Armik Aghakhani, CPA and Managing Partner of Chartered International LLP, has released a free resource designed to help individuals pause, assess, and organize key areas of their financial and personal records in just 15 minutes. The checklist, titled "The 15-Minute Personal Self-Check," is a plain-language guide intended to help people identify gaps, overlooked details, and areas needing attention before small issues escalate. "I've always believed that if you do the right thing long enough, the business will follow," Aghakhani said. "This checklist is about slowing down and being intentional."
The importance of such a simple check is underscored by data on the consequences of disorganization. Industry figures indicate individuals can incur $2,500 to $5,000 in cumulative costs from errors, delays, and corrections. Over 60% of people rely on incomplete or scattered records, and nearly one in three only identify issues after receiving a formal notice. Fixing problems later often takes three to five times longer than addressing them early. "My job is to help people think clearly," Aghakhani explained. "Sometimes clarity starts with asking the right questions."
The checklist is designed for practical use: set aside 15 uninterrupted minutes, answer each question with yes, no, or unsure, and highlight anything unclear. It addresses common mistakes Aghakhani has observed over decades, such as assuming last year's situation still applies, storing documents across too many platforms, avoiding confusing areas, and waiting until a problem becomes urgent. "I don't need to be loud," he noted. "I just need to be right." The resource is shaped by Aghakhani's professional and charitable experience, including his involvement with community initiatives that brought people together to address real needs.
The resource is available now at no cost at https://www.charteredintl.com/selfcheck. Users are encouraged to complete it in one sitting, revisit it annually or after major life changes, and use it as a personal reference. "At the end of the day," Aghakhani said, "this is about trust. If you protect that, everything else follows." His charitable efforts, which included supporting the creation of the first sensory classroom for children with autism at a local Armenian school, reflect a long-term thinking that also shaped the checklist. Rather than offering advice, the guide helps users identify what they know, what they don't, and what may need follow-up.
