Are You on the Journey of Widowhood?

Emily learned the importance of financial clarity at a young age when her own family went through bankruptcy in the 1980s.  She remembers well the dramatic shift in lifestyle that occurred almost overnight and the difficult choices her family had to make to stay afloat.  Her family moved from a large home to a small rental home, moving every year or so to a smaller, more affordable location, and lost or sold virtually every asset they owned.  Whether it was enduring teasing at school after her parent’s cars were repossessed and her family had to move out of their home or watching her parents’ strain as they struggled to pay utility and rent bills each month, the pain of such a difficult experience inspired Emily to want to achieve financial clarity, security, and independence for herself, and to help others to achieve their own version of the same thing.  

Emily’s first experience with widows came early on as well – her grandmother was widowed in her early 60s when Emily’s grandfather unexpectedly died after heart surgery. Her grandmother was a resilient woman, and with sound advice, she was able to live comfortably until the age of 99. However, her grandmother’s experience was not without difficulty, as she struggled to make choices around the sale of real estate that held great emotional weight in the family and had to climb up the financial learning curve quickly, despite the grief she was experiencing.  It showed Emily that even the most resilient women need a team around them to give objective, clear advice and time to make decisions for the long term. 

After law school, Emily focused on estate planning and trust administration at a small firm in Connecticut. While practicing as an attorney, Emily had the privilege of working with widows and widowers to understand the estate process and how to move forward from a legal perspective.  One day, Emily had the good fortune to spend time with a recent widow, who expressed not only sadness but profound gratitude and joy when describing her husband, her eyes lighting up when telling Emily “any time he walked in, he lit up the room.  I am so grateful to have loved that man for 50 years.”  That personal moment made Emily long for more in-depth, on-going relationships with her clients that went beyond just the estate process.  She wanted to hear her clients’ stories and hold their hands through their life experiences, helping them to understand how to move forward after a massive life change.  Becoming a financial advisor has allowed Emily to do just that.

Emily’s practice now focuses on working with widows, divorcees, and families seeking a holistic approach to their finances.  She enjoys educating her clients and helping them to understand how to make solid decisions for their future, knowing that financial plans are just as unique as the people they’re built for.  Having previously been a yoga instructor, Emily is also aware of the importance of behavioral awareness and mindfulness in finance and how impactful integrating the whole self can be in financial planning.

Emily holds a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.  She has been in finance since 2009, having worked as an estate-planning attorney prior to becoming a financial advisor.  She lives in Easton, Connecticut, with her family and loves horseback riding, yoga, and cooking with her daughter.