Have you checked your personal information lately? Changed your passwords, freshened your personal papers, verified your address?

It doesn't sound that important, but keeping your vital information current is like having an umbrella - you don't think about it until you really need it.

Secure Your Passwords

Hackers have many ways to mine and test multiple passwords from sites where you work, shop, bank and do business online. If they find a match anywhere, it can lead to a domino effect in your online accounts, with a potential loss of money, identity and security.

Set strong passwords using a combination of letters, numbers and characters. In general, the longer, the better. Additionally, set a unique password for every online account you have. It can be tedious, but it also protects from the domino effect.

U-M’s Safe Computing Center offers sound advice on securing all of your personal devices.

Create or Review Your Will

If you have U-M’s optional life insurance benefit or are enrolled in the Legal Services Plan, you have free access to wills and living wills/advanced directives planning. If you aren't enrolled, apply for optional life insurance at any time. You can sign up for the Legal Services Plan during open enrollment in October for coverage effective January 1.

Michigan Medicine also offers free access to advance directive information. Fill in the templates provided to ensure your medical wishes are known during a situation when you aren't able to communicate them. 

Take an Investment Temp

Take the temperature of your investments – are they running hot, cold or right where you want them? A TIAA or Fidelity adviser can help assess your savings. Each offers virtual and phone consultations. Remember – every U-M employee can meet with these advisers at no charge as part of their participation in the Basic Retirement Plan.

Remember Your Beneficiaries

When evaluating any financial asset, make sure your beneficiary information is current for your retirement accounts and life insurance policies. It takes just a few minutes here – and can save considerable money, stress and family strife.

Review the Basics

U-M needs to know when your life changes, too. For example, when you add to your family through birth, adoption, marriage, or other qualified life event, you have 30 days from the event date to add your new dependent to your benefits. Or if something unexpected happens, the university should have quick access to your emergency contacts.

The basics are housed in Wolverine Access. In a couple of minutes and with a few clicks you can update the information below and ensure you and U-M can easily connect, when needed.

Go to Wolverine Access, click the Employee Self Service tile, and then click the Campus Personal Information tile. From there, you can:

• Sign up for U-M Emergency Alerts: Click Phone Numbers and then enter your contact information under UM Emergency Alerts
• Add/Change Your Address: Click Addresses and update your Current Local address
• Add/Change Your Emergency Contacts: Click Emergency Contacts to enter or update your emergency contact information and set your primary contact

Be sure to click Save to submit your changes.

To Add/Change Life Events, go to Wolverine Access > Employee Self Service > Benefits > Initiate Life Event Elections and follow the instructions.