05/2017 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE 29FROM TOP: PETER DAZELEY/GETTY IMAGES; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
To reclaim your desk from clutter, start by limiting the amount
of paper that makes it into your home in the first place. Sign up
for paperless delivery of banking, investment, loan and credit
card statements, as well as internet, wireless phone, utility
and other bills. Slim down your paper files by discarding older
items. Utility bills and credit card and loan statements are
generally available online for a year or more, and bank and
investing statements are often available for several years. But
don’t toss your tax returns; you’d best hang on to those forever
(see “Ask Kim,” on page 42). Use a cross-cutting shredder to
destroy anything with personal information, such as account
numbers or your Social Security number.
Consider digitizing documents you need to keep. Save PDFs
of scanned images on your computer, then back up all of your
files with an external hard drive. Consider using a scanner or a
phone app, such as Smart Receipts, to take pictures of receipts
for medical expenses or tax-deductible donations or large pur-
chases that are under warranty. K.P.PARE D OWN YO UR PAPER
PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING
A professional can tackle tasks
with a level of speed and exper-
tise that you may not possess.Accountant. A certified public
accountant (CPA) can guide you
through complex tax-planning
issues and prepare your tax re-
turn. The average fee to pre-
pare and submit a Form 1040
with itemized deductions and
a state return is about $275, ac-
cording to a National Society of
Accountants survey. Search for
a CPA who is a personal finan-
cial specialist at http://www.aicpa.org.Financial planner. A financial
adviser takes a broad look at
your cash flow, savings goals,
investments and other areas of
your financial life. You may be
charged hourly, annually, by the
project or as a percentage of
managed assets. Search forfee-only planners at www
.napfa.org.Health insurance claims
specialist. If you are dealing
with significant medical bills, a
claims specialist can help you
navigate the insurance system,
find errors in bills and contest
denials of insurance claims.
Specialists often charge about
$75 to $95 an hour; you can find
one at http://www.claims.org.Professional organizer. An
organizer can “help clients learn
the skills and develop the sys-
tems they need to get and stay
organized,” says Jennifer Pas-
tore Monroy, executive director
of the National Association of
Professional Organizers. An
organizer may charge about
$50 to $75 an hour. Search for
one at http://www.napo.net.Travel agent. If you’re plan-
ning a customized trip—say,
a culinary tour in Europe—an
agent can create an itinerary
and may also alert you to hid-
den or unexpected expenses
and hook you up with extra
perks at the hotel or on tours.
Some agents charge no fee to
customers; if you do pay, the
price may be from $25 to $100.Search for an agent at www
.travelsense.org.Landscape professional. Hire
one to do a onetime project—
say, selecting low-maintenance
plants—or for ongoing lawn
care. Prices vary depending on
the project. Search for profes-
sionals at http://www.loveyourland
scape.org. L.G.