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Keen on Retirement

Business & Economics Podcasts

Do you want to make smarter decisions about your money and your life? Do you want to make sure you have enough money to retire comfortably? Join Founder and CEO of Keen Wealth Advisors, Bill Keen, as we discuss money, life, and everything in between. Whether you’re on your way to retirement or already there, these shows will educate and entertain you on your journey.

Location:

United States

Description:

Do you want to make smarter decisions about your money and your life? Do you want to make sure you have enough money to retire comfortably? Join Founder and CEO of Keen Wealth Advisors, Bill Keen, as we discuss money, life, and everything in between. Whether you’re on your way to retirement or already there, these shows will educate and entertain you on your journey.

Language:

English


Episodes

How to Avoid Getting Caught Up in Financial Fraud

3/13/2024
If you go back and skim the 200-plus episodes we've recorded of Keen on Retirement, you'll notice that every year or so, we devote an episode to the latest financial frauds and scams that are making the rounds. Especially as we head into tax season, it's important that folks remember the IRS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Social Security Administration are never, ever going to call you and ask for your banking info. We also regularly caution folks against clicking on suspicious emails or text message links, or making investments that seem too good to be true with the Bernie Madoffs of the world. On today's show, we talk about another type of financial "fraud" that's perfectly legal but potentially just as dangerous to your financial security: taking bad advice from unaccredited financial commentators and celebrities trying to further their own best interests, not yours.

Duration:00:37:09

Love and Community Helped My Mother Thrive in Her Golden Years

2/28/2024
Just after midnight on New Year's Day of 2012, I was standing in a pizzeria in New York with my wife Carissa. We had just watched “The Ball” drop in Times Square. Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" was playing over loudspeakers. Confetti was in the air. Spirits were high. And I was filled with gratitude and hope for the year ahead. Then I happened to see an email from my mother come in on my phone. What it said confused and worried me. I showed the email to Carissa, and she confirmed my reaction: "It is clear your mother is telling you goodbye." On today's show, I discuss how this experience changed my life, as well as my approach to financial advisory and building community at Keen Wealth Advisors.

Duration:00:30:16

Will Hitting “Peak 65” Rewrite the Rules for Retirement?

2/14/2024
We spend a lot of time on Keen on Retirement discussing how retirement is changing, from new laws and rules to generational shifts in how seniors work and live. But one constant in the retirement planning process is the importance of the age of 65. Many folks still feel like turning 65 means you've hit "retirement age," even though the government's definition is a bit different. And even if you continue to work well into your 70s, at age 65 there are some important decisions that should be coordinated as your vision for your Golden Years comes into focus. On today's show, we discuss why the age of 65 will be an especially important transition point for the next couple of years. We also answer listener questions about charitable contributions and required minimum distributions that might factor into your tax prep this spring.

Duration:00:31:14

Retirement Planning Strategies for Managing Interest Rates, Investment Yields, and 529 Accounts

1/31/2024
My team at Keen on Retirement has been hard at work analyzing the question that's top-of-mind for many of our listeners. And after crunching the numbers ... Yes, it looks like Taylor Swift will be able to attend the Super Bowl! She's scheduled to perform in Tokyo the night before our Chiefs take on the 49ers, but thanks to a 17-hour time difference -- and, presumably, a private jet -- we do expect to see Taylor in Las Vegas. All kidding aside, I'm especially excited for this round of listener questions. A couple of folks who have been with Keen Wealth for many years took the time to ask about important issues that may be relevant to your financial planning.

Duration:00:39:07

Keen on Retirement at 200: Reflecting on Our Favorite Episodes

1/17/2024
At the end of 2023, the Keen on Retirement podcast crossed a significant milestone: 200 episodes. To put that number in context, less than half of the 460,080 active shows on Apple Podcasts reach episode 4. It's a real testament to the quality of our discussions, Keen Wealth Advisors' commitment to financial education, the dedication of my cohosts, and the support of our subscribers that Keen on Retirement is still going strong as we begin our 9th year. On today's show, my cohosts and I look back on our favorite episodes of Keen on Retirement and reflect on some of the common themes that connect our wide-ranging conversations about the economy, investing, comprehensive financial planning, retirement, and living well.

Duration:00:41:55

Setting New Year’s Goals and Ignoring Old Noise in 2024

1/3/2024
Happy 2024 from the team at Keen Wealth Advisors! The Dow sent us into the New Year on a high note -- literally -- by hitting a new all-time high in December on the back of some very positive economic news. Employment and job creation are still strong. It looks like we're going to avoid the recession that some analysts have been predicting for the better part of two years. And the Federal Reserve is hinting that it might be done with interest rate hikes as well. That's a pretty good jumping-off point for a year that, I can confidently predict, sure won't be boring. Elections, Olympics, big changes to how and where we work, advances in AI and other tech, ongoing conflicts across the globe, Leap Day -- there's a lot to look forward to in 2024, but also a lot of very serious matters to keep tabs on, and a lot of potential distractions to filter out of your financial planning. On today's show, we dispel one such distraction from financial writer Harry Dent and share some economic data that should ground your thinking about your money in the year ahead. My co-hosts and I also share our New Year's goals with the hope that we'll get a little extra accountability from each other and our Keen on Retirement audience.

Duration:00:44:47

Lessons on Smart Investing and Rich Living from Charlie Munger

12/20/2023
On November 28th, Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger died at age 99. Munger and his partner, Warren Buffett, became billionaire sages whose words reverberated throughout the markets. Their appearances at Berkshire's annual shareholder meetings were appointment viewing for many financial professionals. And while Charlie's "Mungerisms" often served as a succinct counterpoint to Buffett's more loquacious commentaries, the two were almost completely in sync on how they thought about work, investing, and philanthropy. On today's show, we reflect on the lives and legacies of these two business icons and discuss what lessons investors and seniors can learn from their phenomenal success.

Duration:00:40:26

Crossing Three Listener Questions Off Your 2024 Financial Planning Checklist

12/6/2023
When we fall behind on our holiday shopping lists, there are usually some last-minute deals and expedited shipping options that can help us catch up. But if you fall too far behind on your annual financial planning checklist, you might miss out on some important rule changes or time-sensitive strategies that could impact your retirement next year. Based on the questions we've been fielding lately from Keen on Retirement listeners and readers, I'm glad that so many folks are making time during the holiday hustle and bustle to think about some important issues and get a jump on their 2024 financial planning. On today's show, we discuss popular questions about next year's tax brackets, a controversial video about retirement withdrawals that's been making the rounds on social media, and how seniors should be planning for long-term care.

Duration:00:39:19

Add Daily Thanksgiving to Your Holiday Routine

11/22/2023
Being grateful can be hard work. The media bombards us with so much bad news, and our lives are so full of everyday stresses that it's easy to lose sight of all the good things we have going for us. And when we're really low, gratitude might even feel a little out of reach. However, as we discuss on today's show, intentionally incorporating gratefulness into your daily routine can create a positive mindset that improves all aspects of your life, from your health and your relationships to your financial planning.

Duration:00:35:54

Coordinating Bonds, Market Returns, and Taxes into a Personalized Retirement Strategy

11/8/2023
One of the reasons my team at Keen Wealth puts so much care into personalizing our comprehensive planning process is that there's no one path to a successful retirement. Yes, we often incorporate some tried-and-true strategies and tools, like diversification, downside volatility protection, and Monte Carlo simulations. But as we discuss on today's show, even professional financial advisors have to sort through a wide array of options to help folks find their optimal plan. When you're managing your finances on your own, those options can be overwhelming and, in some cases, a little dangerous for your money. After discussing four listener questions, I'd also like to share some exciting personal news and thank my alma mater, the University of Central Missouri.

Duration:00:36:33

How Social Security, Medicare, and Geopolitics Could Affect Your 2024 Planning

10/25/2023
The comprehensive financial plans we design at Keen Wealth factor in every piece of available information to help folks plan for what we know is coming and prepare for the unexpected. While recent events at home and abroad are raising some new questions, we did learn some important answers last week that will help folks get ready for 2024. On today's show, we discuss listener questions about Social Security, Medicare, Ukraine and Israel, and year-end financial planning.

Duration:00:37:26

Your Guide to 2023 Medicare Open Enrollment

10/11/2023
This year's annual Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15th to December 7th. Whether you're already on Medicare or about to claim your benefits for the first time, seniors need to make sure they get the care they need at a price that fits with the rest of their comprehensive financial plan. On today's show, we answer listener questions about Medicare Open Enrollment to help you get ready for this important part of your annual planning process.

Duration:00:36:33

4 Case Studies Using Keen Wealth’s Comprehensive Planning

9/27/2023
In a recent survey, non-retired adults told investment firm Schroders that they will need approximately $5,000 per month "to enjoy a comfortable retirement." But is that really enough? Maybe! Studies and surveys like these make for eye-catching headlines, but they skimp on the details. For example, where are these retirees planning on living? $5,000 per month is going to go a lot further in, say, Kansas City than it will on the coasts. When are these folks planning to retire? If it's before 65, are they factoring health care premiums into that $5,000? What about Social Security? Mortgage payments? Long-term care insurance? An annual travel budget to have a little fun? These are the kinds of conversations and details that help my team at Keen Wealth arrive at something more reliable and personalized than a number: a comprehensive financial plan. The four case studies we discuss on today's show will give you a better idea of how that process could help you improve your plan for retirement.

Duration:00:40:50

Following Up on Our Latest Webinar on Maximizing Social Security Benefits

9/13/2023
It's worth celebrating just about any time our leaders on both sides of the political aisle can meet in the middle. But seniors in Kansas City should all be smiling now that, starting in 2024, they’ll get to enjoy a little bit more of their Social Security benefits. Thanks to a broadly bipartisan vote, Missouri is set to become the 39th state to make Social Security payments exempt from state taxes. Of course, that also means many folks in our audience will have to factor in a new variable when they're deciding when to take Social Security. Luckily, Matt Wilson, Keen Wealth's Chief Investment Officer and President, recently hosted a comprehensive webinar on Maximizing Social Security Benefits that you can rewatch on our website. Today, we're going to discuss some follow-up questions Matt received from attendees.

Duration:00:37:09

Protect Your Info and Your Money from Fraud with These Cybersecurity Tips from Jeff Lanza

8/30/2023
Today marks the third time I've had the honor to welcome retired FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza to our podcast. In his 20-plus-year career, Jeff investigated cybercrime, fraud, organized crime, human trafficking, and terrorism. Jeff is now a regular on TV news, including CNBC, the Fox News Channel, "The Today Show," and "Good Morning America." He's the author of two books and has spoken around the globe and in 49 states, including lecturing at Princeton and Harvard Universities. On this episode, Jeff offers several actionable steps that folks can take to secure their online info and steer clear of the latest scams. Plus, I'm thrilled to announce that, for the first time since the pandemic, Jeff is once again teaming up with Keen Wealth Advisors for a live Cyber Security Conference on October 7th at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Duration:00:42:34

Busting 4 Myths About the "Sacred Cows" Hurting Your Financial Plan

8/16/2023
On today's show, we answer a request from a Keen on Retirement listener who's been reading Garrett B. Gunderson's popular book "Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your Prosperity." You might have seen some of Gunderson's thoughts about alternative financial strategies passed around online, especially among folks who are skeptical about the markets and the government's role in economic policy. But while there's certainly no one way to create a financial plan, most investors who steer clear of "sacred cows" like investing in a diversified portfolio and funding their retirement accounts could be killing their chances of a secure retirement. Below are several of the points we discuss.

Duration:00:33:34

Discussing our Q3 Market Outlook, Bonds, Recessions, and Student Loan Debt

8/2/2023
Folks who attended our 2023 Q3 Market Outlook Webinar heard a much more positive message about the economy than the one you might be hearing on social media and cable news. Matt Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and President at Keen Wealth, always follows the latest data towards a no-nonsense picture of where we are and where we could be heading. On today’s show, we discuss why we’re cautiously optimistic about the rest of the year and answer some follow-up questions from webinar attendees.

Duration:00:38:59

What Taylor Swift's Tour Can Teach Us About the "Eras" of Retirement

7/19/2023
I am not what the kids would call a "Swiftie," but I recognize talent when I see it! So how did I end up in the capacity crowd at Arrowhead Stadium last week watching Taylor Swift? On today's show, we talk about my family's experience at "The Eras Tour" and tie that incredible night into a larger discussion about what money is really for, especially in retirement.

Duration:00:39:22

Answering Your Questions About Paying Taxes in Retirement

7/5/2023
Without careful analysis and planning, taxes can become one of the biggest expenses for retirees -- if not the biggest. Matt Wilson, Chief Investment Officer and President of Keen Wealth Advisors, recently hosted a webinar discussing the tax issues you could face at four stages of retirement. Today's podcast episode hits on some of Matt's key points and answers important follow-up questions from webinar attendees. Together, this content provides a full picture of how Keen Wealth integrates both annual tax preparation and long-term tax planning into a comprehensive financial plan.

Duration:00:33:59

The Latest on Interest Rates, Inflation, and Your Retirement Plan

6/21/2023
At its meeting on June 14th, the Federal Reserve did something that it hasn't done in 15 months: it decided not to raise interest rates. This slight pause in the Fed's battle against inflation gives us an opportunity to discuss the state of our economy and the markets at the midway point of 2023. On today's show, we take stock of the latest market data, put current inflation and interest rates in their proper context, and consider the United States' place in the global economy.

Duration:00:33:16