Chances are that if we asked ten different people that question, we’d get as many as ten different answers. Some people are highly organized and have all of their important papers itemized and in one place. Others – perhaps, most of us – have their critical documents in any number of places, from a filing cabinet to some envelopes tucked in the corner of a closet.
Day to day, we usually don’t have to access our critical files. But when we do need them, it’s important to have current, accurate information available. With that in mind, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has introduced the Virtual Shoebox, an interactive tool created to help people track important personal, family and financial documents.
Whether it’s for an annual review of your finances, a result of unexpected circumstances, or even in the event of an emergency, the Virtual Shoebox will help you track everything from insurance policies, bank accounts, investments, mortgages, and health records to computer passwords and household utility accounts. Using this tool makes it easy for you, or someone acting on your behalf, to access the information you need, when you may need it most. It provides a handy inventory that lets you track all of your important documents, giving you the option to either complete the list on-line and save it to an appropriate folder, or to print it and keep it in a safe place.
You never know when you may need to access your critical files. The Virtual Shoebox is one tool that can help ensure your files will be easy to find when you need them.
