Rule: I have a similar situation. I combined my shooting hobby with an investment; meaning I only buy quality with an eye towards appreciation. I figured at some point it wouldn't be practical for me to keep up with my hobby and I would sell off my collection a piece at a time to supplement my retirement investments. Should I pass before that happens my wife has access to a database listing the details of my collection, what I paid and what its worth. The latter is a data field I update every 6 months or so using the Bluebook as a guide. My wife is a smart gal so armed with this info I'm confident she can strike a fair deal with my LGS and/or individuals that come calling.