Bill Pay ?
 

My wife isn't interested learning about computers.
I'm worried about what will happen to our finances if I die before her.
I have all my username and passwords filed in the safe.

I try to have statements, (charge cards, Utility's bills, checking acct.) mailed to the house, but a couple are on auto pay that I pay on line.

What's your system?

Each person's "system" must be tailored to their particular needs. I would strongly suggest you pay someone for a meeting to consult on setting up estate planning, and your question would be part of that discussion along with other things including a living will, will, and what happens if you both die from a meteor crashing into your house while you sleep.

We did it a year or so ago and for everything including trust setup etc it didn't cost that much.

It’s funny, my wife and I just reviewed these things tonight. Showed her the budget, what gets auto paid, what needs to be moved to our Florida account and to her business account. Then went over logins and passwords for for bills that aren’t automatic. In addition we went over what to do with life insurance, property and possessions. I think I have more than 6 months and it could be 20 years but we just don’t know.

I suggest that you scan all important documents, passwords, account numbers, etc. and put them on a flash drive. I use a password protected MS Word document to list all of my usernames and passwords. Your wife could easily have someone print out the information from the flash drive.

Just about everything is online. We use LastPass (a password manager, where you just to remember the master password and LastPass remembers all else). I also have a document that tells my wife (and heirs) where all the account are and where they are paid from.
The worst thing that can happen it that you die and your wife (or kids) have no idea where things are and what has to be paid, etc.

That is a problem we all face. Two or more people should but perhaps should not both do this. If, they try it will become did you pay the bill for? I do not like auto pay.
Many people do. Auto pay you give someone, actually not someone but an entire company access to your financial information. Big brother IS watching you and we, many of us, make it far too easy.

Statements to your home. I can and do argue that both ways. On line billing is cheaper for the company. They do not need to pay postage and they can use your printer and pay you nothing for it. On the other hand, a financial statement. Lost or STOLEN in the mail who now knows what I have where it is and my name and address. Sometimes my account number and social security number. ID theft? We provide tons of information to places such as your doctor, the test he requests etc. Do we think everyone with access to your information has security clearance?

Computers-I would be lost without mine. The price of this great societal change is your privacy.

Sometimes you don't have a choice in auto pay especially paying with a charge card.
Some give a discounts when using auto pay.
You can set auto pay up that sends a email notify you when due and amount.

I am contrarian. In terms of no choice but auto pay. It is sadly amusing. Recently I had four different issues going at the same time with four different organizations. We get what we accept. It was far more work than simply dealing with a computer. In each case, as stated a lot of work, I found a HUMAN and got it resolved. You cannot deal with a computer no matter how sophisticated the computer is, it comes to you will do it MY WAY.

Aside-ATT has a computer that is truly good. Like THE SPACE ODDESSY. to find a HUMAN, if, I recall you need to ask it if it is a HUMAN

I have a child that has a copy of my passwords and access to all estate documents.
I pay most bills a month ahead so at death there will not be missed payments the first month. Credit Cards maybe a little harder so have a payment that is enough to avoid the late payment fee go out automatically each month.
You can also use bill pay to send a minimum amount each month. Just be sure you are moving money into the bill pay account from dividends etc. In short sent up automatic process to move you money around each month as needed.
Look at FidSafe. This maybe something you want to use to store your documents and it has a provision to let the named individual in at your death. https://web.fidsafe.com/#/
Some financial sites let you name a "trusted" individual to help out once you die.
Remember each state has laws on anyone accessing digital accounts so check your state to make sure your executor is not locked out of your accounts.
At year end I keep all statements so the account number, address, etc can easily be identified by my executor. I would include a copy of the online only statements.
I assume your accounts are all joint. But you still should name beneficiaries for all accounts to help with probate.

Our System: My Bride is going to find someone young. :clap2:

To do what?

Last pass. Inexpensive security

if your wife isn't interested, then leave good notes....your kids will figure it out once you're up in heaven and they can put a plan in place

That works unless you have biologic children, then it becomes a nightmare.

Just hope it’s after you are gone

Last chance
 

First off I applaud you for actually thinking about this.
The most important thing among others is to print off a spreadsheet every month and keep it by the computer showing all the bills that were paid or need to be paid every month. I happen to have three children in their mid thirties and forties, that I have updated occasionally with the spreadsheet showing bills. Please note there are some bills you only pay once a year or every 6 months like the homeowners, the auto insurance, golf cart insurance and of course your taxes for your house.
If you use Chrome on your computer, then chrome does keep usernames, !!! ( Only if autofillnis turned on), there should be a copy of your username and your password on your computer, yes believe it or not it's there in settings and then auto fill. Of course you must save your username and your Chrome password somewhere easy to find on your computer monitor as an example . So hopefully a relative or good friend or trustee can easily find it.
Some of the other things you should be doing is making a folder called after I die and keeping it somewhere in your house like your master bedroom closet they should include, things like your social security number, your birth certificate, all of the car registrations, and a complete list of assets and liabilities and where they can be found. I have known friends that don't tell their wives or husbands everything just because they don't want them thinking about it. Whether this is right or wrong doesn't matter but you do owe your spouse the ability to go on with life after you. I'm sure I feel left out a few things but you should also have of course your last will and testament a copy in your home as well as at a lawyers or Bank and the living will or a living trust. And actually at least once a month you should discuss your personal finances for the month and what the bills were just so they understand what's coming in and what's going out and don't be derogatory about that really expensive dress she bought. :)

Advisor
 

When my husband passed away we had a wonderful financial advisor Andy Patrick that has a office inside of Citizens First Bank, doesn’t work for Citizens but one of the perks from the bank to help me out. He has been a life saver. He takes care of my financial situation, very happy with him.

Good question. Several of the replies were helpful. Having been the executor of wills myself, I have spent several days making up a document I call "Will Assist", that lists all issues like what money comes in where, the names and phone numbers of of my brokers, insurance companies, etc. I also show where the key documents are located. I have not looked for a commercially available program like what I have done, but I imagine there is one. It really was not difficult to do; just took time. I Took a full month because I made notes of what happened daily in that month, and turned that info into a helpful suggestion/description. I then made only one copy of that document, and put it into our safe deposit box. The executor (our son) has access to that box. I made a second copy of the document, then sat down with him to answer any questions he had, then destroyed the copy that not in the safe deposit box. If you do this, go into mine detail such as under life insurance, give the policy number, and tell them exactly where the policy is kept, like wooden file cabinet, third drawer. Once done, it is easy to tune it up once a year or so.

I’m in the same boat, my wife is a texting queen but computers….
As a few said here already is setup a trust with a professional. They will guide you and your wife. Setup a executor, in my oldest daughter, who knows what to do. I even scanned all the trust info I was given and put it on a thumb drive for each of my kids to have.

Death notes
 

In addition to a trust I have in NOTES on my device all passwords and how everything is controlled - need a password to get into my device and another different password to get into notes - that info is emailed to my trustee whenever anything changes plus trustee has passwords to access NOTES.

Understand autopay
 

Autopay is not intrusive as you might believe. The account and routing numbers used with autopay and on your personal checks are the same. They all run through the clearing house together. Anyone that you write a check to has the same access to your account information, as well as your signature.
Janis Creason
Dauphin County Treasurer

Check out this option- saw it posted by a couple in TV who started this - could be very useful for both of you
Purchase a Box | Nokbox

Bill pay online, I don't trust the mail, wife used to do the bills, but I do them now, gives her more time to go shopping....and make more bills....LOL

Don't us auto pay from the AP company (credit card, utility, phone, etc.), use online bill pay from your bank. This way it is all in one place, with one login, and you can see the complete history of who was paid and when. They will even send paper checks out to those who do not accept auto pay (lawn care, pet sitter, etc.). With one login, you will see a near compete picture of who was paid, when, and from what account (assuming all of your checking accounts are with the same bank). This way with just two logins, one to your bank and one to your investment management firm, you can see nearly all incoming and outgoing funds.

A separate account can be set up for auto pay. They don’t have access to your financial information. Just that account.

Credit card note
 

Here’s something important to check. My husband passed away this year and I found this out the hard way. The main credit card we had used for years and years for everything including all subscriptions that auto charged was NOT a joint account. Apparently when he opened it, not thinking, he put it in his name with me as an approved user. When I called the bank a couple of months after he passed to let them know of his death and change the account to my name only, they immediately cancelled the account. Immediately. That moment. I lost all the reward points that I intended to use for travel back for his memorial. I am still fighting this fight and will likely need a lawyer. So please, please check your credit cards and make sure they are JOINT accounts. Pls do it today.

Ohiobuckeye
 

My wife is like yours, but luckily we have a grandson in law that’s a wiz when it comes to computers. I worry about that too! But it’ll work out but the great thing is we won’t be around to have to worry about it or know anything about it, things will work out, one way or another!

You have had some great advice. My question is whether you have a plan if you become incapacitated? Your wife could face these same challenges while you are still alive.

My mom took care of all of the finances. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, but before she lost her ability to completely reason, I made sure that my parents visited an attorney/estate planner. Both of my parents executed a Power of Attorney, naming me as POA. I didn't need to use it for ten years, but having it was SO helpful and saved multiple headaches. Truthfully, it was invaluable - and I'm an attorney.

My suggestion would be that you and your wife do the same. If you have a child you trust, giving him/her the ability will significantly help them in the future.

I have EVERYTHING on autopay - just in case I go first. The late-payment demons won't be pestering my spouse all at once. He'll have spaced out time to learn how to do it all himself this way.:pray:

You might want to leave instructions on home maintenance.

Trouble with using a bank bill pay, YOUR STILL RESPOSNABLE for that bill until it clears.
If the bank screws up and the bill is over due it's you fault. :shocked:

Amen to that........
Don't forget people, if you send a check in the mail, and that check gets lost,
YOU ARE RESPONSABLE, until someone on the other end cashes that check.

Using a credit card, you're using they money.

Same with using a credit card.
I use one credit card for all my utilities bills that I use for paying on line.
That card never leaves my home safe, and if something changes it's easier
work with one card.

Thanks for all your in put on this thread since I started it, some great suggestions.

One last thing.
Those that keep a paper trail daily/monthly/yearly financial records, don't forget to remember
to make changes to them as they happen, other wise your record keeping gets obsolete really fast.

Does she use email? I set up the email calendar to remind me of all bills, appointments, birthdays, etc.

For example, I will load Sumter electric on the 11th of the month. I will write on there whether it is autopay or if I have to pay it. I will add the website and the login. I don’t add the password. I set a reminder to email me 3 to 7 days in advance. If autopay I put 3 days in case I need to transfer funds. If a payment I have to make, I put 7 days to give me time to send it. I also have it send an email one day before or the day of so that I know it was done.

I have done this for years and this works so well for me. I do need to check my email every day, but I do that anyway. I don’t have to try to keep up with what is due when. I also don’t have to worry about double paying because I forgot it was on autopay.

For birthdays, I will set a reminder date depending on what I am going to do. Same day = phone call, 7 days mail a card. 14 days a gift.

For appointments, I usually set a reminder for 3 days. If I have to cancel this should be enough time not to be charged.

I am curious if you could share who you used for your trust and consultation regarding these matters.

Bank auto pay
 

I too use our bank auto pay system to pay our bills. I update everything in our bank lockbox at least once a year and we have a Trust for most assets except our cars. Not perfect but my wife should have few issues should I pass before her.. Finally, we made “final arrangements” to make it as easy as possible for those left behind by our passing. “Life is good but it’s not permanent”. Anonymous

It's a problem if you have biological children? I don't understand that. I would think nonbiological children would be more of a problem.

Autopay is not intrusive until they take money from your account that you don't owe. I don't like autopay, but most merchants and utility companies love it, especially those that sell you an ongoing subscription or service that some people forget they have or have difficulty cancelling. I prefer online banking where I log on to the bank website and direct the payment and amount that I want to make. It's much more secure than autopay.

I do the same.
:bigbow::bigbow: