NAVIGATOR 9 | How Do I Prepare My Spouse If Something Happens To Me?

A guide to love expressed through clarity, preparation, and shared understanding.

MEET TOM

Tom had always been “the organized one.” He paid the bills, managed the investments, handled insurance, and coordinated with advisors. His spouse, Linda, trusted him — not because she wasn’t capable, but because the system worked that way.

One afternoon, driving home, Tom imagined Linda sitting at the kitchen table with a stack of mail she didn’t recognize. Statements. Forms. Decisions she had never touched. The image stayed with him. He didn’t fear being gone. He feared leaving her overwhelmed — forced to navigate grief and complexity at the same time. Tom realized something important: Love isn’t just taking care of things while you’re here. It’s making sure life is navigable if you’re not. The real question wasn’t about control. It was about confidence.

“How do I turn what I know into something my spouse can carry forward with clarity and calm?”

WHAT THIS NAVIGATOR IS:

A practical, relational guide to ensuring your spouse understands finances, contacts, and next steps — so they are supported, not burdened, during a difficult transition. This Navigator is about shared understanding, not dependence.

A Checklist: To Help You Ask Some Helpful Questions.

Big-Picture Understanding

☐ Does my spouse understand our overall financial picture?

☐ Do they know what our money is for?

☐ Do they understand which decisions are urgent vs. patient?

Advisor & Support Awareness

☐ Does my spouse know our advisors by name and role?

☐ Do they know how to contact them?

☐ Have they met them in calm, non-crisis settings?

Access & Information

☐ Are account logins and access instructions documented securely?

☐ Do they know where important documents are stored?

☐ Is there a one-page financial map?

Cash Flow & Daily Life

☐ Does my spouse know how monthly bills are paid?

☐ Do they know where income comes from?

☐ Do they understand which expenses are automatic?

Legal & Administrative Readiness

☐ Are wills and/or trusts current?

☐ Are beneficiary designations aligned?

☐ Are powers of attorney in place and understood?

Insurance & Protection

☐ Does my spouse understand insurance coverage?

☐ Do they know how to file a claim if needed?

Simplification & Structure

☐ Have accounts been simplified where possible?

☐ Is the system designed to be manageable by one person?

Communication & Confidence

☐ Have we reviewed this information together?

☐ Does my spouse feel comfortable asking questions?

☐ Do they know it’s okay to take things slowly?

Continuity & Review

☐ Is this reviewed and updated annually?

☐ Would my spouse feel confident — not panicked — stepping in?

ACTION PLAN

1. Create a one-page financial map

2. Document access and login instructions securely

3. Review legal documents together

4. Walk through monthly cash flow calmly

5. Explain the why, not just the what

6. Simplify accounts and systems

7. Introduce your advisor team intentionally

8. Write a short “If Something Happens to Me” letter

9. Review and rehearse annually

WHAT TO DO NOW

Do This Today

• Write down the five things your spouse would need to know first if you were suddenly unavailable.

Do This This Month

• Create or update your one-page financial map.

• Organize access instructions securely.

• Review estate documents together.

• Introduce your spouse to your advisor team.

Do This This Year

• Simplify at least one part of your financial system.

• Revisit preparedness annually.

Schedule a Conversation: Meet with your Gentian advisor together to ensure clarity, confidence, and continuity — so neither of you ever has to navigate uncertainty alone.

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gentian@raymondjames.com| 12740 N River Road, Mequon Wi 53092 | PH 262-518-7575 

Opinions expressed in the attached article are those of the author/speaker and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. All opinions are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Gentian Financial Inc is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.