“A Map, Not a Key.”
Why MyLifeLedger doesn't store your passwords — and why your family doesn't need them.
The #1 concern we hear from people considering MyLifeLedger is: “I don't want to put my passwords online.”
Good. Neither do we. That's not what MyLifeLedger is for — and that's exactly the point.
The Core Idea
MyLifeLedger stores where your accounts and documents are — not the credentials to access them.
- ✕ Passwords
- ✕ Account numbers
- ✕ PINs or security codes
- ✕ Social Security numbers
- ✕ Bank login credentials
- ✕ Credit card numbers
- ✓ Which banks you use
- ✓ Which insurance companies
- ✓ Where documents are filed
- ✓ Who your attorney / CPA / advisor is
- ✓ What accounts exist
- ✓ Your preferences and wishes
Why This Actually Works
When someone passes away, their family doesn't need a password to get into a bank account. They need to know which bank to call. The bank has a legal process for this — it involves a death certificate, proof of identity, and the executor of the estate. No password required.
The same is true for almost every account: insurance companies, brokerage firms, mortgage lenders, car dealerships. They all have a process. What they don't have is a way to notify your family that the account exists in the first place.
💡 The real problem isn't access — it's awareness. Your family doesn't need the key to your safe deposit box. They need to know that you have a safe deposit box, which bank it's at, and that the key is in the top drawer of your desk. That's a map. That's what MyLifeLedger creates.
But What About...
“What about digital accounts? They need a password to log in.”
For most digital accounts (email, social media, cloud storage), platforms have specific processes for handling accounts of deceased users. Google has an Inactive Account Manager. Facebook lets you designate a Legacy Contact. Apple has a Digital Legacy program.
What your family does need to know is that these accounts exist and which ones have important data (photos, documents, financial info). That's what goes in your ledger.
“What about cryptocurrency? You need the private key.”
True — crypto is the one major exception where credentials are critical and non-recoverable. For crypto specifically, we recommend using a hardware wallet with instructions stored in a physical safe or safety deposit box, and noting in your MyLifeLedger that crypto exists and where those instructions are located. We don't store private keys — but we make sure your family knows to go look for them.
“Isn't a password manager better?”
Password managers are great — for managing passwords. They solve a different problem. A password manager helps you log into your own accounts. MyLifeLedger helps your family know what accounts exist and where to find them.
Most password managers also aren't designed for family succession. If you die and nobody has your master password, all your stored logins are useless. MyLifeLedger complements a password manager — it's the layer that tells your family what to look for and who to call.
“What if someone hacks MyLifeLedger?”
All data is encrypted with AES-256 (the same standard used by banks and the US military). But even in a worst-case scenario, a bad actor who accessed your ledger would learn that you bank at Chase and have a policy with State Farm — not your account numbers, not your passwords, not your money.
That's the beauty of the “map, not a key” approach. A map without a key is useless to a thief — but invaluable to a grieving family.
What We Actually Promise
The Privacy Guarantee
In plain language. No asterisks.
How It Works in Practice
Here's a real example. Let's say you bank at Chase and have a checking account and a savings account. In your MyLifeLedger, you'd enter:
Notice what's not there: no account number, no routing number, no online banking password. Your family knows exactly which banks to contact and what to expect — and the bank handles the rest through their established legal process.
Who This Approach Is Perfect For
Related
A map your family needs.
Not a key a hacker wants.
Set up your family ledger in 60 minutes. We'll never ask for a password, account number, or login. Just where things are.
Start Your Ledger →$49/year • 30-day money-back guarantee