Losing one’s husband is difficult enough in and of itself. Unfortunately, many widows must also contend with the financial consequences of the loss of their husbands. According to government figures cited in a New York Times article, the household income for widows typically drops 37 percent after a spouse dies, far more than the 22 percent income decline experienced by men who lose their wives. The assets of widows also tend to fall substantially more than those of widowers. This is compounded by the fact that women typically live longer than men. Census figures indicate that one in four women from 65 to 74 are widows. By the age of 85, three out of four women are widows. To make matters worse, even couples with estate plans often fail to address the need for adequate income that will be faced by a surviving spouse. Talking about income, especially with regard
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