We addressed practicalities first, such as how Jane could get help with the tasks Robert typically handled, such as vehicle maintenance, yard care, and home upkeep. We included their adult son in the conversation, and he helped as much as he could with his demanding work schedule and family of his own.

Because of the timely nature of this situation, Jane, Robert, and the Keystone Financial Partners team met more frequently to review and re-review the financials to give Jane financial confidence.

Thankfully, through the Certified Financial Transitionist™ designation and training program, our CeFT™ advisor is in a great place to help clients navigate these personal and emotional challenges. It is proven that the loss of a spouse is the most stressful life event that someone will go through.  During this period it is very difficult for the survivor to make sound financial decisions.  It takes an advisor who will be patient with them through this process and recognize when they are in a better place to make sound decisions. Our team has tools that we use to help walk the surviving spouse through the several months after the death of their loved one and we don’t rush them into making too many decisions until they are ready to do so.

Even with all our pre-planning, it was not until Robert passed away that Jane gained true clarity of what she wanted to do. She liked the familiarity of spending time with her friends and she took an extended vacation to spend time with her family members that live out of state. She also discovered she enjoyed being in the home she and Robert had built together over the last 40 years, feeling peaceful there even though Robert was absent. She is still adjusting to life as a single person and learning how to think of herself as a widow.