Plan Today For A Safer Tomorrow

Plan Today For A Safer Tomorrow

None of us really wants to think about it, but protecting yourself and your family in the event of a tragedy or illness is a practical and necessary step to take now. When you’re going through a difficult time the last thing you need to think about is paperwork or finding those documents. Getting your house in order today will save on additional heartbreak tomorrow.

We look at some practical tips you can take to ensure that you and your loved ones are well prepared should the worst happen.

Get organized

Step one is getting your current files together in an obvious place to save on time and frustrations later down the track. If you have a stack of life insurance documents then save them in one place, clearly labeled and in a logical order. Do the same with any Wills or house deeds that might come in useful.

If you’re uncomfortable leaving them out in an unprotected space then place them in lockable storage but be sure to let loved ones know where the keys are. To really beef up their security, consider electronically scanning them and adding them to your computer, backed up of course on to an external source such as cloud storage. Like the keys, make sure your family is able to access the relevant passwords and knows where on your computer they’ll be able to find the files when needed.

A gentle reminder at this point: if you haven’t got around to making a Will and let’s be honest a great many people don’t, then now’s the time to have a chat with a legal advisor on how to get this remedied. Your next of kin might be obvious but a Will serves to take away any doubt or worry from your loved ones at what you intended to do with your money or property.

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Get advice

If you’re facing other tough times in your life then the best thing you can do is share the burden and not try and shoulder the problem alone.

When your relationship looks like it might be unraveling and you’re not sure where you stand legally on your property or entitlement to income, rather than stress about it get in touch with a divorce lawyer. You’re not committing yourself to any course of action with a consultation, just figuring out what you’re entitled to and where you stand in case the relationship can’t be patched up and both parties decide to part ways.

Your partner too will benefit from having this knowledge in order to make, what is often a very painful process, as straightforward as possible.

As mentioned previously, consult a lawyer to get your Will in good shape while you’re thinking about any possible divorce proceedings.

If you’re going through an illness or accident, then take some time to find out what, if any, compensation or insurance payouts you might be entitled to.

Too many of us assume we won’t be entitled to anything, only to miss out on a cash injection when we need it most.

If you are someone who runs their own business then look into cover that will continue to pay you an income if you’re unable to work for a period of time. Make sure that you fully understand the terms of any legal paperwork you sign and if necessary have a lawyer or financial advisor run over the small print with you, so you know what you’re signing up for.

Get ready

When you’re planning for your retirement, consider what you’ll need financially to make this time of your life comfortable and free from any worries. You might need to consider selling your home to pay for more suitable accommodation or feel like you’d want to give your children their inheritance ahead of time. Talk to a financial adviser and planner about how that works for you.

Planning for the worst might feel like you’re tempting fate but with some solid strategies in place, neither you nor your family will have to take on any more stress than is necessary.

Give yourself some peace of mind by getting organized today. Don’t be afraid to talk to friends and family about the plans you’ve made, letting them know where they can find those important documents. Seek advice from the professionals when you need to, rather than just leaving it and hoping for the best. Get those plans sorted out today and live life to the full tomorrow.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
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