Top Five Items to Prioritize When Your Spouse Is Ill

A man and woman embrace in their living room, looking concerned.

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In 2011, we brought on a client on the verge of retirement. Six months into retirement, her husband died of brain cancer.

While the wife had what most people would consider to be an estate plan in place, the financial nightmare that followed the human tragedy totally changed how I prioritize these conversations.

If your spouse is sick, these things may understandably be the furthest from your mind, but I view them as non-negotiables.

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1. Review or create your estate plan

Most people think of the will as a tool to transfer assets. And it can be. However, in this context, the most important parts of your legal documents don't have to do with asset transfer.

Financial powers of attorney (POAs) make sure you can pay the bills for the things that aren't titled in your name.
A medical POA allows you to make health care decisions on behalf of your spouse.
In the worst-case scenario, a will names a guardian for minor children.

2. Update titling and beneficiary designations

Most of our clients' assets transfer via trust or beneficiary designations, not their will. This is why it is so important to make sure these are set up according to your wishes.

Things like retirement accounts, life insurance policies and annuity contracts will default to your beneficiaries. Your home, your bank accounts and your taxable investment accounts will not.

Lastly, as you're going through the process of updating these things, it makes sense to simplify where possible. You may have five different 401(k)s that tell your career story. Modern brokerages have made it possible and easy to consolidate.

3. Review insurance policies

I bought term life insurance in 2014 and again in 2021. Outside of the death benefit and the terms, I can tell you very little about my policies. Even for those in the weeds, like me, once this box is checked, it is as easy to forget as your middle kid's birthday.

You'll want to review any long-term care, disability and life insurance policies to ensure you have adequate coverage but also to make sure that the address, billing information and beneficiaries are up to date.

4. Take inventory of assets and password access

When you visit an estate attorney, they will ask for an inventory of your assets and liabilities. There are plenty of software solutions out there that can help you track this and will help you make sure everything is accounted for if your spouse passes.

I rely on the financial planning software we use with our clients as it allows me to link my accounts from various institutions and updates them every day. You can access a free version of what we use online.

Beyond financial assets, you'll want to inventory your personal property. Things like jewelry can pass via a will or trust but often can be left via a side letter of instruction.

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Finally, you want to make sure you have online access if your spouse passes. Password apps, such as 1Password, are more popular than they were a few years ago and greatly simplify this, but do you know how to access your spouse's password app?

A spreadsheet or handwritten list also works, but similarly, you need to make sure you know how to access that list.

5. Plan for future cash flow

The death of a spouse, not surprisingly, can be extremely disruptive to your monthly cash flow. You'll drop to one Social Security benefit and may lose a pension, but you don't get an equal reduction in your expenses.

It's better if this is not a surprise after the fact. You'll want to make sure that you can maintain your current lifestyle or at least know what you would have to do to live a life you're comfortable with. The same software linked above can run these numbers.

This was a depressing but necessary column to write. If you've read this far, you may be in a tough spot. If there is anything I can do to help, my door is open.

Disclaimer

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

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After graduating from the University of Delaware and Georgetown University, I pursued a career in financial planning. At age 26, I earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. I also hold the IRS Enrolled Agent license, which allows for a unique approach to planning that can be beneficial to retirees and those selling their businesses, who are eager to minimize lifetime taxes and maximize income.