When Two Become One: Could Your Retirement Plan Survive The Death Of A Spouse?

<p>I want to ask you a difficult question today.</p><p>And if you're married, it's a question I think every retirement plan should answer:</p><p><b>Could your retirement plan survive your spouse dying?</b></p><p>Nobody likes talking about this.</p><p>I certainly don't.</p><p>But one of you is probably going to die first.</p><p>And when that happens, something interesting occurs financially.</p><p>People tend to assume:</p><p><b>‘Well, now there's only one person, so expenses will be cut in half.’</b></p><p>Really?</p><p>Does the property-tax bill get cut in half?</p><p>Does homeowners insurance?</p><p>Does the roof cost half as much to replace?</p><p>Does your internet provider say, ‘We're sorry about your husband—here's 50% off?’</p><p>No.</p><p>A lot of the household expenses continue.</p><p>But some of the household income may disappear.</p><p>Your tax situation can change.</p><p>Your Social Security can change.</p><p>Your Medicare costs can potentially change.</p><p>Your investment strategy may change.</p><p>And the person who wasn't managing the finances may suddenly be responsible for all of it...</p><p><b>while grieving.</b></p><p>So today we're going to do something uncomfortable—but incredibly important.</p><p>And then we're going to find out:</p><p><b>Does the retirement plan still work when two becomes one?”</b></p>