Start with a simple map
Families commonly struggle not because records are missing but because nobody knows they exist. A map of institutions and policy types, with a contact route for each, is often more valuable than a pile of statements.
- Included: Life, health, vehicle and home insurance policies, with the insurer's name
- Included: Savings and current accounts, with the bank name and branch
- Included: Fixed deposits and recurring deposits
- Included: Provident fund and pension accounts, such as an employer PF or the National Pension System
- Included: Mutual funds, shares and demat accounts, with the platform or broker name
- Included: Loans you have taken, including home, vehicle, education and personal loans
- Included: Money you have lent or regular payments you make on someone else's behalf
- Included: Credit cards and buy-now-pay-later services
Check nominations
Many accounts, deposits and policies allow you to register a nominee. Check with each institution whether a nominee is recorded and whether the details are still correct. Nomination rules differ between products, and a nominee is not always the same as a legal heir, so ask the institution or a qualified adviser if you are unsure what a nomination means in your situation.
What not to write down here
Never record passwords, PINs, OTPs, card numbers, CVVs or full account numbers in Our Sandook or any shared note. Instead, write where the information can be found — for example, “passbook in the bedroom locker” or “ask our chartered accountant, details in contacts”.
A quick quarterly habit
Choose one quarter-day each year to scan your list and update it. Closed accounts and lapsed policies are as important to note as new ones, because they stop your family chasing things that no longer exist.