What Every Husband Should Do Before It’s Too Late

 

Most of us don’t like to think about it, but one day, one of us will be left behind. And for most couples, that person will be her.

The median age a woman becomes a widow is 59.4 for a first marriage and 60.3 for a second marriage, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Half of widows over 65 will outlive their husbands by 15 years. Eighty percent of men die married, while 80% of women die single.

The death of a spouse can be more devastating for the survivor if the deceased spouse was the financially knowledgeable partner in the marriage. The death of that spouse unleashes an avalanche of financial decisions and tasks in a time when they need space and time to grieve. That’s why many widows report “brain freeze,” finding it tough to remember details and to make decisions. All the while, experts exhort us to avoid making any BIG decisions in the midst of a crisis. Common advice is to put at least a year’s distance between the experience and making the big decision. But when a spouse dies, few people have the luxury to grieve.

Today, on Hot Springs Village Inside Out, I want to talk to the husbands, especially those of us in or near retirement, about something that’s not just financial. It’s practical, but it’s much more than that. It’s deeply loving to prepare your wife for widowhood.

 

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