Financial Planning for Widows and Widowers

Losing your spouse changes everything. The person you made decisions with, planned for the future with, maybe even handled the finances with—they’re gone. And now you’re facing questions you never expected to answer alone.

Should you stay in the house? When do you take Social Security? What happens to the retirement accounts? Are you going to be okay financially?

These aren’t just money questions. They’re wrapped up in grief, uncertainty, and the weight of making choices that affect the rest of your life.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Many widows and widowers I work with tell me the same thing: “I don’t even know what I don’t know.” Some were actively involved in household finances. Others weren’t. Either way, making these decisions solo feels different and harder.Here’s what I want you to know: You’re not behind. You’re not failing. And you don’t need to have it all figured out right now.

What you do need is someone who understands both the technical side—taxes, Social Security, retirement accounts, estate planning—and the emotional reality of what you’re going through.

Financial planning for widows and widowers isn’t just running numbers. The purpose is to help you separate what’s urgent from what can wait, and explain everything in plain English, not financial jargon.

The Questions That Keep You Up at Night

Most widows and widowers I sit down with are wrestling with some version of these concerns:

  • Will my money last for the rest of my life?
  • Am I making the right decisions about Social Security survivor benefits?
  • Should I roll over my spouse’s retirement accounts, or leave them as inherited accounts?
  • How will my taxes change now that I’m filing as a single person?
  • Do I need to update my estate plan, and what happens to everything now?
  • Is my current home still affordable, or should I think about downsizing?

These are complicated questions with real financial consequences. You deserve answers that account for your specific situation: your age, your accounts, and your concerns about the future.

A Plan That Fits Your New Reality

Your financial picture has changed. Your income may look different. Your goals have shifted. And the plan you had as a couple doesn’t necessarily work anymore.

That’s why financial planning for widows and widowers needs to start with where you are now—not where you were, and not where someone else thinks you should be. We walk through your income sources, review your accounts, look at taxes, and confirm you understand your options before making any big decisions.

No pressure. No rush. Just clear guidance grounded in what matters most to you.

Start With the Essentials

If you’re not sure where to begin, I’ve put together a comprehensive financial checklist specifically for widows and widowers. It covers the immediate tasks, the 30-to-90-day priorities, and the longer-term planning steps—so you can tackle things at your own pace.

Download the Financial Checklist for Widows and Widowers to get started.

And when you’re ready to talk through your specific situation, I’m here. No sales pitch. Just a conversation about where you are, what you’re concerned about, and how I might be able to help.