Inspiring my "widowed sisters" and their advisors
Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT®
My Story from the Heart
When my husband died it felt like a big part of me died, too. I lost the love of my life and the dreams we had shared for our future. But that bitter unhappiness was the beginning of my new life ahead. After his passing, I wanted to use the gifts I had been given to help my âwidowed sistersâ and their advisors.
This quest became my personal calling, my new purpose to assist other women after the death of their spouse. It began with writing a guidebook for widows. Today it continues as I encourage advisors to work effectively with widows . . . helping these women feel financially secure as they move forward on their own, but not alone.
Sharing Insightful Expertise and Experience
Dr. Kathleen Rehl is a leading authority on widows and their financial issues. A widow herself, she's passionate about inspiring other widows and their advisors. Kathleen is the author of the multi-award-winning book, Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows. She's frequently invited to speak at industry meetings and conferences, in addition to events sponsored by advisors, foundations and other non-profit groups.
Kathleen's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Kiplinger's, Money, U.S. News & World Report, CNBC, Reuters, USA Today, AARP Bulletin and many more. The U.S. Army uses her guidebook in their Survivor Outreach Services centers worldwide.
After 17 years of providing personal financial advice, she now speaks, teaches and writes in her firm, Rehl WEALTH Collaborations LLC. Kathleen is also on the faculty of Sudden Money Institute and serves as Dean of Women at the Purposeful Planning Institute.
Kathleen has walked the walk about which she speaks and writes . . . focusing on women who have loved and lost inspiring them to move forward on their own . . . yet not alone. Her core values shape practical ideas and tools that assist professionals to understand and serve widowed clients well.
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Hel,
Thanks to 4,216 individuals who participated in what may be the most significant international study to date of widowed persons focused on resilience, relationships, and important financial matters. The experiences and insights of survey participants can help other widowed persons and professionals who work with widows. Their stories are very important and deeply appreciated!
"Helping Repartnered Widows Navigate Romance and Finance: The Role of Financial Advice," was published in the May 2017 issue of the Journal of Financial Services Professionals. A second article based on this research was published in the August 2017 issue of the NAPFA Advisor. A third report, Enhancing Financial Confidence Among Widows: The Role of Financial Professionals, was published in the December 2017 issue of the Journal of Financial Planning.
Our first scholarly study, "Widows Voices: The Value of Financial Planning," was published in the January 2016 issue of the Journal of Financial Service Professionals.
Why This Research Matters
These studies confirm that widowhood is a transition during which women want and need
to feel more confident about, and to understand more about, their financial situations.
Most respondents indicated that having a trusted financial advisor (one who is not only
competent, but also unbiased, honest and kind) can play a paramount role in achieving
both goals.
Yet, when you consider that 70% of widows fire their financial advisors after a spouse's
death, there's no question that many widows have trouble finding advisors who inspire
the kind of confidence they require to work through their transitions successfully.
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