So I'm afraid to get a Real ID and on the off chance anyone has a similar situation or has some helpful knowledge, I need some advice.
My name is Margaret. Well, it's not, but let's say it is for these purposes. And, I've always always gone by Peggy. Only my mom and dad call me Margaret when they are mad at me. So when I was 14 or 15 and went to get my first CA State ID, I got it under the name Peggy. Don't ask me how, since my birth certificate and SS card say Margaret. And over the course of my life, I've used the name Peggy for every single account I've ever started. Every bank account, every brokerage, 401(k), and pension account. All my insurance and utilities and...well you get it.
So, we need Real IDs to fly starting in about a year. This isn't too big a problem, as I have a passport which IS under the name Margaret (so weird!) and I just used that to fly domestically last weekend - my United FF program is under Margaret, since I usually (sadly) fly them internationally. But even if I do that, I'm afraid I'll be *forced* to get a Real ID Drivers License the next time mine comes up for renewal. And then I will never again have an ID that matches all of my many accounts...which seems like a concern. And gods help me if I can remember each account accrued over the course of nearly 4 decades and go through the mountain of paperwork I assume will be required to change my name from Peggy to Margaret on each one of them.
So, informed views, wild ass guesses and strong opinions welcome. Am I right to be worried? Will these accounts, someday if I need to prove my identity, refuse me if my account name is Peggy and the only valid ID I have anymore is under Margaret? Would you undertake the Herculean task of changing every single one or rest secure in the fact that Margaret and Peggy are the same name and no one should have a problem with this as long as the SSN matches?