What to Do Financially After a Death in the Family: The Decisions That Matter Most (and What Can Wait While You Grieve)

An older woman and a younger woman clasp hands as if at a memorial service, only their hands showing.

Some of the saddest meetings I have aren't with couples. They're the ones where a client comes to see me for the first time after losing their spouse.

After nearly 30 years as a financial adviser, I've noticed a pattern. In most marriages, one spouse becomes the family's de facto chief financial officer. They know where the accounts are, when the required minimum distributions begin and why certain beneficiaries were chosen. The other spouse understands the big picture, but not always the details.