Are you "lucky"if you have a secure retirement?

[Parkanzky]

This year I had to produce records from the previous four, including cancelled checks. When I went up to the bank web site to print them out, the on line records only went back a year. Everything else had to be ordered one-at-a-time through a cumbersome process, and they weren't free. Now I use a check register with built in "carbon" copies.

Also not great access to old records with my brokerage house, so I keep all my paper statements and transaction confirmations.

I have real problems with any electronic records stored at an off site institution. It's just too easy for them to decide not to make old records available, and when they do, you're SoL if you don't have your own copies. Call me old fashioned, but when all you "paperless" types are begging for records your bank will only produce at a significant cost to you, I'll be leafing through a file cabinet and will have what I need after only a few minutes. And before someone says "but what happens if your house burns down?" I've been doing it this way since the '80s, and nothing's burned down yet...

My bank sends an electronic statement. I toss it in my "finance" folder on my computer, where I can keep it forever and print it out anytime I want it.

 

[square1]

Shame on her, she could do that online!!!!

But then you have to get the highlighter off the computer screen before next months bill comes
Or are you talking "Highly questionable stuff" 300UGUY is getting into on-line?

 

[ovrszd]

I'm trying. See the difference?

Yes I do!!!

 

[ovrszd]

This year I had to produce records from the previous four, including cancelled checks. When I went up to the bank web site to print them out, the on line records only went back a year. Everything else had to be ordered one-at-a-time through a cumbersome process, and they weren't free. Now I use a check register with built in "carbon" copies.

Also not great access to old records with my brokerage house, so I keep all my paper statements and transaction confirmations.

I have real problems with any electronic records stored at an off site institution. It's just too easy for them to decide not to make old records available, and when they do, you're SoL if you don't have your own copies. Call me old fashioned, but when all you "paperless" types are begging for records your bank will only produce at a significant cost to you, I'll be leafing through a file cabinet and will have what I need after only a few minutes. And before someone says "but what happens if your house burns down?" I've been doing it this way since the '80s, and nothing's burned down yet...

Very well stated.

 

[ultrarunner]

Cancelled checks back (snail mail) in SO outmoded, can't you learn online as to the status? In over 20 years with my credit union I never needed or wanted a cancelled check back.

Saved my bacon more than a few times...

Once it had to do with a long drawn out estate... seems the person I bought some equimpment from pocketed the money...

A couple of years later the Estate Attourney invoiced me... thankfully I paid by check... had my cancelled check front and back and that was the end of it on my end.

The DMV tried to ding me for delinquent fees, registration etc on my 68 Mustang Covertible... thing is I paid it and had the new reg and sticker in hand... they had no record of my payment... again, my cancelled check took care of it...

I have every cancelled check for every check written since I was 14 years old...

It's like Judge Judy asking for proof of payment... nothing better than a cancelled check according to her...

At 14 when I opened my B of A checking account... the bank gave me an account number that had been used by someone else... my first check bounced and my father was livid... I showed him my $250 deposit and wrote a check for $20...

B of A made good, waived all fees for 2 years and sent a letter to the person that my check bounced...

Another use of paper... I has helping my elderly neighbor go through a few of her husband things... he passed and in the safe were stock certificates... she had never opened the safe... their brokerage company had merged and the transferred... there was no records on a stock they had been given as a wedding present... the company also merged and was acquired... that piece of paper was worth $21,000

Without it... she would have had nothing....

 

[JDgreen227]

It truthfully amazes me the amount of information this thread has garnered to date...I appreciate all the input that has been shared.

Robert A. Heinlien is quoted as saying: "I have never learned from a man who agreed with me." SO TRUE.

 

[murphy1244]

I also play records on a turntable. They sound much better. Flame suit on!

 

[houstonscott]

Are you saying Enron was a legitimate business who was not paid something they were fairly due?

The natural gas business was most certainty real and was not paid for contracts made with the State of California to the tune of 12 billion dollars. California was desperate and signed NG contracts with Enron and a company named Dynigy too. Those NG products were provided to a company called PG&E. Later when it was discovered just how bad a deal was made by the State they refused to pay. Enron went to court and won! PG&E was broke and was awarded to Enron. When the Feds found out Enron had no intention of operating a power company in California. Enron was in the beginning process of selling off PG&E assets including gensets in major California hydro dams that were sold, and headed to India. When it became clear Enron was turning out the lights in California the scandal started. Huh. Enron was never paid nor was Dynigy, about 6 billion. My question for you is how far would 12 billion go to pay investors? Other States provided power into the California grid too that where never paid. Idaho being one, my sister who lives in north Idaho had a surcharge on her bill for years to recover that money never paid. Now you know a whole lot more about Enron. Maybe now you know what really happened and the motives behind stopping Enron ASAP by the Feds. HS

 

[ultrarunner]

I have an 8 track in my 68 Mustang!

The topic of Retirement is bound to peak the interest of many on TBN

Secure just adds another dimension...

Coming from a medical engineering background... documentation is the key and sometimes more important than the product as hard as that is to believe...

 

[murphy1244]

I have an 8 track in my 68 Mustang!

The topic of Retirement is bound to peak the interest of many on TBN

Secure just adds another dimension...

Coming from a medical engineering background... documentation is the key and sometimes more important than the product as hard as that is to believe...

Half my Gun safe is full of files. They saved my bacon with the state tax boys.