When someone close to us dies, something changes. It’s not just that we miss them. We also become acutely aware of our own mortality.
Suddenly, the future feels less certain. The bucket list that once lived in the “someday” category starts demanding attention today. The trip you’ve always wanted to take. The vacation home you’ve dreamed about. The decision to retire early. The luxury purchase you’ve talked yourself out of for years.
This doesn’t mean someone is being careless. It means grief is changing how the future feels.
Why Grief Pushes People Toward Urgency
Grief can really scramble how we think and feel. It can affect memory, sleep, behavior, and just make everything feel heavier than usual. In grief research, people often describe “grief fog” or “grief brain,” which is basically the feeling of trying to function while your mind is overloaded.
That helps explain why, after a loss, people may want to do something immediate and tangible: book the trip, buy the thing, change jobs, retire early, move, or just spend money in a way that feels like relief. The brain is looking for a break from pain, and quick action can feel easier than sitting in uncertainty.
Shopping, upgrades, and big purchases can create a short burst of control or comfort when life feels anything but controlled. What’s Your Grief notes that when people feel low, their brains can start reaching for small rewards or distractions that provide immediate relief.
That doesn’t make the behavior irrational; it makes it human.
The problem is that what feels soothing in the moment can become expensive later. During acute grief, people are already carrying a heavy cognitive load, so it gets harder to weigh tradeoffs, compare options, or think through the long-term consequences of a financial choice.
An Inheritance Adds Another Layer
Money + grief + identity change = overload.
That combination can create what many advisers call Sudden Wealth Syndrome (SWS). One industry source notes that up to 70% of lottery winners lose their windfall within a few years, and that younger heirs often save only about half of a surprise inheritance, spending or losing the rest through often poor decisions. While inheritance is not the same thing as a lottery win, the psychology overlaps: shock, guilt, pressure, and the feeling that you should do something right away.
That’s why big decisions made too quickly after a loss often feel emotionally necessary, even when they’re financially risky.
So, if this is something happens often without us realizing it…what can we do to prevent it? After all, with wealth transfers expected to total $124 trillion, with $105 trillion expected to flow to heirs by 2048, there’s a lot of opportunity for reckless spending.
How can you keep yourself from becoming a statistic?
1. Give Yourself a Little Time
If you don’t have an immediate need for the money, try to avoid making big financial decisions right away. Grief has a way of making everything feel urgent, but that feeling usually softens with time. Waiting six to twelve months before making major changes can help you make decisions you’ll feel good about for years to come.
2. Give Yourself Permission to Enjoy Some of It
You don’t have to choose between saving every penny and spending it all. Consider setting aside about 10% of your inheritance for something meaningful. Take the trip. Buy the piece of art you’ve always loved. Create a memory with your family. By intentionally enjoying a small portion, it often becomes easier to be thoughtful with the rest.
3. Let Someone Else Be the Voice of Reason
This is one of those times when it helps to have someone in your corner who isn’t making decisions through the lens of grief. A financial advisor can help you slow down, ask the right questions, and keep your long-term goals front and center. Sometimes the greatest value an advisor provides isn’t an investment recommendation; it’s helping you avoid making a permanent financial decision based on temporary emotions.
Financial Planning Leaves Room for Both Joy and Patience
One of the biggest misconceptions about financial planning is that it’s all about saying “no.” In reality, it’s about making intentional choices. You don’t have to choose between living fully today and protecting your future. You can do both.
Grief tells us that life is short. Financial planning reminds us that life is also long. The goal isn’t to ignore your emotions. It’s to make sure they aren’t making every financial decision for you.
You don’t have to have all the answers right now.
Whether you’ve already inherited money or know you’ll be making these decisions in the future, having someone to help you think through your options can make all the difference.
Let’s talk about what’s on your mind and create a plan that you’re comfortable with.
Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. Maia Wealth’s website and its associated links offer news, commentary, and generalized research, not personalized investment advice. Nothing on this website should be interpreted to state or imply that past performance is an indication of future performance. All investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with a tax professional before implementing any investment strategy. Investment Advisory Services offered through Maia Wealth, a Registered Investment Advisor with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
