<title>Get ready to create a lifetime plan</title>
<category>lifeplan</category>
<klink type="cncpt">Tell me what I need to get ready to create a lifetime plan</klink>
</index>
<content>
<p>Creating a lifetime plan is easy if you have what you need at your fingertips. If your accounts are current in Money, or you can approximate balances off the top of your head, that's fine. Otherwise, you should gather:</p>
<ul>
<li>Copies of your recent bank and investment statements.</li>
<li>Interest rates and current balances for any loans you have and the current values of your major assets.</li>
<li>Recent credit card statements showing current balances and interest rates (if you have credit card debt).</li>
<li>Recent pay stubs.</li>
</ul>
<p>It can take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to create a lifetime plan, less time if your data is in Money already or you only want to approximate values. It can take longer if you want to set up accounts as you go or enter detailed future plans. You can create a plan in one sitting or work on it a bit at a time.</p>
<p>As you plan, what's most important is that you have the time to relax, talk with your partner if necessary, and build a vision for what you want to see in your financial future.</p>
