State Treasurer

Coping with Unwanted Change...

Sudden, unwanted change can bring normal life to an unexpected stop.  It can be disorienting and create real emotional, physical and financial distress for you and your loved ones.  Difficult changes such as the loss of a spouse, the loss of a job, or a home, divorce and physical disability…how do you go about the process of recovery and rebuilding while simultaneously dealing with all the details? 

This site is designed to provide you with practical information, tips, tools, and helpful insight regarding some of the most common – and most difficult – unwanted or unexpected changes in life.   It walks you through critical first steps and then short- and long-term issues surrounding your newfound change so that you can gain a measure of control and make informed decisions that work for you and your family. 

The information in this site can help give you the best chance of understanding both the situation you’re (or a loved one is) currently facing as well as the financially-related decisions you will need to make and how to evaluate choices surrounding those decisions.  It provides links to other online resources and tools as well as lists of questions and worksheets you can use to compile information and review information in your own time to make your own decisions.

Dealing with an unexpected loss--and related financial decisions—are difficult by any measure.  However, by taking the time to understand your options, and how to work with organizations (i.e. lenders, insurance companies, etc.) as well as financial professionals (i.e. lawyers, insurance agents), you  and your loves ones you can avoid making choices that could inadvertently compound your loss and create additional financial stress.

Featured Articles

  • A Widow
    Scenario: Marilyn is a 51-year old widow, living in Delaware, supporting two teenagers. When her husband died unexpectedly, she had to return to the work force full-time.
  • Creating Financial Stability and Structure Without A Steady Paycheck
    As you begin to take charge of your finances, you may find that you need some professional help. For more information on available services, and how to work with financial professionals,
  • Blended Families
    Blended families—they used to be a “new” form of family.  Now they are increasingly the norm.

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  • Will They Need Help?
    IT'S ANYTHING BUT a sure bet. But before you help a parent or other elderly relative, sort through the long-term-care strategies.
  • Digging Out of Debt
    THE SECRET to paying off credit-card debt is really very simple: All you need to do is earn more than you spend, and apply the savings toward paying down your debt.

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