By: Avery Collins

When a woman loses her husband, the world can suddenly feel like it has been turned upside down. The emotional toll is staggering, and yet, at the same time, pressing financial questions often emerge sooner than expected. Where will the money come from? How do I pay the bills? Who can I trust to offer reliable advice?

Debra Morrison, CFP® and Grief Coach, has spent over three decades helping women navigate this intersection of profound grief and financial uncertainty. Debra has worked alongside numerous widows who approached her feeling overwhelmed, frightened, and uncertain about their financial situation after losing their spouse. Their questions often centered around the same themes: Do I have enough? Who can I rely on? Am I capable of making informed financial decisions?

Recognizing this recurring theme—and the vulnerability that many women face during these moments—Debra was inspired to write My Husband Died, Now What?: A Widow’s Guide to Grief Recovery & Smart Financial Decisions. The book serves as both a compassionate companion and a practical roadmap, offering widows tools to process their grief while also helping them avoid potential financial missteps.

Why She Wrote the Book

Debra’s 42+ years in Financial Planning and Asset Management, along with her Master’s Degree in Retirement Planning, provided her with unique insight into the challenges widows face. Time and again, she witnessed commissioned salespeople targeting grieving women, selling them high-commission annuities and life insurance policies that were not well-suited to their needs.

“Widows have enough to manage—they don’t need to be financially exploited,” she says. Through writing her book, Debra aimed to empower widows with knowledge, alert them to potential financial pitfalls, and guide them away from both the “widow tax” and the “pink tax.” Her hope: that no widow would have to cope with the added burden of financial regret.

Redefining Grief

For Debra, grief is not limited to the loss of a spouse. She defines it as the emotional reaction to any significant loss, encompassing a broad spectrum of emotions and responses. Importantly, she challenges the rigid notion that grief must follow a predictable sequence of “stages.”

“Grief is deeply personal,” she explains. “It’s important for individuals to tell their own stories, in their own time, without fear of judgment.” She encourages widows to give themselves grace, to let go of the desire for “a different yesterday,” and to approach each new day as a step toward healing—regardless of how messy or unpredictable the journey may be.

Why Widows Should Avoid Major Decisions Early

Perhaps one of Debra’s most insightful—and critical—pieces of advice is her “Six-Month No Decision Zone.” She recommends that widows refrain from making major financial or logistical decisions in the first six months following their husband’s death.

“This isn’t the time for major decisions,” she stresses. When emotions run high, logical thinking can be impaired. Attempting to balance grief and financial judgment in the same moment is often a recipe for mistakes.

Instead, she suggests that widows focus on mourning first. Only after some time has passed should they begin to consider important questions and seek guidance from trusted professionals. This intentional pacing not only helps protect widows from making rash decisions but also ensures they approach financial matters with clearer values and steadier emotions.

A Map for the First Year and Beyond

Debra’s ideal reader is someone who has recently become a widow or is still within the first year of her loss. She designed her book to serve both as a lifeline and a planning tool. “I want widows to read this book before making significant financial moves—before selling a home, before investing, before relocating,” she says.

Her approach emphasizes patience, conscious spending, and thoughtful planning. She acknowledges that adjusting spending habits takes time and that widows may change their intentions along the way. “It’s all part of the process,” she reassures. “No judgment here.”

Practical Guidance Meets Hope

The core of Debra’s book is balance: giving widows permission to grieve while also preparing them to regain financial confidence. She incorporates everyday analogies into her teachings, making financial concepts more accessible and free of jargon. This approach provides widows with an approachable “on-ramp” into the world of finance—something many women may have felt excluded from or misled about for most of their lives.

By advocating for widows to work with a Fiduciary CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™—someone who does not sell products, accept commissions, or have any interests other than serving the client’s best interests—Debra offers a safer path forward. These professionals act as guides, coordinating the widow’s team of advisors (CPA, attorney, insurance agents) to ensure that all aspects of her financial life are aligned with her best interests.

What’s Next for Debra

While My Husband Died, Now What? has become one of her most impactful projects to date, Debra shows no signs of slowing down. She is currently updating her earlier primer, Common Sense Money Guide for Women, and completing a new book on the five components of wealth. Additionally, she continues to speak on podcasts and live stages, where she enjoys the exchange of energy with her audiences.

“My goal is always transformation,” she says. “Time is short, and I want people to leave my talks feeling motivated to live their legacies—not just leave them behind.”

A Legacy of Compassion and Clarity

Ultimately, Debra’s work goes beyond money. It is about dignity, respect, and hope. She wants widows to know that they are not alone, that their grief is valid, and that their financial future can be secure.

Her greatest hope? That fewer grieving women are subjected to careless or insensitive remarks, and that Americans, as a society, learn how to better support one another through profound loss.

With My Husband Died, Now What?, Debra has offered widows a unique gift: a book that honors their pain while providing them with the tools to move forward. Her message is both simple and powerful—grief and finances may intersect, but with patience, knowledge, and the right guidance, widows can move forward with clarity, strength, and hope.

For more information about My Husband Died, Now What?: A Widow’s Guide to Grief Recovery & Smart Financial Decisions, or to purchase the book, visit Amazon.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as financial, legal, or professional advice. Individuals seeking specific advice related to their unique circumstances should consult with a qualified professional, such as a financial advisor, attorney, or grief counselor, before making any significant decisions.