The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast

Choosing The Best Retirement Location for You with Larry & Joyce Pelletier

EP 030: Do you ever get to the point that the weather in Maine kind of gets to you? Do you ever dream about moving to another destination, perhaps in retirement? Well, following our episode about international living, we wanted to explore a more traditional move that many Maine retirees make ~ moving to a sunnier locale in the U.S.! Our colleague, Larry Pelletier and his wife, Joyce, did just that a few years ago. What process did they undertake to find the perfect spot for them? What did they find out once they got there? Do they have any regrets now after a few years later? Join us on episode #30 as we go through a process that every pre-retiree should think about ~ "Choosing the Best Retirement Location for You!"
 
Chapters
Welcome, Larry & Joyce! [0:39]
How do you know when it’s time to retire? [4:04]
What was the first step for Larry & Joyce to make the decision to move from Maine? [7:55]
How can you navigate through the objection of moving away from your children/grandchildren? [11:06]
How did Larry & Joyce deal with the logistics of moving? [20:33]
What is the research process like when looking for a new place to live in retirement? [37:22]
How can you work through disagreements that may arise during this process of moving for retirement? [44:07]
What is Retirement Success for Larry & Joyce Pelletier? [1:04:35]

The Spectrum of Senior Living with Susan Habeeb, RN

EP 029: A common goal we hear from our clients is that "I want to age in my home for as long as possible!" But when do we know that it's time to consider other living arrangements specifically targeted towards us as seniors? What are the various types of living and care arrangements and how do I know which one is right for me (not only now but in the future)? These are the types of questions we wanted to answer in episode #29 where we discuss the Spectrum of Senior Living with Susan Habeeb, who is the Director of Transitional Care at Dirigo Pines in Orono, ME. Susan has a very unique perspective as she was an RN for many years before working in the senior living industry. Join us as we dive deep into the common myths, concerns, and fears around senior living and how it can be much more than end of life care and the stereotypical nursing home environment! Chapters
Welcome, Susan! [3:50]
What is Dirigo Pines and what are the services they offer? [13:36]
What are the various life stages of senior living? [18:50]
What are some myths that people have in their mind about places like Dirigo Pines? [34:13]
With life expectancy being longer, what sort of things are coming up that previously hadn’t been top of mind? [45:20]
What are the costs associated with living in a place like Dirigo Pines? [53:57]
How does Susan define Retirement Success? [1:05:20]
Ben and Curtis wrap-up the conversation. [1:08:29]

Considering Living Abroad in Retirement with Dan Prescher

EP 028: Several of our clients have expressed to us over the years when visualizing their own retirement success that they are interested in living abroad. But living abroad means we'll have to change almost EVERYTHING about our life: different governments-different cultures-maybe different languages-different cost of living-changing citizenships (maybe?) -different healthcare access- and more! We've been searching high and low for an expert to discuss this ~ it was Dr. Sara Zeff Geber who mentioned to us that we NEED to talk to our next guest. Dan Prescher is our guest in today's podcast and is a Travel writer, copywriter, editor, event host, ex-pat, serial re-locator, & a musician. He is an author with Suzan Haskins of The International Living Guide to Retiring Overseas on a Budget and a Senior Editor for International Living Magazine. Tune in to "Considering Living Abroad in Retirement" to find out how doable living abroad really is and how to avoid some mistakes along the way!
 
Chapters
Welcome, Dan! [2:45]
What is International Living Magazine? [12:09]
How does someone find out where they want to live out of all the places in the world? [17:50]
How does citizenship work as you decide that you want to live abroad? [26:39]
What are the common myths that people let influence their decision NOT to move abroad? [29:47]
How can someone manage potential currency exchanges and taxation while living abroad? [38:56]
How can someone evaluate the healthcare systems in areas of the world that they may want to live? [47:58]
What are the common mistakes that Dan sees retirees make when deciding to live abroad? [56:51]
What is Retirement Success for Dan? [59:21]
Ben, Abby, and Curtis wrap up the episode. [1:03:29]
 
Chapters
 

Mastering Communication to Get What We Want in Retirement with AmyK Hutchens

EP 027: Communication is hard. We were all born with a voice box, but it didn’t come with instructions on how best to use it. We see this in our financial planning sessions with clients ~ there are just some things they don't know HOW to say. We could be EMBARRASSED by feeling something or maybe we don't know how to navigate tough conversations without saying something we'll regret, giving our power away, or damaging relationships. Enter AmyK Hutchens - Master Communicator! She has consulted with The Home Depot, Starbucks Canada, Comerica Bank, Expedia, Lockheed Martin, Securian Financial, Walmart, John Paul Mitchell Systems, and hundreds more. She travels the globe sharing with executives, influencers, and go-getters on how to navigate their toughest conversations. With that, we wanted to have a REAL conversation with AmyK around Mastering Communication to Get What We Want in Retirement in Episode #27. Check it out and see why life happens one conversation at a time!
Chapters:
Welcome, AmyK! [2:03]
What’s the biggest tip that AmyK can offer to us to approach life conversations? [22:13]
What has the thought that “Life happens one conversation at a time” meant to AmyK throughout her life? [30:15]
What advice can AmyK give people to overcome fears and anxieties about stressful conversations? [33:26]
How would AmyK counsel someone to share their goals and aspirations throughout their life/relationships? [37:42]
How can someone start a conversation to help repair a relationship that over time, has degraded? [45:18]
What are some key takeaways from AmyK’s book, Get It: Five Steps to the Sex, Salary and Success You Want? [51:04]
How is Retirement Success defined for AmyK? [54:36]
Ben, Abby, and Curtis wrap-up the episode. [56:31]
 
 

The One-Year Anniversary Special

EP 026: On this special episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast, the show turns 1-year old! The team got together to recap the last year of the show, spending time discussing some key takeaways from the first 25 episodes. Ben, Abby, and Curtis also spend some time sharing what has surprised them the most from doing the show over the past year. The conversation wraps up with a discussion about where the show will go next. What will year #2 have in store? Be sure to tune in and hear what the team has to say!
 
Chapters:
What are some takeaways from the first 25 episodes? [2:00]
What has been surprising from the show thus far? [7:09]
What is some feedback we have received? [12:17]
What’s next for the show? [18:17]

Rediscovering Self Purpose After Losing A Loved One with Bodhi Simpson

EP 025: On this episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast, the team takes some time to discuss a necessary topic. Inevitably going through life we all experience the loss of a loved one, but how we process and grieve that loss may differ dramatically. At Guidance Point, Ben, Abby, and Curtis are often front-line to seeing this type of grief but are not professionally trained in the topic. So why not talk with someone who is? Joining this conversation is Bodhi Simpson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and a Registered Art Therapist. She has a private practice in Waterville, Maine called Conscious Art Therapy. Bodhi shares her expertise and experience by answering numerous questions from the team, including, “What to expect when going through the grieving process and how can they get to the other side of finding themselves again?” “What does a ‘typical’ session with a grief counselor look like?” “How does someone find a grief counselor?” "What about suicide ideation ~ we hear it from clients from time and time and how should family members, friends, or professional relationships handle statements about suicide?"
Chapters:
Welcome, Bodhi! [3:07]
What makes the work that Bodhi does unique? [7:17]
What to expect in the grieving process?[14:00]
What is the session look like when someone seeks Bodhi’s help? [23:53]
What is a successful journey through the grief process? [35:31]
What is Retirement Success for Bodhi? [41:01]
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Information. [43:08]
Ben, Abby, and Curtis wrap up the episode. [44:45]
 

Why You Should Consider Retiring to the Bangor, ME Area with Cary Weston

EP 024: On our show, we've talked about "how" to retire, we've talked about some of the "why" reasons people retire, "who" they want to spend their time with, but we haven't talked about "where"....until now. For today's episode, we invited Cary Weston of the Marketing & PR Agency, Sutherland Weston, to talk to us about why retirees should consider retiring to the Bangor area. What are the crucial elements retirees are looking for in a place when they retire? What are some elements of Bangor that would help lead some of us to retire better there? Cary's past experience on the Bangor City Council and Mayor help us navigate these questions and more, so make sure to check out this latest episode! (Cary even spins a Stephen King story and points out some things that Bangor natives might not even know!)
 
Chapters:
Welcome, Cary! [1:55]
What are some fun things to do if you’re residing in Bangor? [19:18]
How easy is it to access fun things not located in Bangor? [22:05]
Discussion about the Healthcare infrastructure in the Bangor area. [23:19]
What makes people choose Bangor? [29:40]What kind of community can people look for when they're retiring in Bangor? [34:02]
How does the cost of living and property taxes in Bangor compare to other areas of the state? [37:49]
What housing opportunities are there in Bangor for retirees specifically? [45:33]
Just how bad are the Maine (Bangor) winters? [49:37]
What is Retirement Success for Cary? [53:01]
Ben, Abby, and Curtis wrap-up the episode. [55:42]
 
For more information and Bangor related resources, go to our blog at https://blog.guidancepointllc.com/24
or give us an email shout at bensmith@guidancepointrs.com, abigaildoody@guidancepointrs.com, or curtisworcester@guidancepointrs.com .

Strategizing Retirement as a Solo Ager with Dr. Sara Zeff Geber

EP 023: In this episode, we're digging into the concept of "Solo Aging". Solo Agers are those without kids, where the "kids" are usually the ones who take care of us as we age. Did you know that according to a 2005 Pew Research Study, 19.4% of the boomer generation did not have kids? So this is a big concept looking forward. So what better guest is there than the author of Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers, an Amazon best-seller and in the words of The Wall Street Journal, one of the “2018 Best Books on Aging Well”. Additionally, Dr. Geber is a regular contributor to Forbes.com on the topics of aging and retirement.
 
Dr. Geber shares her expertise by not only spending time laying the groundwork and providing background knowledge about solo agers but also by answering questions like, “What is the key to happiness for solo agers?” “What mistakes are commonly made by solo agers?” “How can solo agers leave behind a legacy?” and more!  Are you a Solo Ager or know someone who is? Then this episode is for you!
 
Chapters
Welcome, Dr. Geber! [2:33]
What does it mean to be a solo ager and how prevalent is being a solo ager nationally? [12:27]
What are some myths out there about solo agers? [16.57]
What has Dr. Geber found to be the key to happiness solo agers? [18:16]
What are some big mistakes that solo agers may make? [24:25]
How can solo agers leave a legacy? [27:58]
What can solo agers do to bolster their social networks, especially as they retire from their careers? [31:57]
What role does spirituality play with solo agers? How can people make spirituality more a part of their life as they age? [39:02]
What are some of the considerations for solo agers as they decide how and where to live in later life? [42:33]
What is Retirement Success for Dr. Geber? [52:27]
Ben and Abby wrap-up the conversation. [54:37]
 
For more information and Solo Aging resources, go to our blog at https://blog.guidancepointllc.com/23
or give us an email shout at bensmith@guidancepointrs.com, abigaildoody@guidancepointrs.com, or curtisworcester@guidancepointrs.com .