A clean record of what you bought, what you paid, what you sold it for. Real numbers for taxes, insurance, and estate planning.
Tax note: For collectibles held over a year, the federal long-term capital gains rate is up to 28 percent — higher than the 15-20 percent rate for stocks. Keep receipts. For seniors below the standard-deduction income threshold, most occasional sales are not taxable. Consult a CPA or AARP Tax-Aide.