Major life events are often the catalyst for equally sizable financial decisions, so most advisors are well versed in what it takes to help their wealthy clients prepare for and manage key milestones. Some events, however, happen without warning, such as death or divorce. Unwelcomed circumstances such as these require a special approach. Late last year, I moderated a Financial Advisor webinar with Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, a Janus wealth psychology expert, on this very subject. In the following interview, Kingsbury, the author of How to Give Financial Advice to Women and How to Give Financial Advice to Couples, tells Private Wealth readers what advisors can expect from their grieving clients and how to engage most effectively with women who are facing difficult life transitions.
Grove: What should advisors know about women in grief?
Kingsbury: It is important to understand the stress and emotional impact of losing a significant other. While everyone grieves differently, advisors need to know that a grieving client may experience a range of emotions, including shock, anger, sadness and even relief—especially when the client was a primary caregiver for an elderly spouse—over the next year. Advisors should work to normalize the client’s emotional reactions and provide plenty of time and space for the client to talk about her loss and any financial concerns she may have related to it.
Full article on Helping Women Deal With Death And Divorce via Helping Women Deal With Death And Divorce.
