By:Paul J. Condra
Arthur Esbin wasn't necessarily planning on increasing sales of his book during a time of war, but he thought it was likely.
However, Esbin, the author of What you need to know about me,a book designed to help organize personal information in a way that is easily accessible in times of crisis, said the opposite has happened. In a time when people are buying up anthrax vaccines, guns and American flags, Esbin said they're surprisingly not paying as much attention to their own personal organization.
I thought, given what has been happening, a lot of people would be into the subject,he said. Not happening. I haven't found any big upsurge in interest at all, which I found very interesting.
The statement echoed true Tuesday in the vast lecture hall of the Lynbrook Public Library where Esbin was presenting his book and the theory behind it to whomever should stop by.
He said he's been to the library twice before and given speeches to 30, sometimes 40 people. But on Tuesday, there were about 10.
I think lately people are afraid to come out,said Tracey Simon, the program coordinator.
Still, Esbin, an East Meadow resident, said that given the current terrorist threats against America, people should be thinking more seriously about keeping tabs on their personal assets and documents.
That's where his work can help. What you need to know about me is less of a book, and more of a file-packet in which people can record all their personal information. There are about 100 pages in the book, in which information can be recorded on everything from business contacts to pension plans to life insurance to stock information to car registration.
In the introduction, Esbin writes: Everyone, regardless of age, sex, marital status, or health condition can benefit from using this book... For anyone with possessions, assets or investments, it will protect them and their estate as well as their beneficiaries.
Esbin said that in times of crisis, be it ill health or death, nothing can be more helpful than having all of these documents accurately recorded in one place. Indeed, in these times, there have been many people who have found themselves desperately seeking documents, such as a marriage license, or an insurance policy.
I've heard such horror stories about it, like people die and they can't find safe deposit box keys, or they can't find the will,he said. It's just ridiculous.
Esbin hopes more people will be aware, and lose the attitude that keeping such information is not something that applies to them.
People say it's a low priority thing,he said. They don't think about it. They're just, Oh well, next week, or next year.'
As a result, he said, a crisis becomes more of a headache and more costly, as the necessary materials aren't available.
To prove the point, Esbin dedicated part of the lecture to illustrating just how many assets go unclaimed every year, ending up property of the U.S. government.
Citing numerous sources, Esbin said $50 billion in unclaimed assets are currently being held by Federal and state governments, and New York State holds $2.7 billion in unclaimed funds. The list goes on, he said.
Likewise, he said 62 percent of Americans die without a will.
Those who did make it to the library Tuesday said they were happy with the presentation. They were mostly older people who had a lot of questions about how wills work, and what to do with bank accounts and safe deposit boxes when there is a death.
I thought this could be very helpful to a person who has five children like myself,said Andrew Quinn of Lynbrook. And I'm 82 years old and I might not be around much longer so I might as well put everything in order.
There's a lot of things people let go. They don't want to think about it, but hey if you pinpoint all of these things, it'll help your children out, rather than floundering around at the last minute.
Esbin agreed and said that your information may be the most valuable gift you can give someone.
To get a copy of What you need to know about me,contact Arthur Esbin at (516) 483-8091. The book costs $19.95.
