Financial advisers can help bereaved cope with loss

Bereaved spouses who have a relationship with a financial adviser can find the support invaluable in recovering their family’s financial bearings, according to a new survey. 

The poll, conducted by the New York Life Foundation and the National Alliance for Grieving Children, surveyed 548 parents who lost a spouse or partner and who still had children under the age of 19 at home.

Nearly six in 10 agree that losing a spouse had significantly impacted their standard of living and reported trouble managing household finances, while 49% of the respondents say they were not prepared for the financial impact of the spouse’s death. Two-thirds say they find it harder to “put money away” for the future. 

Beyond day-to-day living expenses, those surveyed also find it’s harder to save money for their children’s education (62%), to get affordable health care (48%) and to obtain more life insurance (30%).

Two-thirds of the bereaved spouses say they don’t have an adviser, although 63% say they wish they had one. Forty-six percent say they have difficulty finding someone they could trust for financial advice. However, the majority of those who had an adviser say the adviser was very helpful in dealing with financial matters.

—      Michael Cohn writes for Financial Planning, a SourceMedia publication.

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