There is a Clear Path Forward
We'll Help You Find It
Financial Planning for Widows and Widowers
Losing a spouse changes everything — including financial decisions that can't always wait. Survivor benefits, estate administration, account transfers, and income restructuring all need attention at a time when attention is the last thing you have to give. You don't have to figure it out all at once, and you don't have to figure it out alone.
The financial complexity that follows loss is real - and navigating it doesn't have to be overwhelming
Survivor benefits and pension elections have deadlines that aren't always obvious
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) survivor benefits, workplace pension survivor options, and life insurance claims all have specific timelines and processes. Knowing what to apply for and when protects income you may not realise you're entitled to.
Estate administration involves financial decisions most surviving spouses never faced
Probate, account transfers, Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) rollovers, and the tax implications of the estate all need to be managed — often while grief is still acute.
The financial plan needs to be rebuilt around one income and one life
nvestment accounts, insurance coverage, cash flow, and retirement income all need to be restructured to reflect a fundamentally different financial reality. There is no timeline pressure — but there is genuine value in doing it thoughtfully and with the right guidance.
This is where we help you find your footing
At Modern Vision Planning, William Chan works with widows and widowers who need someone to help them understand what needs to happen, in what order, and at a pace that works for them. From estate administration and survivor benefits to rebuilding a financial plan as an individual — every conversation is led with patience and every recommendation is made entirely in your interest. For widows and widowers specifically, that means advice that reflects not just the financial transition but the personal one. If you are unsure where to start, our guide to finding a financial planner is a helpful first step.
You don't have to have all the answers - that's what we're here for
The clients we work with through this have come in not knowing where to begin. What they found was someone who did — and a path forward that felt manageable, one step at a time.
