✪ Anna Became a Widow at 47 Part 2
Helping widows find their footing after loss. (Anna’s story a year later)
A year has passed since Anna first sat across from me, exhausted, grieving, and overwhelmed by a world she never expected to navigate alone. I remember her walking into that first meeting with a folder full of unopened mail and a heart full of fear.
Today felt different.
Anna came into my office with clarity—and even a bit of confidence she didn’t know she would ever feel again.
“You look lighter,” I said as she sat down.
“I feel lighter. I won’t pretend everything’s perfect… but I don’t feel lost anymore.”
“That’s the progress we were aiming for—not perfection, just direction. Tell me what feels different.”
“I think the biggest shift is knowing I can handle things. I won’t say I love dealing with finances now, but I’m not scared of them anymore.”
A year ago, even opening a bank statement brought Anna to tears. Today she was talking about Roth IRAs and investment allocations like someone who’d been doing it for years.
This was the turning point I see in widows—the moment they realized they were stronger than they had ever imagined.
Looking Back at the Year
1. Her Cash Flow Is No Longer a Mystery
A year ago, Anna didn’t know which bills were on auto-pay, what her monthly spending truly was, or how much income she needed to feel secure.
Today, she has a clean, simple system:
- A monthly spending plan that reflects her new life
- A cash reserve that covers six months of expenses
- Automatic transfers to her investment and savings accounts
She’s not wealthy by definition, but she’s stable—and that stability feels like breathing easier.
2. Her Accounts Are Organized and consolidated
Together, I helped her:
- Retitle joint accounts
- Move Mark’s retirement plan into an inherited IRA
- Consolidate stray accounts
- Update beneficiaries
- Establish her own will, health care proxy, and durable power of attorney
“I didn’t realize how vulnerable I was without those documents updated. Now I feel protected.”
3. She Made Thoughtful, Not Reactive, Decisions
The biggest emotional shift came from waiting.
She didn’t sell the house right away—she waited until she was ready to decide whether it still felt like home.
She didn’t rush to invest the life insurance proceeds—she let them sit safely until she felt clear-headed.
She didn’t change jobs—even though she thought she “should.” Now she’s glad she waited; the stability mattered more.
4. She Started Planning for Her Own Future
When we first sat down together a year ago, Anna told me she felt disloyal or selfish thinking about her own future.
Today, the future feels like something she deserves and definitely what Mark would have wanted for her.
She worked with me to:
- Increase retirement savings
- Develop an investment strategy she understands
- Map out Social Security survivor benefits
- Plan for eventual retirement on her own terms
“The future doesn’t scare me anymore. I even started thinking about taking a class again. Maybe photography. Something for me.”
“That’s awesome. I’m really proud of the progress you have made during this difficult time. Everyone moves forward at a different pace and there are no right or wrong timelines. I think I shared with you that my mom was 48 when my dad died and I firmly believe that event led me to what I do now.”
What Anna Wants Other Widows to Know
I asked her what she’d tell another woman sitting in the same spot she was in 12 months ago. Her answer came quickly.
“You don’t have to be strong all at once. You just have to take the next step. And it’s okay to ask for help—especially with the financial stuff. I thought it made me weak, but it actually made me stronger.”
“That’s great advice. Would you say that taking that first step was the hardest?”
“Absolutely. As you pointed out in our first meeting, nothing gets done all at once and we need to do only a few key things initially and the rest can come later when one has more strength.”
My Summary: How Widows Grow in the First Year
I have worked with widows for decades, and I have seen the same quiet transformation repeat itself:
- At first: fear, overwhelm, paralysis
- Then: clarity, stability, and small victories
- Finally: confidence, independence, and a sense of control
The grief remains, but the fog lifts—and in that clearing, strength appears.
“I never thought I’d feel this way again,” Anna said as we wrapped up the meeting.
“This is just the beginning. We’ve built the foundation together. Now you get to build the financial life you want going forward, and I’m here to help along the way”
“For the first time, that actually feels possible."
📞 If you or someone you know is going through what Anna has, let’s talk. We’ll take a fresh look at where you are today, where you want to be tomorrow, and how to bridge the gap—together.
Interested in learning more and running things by me? Click HERE to schedule a time for a complimentary call.
Rick Fingerman, CFP®, CDFA®, CCPS®, is a founding and managing partner at Financial Planning Solutions, LLC. He has been helping individuals and families make sound financial decisions for over 30 years. Rick has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Retirement Daily, Investment News, The Boston Globe, Investopedia, Financial Advisor Magazine, Financial Experts Network, and the Chicago Tribune.
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Know someone that recently loss a spouse? Here is an article that may be of interest.....The Loss of a Spouse
Disclaimer -An individual's experience may vary based on their individual circumstances. It is always best to seek the guidance of a Certified Financial Planner® practitioner before making major financial decisions.
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