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Benjamin Smith Host, Retirement Success in Maine Podcast & Financial Advisor

Ben's focus with our clients is to direct the investments of their investable portfolios. In teaming with Curtis Worcester and Austin Minor, Ben combines his investment expertise from attaining the CFA Charter with Curtis & Austin's financial planning expertise to provide clients with the tools, confidence, and Education to make informed decisions about their retirement. As Ben, Curtis, and Austin have a number of clients that are Northern Light Health employees, they've developed a specialty in serving clients in the healthcare field. You can read their "Employee Guide to the Northern Light Health Retirement Plans" here.

He has spent his entire career devoted to serving individual clients and institutions by developing and implementing investment strategies, setting portfolio structure, and providing the highest level of client service. He's passionate about helping clients maximize their savings and retirement income using the many financial planning and portfolio management tools available to Guidance Point consultants. Prior to working for Guidance Point Advisors, Ben worked for Acadia Trust, N.A., a subsidiary of Camden National Corporation, as Vice President, Portfolio Manager based in Bangor, Maine. Ben assumed responsibility for and oversight of over $300 million in client portfolios, including individuals, families, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, businesses, and trusts; and he served on the Company’s Investment Committee.

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Balancing Medications, Nutrition, And Fitness To Live Healthier And Age Better With Amy Wilson &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image 6
Balancing Medications, Nutrition, and Fitness to Live Healthier and Age Better with Amy Wilson

Ep 109: Today’s episode dives into a topic that is crucial as we age: how to balance medications, nutrition, and fitness to live healthier and age better. As we grow older, medications often become …

Ep 109: Today’s ep…

Ep 109: Today’s episode dives into a topic that is crucial as we age: how to balance medications, nutrition, and fitness to live healthier and age better. As we grow older, medications often become a regular part of our lives, helping us manage chronic conditions and improve our quality of life. But how do we know we’re using medications effectively—and not relying on them at the expense of healthier habits like nutrition and Exercise? We’re also witnessing a trend of medications being used as shortcuts for weight loss, raising important questions about their long-term sustainability a…

Listen · 45:39
Battling Loneliness And Building Connection With Brandon Lee &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image 6
Battling Loneliness and Building Connection with Brandon Lee

Ep 108: Today’s episode explores one of the most significant challenges we face as we age: loneliness. Loneliness doesn’t always stem from being alone; it often comes from feeling unseen or discon…

Ep 108: Today’s ep…

Ep 108: Today’s episode explores one of the most significant challenges we face as we age: loneliness. Loneliness doesn’t always stem from being alone; it often comes from feeling unseen or disconnected, even when surrounded by others. This is a topic that many of us struggle with in silence, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our guest today, Brandon Lee, is no stranger to this conversation. He’s an entrepreneur, coach, and writer whose work focuses on helping people connect more deeply with themselves and others. Through his own experiences and insights, Brandon has developed tools …

Listen · 49:30
Why Getting Better Sleep Is The Key To Aging Better With Barry Krakow, Md &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image 6
Why Getting Better Sleep is the Key to Aging Better with Barry Krakow, MD

Ep 107: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast touches on a topic that impacts every single one of us but often doesn’t get the attention it deserves: Sleep. As retirees seek t…

Ep 107: Today’s ep…

Ep 107: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast touches on a topic that impacts every single one of us but often doesn’t get the attention it deserves: sleep. As retirees seek to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, getting good-quality sleep is often overlooked as a critical key to success in Aging well. In this episode, we’ll explore why improving sleep quality is one of the most powerful ways to boost physical, emotional, and cognitive health in retirement. We’ll uncover how better sleep helps prevent memory decline, manage Stress, and even reduce risks for chro…

Listen · 50:05
Designing Your Life With Intention: A Blueprint For Fulfillment And Legacy With Sherri Parks &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Designing Your Life with Intention: A Blueprint for Fulfillment and Legacy with Sherri Parks

Ep 106: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast explores a topic that’s both deeply personal and incredibly powerful: how to design your life with intention. As retirees, you’…

Ep 106: Today’s ep…

Ep 106: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast explores a topic that’s both deeply personal and incredibly powerful: how to design your life with intention. As retirees, you’ve spent decades achieving goals and caring for others. But now, you have the opportunity to reflect on what brings you joy, pride, and meaning—and to ensure that your next chapter aligns with the Legacy you want to leave. We’ll be joined by a Life and Career Coach who specializes in helping individuals clarify their purpose, set meaningful goals, and make the most of every area of life—whet…

Listen · 47:40
Planning Your Retirement Travel In 2025 And 2026 With Jess Rhinehart &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Planning Your Retirement Travel in 2025 and 2026 with Jess Rhinehart

Ep 105: Today’s episode visits the theme of Travel and the evolution of travel since our last travel-themed episode. As retirees look to make the most of their newfound freedom, travel becomes an es…

Ep 105: Today’s ep…

Ep 105: Today’s episode visits the theme of travel and the evolution of travel since our last travel-themed episode. As retirees look to make the most of their newfound freedom, travel becomes an essential way to explore the world and discover new experiences. But as travel trends evolve, how can retirees align their adventures with meaningful goals—whether that's staying active, bonding with family, or prioritizing longevity? In this episode, we’ll explore the biggest travel trends set to define 2025 and 2026, and how they can help retirees build more enriching, intentional travel exper…

Listen · 39:15
Embracing Lifelong Learning And New Challenges With Anne Montgomery &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Embracing Lifelong Learning and New Challenges with Anne Montgomery

Ep 104: A few weeks ago, we were talking with one of our listeners, and she shared something that struck us. After retiring from a long and successful career, she found herself feeling unfulfilled. Sh…

Ep 104: A few weeks …

Ep 104: A few weeks ago, we were talking with one of our listeners, and she shared something that struck us. After retiring from a long and successful career, she found herself feeling unfulfilled. She said, 'I spent years looking forward to retirement, but now that I’m here, I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like I’ve lost my purpose.'​ It made us realize that many retirees, while they’ve planned carefully for their finances and even their social lives, often overlook the importance of continued personal Growth. How do you find new challenges to take on when your career is…

Listen · 59:43
Being A Caregiver For Mom From A Son'S Perspective With Mark Steven Porro &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Being a Caregiver for Mom from a Son's Perspective with Mark Steven Porro

Ep 103: Many of us imagine our retirement years filled with travel, relaxation, and time to pursue long-neglected hobbies. But for some, the reality of retirement brings new responsibilities, particul…

Ep 103: Many of us i…

Ep 103: Many of us imagine our retirement years filled with travel, relaxation, and time to pursue long-neglected hobbies. But for some, the reality of retirement brings new responsibilities, particularly in the form of Caregiving for a loved one. While caring for a parent or a loved one can be rewarding, it can also be incredibly challenging—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Today, we’ll explore the complexities of caregiving: How do you balance the emotional weight of watching a parent age with the practical needs of their care? What do you do when the roles of parent and child are …

Listen · 59:45
Surviving A Near Fatal Car Crash - A Story Of Courage &Amp; Resilience With Ethan Poetic &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Surviving A Near Fatal Car Crash – A Story of Courage & Resilience with Ethan Poetic

Ep 102: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast is one that speaks to resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, and how we can find deeper meaning in life, especially after goi…

Ep 102: Today’s ep…

Ep 102: Today’s episode of The Retirement Success in Maine Podcast is one that speaks to resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, and how we can find deeper meaning in life, especially after going through life-altering events. It’s a story that reminds us of the fragility of life, but also of the immense strength that can emerge from tragedy. Our guest today has an extraordinary story. In 2011, he was involved in a near-fatal car crash with a tractor-trailer, leaving him with just a 1% chance of survival. After a grueling recovery process, he emerged not only as a survivor but as someo…

Listen · 42:50
Managing &Amp; Overcoming Chronic Pain In Retirement With Terry Tucker &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Managing & Overcoming Chronic Pain in Retirement with Terry Tucker

Ep 101: A while back, we were talking with one of our clients, and he shared that there was one area where he felt powerless: his physical health. Specifically, he had been dealing with chronic pain t…

Ep 101: A while back…

Ep 101: A while back, we were talking with one of our clients, and he shared that there was one area where he felt powerless: his physical health. Specifically, he had been dealing with chronic pain that, despite his best efforts, seemed to impact his ability to fully enjoy retirement. That made us realize that many retirees, while they’ve planned for their finances, social lives, and even hobbies, often don’t anticipate the physical challenges that may come with aging, especially how to manage chronic pain. How do you maintain a positive attitude and find purpose when pain becomes part of…

Listen · 57:27
How To Tap Into The Future Of The Food Scene With David Page &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
How to Tap Into the Future of the Food Scene with David Page

Ep 100: When we think about the world of food, it’s not just the ingredients or the dishes that make it special; it’s the people behind them—the chefs, restaurateurs, and innovators who bring cu…

Ep 100: When we thin…

Ep 100: When we think about the world of food, it’s not just the ingredients or the dishes that make it special; it’s the people behind them—the chefs, restaurateurs, and innovators who bring culinary art to life. In retirement, we often have the time and freedom to explore new passions, and what better passion than discovering the stories and talents of the legends and future legends of the culinary world? Today, we’re diving into how retirees can enrich their lives by seeking out these remarkable individuals, learning from their experiences, and planning trips that revolve around the…

Listen · 1:05:00
How To Handle My Adult Child Moving Back Home With Ellen Rothstein &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
How to Handle My Adult Child Moving Back Home with Ellen Rothstein

Ep 099: In recent years, we've witnessed significant shifts in economic landscapes, career trajectories, and personal life choices, leading to a rise in the number of young adults returning to their p…

Ep 099: In recent ye…

Ep 099: In recent years, we've witnessed significant shifts in economic landscapes, career trajectories, and personal life choices, leading to a rise in the number of young adults returning to their parental homes. These individuals often head back home for a variety of reasons, including economic pressures like student loan debt, job loss, or the high cost of living. For others, it's a strategic move during career transitions or a personal decision influenced by life events such as divorce or health issues. This growing trend presents unique challenges and opportunities for families. For pare…

Listen · 53:36
What Should We Know About End-Of-Life Planning With Dorian Mintzer M.s.w., Ph.d. &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
What Should We Know About End-of-Life Planning with Dorian Mintzer M.S.W., Ph.D.

Ep 098: A few weeks ago, we spoke with an older client who had managed her Retirement Planning well but hadn't addressed end-of-life issues beyond financial aspects, such as her legacy and comforting …

Ep 098: A few weeks …

Ep 098: A few weeks ago, we spoke with an older client who had managed her retirement planning well but hadn't addressed end-of-life issues beyond financial aspects, such as her legacy and comforting her loved ones. To help with this, we brought in a world-renowned retirement coach specializing in finding meaning and purpose in retirement challenges. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and tools for a confident and fulfilling retirement, including thoughtful end-of-life planning and its impact on loved ones. Our next guest on the Retirement Success in Maine Podcast is Dr. Dorian Mintze…

Listen · 1:12:39
Using Disney Vacation Club To Live In Florida In The Winter Months In Retirement With Derek Deboer &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Using Disney Vacation Club to Live in Florida in the Winter Months in Retirement with Derek DeBoer

Ep 097: When working with retirees, we often face the question - “Where do I want to live in retirement?” This is something that we’ve discussed in previous episodes, but in this episode, we are…

Ep 097: When working…

Ep 097: When working with retirees, we often face the question - “Where do I want to live in retirement?” This is something that we’ve discussed in previous episodes, but in this episode, we are taking a different angle. What if you could live in arguably the Happiest Place on Earth while in retirement? Of course, we are talking about Disney! Is that even possible? On today’s episode, we discuss utilizing Disney Vacation Club (DVC) to accomplish just that!  We are joined by a Disney Vacation Club Expert who has spent more than 20 years working in the world of Disney and Disney Vacatio…

Listen · 1:18:33
The Guidance Point Advisors Culture Code &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
The Guidance Point Advisors Culture Code

Ep 096: We are back! After taking a little bit of a break here in 2024 we are excited to have a new episode to share. Our firm has been growing and as businesses grow, you resource up, and we've been …

Ep 096: We are back!…

Ep 096: We are back! After taking a little bit of a break here in 2024 we are excited to have a new episode to share. Our firm has been growing and as businesses grow, you resource up, and we've been just working on that a lot. Thank you to those who have just stayed with us and are tuning in again today after our little hiatus. We promise we're back. We’ve got some really great guests that we're lining up here. For today’s show, seeing as it's been a bit, one of the things that we want to talk about is that as we've been hiring people and as people hire us, we've been getting these questi…

Listen · 27:37
Can I Predict If I’ll Need Long-Term Care Insurance? With Lily Vittayarukskul &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Can I Predict If I’ll Need Long-Term Care Insurance? with Lily Vittayarukskul

Ep 095: When we sit down with our clients, one of the greatest fears in retirement is needing Long-Term Care services as we age. But our long-term care needs are often undefined. We don’t know how w…

Ep 095: When we sit …

Ep 095: When we sit down with our clients, one of the greatest fears in retirement is needing Long-Term Care services as we age. But our long-term care needs are often undefined. We don’t know how we’ll age. Some of us do know a bit about how our immediate family has aged and what their experience with long-term care has been, but is that relevant for us? With our clients, we can roughly game plan whether our current retirement assets and savings might be enough to support one or two people’s long-term care needs. But it’s certainly a guess and it only discusses the financial component…

Listen · 53:33
What To Do When Things Really Don’t Go As Planned With Michael Allison &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
What to Do When Things REALLY Don’t Go as Planned with Michael Allison

Ep 094: On today’s episode, we venture into a topic that all of us know one way or another, adversity. Throughout our lives, we spend countless hours planning for monumental life goals. We take time…

Ep 094: On today’s…

Ep 094: On today’s episode, we venture into a topic that all of us know one way or another, adversity. Throughout our lives, we spend countless hours planning for monumental life goals. We take time planning to carefully map out how we want our lives to play out. But, what happens when the things we strive towards for years, don’t happen at all? This emotional rollercoaster can be especially amplified when it comes to retirement. We spend decades planning our retirement and accumulating expectations, but then life throws us a curveball. Maybe we don’t have the Money to carry out our plan…

Listen · 1:01:56
What’s The Future Of Real Estate In Maine And Nationally With Tom Miller, Cfa &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
What’s the Future of Real Estate in Maine and Nationally with Tom Miller, CFA

Ep 093: Maine offers a lot of unique opportunities for those looking to acquire Real Estate. Whether you're interested in growing your real Estate portfolio, purchasing a rental property, or finding a…

Ep 093: Maine offers…

Ep 093: Maine offers a lot of unique opportunities for those looking to acquire real estate. Whether you're interested in growing your real estate portfolio, purchasing a rental property, or finding a second home to escape to, you've come to the right place. With more people working remotely, and Maine experiencing an influx of new residents, how is this trend effecting our real estate? For those who already own real estate in Maine, there can be questions regarding when to sell or how national trends will impact our region. On today's episode, we're going to unravel the strategies, challenges…

Listen · 49:20
Preserving Our Memories For Generations With Jim Gebhardt &Raquo; Retirement Success In Maine Podbean Image
Preserving Our Memories for Generations with Jim Gebhardt

Ep 092: We often hear that our clients are sifting through old pictures, VHS tapes, DVDs, YouTube videos, etc., and are looking for a way to keep their memories alive over time, but it all seems unorg…

Ep 092: We often hea…

Ep 092: We often hear that our clients are sifting through old pictures, VHS tapes, DVDs, YouTube videos, etc., and are looking for a way to keep their memories alive over time, but it all seems unorganized and not coordinated to the people we ultimately want to give these memories and their context to! Enter MyArkit, an online digital archival company preserving the legacy of loved ones and friends. As we live our lives digitally, we save memories to devices, clouds, or social media sites that may get lost due to faulty equipment or careless handling. We all have thousands of pictures and vid…

Listen · 32:15

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