Life Happens: How Will Your Financial Plan Be Impacted?

Today’s Prep:

We all know at one point or another something is bound to happen that can throw off your financial plan. How will you address these possible scenarios when it comes to your financial plan?


 

Equipping Points:

While we may hope for the best, life happens and sometimes things don’t go as we’d like. What do you do to prepare as best as possible within your financial plan?

Whether you are planning on it or not, you might move to a new job at some point in your career. What do you need to keep in mind when that happens? What do you do with your old 401(k)? What kind of benefits do you need to consider when taking on a new job?

Sometimes job changes are planned and sometimes they aren’t. If your company suddenly goes through layoffs or gets bought out, what will that mean for you and your retirement plans? Companies make staff changes more often than you think, so it’s important to be prepared.

If you inherit assets or an estate, that has the potential to significantly change your financial situation. Before you start claiming things, sit down with someone to sort through the ramifications of receiving an inheritance. You usually don’t have to take it out right away, so consider the tax planning and think through it strategically.

While no one wants to talk about it, losing a spouse will change your life. Not only is it tragic and emotional, but it has a significant impact on your finances. Maybe it will put you in a different tax bracket and you’ll likely lose some of your Social Security or pension income. If you are in retirement, you’ll want to have a plan for how to address the economic impact of losing a spouse.

The bottom line is life happens and you have to be prepared to deal with anything that comes your way. That all begins by formulating a solid plan that you can have confidence in, and this episode will help start that process.

Listen to the entire episode or click on the timestamps below to hear more about a specific life situation and how to prepare for it.

0:47 – What life events may happen?

1:30 – Moving to a new job may change your situation.

3:26 – Layoffs and downsizing could catch you off-guard.

5:55 – Inheritance can alter your financial situation.

8:07 – Losing a spouse will change your life, including your financial life.

 

 

Related Resources:

Understanding How Your Feelings Impact Your Financial Decisions

How To Handle Financial Pain Points in Retirement

Retiring Early: Is It Possible and Is It Right For You?

 

Today’s Takeaway:

[spp-tweet tweet= “One of the biggest holes I see in most people’s plans is the economic impact of losing a spouse. What happens if something happens to one of you–can the plan still work and can the surviving spouse maintain that standard of living?  –Eric Peterson“]

More From Eric:

The host: Eric Peterson - Contact - Call: (515) 226-1500

Subscribe To The Podcast:

Apple Podcasts  -  Google Podcasts  -  Spotify  -  Stitcher  -  iHeartRadio  -  TuneIn

Check out some other recent episodes

Who Really Needs a Financial Advisor?

September 10, 2026

Ever wondered who truly needs a financial advisor, and who might be fine doing it alone? Eric looks at the different ways people approach retirement planning and how professional guidance can fit alongside a hands-on investing style.

4 Financial Commandments for Retirement

September 3, 2026

In this episode, Eric shares a few simple rules that could change how you think about retirement and investing.

Retirement Truth Bombs: Your Biggest Financial Blind Spots

August 27, 2026

Some long-held retirement assumptions deserve a closer look. Eric drops a few “truth bombs” and explains why one of an advisor’s most important jobs has less to do with picking investments and more to do with helping people avoid emotional decisions.

Mailbag: Hiring an Advisor, Market Crashes & Tax-Smart Giving

August 20, 2026

In this mailbag episode, Eric addresses whether do-it-yourself investors need professional guidance, how to respond to predictions of a market crash, and when a donor-advised fund may make sense.

Retirement Lessons from Betty White

August 13, 2026

Betty White may never have officially retired, but her humor and outlook offer several valuable lessons for anyone planning the next stage of life.

Laid Off Near Retirement? What to Do Next

August 6, 2026

A layoff close to retirement can feel like a financial emergency, but it may not be as damaging as it first appears. Eric explains why layoffs are happening and walks through the key financial decisions that follow. He also shares a practical checklist for evaluating whether returning to work is necessary, or whether retirement may already be possible.

Mailbag: HELOCs, Trusts, and Family Money

July 30, 2026

In this mailbag episode, Eric answers listener questions about borrowing after retirement, avoiding unnecessary taxes on large IRA withdrawals, simplifying an estate, and setting healthy financial boundaries with loved ones.

Easy Ways to Ruin Retirement

July 23, 2026

Retirement can be exciting, but it can also come with new challenges. In this episode, Eric discusses some of the most common ways people can accidentally ruin retirement.

The National Park Guide to Retirement Planning

July 16, 2026

Whether you’re visiting one of the 63 national parks this summer or just hitting a local trail, a lot of the best practices for a great hike apply just as well to your retirement plan. Today, Eric “walks” through a few.

Mailbag: Military Pension Mistakes & Retirement Decision Paralysis

July 9, 2026

What happens if you make a retirement decision you can’t undo? And how do you know when you’ve done enough research before making an important financial move? In this mailbag episode, Eric answers two listener questions—one from a military retiree looking to protect his spouse after declining a survivor pension benefit, and another from a listener who struggles with overthinking every financial decision.

Leave a Comment