Personal Transition Planning in Denver, CO

Losing a spouse is a heartbreaking experience, and it often brings a wave of financial tasks at a time when you are grieving. We approach widows and widowers with great care and patience. In the immediate term, we help you navigate the financial to-do list after a loss: filing life insurance claims, notifying financial institutions, updating account ownership, and understanding any survivor benefits (for example, Social Security survivor benefits or pension continuation). We’ll sit down with you to reassess your income and expenses in this new reality. For instance, if your spouse had a pension that is now reduced or gone, we need to adjust your budget accordingly. If you received life insurance proceeds, we’ll guide you on how to invest or use those funds wisely to support your future. We also advise on important decisions like whether to keep or sell the family home – we’ll run the numbers, but also give you space to consider the emotional aspect. Many surviving spouses worry if they’ll be “OK” financially on their own; our role is to create a revised financial plan that demonstrates how to make the resources you have last for the long term. This might involve consolidating accounts for simplicity, reevaluating your risk tolerance now that your situation has changed, and making sure your own estate plan is up to date (for example, naming new beneficiaries). Additionally, if you suddenly find yourself inheriting IRA accounts or investment portfolios that your spouse used to manage, we’ll help you understand them and take over management in alignment with your needs. Throughout this process, our priority is to ease your burden – you don’t have to make every decision at once. We encourage taking things one step at a time. By being a trusted partner during this difficult transition, we help ensure that finances are one less thing you have to worry about, and that the legacy your spouse left is honored and used in the way they (and you) would have wanted.

Sometimes transitions come in the form of a financial windfall – perhaps you’ve inherited money from a family member, or you received a significant payout from a legal settlement, or even won the lottery (it happens!). While such events are often positive or at least neutral in emotional terms, they can be overwhelming in practice. We provide guidance on how to handle a sudden influx of assets responsibly. One of the first things we advise is often to pause – park the money in a safe place temporarily while we help you formulate a plan. There can be a temptation to make big purchases or investments right away, but we want to ensure those moves fit into a long-term strategy. We’ll discuss your goals for this windfall: Does it change your retirement timeline? Does it allow you to pay off debt or help family? Are there tax implications (for example, inheriting a traditional IRA will require RMDs and taxes; inheriting property might involve deciding whether to sell or keep it)? We create a plan that might include investing the funds in a diversified portfolio, setting aside portions for specific goals (education funds for grandkids, a dream vacation home, etc.), and protecting a part for emergencies. If the windfall is large, asset protection considerations might come into play – we can talk about trusts or LLCs if needed to shield assets. For inheritances specifically, we also guide you through the estate settlement process from the beneficiary’s perspective: claiming accounts, understanding any estate or inheritance tax (note: Colorado has no inheritance tax), and retitling assets to your name. A windfall can significantly improve your financial security, but it also adds complexity and choices. Our job is to provide clarity and prudent advice so that this transition enhances your life in the long run rather than leads to regret. Many people who receive an inheritance wish to use it in a way that honors their loved one’s memory – we can help align that desire with sound financial decisions.

Life transitions come in many forms, and we’re here to assist with all of them. Perhaps you’re considering a career change or early retirement – we’ll evaluate if you can afford to retire early or what a new job (maybe with a pay cut but more happiness) would mean for your plan. Maybe you’re relocating – whether moving closer to family or seeking a different climate, we’ll analyze cost-of-living differences, update your budget, and even discuss how a move out of Colorado might affect your taxes or healthcare options. If you’re getting remarried later in life, that’s a joyful transition that also raises questions: how to merge finances or whether to keep them separate, and how marriage affects things like Social Security or pensions. We encourage open conversations on prenuptial agreements or estate plans in the case of blended families – sensitive topics, but ones we have experience navigating. On the flip side, if you’re a new single parent due to a life event, we help map out financial support for your children and obtain adequate insurance to protect them. Through all these varied scenarios, one thing remains constant: our commitment to be your steady financial partner. We blend technical expertise with empathy, knowing that numbers are just one part of the picture. By adjusting your financial roadmap to life’s changes, we ensure you stay on track toward your long-term goals, even if the route takes an unexpected turn. As a Denver-based firm, we also connect you with local resources when relevant – perhaps a local support group for widows, or a trusted attorney for estate changes, etc. You’re not alone in these transitions; we’ve helped many clients through similar journeys and will extend the same caring guidance to you.