My Widowed Life

Building a Support Network for Widows and Widowers: Government Support

Palma Polesel — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Palma speaks with Richard Dri, a wealth advisor for the widowed community, to discuss Government support for widows and widowers (varies by province).

Join Palma as she chats about:

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
Old Age Security
CPP Death Benefit
CPP Children's Benefit
EI Compassionate Care
Provincial Social Assistance
Housing Assistance
Tax Credits and Deductions

Connect with Palma:

Mywidowedlife.com
Join the My Widowed Life Facebook Group
LinkedIn: Palma Polesel

Connect with Richard:

richard.dri@scotiawealth.com
LinkedIn: Richard Dri

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

Palma Polesel — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 03:00:23 -0400

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)

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

Palma Polesel — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:00:09 -0400

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)

Connect with Palma Polesel:

Connect with Richard Dri:

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

Palma Polesel — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 03:00:57 -0400

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

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Connect with Richard Dri:

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

Palma Polesel — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 03:00:52 -0400

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

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

Palma Polesel — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 03:00:37 -0400

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
Transforming Pain into Power: How Can Grief Triggers Foster Healing? (Ep. 4)
The Princess Margaret Ride to Conquer Cancer

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Transforming Pain into Power: How Can Grief Triggers Foster Healing? (Ep. 4)

Palma Polesel — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 03:00:14 -0400

After losing your spouse, it is very common to experience triggers of grief from things like their favourite song or restaurant, your wedding anniversary, or even something as simple as coming across an old belonging of theirs.

In this release, Palma Polesel invites her friend and fellow widow, Richard Dri onto the show to provide some personal insight and guidance for navigating the many grief triggers that can occur after the death of a spouse.

Listen in as Palma and Richard discuss:

Common grief triggers and strategies to help you cope
Why it’s important to give yourself grace and understanding during a moment of grief
How to prepare for when you know a possible trigger event is coming up (holidays, birthdays, etc)
The concept of avoidance – when it’s healthy and when it’s not
And more

Resources:

Connect with Palma Polesel:

LinkedIn: Palma Polesel

Connect with Richard Dri:

Helping You Heal After Loss: Grief and Mental Health Resources (Ep. 3)

Palma Polesel — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 03:00:54 -0400

Have you experienced heartbreaking grief that has impacted your life?

Often, grief is not a feeling you can prepare for.

In this episode, Palma is once again joined by her recurring guest and friend, Richard Dri. Together they discuss the multifaceted nature of grief and its impact on our emotional well-being. Listen as they share their insights on the various stages of grief, coping mechanisms, and the importance of seeking professional help when navigating loss.

Hear their real-life experiences about:

How they leaned on mental health resources like therapy and journaling.
What symptoms they experienced during their grief and how they coped
The types and stages of grief that surviving spouses and their immediate family can experience
Strategies that they continue to enforce as they navigate widowhood
And more

Resources:

On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler
My gratitude for your support during this difficult time in my life by Richard Dri
4 Lessons Learned Since Becoming Widowed by Richard Dri
Can being widowed make you a better person? by Richard Dri
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn
CAMH: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Canadian Mental Health Association

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Connect with Richard Dri:

Can Our Journey Through Grief Guide Us to Acceptance? (Ep. 2)

Palma Polesel — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 03:00:07 -0400

In this week’s episode, Palma Polesel and her guest, Richard Dri delve into the profound stages of grief, drawing inspiration from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s groundbreaking book on the subject.

Join these two friends, who are also members of the widow community as they provide solace, guidance, and valuable lessons for those experiencing the complex emotions of grief.

Listen as they explore the intricacies of denial, anger, bargaining, and the many emotions that come with grieving the loss of a loved one.

In this episode, you will:

Learn the six stages of grief
Uncover valuable advice on making important decisions during the grieving period
Explore ways to make the grieving process easier
Learn how to avoid feeling guilty about the length of your coping journey
Discover the importance of communication and saying goodbye to loved ones
And more

Resources:

On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler
Autotrader
Princess Margaret Ovarian Cancer Study

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Introducing My Widowed Life (Ep.1)

Palma Polesel — Thu, 25 May 2023 03:00:17 -0400

Welcome to the My Widowed Life podcast, hosted by Palma Polesel.

Palma is a solo parent, dog lover, and a member of the widowed community, a club no one wants to join. Following the loss of her spouse, she felt compelled to help others navigate widowhood and find a fulfilling life after loss.

In this inaugural episode, Palma is joined by her recurring guest, Richard Dri, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and fellow widower.

Listen in as Palma and Richard share:

How they became members of the widowed community
Future topics that will be discussed to help those that have lost a spouse
How having support from fellow widows and widowers can assist with grieving
The different stages of grief and how unique the experience is for everyone
And more

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Connect with Richard Dri: