My Widowed Life

Preparing for the Unexpected: Building an Emergency Fund as a Widow/er (Ep. 9)

Are you prepared with a designated emergency fund? As a surviving spouse with responsibilities for both yourself and possibly your children, having a reliable safety net can make a world of difference. In this episode, Palma speaks with Richard Dri, a wealth advisor for the widowed community, to discuss how much you should be saving for an emergency fund, best practices for saving, and the importance of reassessing the fund during major life changes. They also discuss navigating the world of dating, and how  Richard turned to a popular dating app when he was ready for companionship after the loss of his wife.  Join Palma as she chats with Richard about: * The significance of having an emergency fund for financial stability and peace of mind * Important first steps for preparing an emergency fund * How widows can navigate a single-income family dynamic on their own * And more Resource: * Securing Your Future: Practical Budgeting Tips for Widows and Widowers (Ep. 6) [https://mywidowedlife.blubrry.net/2023/06/29/securing-your-future-practical-budgeting-tips-for-widows-and-widowers-ep-6/] Connect with Palma Polesel:  * My Widowed Life [https://mywidowedlife.com/] * Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/5742355982476800] * LinkedIn: Palma Polesel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/palma-polesel-7764586a/?originalSubdomain=ca] Connect with Richard Dri:  * richard.dri@scotiawealth.com [richard.dri@scotiawealth.com]  * LinkedIn: Richard Dri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddri/?originalSubdomain=ca]

Widows/ers Essentials: Understanding Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds and GICs

In this episode of My Widowed Life, Palma chats with Richard Dri a fellow member of the widow community and a financial planner. Together they discuss various investment options like stocks, bonds, GICs, and mutual funds and the importance of knowing your investment risk tolerance. They also share how easily undetectable scams have become, how you can protect your personal and banking information, and why widows and widowers are often targeted. This episode covers: * Canadian investment options and strategies for widows and widowers * What is an investment and what is not an investment * Why it’s beneficial to your financial health to avoid making big financial decisions during the first year of widowhood  * The importance of having a safe word to verify the authenticity of messages * Taking risks with investments and how different investments carry varying levels of risk * And more Resources: * Securing Your Future: Practical Budgeting Tips for Widows and Widowers (Ep. 6) [https://mywidowedlife.blubrry.net/2023/06/29/securing-your-future-practical-budgeting-tips-for-widows-and-widowers-ep-6/] Connect with Palma Polesel:  * My Widowed Life [https://mywidowedlife.com/] * Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/5742355982476800] * LinkedIn: Palma Polesel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/palma-polesel-7764586a/?originalSubdomain=ca] Connect with Richard Dri:  * richard.dri@scotiawealth.com [richard.dri@scotiawealth.com]  * LinkedIn: Richard Dri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddri/?originalSubdomain=ca]

Life After Loss: Widows/ers Navigating Higher Interest Rates, RRSPs, TFSAs, and How to Select a Beneficiary (Ep.7)

What happens to the money in a bank account if the holder passes away?  In this episode of My Widowed Life, Palma speaks with Richard Dri, financial planner at Scotia McLeod about issues that can arise if bank accounts aren’t updated. Plus, gain insight into the current state of the Canadian economy and its effects.  Listen in as they discuss:  * What are interest rates and why do they increase and decrease * The difference between a TFSA and an RRSP account  * How to properly ensure the surviving spouse receives funds and reduces taxes * And more Connect with Palma Polesel:  * My Widowed Life [https://mywidowedlife.com/] * Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/5742355982476800] * LinkedIn: Palma Polesel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/palma-polesel-7764586a/?originalSubdomain=ca] Connect with Richard Dri:  * richard.dri@scotiawealth.com [richard.dri@scotiawealth.com]  * LinkedIn: Richard Dri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddri/?originalSubdomain=ca]

Securing Your Future: Practical Budgeting Tips for Widows and Widowers (Ep. 6)

This is part one of a four-part series that focuses on financial planning for widows and widowers.  Listen as Palma gains insight with advice from Richard Dri, a financial planner and a fellow member of the widow community. Together they discuss: * Financial challenges after the loss of a spouse * How to create a post-loss budget and adjust your spending  * The importance of assessing your income and expenses * The power of life insurance and government benefits  * And more Resources: * Mint: Budgeting Tool [https://mint.intuit.com/] Connect with Palma Polesel:  * My Widowed Life [https://mywidowedlife.com/] * Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/5742355982476800] * LinkedIn: Palma Polesel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/palma-polesel-7764586a/?originalSubdomain=ca] Connect with Richard Dri:  * richard.dri@scotiawealth.com [richard.dri@scotiawealth.com]  * LinkedIn: Richard Dri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddri/?originalSubdomain=ca]

From Mourning to Moving Forward: Widows and Widowers Shatter Expectations (Ep.5)

Losing your spouse is hard enough without having to bear the weight of others’ expectations.  In this thought-provoking episode, Palma Polesel is once again joined by her guest and friend, Richard Dri to discuss the complexity of societal expectations many widows face, including dating, mourning periods, and how to honor a loved one. Join their conversation about: * Common expectations of Widows/widowers * How to curb pressures from your workplace   * Why it’s important to your grief journey and your sanity to ignore comments and unwanted opinions from others * The expectation of taking care of your deceased spouse’s parents * And more Resources: * “The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying” by Bronnie Ware [https://bronnieware.com/regrets-of-the-dying/] * Transforming Pain into Power: How Can Grief Triggers Foster Healing? (Ep. 4) * The Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer [https://ride2conquer.ca/] Connect with Palma Polesel:  * My Widowed Life [https://mywidowedlife.com/] * Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/5742355982476800] * LinkedIn: Palma Polesel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/palma-polesel-7764586a/?originalSubdomain=ca] Connect with Richard Dri:  * richard.dri@scotiawealth.com [richard.dri@scotiawealth.com]  * LinkedIn: Richard Dri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarddri/?originalSubdomain=ca]