Épisodes

  • 5 Milestones you MUST do before you retire

    5 Milestones you MUST do before you retire
    Nov 15 2025
    Thinking about retirement… or getting close? Before you take that final step, there are 5 essential milestones every future retiree should hit to protect their finances, strengthen their relationships, and build a life filled with purpose and joy.

    In today’s video, we’ll walk through the Top 5 Milestones You MUST complete Before You Retire — from organizing your money and redefining your identity, to building a lifestyle you can’t wait to wake up to.

    These are the milestones most retirees wish they’d focused on sooner… and the ones that help you avoid regret later. If you’re in your 50s or 60s, already retired, or just planning ahead, this video will help you:
    ✨ Get clear about your future
    ✨ Reduce stress and uncertainty
    ✨ Discover how to fill your days with meaning
    ✨ Build a retirement you LOVE — not just tolerate Welcome to Life Starts at Retirement — where we help you build a life filled with freedom, fun, and fulfillment. 💛

    Check out the video on how to find what you love here.....
    ✅https://youtu.be/G-yWwd-ddrI?si=VBuItLJsMZNwkM2M
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    15 min
  • Retirement and the death of a parent

    Retirement and the death of a parent
    Nov 8 2025
    Losing my Dad was something I thought I had already prepared myself for.

    He had dementia, and over time, we lost him in small pieces. I believed I had grieved already… but when he actually passed, the grief was unlike anything I expected.

    In this video, I’m opening up about: What it feels like to lose a parent later in life.
    How grief can change our understanding of our own aging.
    How my relationship with my Mom has shifted — and become more precious.
    How family dynamics change when someone we love is no longer here.
    And what it means to move forward with love, awareness, and purpose.

    If you're in retirement or approaching it, you may find yourself reflecting on family, legacy, and time more than ever. You’re not alone. I hope this brings comfort, connection, and understanding to anyone who has walked through loss or is supporting a loved one through it.

    Thank you, Dad, for the lessons that continue long after you are gone.


    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r
    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p
    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    9 min
  • 1 year of travel....Here's what we would do differently!

    1 year of travel....Here's what we would do differently!
    Nov 1 2025
    Are you dreaming about traveling in retirement — or already living it? After a full year of travel, we’ve learned a few hard-earned lessons. In this honest video, we share the biggest travel regrets retirees have (and how you can avoid them!).

    From waiting too long to see the world, to trying to do it all at once — these are the moments we wish we could do differently. Whether you’re planning your first trip or your fiftieth, these insights will help you make the most of your retirement adventures.

    📍 TIMESTAMPS
    0:00 — Introduction
    1:06 — Travel While You Can
    2:00 — Don’t Rush
    3:10 — Get Rewards Cards
    4:14 — Experiences vs. Stuff
    5:54 — Tried to Do It All
    7:06 — Spend the Money
    8:56 — Didn’t Record the Memories
    9:45 — Money vs. Time

    ✨ Watch this before you plan your next trip!

    💬 Join the Conversation What’s your biggest travel regret or lesson learned on the road? Share it in the comments — your story might inspire someone else to travel smarter and live fuller.

    🧭 About This Channel Welcome to Life Starts at Retirement! I’m Maureen — traveler, storyteller, and cruise lecturer exploring what it means to live your best life after retirement. Subscribe for weekly videos on retirement lifestyle, travel tips, and inspiration to make every day an adventure.
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    12 min
  • Retirement's stability stage - Building a life you truly love

    Retirement's stability stage - Building a life you truly love
    Oct 11 2025
    The final stage of retirement is the stability phase — the point where life feels balanced, purposeful, and truly yours.

    In this video, Retirement’s Stability Phase – Building a Life You Truly Love, I explain how retirees move from uncertainty to confidence, creating routines, relationships, and meaning that make retirement deeply fulfilling.

    You’ll learn:
    ✅ What the stability phase of retirement looks like day to day
    ✅ How to build routines that feel joyful, not rigid
    ✅ Why strong relationships and purpose create lasting happiness
    ✅ Practical tips to create a retirement you truly love If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will inspire you to build a chapter filled with peace, purpose, and joy.

    🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real insights, inspiration, and practical tips to help you make retirement remarkable.

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Venice!

    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    10 min
  • Retirement's reorientation stage - How to find yourself again

    Retirement's reorientation stage - How to find yourself again
    Oct 4 2025
    After the excitement fades and disenchantment sets in, many retirees enter the reorientation phase — the stage where you start asking, “Who am I now?”

    In this video, Retirement’s Reorientation Phase – How to Find Yourself Again, I share how to navigate this powerful stage of self-discovery and build a retirement filled with clarity and purpose.

    You’ll learn:
    ✅ What the reorientation phase of retirement really means
    ✅ Why identity and purpose feel uncertain after leaving work
    ✅ Practical ways to explore new passions, routines, and goals
    ✅ How to rebuild confidence and create a fulfilling life after work

    If you’re feeling restless or unsure in retirement, this video will help you find direction, rediscover yourself, and create a chapter you truly love.

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Salerno, Italy!

    🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real-life insights, inspiration, and practical tips to make retirement remarkable.

    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    14 min
  • Retirement's disenchantment stage - When retirement feels empty

    Retirement's disenchantment stage - When retirement feels empty
    Sep 27 2025
    The honeymoon glow of retirement doesn’t last forever — for many, it’s followed by the disenchantment phase, when retirement feels empty, aimless, or even disappointing.

    In this video, The Disenchantment Phase of Retirement – When retirement feels empty, I explains why this stage happens, how long it can last, and most importantly, what you can do to move through it.

    You’ll learn:
    ✅ Why the disenchantment phase often surprises retirees
    ✅ Common feelings of boredom, restlessness, or loss of purpose
    ✅ Practical steps to overcome emptiness and find direction
    ✅ How this stage can actually lead to growth and fulfillment

    If you’ve ever wondered “Is this all there is?” in retirement, this video will give you clarity, reassurance, and tools to navigate the tougher side of life after work.

    🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more honest conversations, real-life insights, and practical tips to create a retirement full of meaning and joy.

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time through Pisa and Florence, Italy!

    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement.
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    12 min
  • Retirement's honeymoon stage - Freedom, fun...and whats next

    Retirement's honeymoon stage - Freedom, fun...and whats next
    Sep 20 2025
    The honeymoon stage of retirement feels like pure freedom — no alarms, no deadlines, just fun and adventure. But what happens when the vacation feeling wears off?

    In this video, The Honeymoon Stage of Retirement – Freedom, Fun and What’s Next, I explore why this stage is so exciting, why it doesn’t last forever, and how to prepare for what comes next.

    You’ll learn:
    ✅ What the honeymoon phase of retirement really feels like
    ✅ How long it typically lasts
    ✅ Why some retirees start to feel restless or aimless
    ✅ Practical tips to enjoy it fully and prepare for the next stage

    If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will help you understand what to expect so you can make the most of this exciting chapter.

    🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more insights, real stories, and tips to create a retirement full of purpose and joy.

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Spain!

    Please check out my video about when you forget the money, you get happiness! ✅https://youtu.be/9OqDFDeKq2M

    Please check out my video about 9 fun things to do after you've retired! ✅https://youtu.be/XDfNiTpcJ1Y?si=OLYcKPb982DWIZVS

    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement.
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    11 min
  • Pre-retirement stage - The dreams and the reality

    Pre-retirement stage - The dreams and the reality
    Sep 13 2025
    Retirement doesn’t start the day you stop working — it actually begins years earlier in what I call the Pre-Retirement Phase. This is the stage where dreams and reality collide, and how well you prepare now can make the difference between a retirement that feels exciting… or uncertain.

    In this video, I’ll explain:
    ✅ What the pre-retirement phase really is
    ✅ The emotions you’ll face — excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty
    ✅ The biggest mistake people make (focusing only on money)
    ✅ Practical tips to prepare for retirement beyond finances
    ✅ Real-life examples of how to plan for purpose, connection, and joy.

    The pre-retirement stage is your golden opportunity to experiment, build routines, strengthen relationships, and start shaping the life you want after work. Don’t let it slip by focusing only on spreadsheets — because retirement is about more than money. It’s about meaning.

    This video is Part 2 of my 6-part series on the Emotional Stages of Retirement.

    Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss the next stage!

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time through Belgium!

    🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe

    Please check out my video about loneliness in retirement ✅https://youtu.be/a4_OEVoJGcc?si=NlomXsaUbvJIBA4k

    Please check out my video about the 3 stages of retirement....Go Go Phase, Slow Go Phase and No Go Phase. ✅https://youtu.be/4-_kDrQnwN8

    Please check out my video Forget the money...this is what makes retirees happy! ✅https://youtu.be/9OqDFDeKq2M?si=iFNcv16bvdr2jjBR

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    10 min