{Dealing with|Handling} the {unexpected|unforeseen|unanticipated}: 7 {financial|monetary} {steps|actions} to take after the death of {a spouse|a partner} or {loved|liked|enjoyed} one – CNBC

1 October 2020

Brenda Pickens lost her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}, Howard, to Covid-19 in March. Source: Brenda Pickens Brenda Pickens ‘life {changed|altered} {dramatically|significantly|drastically|considerably} this {past|previous} spring, when her 63-year-old {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}, Howard, {died|passed away} from Covid-19 {complications|problems|issues}.

His death, which {occurred|happened|took place} a month after the couple’s 28th {wedding|wedding event} anniversary, was something they {never|never ever} {really|truly|actually} {planned for|prepared for}.

“We didn’t {think|believe} either {one of|among} us would be alone so early in our lives,” {said|stated} Pickens, 62, who {also|likewise} contracted the {virus|infection} and {spent|invested} months {recovering|recuperating}.

With {only|just} {a small|a little} life {insurance|insurance coverage} policy {payout|payment} and some retirement {savings|cost savings}, she {contemplated|considered|pondered} {selling|offering} her {home|house} in Waveland, Mississippi, and her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}’s {barbershop|hair salon}, Fade 1, in {nearby|close-by|neighboring} Bay St. Louis. Pickens was {also|likewise} furloughed from her {job|task} at {a naval|a marine} base {barbershop|hair salon}.

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{These days|Nowadays}, she’s seen some {temporary|short-term|momentary|short-lived} {financial|monetary} relief, {including|consisting of} a grant from the state of Mississippi that will keep the {barbershop|hair salon} running for about {six|6} months. {{However|Nevertheless}, Pickens is now {battling|fighting} {new|brand-new} health {concerns|issues}.|Pickens is now {battling|fighting} {new|brand-new} health {concerns|issues}.} {Since|Because|Considering that|Given that} contracting the coronavirus, she {has|has actually} {developed|established} heart {issues|problems|concerns} and is seeing {a number of|a variety of} {specialists|experts|professionals}.

{{Fortunately|Thankfully|Luckily}, she has {good|great|excellent} {insurance|insurance coverage} and is {receiving|getting} paid time off from her {job|task} while on medical leave.

| She has {good|great|excellent} {insurance|insurance coverage} and is {receiving|getting} paid time off from her {job|task} while on medical leave.

}”I’m {trying|attempting} to hang in there, {but|however} if push {comes to|concerns|pertains to} {shove|push}, I’ll {file for|declare|apply for} {disability|impairment|special needs},” she {said|stated}.

While she has {a support system|a support group}, she is still grieving the loss of her {husband|hubby|spouse|other half|partner}.

“It still gets {kind of|type of|sort of} {lonely|lonesome},” Pickens {said|stated}. “He was my {best friend|buddy|friend}.”

{{However|Nevertheless} {financially|economically} {prepared|ready}, or unprepared, you {may|might} be, losing {a loved|a liked|an enjoyed} one is {overwhelming|frustrating}.|{Financially|Economically} {prepared|ready}, or unprepared, you {may|might} be, losing {a loved|a liked|an enjoyed} one is {overwhelming|frustrating}.} Not {only|just} are you {dealing with|handling} {grief|sorrow}, {but|however} there are {financial|monetary} {decisions|choices} that {must|should|need to} {also|likewise} be made. Here are {seven|7} {steps|actions} you can {take to|require to} {help|assist} {ease|relieve|alleviate|reduce} the {transition|shift}.

1. Take {a pause|a time out}

“It {might|may} be {tempting|appealing} to make {a lot of|a great deal of} {decisions|choices} {all at once|at one time|simultaneously},” {said|stated} {certified|accredited|licensed} {financial|monetary} {planner|coordinator|organizer} Stacy Francis, president and CEO of Francis Financial in {New York|New York City} and a member of the CNBC Financial {Advisor|Consultant} Council.

That {may|might} {mean|imply|indicate|suggest} {moving to|transferring to|relocating to} {a new|a brand-new} {place|location}, {selling|offering} {a house|a home}, going right back to work and taking {a new|a brand-new} {job|task}.

Her {advice|guidance|recommendations|suggestions}: {Don’t|Do not} do it.

“{Give|Provide|Offer} yourself {a little bit|a bit} of {a pause|a time out} so that you have time to {allow|enable|permit} yourself to {start|begin} the {grief|sorrow} {process|procedure} {and that|which} you {give|provide|offer} yourself time to {navigate|browse} this {new|brand-new} {normal|typical|regular} {for yourself|on your own},” she {said|stated}.

“When you {have|have actually} been through {trauma|injury}, it is {very|extremely|really} {hard|difficult|tough} to {think|believe} {clearly|plainly}.”

2. {Seek|Look for} {help|assistance|aid}

damircudic|E+| Getty Images {Finding|Discovering} {professional|expert} {support|assistance}– through, {for example|for instance}, {a grief|a sorrow} {counselor|therapist} or therapist– can {help|assist} you {navigate|browse} the {mourning|grieving} {process|procedure}. {A financial expert|An economist}, {meanwhile|on the other hand}, can {help|assist} you through {money|cash} {issues|problems|concerns} {concerning|worrying} {insurance|insurance coverage}, wills, {debt|financial obligation} {and the like|and so forth|and so on}.

“Put yourself on {a path|a course} of not {only|just} {recovery|healing}, {but|however} to {eventually be|become} able to rebound,” {said|stated} Francis, who {specializes in|focuses on|concentrates on} {working with|dealing with} {widows and widowers|widowers and widows} and is {a certified|a licensed|a qualified} {grief|sorrow} {recovery|healing} {specialist|expert|professional} in The {Grief|Sorrow} {Recovery|Healing} {Method|Technique|Approach} {approach|method|technique}.

{Once|When|As soon as} you are {ready|prepared|all set}, you can {review|evaluate|examine} your {finances|financial resources} and reset.

3. {Understand|Comprehend} your {cash flow|capital}

The {first|very first} thing to do when it {comes to|concerns|pertains to} {finances|financial resources} is to {take a look|have a look} at what {money|cash} is {coming in|being available in|can be found in} and how that {may|might} have {changed|altered} {since|because|considering that|given that} your loss.

You {may|might} be {facing|dealing with} lower {income|earnings} without your {spouse|partner}’s {salary|income|wage}, or you {may|might} have some {additional|extra} funds through a life {insurance|insurance coverage} {payout|payment} or inheritance.

It is {really|truly|actually} {important|essential|crucial} to see where you are and to then, {once|when|as soon as} you have all of that {information|info|details}, {start|begin} to {create|produce|develop} that {new|brand-new} {road map|plan} for your {family|household}

Stacy Francis

president and CEO of Francis Financial

If you have {children|kids} under age 18, {be sure|make sure|make certain} to {apply for|request|make an application for|obtain|get|look for} spousal survivor {benefits|advantages} from Social Security, Francis {said|stated}. {{Also|Likewise}, {make sure|ensure|make certain} you are {collecting|gathering} any life {insurance|insurance coverage}|Make sure you are {collecting|gathering} any life {insurance|insurance coverage}} {money|cash} you {may|might} be entitled to, so {reach out|connect} to your {loved|liked|enjoyed} one’s {employer|company} to see if there was {coverage|protection}, {as well as|in addition to|along with} any {private|personal} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies}.

Another {potential|prospective|possible} source of {money|cash} {may|might} {come from|originate from} any unclaimed funds. Do a search on your state’s online unclaimed funds {site|website} for both you and your {loved|liked|enjoyed} one.

4. {Check|Inspect|Examine} your {expenses|costs|expenditures}

The coronavirus pandemic {has|has actually} {already|currently} {hit|struck} {people|individuals}’s {expenses|costs|expenditures}. Losing {a spouse|a partner} will {add to|contribute to} that.

You {may|might} {need|require} {extra|additional} {childcare|child care} or {therapy|treatment} sessions. On the other hand, you {may|might} see {a decrease|a reduction|a decline} in some {expenses|costs|expenditures}, like a payment for {a second|a 2nd} {car|vehicle|automobile|cars and truck}.

List {everything|whatever} and compare it to what you have {coming in|being available in|can be found in} and see what {needs|requires} to be {adjusted|changed}.

If you have {outstanding|exceptional|impressive} {credit card|charge card} {bills|expenses|costs}, {check with|consult|talk to|contact} your {creditor|lender|financial institution}. {Many|Numerous|Lots of} are {already|currently} {offering|providing|using} programs, like payment deferments or {a reduction|a decrease} in {interest rate|rate of interest|rates of interest}, to {help|assist} {people|individuals} {get through|make it through|survive} the pandemic.

5. {Navigate|Browse} medical {bills|expenses|costs}

filadendron|E+| Getty Images

If you are {left with|entrusted to|entrusted} high medical {bills|expenses|costs} in the wake of your {loved|liked|enjoyed} one’s death, {talk to|speak with|speak to|talk with} a medical billing and {health insurance|medical insurance} {expert|professional|specialist}, Francis {advises|recommends|encourages}.

That can {help|assist} you {truly|really|genuinely} {understand|comprehend} if these are {bills|expenses|costs} you {need|require} to pay or if your {health insurance|medical insurance} wasn’t billed {properly|correctly|appropriately|effectively}, with the {proper|appropriate|correct} medical coding.

“We{‘ve| have actually} {also|likewise} seen some {individuals|people} {be able to|have the ability to} {negotiate|work out} with their {health insurance|medical insurance},” she {said|stated}. “They {just|simply} {want to|wish to} {get paid|make money|earn money}.

“The last thing they {want to|wish to} do is have you {declare|state} {bankruptcy|insolvency|personal bankruptcy}.”

6. {Take stock of|Analyze} {finances|financial resources}

Get an understanding of what your {finances|financial resources} {look like|appear like} now.

That {includes|consists of} retirement and brokerage accounts, your {home|house}’s {value|worth}, your {mortgage|home loan|home mortgage} and any other loans you {may|might} have.

Taken together with your {expenses|costs|expenditures} and {cash flow|capital}, it will {help|assist} you form {a plan for|a prepare for} your {near-term and {long-term|long-lasting}|{long-term|long-lasting} and near-term} future and {could|might} {impact|affect} college, retirement and the rest of your life, Francis {said|stated}.

7. Your own estate {plan|strategy}

If you lost your {spouse|partner} and have {children|kids}, {appoint|designate|select} guardians as {soon|quickly} as possible, even if you aren’t {ready|prepared|all set} to {take a look|have a look} at your overall will and estate {plan|strategy}, {said|stated} New York-based estate-planning {attorney|lawyer} Robert Steele.

When things {settle down|calm down|settle}, you can then {update|upgrade} your will and {beneficiaries|recipients} on any retirement {plans|strategies} or {insurance policies|insurance coverage|insurance plan}.

“Your will, your estate {plan|strategy} is going to {most likely|probably|more than likely} {need|requirement} to {change|alter}, {especially|particularly|specifically} if you have {younger|more youthful} {children|kids},” Steele {said|stated}.

That {includes|consists of} {creating|producing|developing} a trust for your kids if they are young, so they {don’t|do not} {receive|get} {the money|the cash} outright, and {naming|calling} a trustee to {oversee|supervise|manage} it.

{Additionally|Furthermore|In addition}, if you lost your {spouse|partner}, {he or she|she or he} was {likely|most likely} your health-care proxy and had power of {attorney|lawyer}. You’ll {have to|need to} {choose|select|pick} another {person|individual} “who you trust and {value|worth},” Francis {said|stated}.

In the end, {coming up with|developing|creating} {an overall|a general|a total} {plan|strategy} will {help|assist} you {move forward|progress|move on} both {emotionally|mentally} and {financially|economically}.

“While it {might|may} be {frightening and {scary|frightening}|{scary|frightening} and frightening} to {look at|take a look at} all of this, it is {really|truly|actually} {important|essential|crucial} to see where you are and to then, {once|when|as soon as} you have all of that {information|info|details}, {start|begin} to {create|produce|develop} that {new|brand-new} {road map|plan} for your {family|household},” Francis {said|stated}.

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