Sometimes they share exciting news, such as moving to a new location or welcoming a new child or grandchild, and sometimes it's scary, like losing a spouse or discovering a major health issue.

It's especially important at those times that we talk about your values and priorities. Rather than focusing narrowly on how your money should be invested or spent, your next financial decisions should take into account the emotional impact that those decisions will likely have on the rest of your life.

I was in my teens when my single dad became disabled. Our new reality caused me to pause and deeply consider what was really needed. Rather than moving away for college, I took a gap year and then chose to attend a college close to home. I learned to make decisions that were both pragmatic and heartfelt. I also learned the value of having a long-term care plan in place before it is needed.

Many of my clients are women who have abruptly inherited wealth, whether through divorce, retirement, or death of a partner. Widows in particular are often advised to make new life decisions quickly, but the opposite is usually wiser. The grieving process is not the time to make irreversible financial decisions, and even generous impulses can have major tax consequences down the road. Certainly, some issues need to be addressed immediately, but significant decisions should be made over the course of time.

You can count on me to take the time to listen deeply and then help you to focus on maintaining your most precious assets.

Let's have a conversation