I live in the beautiful state of Colorado. We experience glorious snow for skiing in the winter, the flowers bloom in the spring, the leaves change in the fall…and the fires happen in the summer (or even during a dry winter as we experienced in 2021).
“…while many residents may have expected safety in urban areas, fire experts have warned wildfire risk isn’t limited to mountain areas. In 2017, state foresters estimated nearly 3 million Coloradans lived in fire-prone areas, which scientists refer to as the wildland-urban interface, known as the WUI. That’s about half the state’s population.” (CPR)
Colorado isn’t the only state that has to deal with the threat of forest and brush fires. That’s why it’s important to have a plan in place to keep your loved ones and your important documents safe.
Here’s what you should grab from your home:
REMEMBER THE SIX “P’S” (readyforwildfire.org)
- People and pets
- Papers, phone numbers, and important documents
- Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses
- Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
- Personal computer hard drive and disks
- “Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash
Here are the documents and information your financial advisor has should you need to access them:
- Account statements
- Beneficiary Information for investment accounts
- Financial plan
Your advisor might also have copies of the following information (if they have asked for it):
- Most recent tax return
- Will and trust documents
- Powers of Attorney
If your financial advisor does not have copies of these, your tax preparer or estate planning attorney may have copies. It is important that you ask them if they retain copies of these documents and for how long they keep them.
I hope you have a safe, fun, and smoke-free summer. But get your plan in place just in case!
