Disaster Victim Resources/Handouts

Understanding How a Pro Bono Financial Planner Can Help. An exercise that shows the various ways a financial planner can help a client.

Taking the First Steps After Disaster Strikes. A handout describing specific steps disaster victims can take to begin restoring their personal and financial lives.

Budgeting

Separating Needs from Wants. An exercise that demonstrates how perceptions of needs and wants affect client spending choices.

Taking a Look at Wants: Asking the Big Questions. An exercise challenging clients to examine why an item or service belongs on their "Wants" list.

Making a Spending Plan. An exercise clients can use to create a simple budget.

Using a Bill-Payment Calendar. A handout showing how to use a calendar for a simple bill-payment reminder system.

Making Plans to Pay Bills. A worksheet for tracking bill-payment negotiations.

Using a Debt Recovery Worksheet. A worksheet showing clients how to prioritize a debt-repayment plan.

Getting Family Loans Without a Family Feud. A handout about establishing rules for borrowing from family members in an emergency.

Reducing Your Tax Bite. A handout of basic information about tax deductions for damage to property or possessions.

Using Credit

Taking Control of Credit Cards. A handout describing the wise use of credit cards.

Comparing Credit Cards. A worksheet allowing side-by-side comparisons of different creditors.

Reconstructing Financial Information

Identifying Assets, Debts, and Net Worth. A worksheet clients can use to list all their assets and liabilities to create a financial inventory.

Finding Financial and Legal Papers. A worksheet listing typical financial records and where they are.

Understanding the Family and Medical Leave Act. A handout describing the possibility of receiving up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave.

Getting Disaster Unemployment Assistance. A handout describing a federal program offering unemployment benefits for major disasters.

Fraud Protection and Legal Issues

Filing and Settling Claims. A handout of tips regarding filing and settling claims with an insurance company.

Avoiding Contractor Rip-Offs. A handout of tips about working with contractors to repair or rebuild damaged property.

Insurance Benefits, Claims, and Settlements

Reviewing Unemployment, Disability, and Life Insurance. A handout with basic information about unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, and group life insurance.

Reviewing Homeowners' Insurance Policy Features. A tip sheet for buying homeowners' insurance coverage.

Making a Personal Inventory. A worksheet to get you started on recording information about personal property.

Recording Emergency Homeowners' Information. A worksheet to record locations of key safety devices in a home, such as the main water shutoff, natural gas shutoff, etc.

Recording Important Telephone Numbers. A worksheet to record phone numbers for various emergencies.

Understanding Structured Settlements. A handout describing how settlements work, their pros and cons, and taxation.

Managing a Lump-Sum Payment. A handout of common-sense advice on handling lump-sum payments.

Estate Issues

Planning Your Estate. A handout describing basic estate planning documents.

Arranging a Funeral and Settling an Estate. A handout describing basic funeral arrangements and how to settle an estate.