Personal Record Keeping Research
Research shows that billions of dollars worth of hard earned personal assets go unclaimed every year because family members and heirs are unaware of their existence or unable to find them. And unfortunately, state governments are shortening your window of time to recover these assets before they seize them. Record Tree™ protects you and your family from this tragic waste.
While lost information can take many forms, the most common oversights include:
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Life insurance policies |
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Stock and mutual funds |
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Governmental assets |
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Social security benefits |
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Savings bonds |
The amount of lost money is staggering and underscores the pressing need for you to capture all of your personal information in one accessible place.
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One-quarter of all life insurance benefits go unclaimed – due to family members being unaware that a policy exists, dormancy periods, etc. |
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In 2004, trustees unable to confirm beneficiaries or policy owners of demutualized companies took custody of $22.8 billion in unclaimed benefits; less than $1 billion was claimed. |
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The SEC estimates 3 million stockholders are entitled to unclaimed stock worth $10 billion. In addition, $500 million in stock dividends go un-cashed each year. |
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Government agencies are holding $60 billion in unclaimed property and missing money. If an owner or heir fails to communicate an interest in an asset over a specified number of years, referred to as a dormancy period, agencies, companies, etc. holding unclaimed assets must remit the funds to the protective custody of a government trust account. |
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$500 million in Social Security benefit checks go unclaimed each year. Heirs of those who have left behind unclaimed assets and benefits make up the largest group of individuals owed money and property. |
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Less than 1% of U.S. Savings Bond holders are successfully notified when the bonds reach maturity. |
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$200 million in registered United States Treasury Securities have stopped earning interest but have not been cashed. |
Don’t add your family’s resources to these statistics.
Give your family the keys to your most important records with the security of
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“ Approximately one-half billion dollars in Social Security benefit checks go un-negotiated each year. Heirs of descendents who have left behind unclaimed assets and unclaimed benefits make up the largest group of individuals owed money and property. "
Source: Unclaimed Assets: Money The Government Owes You!
“ Nearly two million poor veterans or their impoverished widows are likely missing out on as much as $22 billion a year in pensions from the U.S. government , but the Department of Veterans Affairs has had only limited success in finding them. ”
Source: Miami Herald , December 25, 2005 |
