Losing a spouse is probably one of the most difficult situations that a person can face. To make matters worse, finances often get lost in the tragedy. The surviving spouse may have little or no investment experience. They may not even know where the financial papers are kept.

Feeling like they have been left to figure out financial affairs alone, many widows and widowers wonder what to do next. Here some of the key areas widows and widowers usually need to address:

INCOME FOR LIFE: How many accounts do you have, and how much are they worth? Will you be able to keep the lifestyle you enjoy? We use a model designed to help individuals to make good decisions about their income needs.

ASSET PROTECTION: How can you protect the assets that you have spent a lifetime accumulating? We can answer that question, since we have experience helping many individuals make informed decisions in harmony with their goals.

TRUST ADMINISTRATION: How does one administer a family trust? How can someone get help in this area? We’re here to offer guidance – and an extensive network of estate planning specialists, too.

GIFTING: How can you transfer some assets to family and charities while limiting what Uncle Sam gets? Again, our Network of Specialists includes many tax professionals with experience in this area. We’ll coordinate their work on your behalf.