When Money Arrives at a Difficult Time
Panel Discussion
Tuesday 23rd June 2026 – 7-8pm BST
A thoughtful conversation about money, grief and decision‑making
Sometimes money arrives at the same moment life feels most unsteady.
- An inheritance
- A redundancy payment
- A divorce settlement
On the surface, it can feel like something you’re expected to deal with sensibly and efficiently. In reality, it often arrives alongside loss, shock or unwanted change and can feel emotionally complicated and painful.
This session is about understanding that moment, before any decisions are made.
You’re not imagining this
Many women are surprised by how hard this moment feels.
They may notice:
- a sense of shock or emotional numbness
- pressure to “do the right thing” quickly
- guilt about money that has arrived through loss or upheaval
- fear of making a decision they can’t undo
- a pull to act immediately – or the opposite, a complete freeze
None of this means you’re bad with money.
And it doesn’t mean you’re avoiding responsibility.
It means you’re being asked to make sense of something financial while you’re still processing something human.
How the conversation will unfold
This panel talk is structured around three stages, reflecting how people actually experience money when it arrives during a difficult time.
You don’t need to come prepared | You don’t need to be ready to decide anything | This is about understanding what’s happening first.
What’s happening beneath the surface
We’ll begin by exploring the emotional and psychological impact of receiving money during bereavement, redundancy, divorce or major change.
We’ll talk about why money can intensify feelings such as grief, guilt, fear or pressure and why even highly capable women can feel destabilised at this point.
This part of the conversation isn’t about analysing you. It’s about recognising the conditions you’re being asked to think and decide within.
Why decision‑making can feel so difficult
Next, we’ll look at why clear decision‑making often feels harder than expected during times of loss or uncertainty.
Why some people feel an urge to act quickly – hoping to relieve the discomfort. Why others feel stuck, avoiding decisions altogether for fear of getting something wrong.
We’ll explore how stress and emotional load affect judgement and why this is a normal response, not a personal failing.
Creating space and taking first steps
Finally, we’ll talk about what actually helps.
- Giving yourself permission to pause
- Understanding when not deciding can be a healthy choice
- Identifying early steps that can create clarity and stability without locking you into long‑term or irreversible decisions
We’ll gently draw out the practical implications to help you feel more grounded as you consider what comes next.
You’re welcome to listen quietly, reflect, or ask questions.
There’s no expectation to share anything personal.
Who this session is for
This session is designed for women who find themselves holding a lump sum of money at a time when life already feels difficult or uncertain.
You may recognise yourself here if money has arrived through:
- inheritance
- bereavement
- redundancy
- divorce or separation
- another major life change or transition
You might be feeling conflicted, unsure, or quietly overwhelmed, even if you’re usually confident and capable.
You don’t need to have a plan. You don’t need to know what you want to do. You don’t need to be ready.
If you’re wondering why this feels harder than you expected, this conversation is for you.
Who will be part of the conversation
This session is hosted by Women’s Wealth and brings together perspectives from financial planning, psychology and grief education, offering a balanced, human view of what it’s like when money arrives during a difficult time.
Samantha Secomb FPFS
Host
Samantha is a Chartered Financial Planner and the founder of Women’s Wealth. She has over 30 years’ experience supporting women through complex financial moments, particularly following bereavement, divorce and major life change.
She is also the author of the Moral Money column for The Telegraph, where she explores the emotional, ethical and psychological dimensions of money, especially when life doesn’t unfold as expected.
Lizzie Pickering
Grief educator and author
Lizzie Pickering is a grief educator, author and film producer who works with individuals and organisations to deepen understanding of grief and support people as they return to life and work following loss.
Her work is informed by over 25 years exploring responses to shock, trauma and grief, as well as lived experience. Lizzie is the author of When Grief Equals Love and is known for her compassionate, steady approach to difficult conversations.
Dr Emma Hepburn
Clinical Psychologist and author
Dr Emma Hepburn is a UK‑based Clinical Psychologist, neuropsychologist, author and illustrator, widely known as The Psychology Mum.
With over 20 years’ experience in mental health, Emma specialises in helping people understand how stress, grief and emotional load affect thinking, capacity and decision‑making, particularly during periods of overwhelm or transition.
Practical details
Online panel discussion
- Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026
- Time: 7.00–8.00pm (BST)
- Format: Live online panel (joining link provided after booking)
The session includes:
- a 45‑minute guided panel conversation
- a 15‑minute audience Q&A
- access to the event recording afterwards
This is a supportive, informal conversation. You’re welcome to join, simply to listen.
Booking
Places are limited to maintain a calm, thoughtful and engaging audience experience.
If this conversation feels relevant to where you are right now, you’re warmly invited to join us.
There’s no pressure to speak, share, or make decisions, just space to listen and reflect.