Sharon's Case Studies
PAPER ONSLAUGHT
WHO IS MELINDA?
SHARON: Melinda (not her real name) is dramatic and talented. Her creativity abounds. But paperwork? Too mundane!
MELINDA: There is a mountain of unopened financial statements, prospectuses, and who-knows-what by my desk. Too many bank accounts, too many brokerage accounts. I have avoided my mail for so long that I have lost track of my investments.
SHARON: Following our 15-minute complimentary phone call, Melinda and I agreed to work together to find answers to her questions:
What in this stack of financial information should I keep and what can I get rid of?
What system can I use to keep track of my financial statements?
SHARON: Melinda (not her real name) is dramatic and talented. Her creativity abounds. But paperwork? Too mundane!
MELINDA: There is a mountain of unopened financial statements, prospectuses, and who-knows-what by my desk. Too many bank accounts, too many brokerage accounts. I have avoided my mail for so long that I have lost track of my investments.
SHARON: Following our 15-minute complimentary phone call, Melinda and I agreed to work together to find answers to her questions:
What in this stack of financial information should I keep and what can I get rid of?
What system can I use to keep track of my financial statements?
MELINDA'S MONEY DANCE EXPERIENCE
MELINDA: During our first meeting Sharon and I opened every envelope and sorted each piece of information by company and by year--putting duplicate information in a growing pile to be shredded. I’m amazed at how good it feels to get rid of all that paper.
Sharon's filing system involved making archive files for year-end statements and a current file for this year’s statements. Now that 3 years of brokerage account statements were filed, I could concentrate on this year's statements. Sharon guided me through an investment review. I felt such relief having a clear picture of my holdings. I have a list of things I need to get done and time blocked out on my calendar to complete them--and have promised Sharon that I will continue to have financial appointments with myself.
MELINDA: During our first meeting Sharon and I opened every envelope and sorted each piece of information by company and by year--putting duplicate information in a growing pile to be shredded. I’m amazed at how good it feels to get rid of all that paper.
Sharon's filing system involved making archive files for year-end statements and a current file for this year’s statements. Now that 3 years of brokerage account statements were filed, I could concentrate on this year's statements. Sharon guided me through an investment review. I felt such relief having a clear picture of my holdings. I have a list of things I need to get done and time blocked out on my calendar to complete them--and have promised Sharon that I will continue to have financial appointments with myself.
MELINDA'S UPDATE
SHARON: Melinda continues to use her filing system. She was inspired to consolidate several accounts which dramatically reduced the amount of financial information coming her way. Melinda became a better self-manager of her financial life.
SHARON: Melinda continues to use her filing system. She was inspired to consolidate several accounts which dramatically reduced the amount of financial information coming her way. Melinda became a better self-manager of her financial life.
Sharon Cox, CFP | 650.722.2791 | sharon@themoneydance.com
