Financial Implications of Widowhood

Women typically outlive men by five years. When you lose your mate, full financial responsibility lands in your lap. Sorting out how to support yourself while grieving your loss is stressful.

Widowhood means financial burden. But, it also stimulates resilience and inner courage to conquer these complex financial matters.

Women wield their financial power differently from men. They are more likely to invest in social impact causes and things that are dear to them. They look for performance and security while putting their money where their mouths are.

Tips for Widows & Widowers

  • You have to file as a beneficiary for your spouse’s retirement account.
  • Get your spouse’s logins and passwords for all shared accounts.
  • Be sure you have the permissions to access your spouse’s trust.
  • Know that you may endure probate.
  • File for survivor’s social security.
  • Sit down and discuss everything while your spouse is alive if possible.
Listen as Maddy Dychtwald joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share the financial impact of widowhood.


Sponsor:

Smarty Pants Vitamins
Financial Implications of Widowhood
Featuring:
Maddy Dychtwald, Business Advisor
Maddy DychtwaldMaddy Dychtwald is an internationally recognized author, entrepreneur, business advisor, and thought leader on the age wave—and how longevity and the ascent of women are transforming the marketplace, the workplace, the retirement scape, and our lives. Since co-founding Age Wave more than 30 years ago, Maddy and her team have worked with more than half of the Fortune 500 in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and medical technology to financial services and marketing.

Maddy has led numerous nationwide studies on the subject of women and money. She is the author of three books and is a member of the Wall Street Journal’sExpert Panel on Retirement where she is regularly featured.  She also has appeared in prominent national media, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, Newsweek, Time, U.S. News & World Report, Fox Business News, CNBC, and NPR. 

She is one of the founders of the nonprofit Women Against Alzheimer’s and serves as a board member of the BrightFocus Foundation. She is also a founding member of the XPRIZE Alzheimer’s Braintrust gearing up to globally crowdsource innovative solutions to end Alzheimer’s disease.