Solutions Tailored to Widows Like You
Losing a spouse changes every part of life – including how you approach your financial future. At Mercer Advisors, we offer personalized solutions that address the unique financial needs widows face, from navigating estate matters and adjusting investment strategies to help secure income for the years ahead.
Our goal is to simplify complexity, help you regain confidence, and build a plan that supports both your immediate needs and your long-term goals.
One Team. Your Goals. Total Confidence.
You have the freedom to shape your financial life. We’ll help you make it happen, with a dedicated advisor and a unified team that understands your unique goals.
Because your finances work better when they work together.
Specialized Services for Widows
- Empathetic support to help ease emotional and financial burdens.
- Assistance with claiming survivor benefits and maximizing eligibility.
- Tailored tax strategies, including filing as a qualified widow or single filer.
- Rebalancing portfolios to align with new goals and risk tolerance.
- Reviewing wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to reflect new priorities.
- Developing strategies for consistent income and financial stability.
- Partnering with estate attorneys and CPAs to help streamline decisions.
- Helping ensuring long-term security for loved ones.
Mercer Advisors is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice to clients. All estate planning document preparation and other legal advice is provided through select third parties unaffiliated to Mercer Advisors. Tax preparation and tax filing are a separate fee from our investment management and planning services.
A Family Office Powered
by Women, For Women
With women comprising nearly 50% of our client-facing team, we’re distinctively positioned to help more women achieve financial success.
We’ve adapted the sophisticated, time-tested strategies used by ultra-high-net-worth individuals to help women like you take control of their financial future.
A unified in-house team
of planners, investors, accountants, and estate strategists that designs — and executes — your financial plan.
A hand-picked advisor
who is focused on serving you, not on finding new clients.
An institutional-grade portfolio
personalized to you and managed by a team of 100+ investment professionals, not just one advisor.
A boutique fiduciary with national strength
that combines intimate service and sophisticated capability, and only acts in your best interest.
Mercer Advisors offers the strength of a large national firm with the personal touch you expect from a local office.
Read Reviews from our Clients
Helping families like yours for 40 years and counting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In the first 29 days following the loss of a spouse, focus on completing only the essential tasks to manage financial and legal matters. Reserve the remainder of your time for grief and healing. These steps provide a foundation for addressing immediate financial and legal responsibilities:
- Notify employer and retrieve personal effects.
- Obtain death certificates (5–10 copies).
- Contact VA and/or Social Security Administration for benefits.
- File will for probate with an attorney.
- Cancel health insurance and ensure dependent coverage.
- Make life insurance and retirement account claims.
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As a widow, your tax filing status will change, but not immediately. If you do not remarry by December 31 of the year your spouse passed away, you can still file a joint tax return for that year, which allows for larger deductions and exemptions. For the following two years, you may qualify to file as a “qualified widow,” maintaining the same tax benefits as married filing jointly, provided you meet specific requirements. It’s important to consult with a tax advisor to navigate these changes.
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We believe in simple, transparent fees. As a fee-based fiduciary, we can remain focused on doing what’s best for you, not commissions.
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Deciding whether to keep or sell investments after losing a spouse should align with your long-term financial goals and risk tolerance. Consider potential tax implications, such as capital gains taxes, and whether you feel confident managing your accounts independently. Consulting with a wealth advisor who has experience working with widows can help provide clarity and a strategy tailored to your needs.
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To update your estate plan after a spouse’s death, begin by revisiting your will, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney to reflect your new circumstances and wishes. Work with an estate planning attorney to address probate, retitling of assets, and any necessary updates to trusts. Additionally, consider reviewing your financial and legacy goals to help ensure your plan aligns with your long-term vision and provides clarity for your heirs.
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At Mercer Advisors, the phrase “unified in-house team” refers to our integrated group of professionals — financial planners, investment managers, tax advisors, estate strategists, insurance specialists, and other professionals — who collaborate to design and execute your comprehensive financial plan. This unified approach helps ensure all aspects of your financial life are working together.
