How much flexibility should I keep with major financial decisions after a spouse dies?

When the options are compared, major home, investment, or annuity decisions can often wait until the survivor has a clear budget and understands which accounts have tax rules or deadlines. When the household's goals are considered, confirm recurring income, survivor benefits, insurance proceeds, debts, taxes, account ownership, and at least several months of accessible expenses. The better option depends on the household's goals, time horizon, taxes, cash needs, and tolerance for risk, so review the numbers together rather than one decision at a time.