listen closely my dear if your husband passes away first there are five costly mistakes that can destroy everything you've worked so hard for and too many widows say yes to them without even realizing until it's too late I don't want that for you by the end of this video you'll know exactly what to avoid so you can protect your future your finances and your peace of mind stay with me because number five is the one most women regret the most and before we start do me a favor hit that like button and subscribe and in
the comments tell me what's the best advice you ever received about money or grief I'd love to hear it mistake one rushing to sell the house the first mistake and it's one that happens so often it breaks my heart is rushing to sell the house I get it sweetheart after your husband passes walking through that front door feels like a punch in the stomach every room carries his memory his chair by the window the spot at the table where he read the newspaper every morning the smell of his cologne lingering in the closet it hurts
it feels too big too empty too full of memories you're not ready to face and right then people even the ones who love you start giving advice they say things like it's too much house for you now or you don't need the upkeep at your age they mean well but here's the truth no one tells you selling that house too quickly can cost you far more than you think when grief takes hold our judgment gets cloudy decisions we think are practical turn out to be emotional and the real estate agents oh they can smell a
rushed sail from a mile away you might think you're getting a fair offer but trust me they know you're vulnerable they know you want out that desperation it costs money I've seen women lose tens of thousands because they sold too soon and you know what happens then a year later once the dust settles and the grief shifts they regret it they realize that home was more than bricks and mortar it held their history their children's laughter their love story and now it's gone because they made a permanent decision in a temporary state of heartbreak so
hear me now don't sell your home in the first year give yourself space time to breathe time to think clearly you might find that what you needed wasn't to sell but just to change a few things move some furniture make it feel like yours again you'll thank yourself later mistake number to Two trusting the wrong people with your money the second mistake oh it happens quietly almost sneaks up on you and by the time you realize what's happening it's often too late it's trusting the wrong people with your money you see when your husband passes
the world around you changes overnight suddenly people you haven't heard from in years come out of the woodwork distant relatives old friends even so-called financial advisers you never met when your husband was alive they all start circling some come with smiles others with suitcases full of paperwork and they all say the same thing I just want to help but here's what I've learned not everyone offering to help actually means it some see a grieving Widow and smell opportunity they count on your sadness your confusion your desperation to make sense of everything and in that vulnerable
state it's easy too easy to say yes yes you can handle my finances yes I trust you yes take care of it because I just can't deal with one more thing right now I'm begging you don't do it don't hand over your bank accounts don't sign papers you don't understand don't let someone even family gain control over what you and your husband built together you'd be shocked at the number of widows who've lost everything within months not because they were foolish but because they trusted the wrong person at the wrong time if someone offers to
manage your money fine but get it in writing check their credentials ask for a second opinion heck ask for a third and remember this a good adviser a good family member someone who truly loves you they won't mind you double-checking they'll welcome it your money is your lifeline now protect it like your life depends on it because in many ways it does mistake L three take making the pension or insurance payout all at once now let me tell you about mistake number three and this one feels like a blessing at first but it's a trap
a big one it's taking your husband's life insurance or pension pay out all at once see when your husband passes suddenly there's this big check with your name on it maybe it's 50,000 100 $200,000 sitting in your account and for a brief moment it feels like relief like okay maybe I'll be all right and then the calls start coming financial planners you've never heard of investment opportunities family members with new business ideas friends who suddenly need a loan everyone sees that lump sum and they all want a piece even you might start thinking maybe I
should do something big buy that new car take that trip give the kids a little gift and before you know it that money which was supposed to carry you through the rest of your life is gone gone just like that I've seen it my dear too many times and what's worse no one tells you that once it's gone there's no more coming that payout wasn't a windfall it was meant to replace a lifetime of your husband's hard work a lifetime of paychecks you'll never see again and here's what many don't know you don't have to
take it all at once you can choose to stretch it out monthly payments annuities something steady predictable something that gives you breathing room because when you take it all at once you don't just risk spending it you risk losing government benefits increasing your taxes and making decisions you wouldn't make if you weren't grieving don't let that payout become a curse instead of the safety net it was meant to be slow down get advice from someone you trust someone qualified someone with nothing to gain that money is your security Now treat it with the care and
respect it deserves because once it's gone my dear it's gone mistake refor co-signing loans or giving large gifts out of guilt now mistake number four is one I've seen ruin more than a few widows and it's heartbreaking because it usually comes from a good place a mother's heart or a grandmother's soft spot it's co-signing loans or handing out large gifts to family out of guilt see after your husband passes there's this strange pressure that sets in you start questioning everything did I do enough for the kids do the grandkids know I love them will anyone
stick around if I'm not helping them and then like clockwork someone comes to you a son a daughter maybe a grandchild and they've got a problem only you can solve Mom I just need you to co-sign on this house it's a good investment Grandma my business is about to take off if I can just get a little help and you still grieving still raw you say yes because you love them because you want to be needed because you think it's what your husband would have wanted but here's what they won't tell you sweetheart the moment
you co-sign it becomes your debt if they stop paying if things go sideways they're not coming after your son or grandson no they're coming for you your credit your savings the roof over your head I know it feels cruel to say no I know it feels like turning your back on your family but protecting yourself is not not selfish it's smart you spent a Lifetime Building your security don't gamble it away now trying to solve everyone else's problems and Gifts oh I've seen widows drain their accounts trying to make things right handing out chunks of
their husbands life insurance thinking it'll bring them closer to their family but let me tell you something I learned the hard way money doesn't buy love it doesn't buy loyalty and once it's gone those same people they're not lining up to take care of you when you need it so before you sign anything before you give away a penny stop think and ask yourself if my husband were standing right here what would he say I think we both know the answer mistake number five not updating legal documents and beneficiaries immediately now this last one mistake
number five it's Sneaky it's the kind of thing that doesn't feel urgent until it's too late it's failing to update your legal documents and beneficiaries right away look I know paperwork is the last thing you want to think about after losing your husband it feels cold transactional almost disrespectful you want time to grieve not sit in some office changing names on forms but here's the truth if you don't handle it fast someone else will and chances are it won't go the way you think old Wills outdated power of attorney forms beneficiaries still listing your husband's
name all of it becomes a legal mess the moment you're gone and when that happens it's your kids your grandkids fighting over what's left I've seen it families torn apart siblings never speaking again just because mom never updated the paperwork and don't think the government won't swoop in if your estate isn't set up right if your beneficiaries aren't clear the state can decide who gets what not you not your family the vi State the worst part sometimes ex-spouses estranged relatives even people you haven't seen in decades end up with your money because their name was
never removed from an old policy or account it's a nightmare one you can avoid call an attorney update your will update every single beneficiary the life insurance the bank accounts the retirement funds make sure it all reflects your current wishes not what was true 30 years ago it might feel cold now but trust me it's the kindest thing you can do for the people you love you'll sleep better knowing everything is in order no surprises no fighting no heartbreak later on handle it now because tomorrow isn't promised my dear my dear I know this is
hard to think about but protecting yourself after your husband passes is one of the bravest things you'll ever do avoid these five mistakes and you'll be able to grieve heal and live the rest of your life the way you deserve if you found this helpful please like this video subscribe to the channel and share it with another woman who might need to hear this today and don't forget sign up for my free Savvy senior newsletter where I share weekly tips just like these to help you stay smart safe and strong in your golden years the
link is below you take care of yourself all right you're stronger than you know
