January always arrives with its promises of blank pages and new beginnings. Everyone’s talking about their financial resolutions - finally sticking to a budget, maxing out retirement contributions, paying off debt. These are all admirable goals, but if you’re reading this after a divorce, the loss of a spouse, or have a retirement decision looming, those resolutions might feel like they’re written for someone else’s life.
When you’re suddenly single after decades of marriage, every financial decision can become overwhelming. Which expenses were necessary? Which do I want to continue? Which CAN I continue? What needs to change now? Where do I even start?
When retirement arrives - whether by choice or circumstance - the question shifts from “Can I afford to stop?” to “How do I make sure I don’t outlive my money - or spend too cautiously and miss out on actually living?”
Whether your transition happened last month, last year, or is on the horizon, you have already proven you can navigate hard things. And although it may feel exhausting in the moment, you now get to redefine what financial security looks like to you and build a financial plan focusing on your new path.
This means looking at your assets, income, and expenses without the stories attached. It means stress-testing plans against YOUR biggest concerns so that you can sleep at night. It means evaluating should I be more conservative with my investments, or is this the time to think differently about risk? It means building flexibility into your financial structure because you’ve learned firsthand that life doesn’t follow timelines or a spreadsheet.
People who’ve been through major transitions have been forced to examine their priorities. You know what matters. You know what’s negotiable and what isn’t. And the answers look different for everyone, because what feels secure and right for you depends on what you’re trying to build now.
There is also a glimmer of excitement now that you’re in the driver’s seat. What financial decisions were you making for someone else’s dream? What becomes possible now that wasn’t before? Maybe it’s finally taking that trip you’ve been putting off. Maybe it’s downsizing to something more manageable and freeing up cash for things you enjoy. How can you use your finances to create a future designed by YOU! A good financial plan helps answer these questions—and often reveals possibilities you haven’t even considered yet.
In the past you would resolve to save an extra $100 a month or finally organize those receipts, but for 2026 your New Year’s resolution can be simpler: get a financial plan that reflects your life now. Not the life you had, not the life you thought you’d have - the one you’re living today. A good plan means having someone help you sort through the noise, see what’s truly possible, and make educated decisions about your future with confidence. That’s a resolution that actually makes life easier.
