This is the fifth post in the “Actually Doing It” series. As I worked through the banking chapter, I realized something important about context — specifically, the context of the Helper.
This article is part of a larger framework explaining the stages of getting your affairs in order. If you’re new to the topic, start with The Stages of Getting Your Affairs in Order.
Opening Realization
I was completing Chapter 13 – Bank Accounts and moving quickly. I kept the entries brief because my wife is my primary Helper. She already knows where I bank, where investments are held, and which credit cards we use.
Then it occurred to me: if she were unable to step in, my backup Helper is my daughter — and she has no idea which institutions I use.
That realization changed the question I should have been asking.
Not, “Is this accurate?” But, “If someone with zero familiarity opened this file, would it make sense?”
Familiarity Is Not Documentation
It’s easy to document for the person who already knows your life. But preparedness requires documenting for the person who doesn’t.
Recognition is not the same as orientation. A Helper shouldn’t have to guess how accounts relate to one another or which ones matter most. In some cases, the issue isn’t just missing context — it’s that the information was never clearly defined in the first place, which becomes more obvious as you work through The Moment You Realize Information Doesn’t Exist.
Adjusting Documentation for a Backup Helper
By the time I had this realization, I had already completed most of the forms. I had to decide whether to go back and expand each form or take a different approach.
My situation includes personal accounts, joint accounts, and accounts tied to two separate businesses I participate in. Rather than modifying every individual form, I added a ReadMe file to the chapter folder.
In that file, I briefly described:
- The different categories of accounts
- What each group is used for
- How they are interconnected
Not detailed explanations. Just enough context so the structure makes sense.
Name a Backup
If you haven’t identified a backup Helper, this is a good time to do so. Even if you never expect them to step in, documenting with them in mind will improve clarity. If you’re not sure how to approach that decision, see Choosing an Executor, Trustee, or POA.
Writing for the backup removes assumptions – including assumptions about what has already been defined. Another hidden assumption is MFA Access.
Closing
Recorded information should stand on its own — regardless of which Helper is reading it.
Context matters. Preparedness assumes disruption, and documents accordingly.