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SBC Surviving Spouse Planning Education
In about 2 minutes, see which money questions are still open and what to look at first.
See your open money questions and a starting point, one question at a time.
The quiz takes about 2 minutes. This is education, not advice.
Written for surviving spouses who want to understand how retirement accounts, investments, income and taxes fit together. Every reader is welcome, whatever the size of the household's savings. Home and business equity are separate from investable assets.
Four short guides, matched to what you want to know
- I want to know what to gatherA steady, ordered list you can return to.Read
- I want to understand incomeSurvivor benefits, pensions, and cash flow.Read
- I want to avoid hard-to-undo choicesRetirement accounts and tax filing basics.Read
- I want to connect investments and legacyCash flow, investments, beneficiaries and your own plans.Read
If bills stay at $4,000 a month and income falls from $5,500 to $3,800, the monthly gap is $200. Example only; your numbers will differ.
Your first step: pick one small thing to read
You are welcome to read a little, save a question for later, or simply start with the checklist. There is no required order and no need to share your story.
How income, IRAs, taxes and legacy fit together
Begin with income continuity and monthly cash flow, then compare inherited and spousal IRA choices, tax filing questions, investments, beneficiary updates and your own legacy. Use these guides to prepare a coordinated set of questions for a financial professional, an estate attorney and a CPA or tax professional. The CFPB and IRS resources support the financial education; local court and legal-help links are supporting navigation, not the focus of a financial review.
Sources for this section
- CFPB: Help for surviving spouses(opens in a new tab)Last checked 2026-11-08
- IRS Publication 590-B: Inherited IRAs and distributions(opens in a new tab)Last checked 2026-11-08
- IRS: Deceased person and estate responsibilities(opens in a new tab)Last checked 2026-11-08
What this site is, and what it is not
SBC Surviving Spouse Planning Education provides general education, not personalized legal, tax, or investment advice. Reading this website does not create a professional relationship.
Six guides on benefits, taxes, cash flow and who can help
- A little clarity, at your pacePensions, life insurance, and the estateOrganize employer pension, life insurance, and estate settlement questions after a spouse dies, without assuming every asset follows the same process.
- A little clarity, at your paceTax filing after the year changesLearn about year-of-death filing, qualifying surviving spouse status, and income and withholding changes using official IRS guidance.
- A little clarity, at your paceFinding a clearer picture of your financesWork through cash flow, debt questions, investments, beneficiary updates, and your own legacy after a spouse dies with source-linked educational guidance.
- A little clarity, at your paceWho can help with which questions?Understand the different roles of an estate attorney, CPA or tax professional, and financial professional, and how to ask about qualifications and conflicts.
- A little clarity, at your paceOfficial resources, in one placeFind official SSA, IRS, CFPB, state court, tax agency, and aging resources for surviving spouse planning, with dates and transparent source links.
- A little clarity, at your paceQuestions you may be carryingRead plain-language answers about Social Security, IRA choices, filing status, debt, and SBC's educational role after a spouse's death.