“I’ll just write down my passwords for my kids.”

I hear this constantly from seniors. And it’s actually terrible advice.

Here’s why:

Passwords written on paper get lost, stolen, or outdated (you changed them and forgot to update the list). Plus, many accounts now require two-factor authentication codes sent to YOUR phone.

The smarter approach? Google’s Inactive Account Manager and Apple’s Legacy Contact feature.

These tools let you legally designate trusted people who can access your digital life after you’re gone—without sharing passwords while you’re alive.

It respects your privacy NOW while protecting your family’s access LATER.

That’s the kind of planning that actually works.