The Green Box strategy involves gathering all critical personal, legal, and financial documents and storing them in a secure but accessible location. This can be a physical box (often literally green for easy identification) or a digital equivalent, such as a secure online storage solution. The goal is to simplify the process for family members or executors to locate all necessary information to manage your estate or affairs after you're gone. 

A comprehensive Green Box should include:

1. Personal Identification: Copies of personal identification such as passports, driver's licenses, and social security cards.
2. Legal Documents: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and living wills.
3. Financial Records: Details of bank accounts, investment accounts, and safe deposit boxes. Information on debts, such as credit cards, mortgages, and personal loans should also be included.
   1. For business owners and RE investors, include this as well.
4. Insurance Policies: Life, health, property, and any other insurance policies.
5. Property Documents: Titles and deeds for any property owned, such as real estate, vehicles, and significant personal property.
6. Tax Returns: Copies of recent tax returns for all personal, business or trusts.
7. Digital Access: Passwords and access instructions for digital accounts, including social media, online banking, and email accounts.
8. Personal Letters or Instructions: Any personal letters, funeral preferences, or specific instructions you may wish to leave for your loved ones.

• Ease of Access: Reduces the stress on family members by having all important documents in one place.
• Efficiency: Speeds up the estate settlement process, as executors can quickly find all relevant information.
• Security: Protects sensitive information by keeping it in a secure yet accessible location, whether physically or digitally.

While a physical box can be very secure, a digital "Green Box" can offer enhanced accessibility and security, especially with advancements in encryption and cloud storage technologies. It's crucial, however, to ensure that the digital platform used is secure and that backups are made regularly.

We recommend either KEEPER or Trustworthy as two apps for secure management.

• Inform Trusted Individuals: Make sure that at least one trusted family member or friend, along with your executor, knows the location of the Green Box and how to access it.
• Review Regularly: Update the contents of the Green Box regularly, especially after major life events like marriages, births, divorces, or significant financial changes.
• Secure Storage: If using a physical box, consider a fireproof and waterproof safe. For digital solutions, use strong passwords and consider multi-factor authentication.
  
  

Take the few (painful) hours to get this done and you will feel much more organized!