Sort Your Stuff Before Life Sorts You

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about Apple’s new Passwords app and how it’s the most underrated feature in iOS 18. If you haven’t read that post yet, here’s the short version: it’s finally easy—and secure—to share passwords with your family. You can pass on everything from your Netflix login to your Coinbase account, without texting screenshots or sticky-noting passwords to the fridge.

That app solves one major part of your digital legacy: access.

But what about context? What about the full picture of your financial life, assets, liabilities, insurances, safes, docs, subscriptions, and, let’s be honest—random corners of your physical and digital empire?

That’s where Quicken LifeHub comes in. It’s like a digital binder for your life—not just your logins, but the what, where, and why of everything you’ve built.

The Problem Nobody Wants to Talk About

We all assume we’ll “get around” to documenting our stuff. But let’s face it, we’re usually the only ones who know where all the digital skeletons (and treasures) are buried.

And if you’re like me, you’ve probably given your spouse vague instructions like:

“If anything happens to me, it’s all in Google Drive under the folder named ’Important’… or maybe ‘Stuff’… try both.”

Now imagine trying to untangle that when emotions are high and time is short.

LifeHub: The Missing Piece of Your Digital Estate

Quicken LifeHub isn’t a will or legal trust—it’s a companion tool. Think of it as your master cheat sheet for life. It guides you to document:

  • Bank accounts, investments, loans, and credit cards

  • Property, vehicles, insurance, and retirement plans

  • Subscriptions, memberships, and utilities

  • Health info, pet records, personal mementos

  • Safe deposit boxes, deeds, tax returns—you name it

And the best part? It does it with structure and security. You can share access with specific people, limit what they see, and update things as life changes.

Real Talk: This Isn’t Just for Boomers

I’m in my 50s. I fly small planes. I run businesses. I invest in stocks, crypto, and startups. I’ve got domain names, cloud accounts, tax folders, and insurance policies spread across apps and hard drives.

Even if you’re younger, if you’ve got any financial or digital footprint (and you do), LifeHub gives you a clean, structured way to map it all.

Apple Passwords + LifeHub = Digital Peace of Mind

Use Apple Passwords to share access. Use LifeHub to share understanding.

Together, they cover the two most stressful post-death scenarios:

  1. “I can’t get into Dad’s accounts.”

  2. “I got in, but I have no idea what any of this means.”

LifeHub even reminds you of things you may not think about—like listing your Venmo balance, vehicle title, or backup email account. It’s like being gently nagged by a very organized future version of yourself.

Take 30 Minutes This Weekend

Seriously. Block off 30 minutes. Set up LifeHub. Fill in what you know. Share it with your spouse. Then breathe a little easier knowing you’ve taken a thoughtful step.

Because planning for the future isn’t just about money or legacy—it’s about not leaving behind a mess.

Your loved ones deserve clarity. And you deserve peace of mind.

Sharing the Keys to Your Digital Castle (Without Sticky Notes)

As we age—gracefully, of course—there’s one thing we rarely talk about but absolutely should: how the people we love will access our digital and financial lives if something happens to us. It’s not just about big stuff like retirement accounts or cryptocurrency. It’s about the small, sentimental things too—your cloud of family photos, that 90s alt-rock playlist you swore you’d clean up, or your lifetime collection of digitally purchased movies.

And let’s not forget the never-ending list of subscriptions you’ve accumulated: streaming services, magazine apps, your backup service, password manager, tax software, and the tool you used once in 2021 but still pay $4.99/month for.

We don’t want to leave our spouses or kids locked out of our digital lives, stuck clicking “Forgot Password” into eternity or trying to guess which of our five Gmail addresses has the family vacation photos from 2015.

Enter: Apple’s Passwords App + Family Sharing

If you’re already part of the Apple ecosystem, you’ve got an elegant solution hiding in plain sight: the new Passwords app, combined with iCloud Family Sharing.

Here’s the good news: with iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple quietly turned their built-in password manager into a full-fledged app. No third-party services needed. It stores your login credentials, Wi-Fi passwords, passkeys, and 2FA codes. But more importantly—it now supports password sharing within families.

So how do you set it up? Here’s the easy, no-fuss process:

1. Set up iCloud Family Sharing

If you haven’t done this already, go to:

Settings → Your Name → Family Sharing

From there, you can invite your spouse and kids (they’ll need Apple IDs).

This connects you all under a digital family umbrella. You’ll also get access to shared iCloud storage, purchase sharing, and location sharing, but we’re here for the passwords.

2. Open the Passwords App

On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Passwords app (formerly hidden in Settings). If it’s your first time, you’ll be prompted to set it up with FaceID or TouchID. Go ahead—it’s your new digital vault.

3. Create a Shared Group

Tap on the “+” icon → New Shared Group

Name it something obvious like “Family Access” or “Digital Keys”

Add your family members (who are in your iCloud Family).

4. Add Key Accounts to Share

Now select which credentials you want to share:

  • Bank logins

  • Streaming services

  • Cloud photo backups

  • Crypto wallets

  • Airline miles (yes, even those)

You’re in control—you don’t have to share everything, just the stuff you’d want them to be able to access easily in case of emergency or transition.

5. Test It Together

Ask your spouse or kid to log in to one of the shared services using their device. Make sure everything works. That way, there are no surprises later.

Think of this like making a digital “Go Bag” for your loved ones. No more scribbled passwords taped under the desk. No awkward PDF labeled “Important Info” floating around your inbox. Just a clean, secure, built-in way to keep your family connected—and protected—when it matters most.

Try it out this weekend. It’ll take 15 minutes, tops. Your future self (and your family) will thank you.