News & Articles

12 Things Not to Say to Widows or Widowers

Depression and the Holidays: Some Friendly Advice from a Financial Adviser

Your Spouse Wants a Divorce….Now What?!

From One Widow to Another: Words of Wisdom for Hope and Happiness

5 Things You Need to Decide Before You Retire

Pandemic Budgeting: It’s Time to Start Fresh

When Panic Sets in, How One Financial Adviser Talks Clients Off the Ledge

Don’t Let Valentine’s Day Ruin Your Marriage

10 Practical Tips to Make Divorce More Tolerable

The Costs of Caregiving Go Far Beyond the Obvious

Financial Reasons Not to Divorce

Estate Planning for Surviving Spouses: What to Do ASAP

6 Tips for Those Who Have Lost a Spouse

Meet Barbara Shapiro (Video)

When Widows Are Forgotten: A Guide for Widows and the People Near to Them

12 Pieces of Advice for Divorcing Clients and Their Children 

BostonVoyager Interview – Meet Barbara Shapiro

 Win the Lottery? Here’s the First Thing You Should Do

Avoid These Mistakes When Working With Widows 

The Emotional Side of Retirement Planning

Barbara Shapiro is now a Certified Financial Transitionist

He Said: She Said: A Practical Guide to Finance and Money During Divorce

Past News

Investor’s Business Daily article | When Clients Confront Terrible News, Advisors Provide Reassurance | May 3, 2019
Barbara was quoted on connecting with clients during difficult times.

Financial Advisor Magazine article | The Stages of Widowhood | March 2019
Barbara discusses why many advisors may lose the widows of their clients and how to potentially prevent this from happening.

Kiplinger article | IRS Scams: How to Spot Them and Report Them | April 18, 2018
Barbara contributed an article with five tips so people do not fall for tax season scams.

AARP article | What Happens to a Credit Account When Your Spouse Dies | February 16, 2018
Barbara shared her experience with credit cards after her husband died.

Kiplinger article | Advice for Investors Worried About Today’s Tumultuous Stock Markets | February 7, 2018
Barbara was quoted in an article explaining that losses are only paper losses, not realized losses, until the holdings are actually sold.

Kiplinger article | When Widows Are Forgotten: A Guide for Widows and the People Near to Them | January 8, 2018
Barbara wrote an article about a widow’s grief, financial hurdles and other struggles.

ThinkAdvisor article | 12 Pieces of Advice for Divorcing Clients and Their Children | October 31, 2017
Barbara contributed an article with advice for those going through a divorce so their kids are not devastated.

BostonVoyager article | Meet Barbara Shapiro of HMS Financial Group in Dedham | September 18, 2017
Barbara was interviewed about her background, her business and her mentor.

Kiplinger article | Win the Lottery? Here’s the First Thing You Should Do | August 11, 2017
Barbara wrote an article about how a Certified Financial Transitionist can help with the sea of emotions and decisions that come with a windfall.

ThinkAdvisor article | Avoid These Mistakes When Working With Widows | June 13, 2017
Barbara contributed an article sharing her expertise around communicating with and advising widows.

Kiplinger article | The Emotional Side of Retirement Planning | May 2017
Barbara wrote an article sharing many questions retirees should ask themselves.

MarketWatch article | Young, married women need to make sure they do this | April 28, 2017
Barbara was quoted in an article about recently single women letting financial planning fall to the side because of their emotional state.

Wall Street Journal article | On Working With, and Retaining, Newly Widowed Clients | April 20, 2017
Barbara was featured in an article where she gave advice on how to be empathetic with widows.

Financial Planning article | How my spouse’s death didn’t derail the business we built | April 6, 2017
Barbara contributed an article sharing six tips one should focus on if considering a divorce.

Kiplinger article | What to Do If You’re Divorcing Your Valentine | February 2017
Barbara contributed an article sharing six tips one should focus on if considering a divorce.

Wealth Management article | When Clients Get Divorced | August 18, 2016
Barbara wrote an article with with advice for inexperienced financial planners dealing with divorce.

Financial Advisor IQ article | How to Help Clients with Impaired Older Relatives | August 1, 2016
Barbara was quoted on the topic of taking care of elderly relatives with mental or physical impairments.

The Fiscal Times article | Don’t Let a Late-Life Divorce Ruin Your Retirement Plans | May 6, 2016
Barbara was quoted about how those that get divorced may need to work longer.

Kiplinger’s Retirement Report article | Boost Your Social Security Benefits | April 18, 2016
Barbara was quoted about the timing of taking spousal benefits.

ThinkAdvisor article | The Year of Fear: How Advisors and Clients Can Handle It | March 1, 2016
Barbara was mentioned about what to do when clients’ eyes glaze over.

Boston.com article | Smart gift ideas for kids (and grandkids)| December 22, 2015
Barbara contributed an article with some financial planning related gifts to consider.

Boston.com article | This Thanksgiving, be thankful for good health, but also be prepared | November 25, 2015
Barbara wrote an article about planning for an illness, having an healthcare proxy and building a support system.

Boston.com article | Yogisms and Financial Planning | September 29, 2015
Barbara contributed an article in memory of Yogi Berra, remembering his great quotes, sharing what they can teach us about financial planning.

ThinkAdvisor article | 18 Ways to Shake Up Marketing & Sharpen Results | September 28, 2015
Barbara was quoted about co-writing a book after seeing divorcing couples make the same mistakes over and over.

Reuters article | When Financial Planning Meets Wedding Planning | September 4, 2015
Barbara was quoted about advice she gives to couples that are about to get married.
Note:  This article was also published by Financial AdvisorYahoo! FinanceThe Fiscal Times, and Reuters.

Financial Advisor Magazine article | It’s About The Money | September 3, 2015
Barbara was profiled in the September issue providing information on the number one source of conflict in a marriage and why both parties should make rational decisions.

Boston.com article | What If Ashley Madison Accounts Lead To Divorce? | August 31, 2015
Barbara wrote an article with financial planning advice for those that believe they might be getting divorced.

Financial Advisor IQ article | The Big Picture for Clients in the Grips of Divorce | July 30, 2015
Barbara contributed an article with tips to help advisors working with divorcing clients.

Family Lawyer Magazine article | The Circle of Support | December 29, 2014
Barbara wrote an article about establishing a team of professionals to help clients before, during and after a divorce.

Financial Advisor IQ article | Risk Tolerance Is A Moving Target | October 17, 2014
Barbara was quoted making a comparison to how people think about investments versus buying a house.

Kiplinger’s Retirement Report article | Keep an Eye on Finances During a Divorce | June 2014
Barbara was quoted about advice for splitting up assets and retirement accounts.

Financial Advisor IQ article | Getting Too Chummy With Clients Can Backfire  | April 9, 2014
Barbara was quoted about why clients like to be friends with advisors and how she puts up a subtle wall.

ThinkAdvisor article | Getting Clients to Follow Your Advice: The Self-Sabotaging Client | February 21, 2014
Barbara was mentioned about how she gets her clients out of dysfunctional mode.

Financial Advisor IQ article | What To Do If A Gold Digger Hooks Your Client | October 18, 2013
Barbara was quoted about con artists and also online scammers.

ThinkAdvisor article | Suddenly Single in a Financial Fog | Septermber 30, 2013
Barbara was profiled about how she helps newly widowed or divorcing clients that seem as dazed as deer in the headlights.

Financial Advisor IQ article | Women In The Grips Of Divorce Need Special Care | July 18, 2013
Barbara was quoted about how divorcing women need an advisor they can trust.

Investment Advisor & AdvisorOne (now ThinkAdvisor) article | Madame Ex: Advising ‘Gray Divorcees’ | September 25, 2012 (also in the October 2012 issue)
Barbara was quoted about the need to consider all the ramifications of divorce.

Investment Advisor & AdvisorOne (now ThinkAdvisor) article | The Baby Boomer Bust-Up: Advising ‘Gray Divorcees’ | August 21, 2012 (also in the September 2012 issue)
Barbara was quoted several times about her experiences of working with clients involved with divorce.

Kiplinger article | Claiming Social Security After a Divorce | May 1, 2010
Barbara was quoted about the benefits of waiting to use Social Security.