At 70 years old, Ruben never imagined his life would change so abruptly.After decades of marriage, his wife asked him for a divorce. In one moment, the future he had carefully planned—retirement, finances, even his social life—collapsed. “I had to reset my life and decide how I really wanted to live,” he said. Ruben’s story is far from unique. Across the United States and Canada, a growing number of older adults are entering retirement alone—divorced, widowed, or by choic

Why using the U.S. dollar in Ecuador changes more than your budget For many Americans approaching retirement, financial planning has become the center of every major decision. Budgets are calculated carefully, expenses are monitored closely, and long-term security often feels tied to how efficiently money is managed. But there is a deeper question beneath the numbers: Is the economy serving life, or has life begun serving the economy?

For many professionals considering a move abroad, the dream is clear: a slower pace of life, a lower cost of living, meaningful work—or semi-retirement—and a country that offers stability, culture, and natural beauty. Ecuador has quietly become one of the most attractive destinations for this lifestyle, especially for North Americans and international professionals seeking long-term residency.