Financial Planner

Checklist: Preparing for Y2K

Things to do this weekend with your money: Most Americans now expect Y2K to be a nonevent, or to present only minor glitches. But many people still want to be prepared--just in case.

4 Today: If you’re thinking about pulling large amounts of cash out of the bank, remember that you’re probably not adequately insured against theft or loss. Most homeowners’ policies limit coverage to $200 of cash. If you want to have more than that on hand, consider getting traveler’s checks.

4 Saturday: If Santa didn’t bring you a Y2K-compliant version of Quicken or Microsoft Money, consider shelling out the money yourself to upgrade your personal finance software before year-end. At the very least, make a printout of tax-related items to prevent a bug from disrupting your 1999 tax filing. Not sure if the software you have is Y2K compliant? Visit the maker’s Web site.

4 Sunday: Create a place to file your latest brokerage, bank and retirement plan statements. Keep the file handy so you can check your accounts after Jan. 1.