Financial Guidance for Widows

The future depends on what we do in the present

We understand and have deep empathy for those who have recently lost a spouse. Our team will lead you through a process to help sort out and organize the financial aspects you need to address. We know you’re dealing with enormous amounts of change.

It’s our goal to lift the weight off of you during this time and help you work through three important phases.

PHASE ONE

This phase of the grieving process is a time when a widow is the most vulnerable, in large part because thinking can be impaired. During this phase our team will emphasize empathetic listening and reassurance when major life or financial decisions should be avoided. We believe a widow during this time should get her financial house in order, including securing her cash flow, applying for benefits, changing account titles and organizing her finances.

PHASE TWO

We call this phase the growth phase. A widow will enter this phase when she is more prepared to engage in planning her financial life. It is the time to focus on basic planning issues, such as investments, pre- and post-retirement and insurance. Any discussion of her future living arrangement can begin here.

PHASE THREE

Lastly is the healing phase, when a widow is ready to focus on herself and how she wants her new life chapter to unfold. It is a time for discovering a new purpose and embracing her independence. She may find it through her career or her family or through deeper involvement in her community. This is when the work of advanced investment planning begins.