You Don't Have to Navigate This Alone
Whatever brought you here — you don't have to have it figured out. You don't have to know the right questions to ask or understand everything that's in front of you. That's exactly what I'm here for.
My grandmother lost my grandfather when I was young, and I watched my mother sit with her through those early months — going through documents, explaining what she had, helping her find her footing. My grandmother got there. She built a life that was genuinely her own for well over a decade. She just needed someone in her corner first. That image never left me — and it's a big part of why I do this work.
What happens to my spouse's Social Security benefit?
Will my income change now that I'm managing finances on my own?
What should I do with retirement accounts or pensions?
How should life insurance proceeds be handled?
Can I afford to stay in my home?
What documents need to be updated?
How do I begin planning financially on my own — especially if my spouse handled the finances?
These questions are about more than finances. They're about stability, independence, and finding your footing during one of life's most difficult transitions.
If You've Lost a Spouse, You May Be Asking:
Steady Guidance When You Need It Most
It can feel deeply unfair that financial responsibilities arrive before you've even had space to grieve. One of the most important things I can do during this time is help you distinguish what genuinely needs attention now from what can wait — so you're not carrying the weight of decisions that don't yet need to be made.
There is no urgency here. When you're ready, we start from wherever you are. If your spouse managed the finances and you're not sure what you own or how things are invested — that's completely normal, and it's a completely solvable starting point. We go through everything together, at your pace, until the picture is clear.
For women who receive life insurance proceeds, I always say the same thing: don't rush. The right investment plan for those dollars will still be available in three months or six months. The decisions made under pressure and grief are the ones most worth being careful about. When you're truly ready, that's when we build the plan together. Not before.
I work with widowed women across Northeast Ohio and across the country — some in the early weeks after a loss, others months later when they're ready to start planning for what comes next. Wherever you are, I would be honored to be a resource to you.
After Loss: The Financial Guide for Widowed Women 55+
I created this guide as a reference you can return to when you're ready — not a checklist you must complete immediately, but a clear framework for understanding the financial questions that may arise and the reassurance that each of them, in time, is answerable.
Inside you'll find guidance on Social Security survivor benefits, retirement accounts, life insurance proceeds, housing decisions, and rebuilding financial confidence — written gently and without pressure.
We'll send your guide straight to your inbox. The emails that follow are designed to be genuinely helpful — not a sales pitch. You're in control and can unsubscribe at any time.
How We Support Widowed Women
Working with a financial planner who understands the unique challenges of widowhood can bring structure and reassurance during a time when both feel hard to come by.
When you're ready, we can help you:
Understand and organize your complete financial picture — accounts, income sources, and documents
Navigate Social Security survivor benefit decisions and claiming strategies
Review retirement accounts and pensions and understand your options
Develop a thoughtful approach to life insurance proceeds when you're ready
Evaluate housing decisions with a clear picture of what's financially sustainable
Update estate planning documents and beneficiary designations to reflect your new situation
Build a financial plan for the years ahead — one that reflects your goals and your next chapter
There is no rush and no pressure. We move at whatever pace feels right for you.
Whenever You're Ready
A 15-minute conversation costs nothing — and having someone in your corner can make all the difference.