Financial Tips To Help You Weather A Storm (NAPSA)—Whena catastrophe hits, it’s important to think, move and act quickly. In addition to having essential items on hand, such as clothing, food and water, you'll also want to make sure you can quickly regain your financial footing once the disaster has passed. J Financial services experts at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) offer the following guidelines to help consumers keep their financial house in order when disaster strikes: 1. Safety first. Purchase a waterproof andfireproof container or safe and store the following inside: duplicates of insurance policies, mortgage records, wills, Keep a small amount of cash on handin case local banks or ATMs are forced to close for an extended period. 5. Have critical phone numbers handy. In addition to friends and family, make a record of all deeds, and stock and bondcertifi- yourfinancial contacts, including cial account numbers, passwords, nies, insurance company, lawyer and financial professional. 6. Be clear about your cov- cates. Include a list of your finan- access codes or PIN numbers and a list of your valuables. 2. Cash is king. Keep a small amount of cash in an envelope in case local banks or ATMs are forced to close for an extended period. It’s best to have smaller denominations so money is more usable, and also consider keeping traveler’s checks or a roll of quarters for smaller purchases. 3. Have plenty of liquids on hand. Having a longer-term emergency fund that is easily accessible can be helpful for covering expenses without having to reach into retirement savings. Talk to your financial professional. 4. Photocopy yourplastic. Take your credit cards, bank debit your bank, credit card compa- erage. Don’t count on just your property/casualty insurance for relief. Your life insurance policy, 401(k) plan or annuity may give you access to cash in the event of a disaster. Also, bear in mind that many companies—including MassMutual—have traditionally offered extensions on grace periods for premium payments for policyholders in disaster areas. 7. Don’t talk to strangers. Be wary of any scams that promise quick access to relief funds. Do not give financial information to anyone except representatives of cards, driver’s license and health known and trusted financial or governmental institutions. And tocopies in your containerorsafe. massmutual.com. insurance card and copy the front andback of the cards. Put the pho- alwaysask for identification. To learn more, visit www.
