-- Disability. Insurance is the number one way to prepare for this, and making sure you are covered is key. Many employers provide policies that will replace about 60 percent of your income, up to a certain cap, says Chuck Roberson, a certified financial planner in New Jersey. Often, that's not good enough. "You can do a very simple check by figuring out how much money you made last year, subtracting how much you saved, and dividing the difference by 12. That's how much you spent each month. Then look at your benefits and see what they provide." If you come up short, first look at what you can cut back on -- in many cases, for instance, gas for the car can be automatically reduced because you won't be shuttling back and forth from work. If it's still not enough, you can buy an additional 5 or 10 percent from your group benefit plan or purchase supplemental insurance to fill in the blanks. Don't skimp here, because your income is very likely your largest asset.

-- Divorce. No one anticipates divorce when they're walking down the aisle, and when it happens, it can be devastating, both personally and financially. To ease the financial side of the blow, you need to maintain your monetary identity in your relationship; that means having your own credit history and savings accounts, retirement and otherwise. I advocate for having your own checking account as well, in addition to a shared account for household expenses. "In a lot of relationships, one party, whether it's the husband or wife, typically runs the finances. But both need to have access and understand what's happening," says Roberson. My suggestion? You should organize monthly, if not weekly meetings, during which you can talk about your finances, your goals and any progress reaching them, and where you both stand with debt. You should also each have a copy of all shared account numbers and passwords.

-- Death of a spouse. In addition to the suggestions above -- which are applicable in both divorce and death -- you and your spouse both need to have a will in place, as well as a living will and durable power of attorney. Know where copies of your partner's paperwork are kept, so you can find it when necessary. Know how to reach out to the people you're going to need to contact, including your partner's employer, bank, lender, insurance providers and lawyer. And if you have children or others who are relying on your income, you should have life insurance in the event of your death. Term policies are very cheap right now, and you can buy them long-term. So if your children are toddlers, you could get a 20-year term to get them through college. If they're teenagers, ten years will likely suffice.

In all of these instances, if you need professional help, don't be afraid to look for it. AARP Financial's survey found that the majority of people turn to family or friends for advice in these situations, which is great for moral support, but not necessarily for financial advice. Don't make any major decisions until you've thought them through completely, and if that means paying for a session with a financial adviser, it's likely worth the cost. You can find advisors who charge by the hour through the Garrett Planning Network at www.garrettplanning.com.