Your biggest risk may not be the market — it’s your family not knowing where your money is.

Thanks to free platforms, YouTube experts, and sleek investment apps, DIY investing has become a trend across all age groups — from college kids to retirees. With a few taps, one can buy stocks, mutual funds, or bonds sitting anywhere in the world.

There are multiple reasons why one invests directly – ease of investing, belief that the current top 5 funds will remain top 5 funds forever, confidence in their knowledge, or saving the minuscule amount of fees by investing in direct plans. It is always empowering to be in control, but here’s one fact that many investors forget: “Is their family aware of their investments and what will happen if something happens to them? Whom will the family turn to for guidance?" Crores of unclaimed amounts are lying with fund houses and insurance companies because the families are not aware of them.

Below are 5 questions that every investor should ask themselves, especially DIY investors.

1st - Does your family know where your investments are? Your demat accounts, mutual fund folios, client codes, etc. Are they aware of them all?

2nd – How will they access your investments? Most platforms require passwords, OTPs, and biometric verifications that change frequently.

3rd – If something happens to you and your mobile phone, will your spouse or kids know where to begin with? How will they know which apps to install, the passwords to open them and the investments to track?

4th - Even if they know all the passwords and can access the apps and investments, will they actually be able to do transmission of mutual-fund units or transfer shares? And who will help them? You refused a professional advisor in life to save 0.5%, so after you’re gone, your family will likely have to rely on a stranger to sort this out. Why assume that person will truly assist your spouse or children when there’s no connection to your family!

5th – Let's assume some distributor / RM helps them to get the transmission done. What will happen after that? Eventually, your family may end up selling everything or shifting to regular plans, losing far more than what you saved in fees.

Peace of mind is expensive, but here, it costs less than 1%. Is saving that half per cent or one per cent really worth the stress your loved ones may face one day? Even if the odds are one in ten thousand, wouldn’t you want your family protected from?

So ask yourself - You can DIY, but does it really help your family in the long run?

And, if you still prefer the DIY route…then here are some steps that you can take to make life easier for your loved ones:

• Create a Financial Handbook with details of investments, apps, bank accounts details, folios, locker info, insurance, etc. (DM me if you’d like one).

• Tell your spouse and kids where it’s kept.

• Update it every year — make it a ritual.

• Ensure joint holders and nominees are updated across all accounts.

• Mention one trusted contact who can guide them if something goes wrong.

• Devices can fail when you least expect them to, so HARD COPY is a must.

You may be great at managing your money. But not necessarily your family is too.

A good advisor ensures your money and the system around it continue to work even when you can’t. They bring order, clarity, and compassion to your family’s financial journey.

Build not just a portfolio but a relationship that outlives you. Because in the end, that extra 0.5% doesn’t just buy advice, it buys peace.