Financial Planning and Resources for Surviving Spouses
Because Life Can Change in a Heartbeat
The last thing any couple wants to talk about is what will happen to the surviving spouse when their partner dies. It is only natural to put off financial and estate planning until it is absolutely necessary.
Being a surviving spouse is something Jim Williams understands all too well. It is why he has chosen to specialize in financial management for surviving spouses.
After Jim lost his first wife, Linda, in 2001, it became important for him to help people who were going through a similar experience. His intimate understanding of what his clients are experiencing enables him to offer guidance and solutions to lessen financial stress and answer the inevitable question, “What do I do now?”
In 2003, Jim married Laurie, herself a widow. Together, they discussed how Jim could best apply his financial expertise to assist people who were experiencing the loss of a spouse. Out of this discussion came a new focus—financial planning for surviving spouses—which Jim describes as “using my experiences to help others get through difficult times.”
Jim understands that being a “surviving spouse” can involve different stages and circumstances, each of which requires professional financial advice. He applies his expertise to assist:
- Loving couples who want to plan ahead to make sure their spouse will be well taken care of.
- Couples faced with the imminent death of one spouse (usually through illness).
- Widows and widowers who are going through the grief and adjustment stage after the death of a spouse.
- Surviving spouses who are “moving on,” either as singles or through remarriage.
It’s not about the money – it’s about life! When faced with uncertainty and the emotional impact of the loss of a spouse, knowing what needs to be addressed immediately and what can be dealt with later is very important. A key is not to make rash and irrevocable decisions that you will later regret, once you are able to think clearly again.
Let Jim Williams Financial help you make the right financial decisions, such as putting an estate plan in place or ensuring that your existing estate is current. Facing these tough issues now can bring much needed peace of mind during the demanding and difficult period that follows the loss of a loved one.
Surviving Spouses Resources
We are often asked for recommendations for common services ranging from home maintenance to accounting to attorneys. Following is a list we hope you will find useful. As always your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Certified Public Accountants
Britt W. Ponte, CPA—734-261-7595
BrittWPonteCPA@1networth.com
Donald W. Strom, CPA—734-973-0420
DonaldStrom@hotmail.com
Government
Medicare—(800) 663-4227
www.medicare.gov
Social Security Administration—(800) 772-1213
www.ssa.gov
Veterans Affairs—(800) 827-1000
www.va.gov
Grief and Loss
WidowNet
www.widownet.org
(This site was very helpful personally and highly recommended!)
AARP
www.aarp.org
Grief Net
www.griefnet.org
(For anyone experiencing bereavement)
Home Repair Services
Expert Home Maintenance, Denise Walsh — (248) 348-9733
Email: Denise@ExpertHomeMaintenance.com
www.ExpertHomeMaintenance.com
Vintage Services, Fred Sanchagrin—(734) 564-6100
Handyman Services
Email: vintagebrick@gmail.com
Speedy Door, James Stockbridge—(866) 640-3667
Garage Door and Garage Door Opener Service
Legal
Joseph Overaitis— Attorney
(734) 591-6965
Email: Joveraitis@aol.com
P. Mark Accettura—Attorney
(248) 848-9409
Accettura & Hurwitz
The Elder Law Institute of Michigan, PLLC
www.elderlawmi.com
Christopher J. Berry - Attorney
Witzke Berry PLLC
www.witzkeberry.com
chris@witzkeberry.com
Support and Personal Coaching
Laurel Felsenfeld, BSN RN CRRN CCM
Aging Answers
Our Mission is to guide seniors and their families to health care and daily living support solutions that best fit their needs, values and resources.
248-855-1072
www.aginganswers.info
info@aginganswers.info
Gilda’s Club
Our Mission - To create a community where men, women and children with all types of cancer and their families and friends can enhance the quality of thier lives through support, networking and education.
"It’s not what happens in life...it’s how you handle it." -Gilda Radner
3517 Rochester Road
Royal Oak, MI 48073
248-577-0800
www.gildasclubdetroit.org
All Links on this page are third party sites, and are not affiliated in any way to Jim Williams Financial or Cambridge Investment Research.
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