Canada Life is committed to supporting Canadians through all life stages and events. We recently researched the impact becoming widowed has on women and their financial futures. There’s no question the loss of a spouse has a significant impact on both parties’ finances, but in 2022, there were far more widowed women living in Canada than there were widowed men. In that year, there were about 1.59 million widowed women and about 472,170 widowed men living in Canada1.
We surveyed a group of women who have experienced the loss of their spouse and asked them how prepared they were for this experience, the factors that were (or would have been) helpful during this time, the impact of professional financial advice and to share what advice they would give to other women who may experience a loss. Here’s what we learned.
Planning and preparing for the loss of a spouse
Losing a spouse is an emotionally challenging experience that can also have significant financial implications. While it's a topic most of us would rather avoid, the reality is that life is unpredictable, and being prepared for the unexpected is essential.
We surveyed a group of women who experienced the loss of their spouse and asked them how prepared they were for this experience. Unfortunately, many Canadian women are not financially prepared for the loss of their spouse. At the time of their spouse’s passing:
- Almost half (48%) didn’t have an advisor
- Nearly half (46%) also didn’t have life insurance
- 50% didn’t have a will or trust
- 74% didn’t have a financial plan in place
Adjusting financially after the loss of a spouse
The financial fallout from the loss of a spouse can be overwhelming, adding an additional layer of stress during an already difficult time.
- Approximately one third (27%) of respondents rated their financial well-being as worse after losing their spouse.
- A majority (54%) of respondents indicated they needed 6 months or more to financially adjust to the loss of their spouse, with 35% of respondents needing 1 year or more.
- 41% consulted with an advisor about their spouse’s estate (either before or after their passing).
After the loss of a spouse, some financial tasks can feel more challenging than others. Survey respondents rated the following tasks as moderately to extremely challenging upon becoming a widow:
- Adjusting to a single income: 49%
- Navigating legal and financial paperwork: 46%
- Being prepared for a financial emergency: 43%
- Navigating changes in government benefits: 42%
An advisor or planner can provide support during this time by helping to understand and navigate through the financial process and paperwork required.
Financially resilient widows
Factors linked to greater feelings of financial preparedness, confidence, and well-being
There are steps you can take today to help you to feel more prepared and confident, financially, after the loss of your spouse.
Survey respondents who endured the loss of a spouse but felt confident and prepared to adjust, financially, commonly indicated 3 practices they felt helped them the most during this time of transition.
- Being actively involved in their household finances throughout their marriage.
- Having a financial plan in place before the loss of their spouse.
- Prioritizing savings goals.
The role of an advisor
You don’t have to do it alone. Working with an advisor can help you prepare for and recover from the loss of a spouse. In our survey we found that couples who had worked with an advisor were more likely to have preparedness measures in place which made adjusting to the loss of their spouse less difficult, from a financial perspective.
Preparedness measures in place – couples who worked with an advisor prior to loss
- Wills and/or trusts: 67%
- Life insurance: 64%
- Financial plan: 45%
Preparedness measures in place – couples who didn't work with an advisor prior to loss
- Wills and/or trusts: 30%
- Life insurance: 40%
- Financial plan: 6%
The survey results also indicated that having an advisor is linked to less difficulty with:
- Adjusting to a single income
- Planning for long-term care and healthcare expenses
- General financial planning
In addition, many respondents indicated that having an advisor helped reduce stress and increase confidence in managing finances.
Widows share their advice
We asked women who have experienced the death of a spouse to share their advice for others who may navigate this experience. The most common advice we heard:
- Prioritize financial and estate planning
- Openly discuss household finances and take an active role together with your partner
- Get adequate life insurance coverage
- Work with an advisor