The Finish Rich File Folder System

All the information below comes from David Bach's book, Start Over, Finish Rich.

1. ‘Tax Returns.’ This hanging folder should contain four file folders, one for each of the last three years plus one for the current year. Mark the year on each folder’s tab and put into it all of that year’s important tax documents, such as W-2 forms, 1099s, receipts to support deductions or credits, and (most important) a copy of all the tax returns you filed for that year. Generally speaking, you don’t need to keep tax records for more than three years, although some documents — such as records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock transactions, retirement accounts, and business or rental property — should be kept longer. I keep all my tax documents for at least seven years, but that’s an individual decision.

2. ‘Retirement Accounts.’ All of your retirement account statements go here. You should create a file for each retirement account that you and your partner have. If you have three IRAs and a 401(k) plan, then you should have a separate file for each. The most important documents to file are the quarterly statements. If you have a company retirement account, you should also definitely keep your sign-up package, because it lists the investment options you have — something you should review at least once a year. You don’t need to keep the prospectuses that the mutual-fund companies mail you each quarter.

3. ‘Social Security.’ Keep your most recent Social Security Benefits Statement in this folder. If you haven’t received a statement in the mail in the last 12 months, request one by going online to www.ssa.gov or telephoning the Social Security Administration toll-free at (800) 772–1213.

4. ‘Investment Accounts.’ This folder is for every statement you receive related to any investments you may have (mutual funds, stocks, bonds, etc.) that are not in a retirement account. Prepare a separate file folder for every brokerage account you maintain.

5. ‘Savings and Checking Accounts.’ Keep your monthly bank statements here, with a separate file folder for each account. Generally speaking, you don’t need to keep bank statements for more than a few months — certainly not more than a year. If you get your statement online, print out a copy and stick it in the file.

6. ‘Household Accounts.’ If you own your own home, this hanging folder should contain the following files:

“House Title,” for documents such as title reports and title insurance policies. (If you can’t find this stuff, call your real estate agent or title company.)

“Home Improvements,” for all your receipts for any home-improvement work you do. (Since home improvement expenses can be added to the cost basis of your house when you sell it, which means a bigger tax deduction for you, you should keep these receipts for as long as you own your house.)

“Home Mortgage,” for all your mortgage statements. (Which you should check regularly, since mortgage companies often don’t credit you properly.) If you’re a renter, this folder should contain your lease, the receipt for your security deposit, and the receipts or canceled checks for your rental payments.

7. ‘Credit Card DEBT.’ Make sure you capitalize the word “DEBT” so it stands out and bothers you every time you see it. I’m not kidding. In my view, credit card debt is the biggest problem facing American consumers today. In Step 3, I will lay out a detailed plan for how you can pay down your debt as responsibly and quickly as possible. Right now simply create the folders — a separate one for each credit account you have — and keep your monthly statements in them.

8. “DOLP™ Worksheet.” DOLP stands for “Dead On Last Payment.” This is the system for paying down debt that I have taught for nearly a decade. I will explain exactly how it works in Step 3. In the meantime, make a copy of the DOLP worksheet on page 44 and put it in this file. (You can also download the worksheet from www.finishrich.com/DOLP.)

9. ‘Credit Scores.’ This folder is for your most recent credit scores, along with the credit reports on which they are based. See Step 4 for details on what these are and how to get copies.

10. ‘Other Liabilities.’ This is where you keep all your records dealing with debts other than your mortgage and your credit card accounts. These would include college loans, car loans, personal loans, etc. Each debt should have its own file folder, which should contain the loan note and your payment records.

11. ‘Insurance.’ Make separate file folders for each of your insurance policies, including health, life, automobile, homeowner’s or renter’s, disability, long-term care, and so on. Each of these folders should contain the appropriate policy and all the related payment records. If you have any employer provided insurance (e.g., medical coverage), include all the brochures and other informational material you’ve received from your company.

12. ‘Family Will or Trust.’ This should hold a copy of your most recent will or living trust, along with the business card of the attorney who drafted it.

13. ‘Children’s Accounts.’ If you have children, create a folder for all statements and other records pertaining to college savings accounts and any other investments you may have made on their behalf.

14. ‘Latte Factor®.’ Here is where you keep your Latte Factor worksheet. For some of you, this may be the most important folder you create.

The Latte Factor® is based on the simple idea that all you need to do to finish rich is to look at the small things you spend your money on every day and see whether you could redirect that spending to yourself. Putting aside as little as a few dollars a day for your future rather than spending it on little purchases such as lattes, bottled water, fast food, cigarettes, magazines and so on, can really make a difference between accumulating wealth and living paycheck to paycheck.
We don't even realize how much we're actually spending on these little purchases. If we did think about it and change our habits just a little, we could actually change our destiny.
So get started today! Identify what your Latte Factor® actually is by tracking your spending for a full day then calculating just how much you could save in a few years. The Latte Factor® Calculator makes it easy. This simple exercise can be life-changing. It adds up, so don't delay...get started today!

Now you are organized financially.
You did it. You now have 14 hanging files (13, if you don’t have kids), organized in a box or a file cabinet that represents your entire financial life. You should already be feeling more empowered and more in control over your finances. In fact, you are. In getting your records organized, you have taken a major step toward getting your financial life back on track.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this one exercise can have a huge impact on your life. Over the years, I have heard from countless readers who told me that simply setting up this filing system totally changed how they handled their finances. It has helped couples get on the same page and stop fighting about money. It has helped people who never had a plan get a plan. Please trust me and do this. You will feel better and it will only take an hour. So go do it now.

As you create your file folder system, you may find that you don’t have any documents to put in some of the folders. Make them anyway. If you don’t have, say, a will or living trust, the empty folder will remind you every time you open the file box or drawer that you still have “homework” to complete for your “Start Over” plan.

If you are missing documents, use the form below to list what is missing and what you need to do to fill in the gaps.

MISSING INFORMATION • DUE DATE  • COMPLETED

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

Fill in the “Due Date” so you have a specific goal and time frame to meet. Check off “Completed” when you’re done.

Which records should you keep and which should you ditch?
The reason I made the Finish Rich File Folder System so specific is that many of us keep too much information for way too long. (I’m guilty of this myself.) The fact is, except in cases involving fraud, the statute of limitations on income-tax returns is only three years, so the Internal Revenue Service does not expect you to hang on to tax records and receipts for any longer than that. The main exceptions to this are if you’ve underreported your income (in which case you should keep your records for six years) or have claimed a loss from worthless securities (seven years). Obviously, you should keep records documenting the cost basis of your home and all your other taxable investments for as long as you own them. The same goes for the basic documents concerning your retirement accounts and insurance policies, not to mention all loans and mortgages.

But don’t be shy about getting rid of old materials. Here’s a list of items you should consider throwing away (or shredding if the documents contain personal information):

• Outdated warranties

• Outdated instruction manuals

• Outdated wills or trusts (provided you created a new one)

• Canceled insurance policies

• Credit card statements for closed tax years

• Canceled checks for closed tax years

• Old brokerage statements for closed tax years (unless they have cost-basis information you might eventually need)

• Old annual reports from stocks and/or mutual funds

• Old investment newsletters (some people keep these things for years because they paid for them — let them go)