AFTER LOSING A SPOUSE MOVING FORWARD
When your spouse passes, confronting life as a widow or widower can come with complex emotions. However, with proper planning, you can lessen the financial burdens of this next phase. Start by creating a list of action items, and dole out responsibilities to your loved ones. Many will ask how they can help, and this can take stress off of you. For example, canceling subscriptions, transferring utility bills, and managing homeowner association payments may seem easy, but loved ones can tackle these for you. Other tasks, like transferring car loans or mortgages into your name, cannot be completed by someone else, so letting others help frees your time to focus on the important tasks. Once you have your list, determine which steps you need to take first. Shortly after your spouse’s passing, consult with their life insurance holder to receive your death benefit. This payment can cover funeral costs and other services. It’s also important to remember that the monthly income your spouse brings in after retirement doesn’t just disappear when they die. Social Security checks will likely continue to come in, so hold on to them or store them somewhere easily accessible. You will likely have to pay this back. If your spouse did not receive Social Security, you may still be entitled to a one-time death benefit. Social Security might take a while, so while you wait, focus on retirement. Contact the retirement account custodians as soon as possible to roll those assets over to you. Then, start the process of distributing your loved one’s assets and be prepared for a lengthy process. If you are the executor of your spouse’s will, probate might be necessary. However, with proper estate planning, you can avoid probate. The simplest way to move forward financially after a spousal death is to plan for it ahead of time. This will make tasks much easier, allowing you or your spouse to focus on mourning. If you have questions about how your retirement planning and wealth management may affect your partner after your death, call Patriot Wealth today.
THE BEST GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES
INGREDIENTS
Inspired by DinnerAtTheZoo.com
• 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning • 1 1/2 tsp garlic, minced • 2 lbs assorted vegetables, trimmed and halved
(asparagus, mushrooms, red onion, red bell peppers, baby carrots, and yellow squash are great on the grill)
• 5 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic. 2. Brush vegetables with olive oil and place in a large bowl. Top with lemon juice and seasoning mixture. Toss to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes but no longer than 2 hours. 3. Prepare the grill at medium-high heat. 4. Grill vegetables in batches, cooking 3–5 minutes on each side until browned and tender. (Carrots will cook longer, 6–9 minutes per side.) 5. Remove from the grill, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.
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