrations of your policies or contracts. If there is a loan on a policy, it is important to monitor the loan balance and cash value to ensure the policy does not accidentally lapse. This can lead to adverse tax consequences.
How often should you do a document review?
Your assets and liabilities should be reviewed by your financial advisor at least annually, if not semi-annually. An easy way to keep track of your account documentation is to create a balance sheet listing each account with its owner, custodian, and current balance. Estate documents and beneficiaries should be reviewed every three to five years or as major life events take place.
Next steps
Having an accurate, real-time perspective of your financial documents is an important part of determining whether you are on track to meet your long-term goals. Your Commerce Trust team of professionals is here to help you take the necessary steps toward enjoying the benefits of an organized financial life and making your dreams a reality. For more information regarding a document review, contact us today.
COMMERCE TRUST IS A DIVISION OF COMMERCE BANK. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. The opinions and other information in the commentary are provided as of April 12, 2023. This summary is intended to provide general information only, and may be of value to the reader and audience. This material is not a recommendation of any particular investment or insurance strategy, is not based on any particular financial situation or need, and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified tax advisor or investment professional. While Commerce may provide information or express opinions from time to time, such information or opinions are subject to change, are not offered as professional tax, insurance or legal advice, and may not be relied on as such. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NO BANK GUARANTEE
