Keen On Retirement

In my experience, the folks who have the most positive financial outcomes are often the ones who are the most engaged in the planning process. Now, that doesn’t mean I expect my clients to become expert portfolio managers! But if you’re working with a fiduciary advisor who is paying close attention to the issues of the day, you’re likely to feel more at ease about your investment strategy and more confident about reaching your long-term financial goals. That’s why educational seminars and webinars are such an important part of the Keen Wealth mission. And that’s why I’m excited to bring you this special Market Update webinar presented by Matt Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Keen Wealth Advisors, and a frequent guest on my Keen on Retirement podcast. In his presentation, Matt touches on some topics that I know are on your mind right now, including: Stock market trends The current economic environment Federal reserve policy Volatility in Q4 of 2018 and Q1 of 2019 Our outlook for the r

“If something happened to me, what would happen to my family?” I know this question is on the minds of many of the clients at Keen Wealth. It’s also the question that inspired my guest on today’s podcast, Polly Bartle Blomquist, to transition from family law to elder law and estate planning. “After I had kids, I realized the gravity of parenting,” Polly remembers. “Really, families did not know the process by which to ensure that their families were protected, and I became passionate about that. I learned everything that I could possibly learn and then went out on my own and started practicing estate planning.” On today’s show, Polly shares her expert tips for preserving wealth, protecting your best interests, and creating a legally durable legacy plan that will honor your last wishes.

“50% of small businesses close.” How many times have you read some variation of this headline, or heard that number thrown around in casual conversation? You might have even used this “conventional wisdom” to talk yourself out of starting your own company. Fifty percent makes it sounds like your odds of success are on par with flipping a coin and guessing heads or tails. But that’s the tricky thing about numbers: taken out of context, they can be deceiving. Let’s dig into that 50% a little deeper and ask, “Why do half of small businesses close?” According to the Small Business Administration, the number one reason, yes, is a lack of revenue. Number two? The owner retires. Number three? The owner sells the company. So, two of the top three reasons that most small businesses close aren’t necessarily negative! They might even represent a lifetime of fulfilling work leading to a profitable exit for the business owner! Recently, you might have come across some big numbers related to our economy that have you nervo

In March of 2009, the markets bottomed out in the aftermath of the housing crisis and bank collapses. Gigantic financial institutions teetered on bankruptcy and scrambled for government support. Millions of ordinary folks lost their homes or their jobs, and all saw their retirement savings decline in value. In the moment, it was hard to imagine how our economy would get back to normal. And yet, 10 years later, despite some ongoing volatility, the economy is once again trending positive. On today’s show, we talk about what the bottom of the financial crisis looked like, how the markets turned around, and the lessons that are most important to you, an investor preparing for or in retirement.

There’s never a dull moment in the world of finance! In just the past six months or so the markets have passed some amazing historical milestones. We’ve reflected on one of the true revolutions in financial services, had a couple complicated runs of volatility, and the country made it through the contentious midterm elections that were fought against the background of some major economic challenges at home and abroad. With so many big picture topics to discuss, it’s been a while since we opened up our mailbag. So, on today’s show, we answer questions submitted by listeners that touch upon issues that many folks will have to deal with at some point during their retirement.

When Dr. Daniel Crosby was in his 20s, he had a fateful conversation with his father about what he should do for a living. Dr. Crosby’s father was a financial advisor, but young Daniel didn’t think finance was a good fit for his interests and skill set. “I remember saying to him, ‘Dad, but I'm a people person. I like to study human behavior and you just think about math,’ Dr. Crosby says. “He laughed and said, ‘Read these books and tell me if you don't think that emotion and human behavior plays into finance.’ And there was no turning back after that.” Today, Dr. Crosby is the chief behavioral officer at Brinker Capital. He's also a psychologist, a New York Times bestselling author, and a behavioral finance expert who really understands what's happening at the intersection of our minds and the financial markets. On today’s show, we talked to Dr. Crosby about his latest book, “The Behavioral Investor,” and the four psychological tendencies that he has seen prevent folks from building a bigger and better nest e

I know that retirement is just around the corner for many of my regular listeners and readers, and for many of our clients at Keen Wealth. In fact, some of you may have started 2019 with a resolution to make this your last year of full-time work. Once you’ve decided to retire and that reality starts to sink in, the scope of this life change can be daunting. Well, we’ve got you covered with this special episode of Keen on Retirement. I went back into past podcasts and blog posts to put together a primer on five ways you can prepare to “retire right” and smooth your transition into retirement. And for those of you that are already retired, this episode will be a nice checklist for things to review and consider along your journey in retirement.

Earlier this year, Vanguard announced the passing of founder John Bogle, one of the best investors of our time and also one of the true innovators in the financial services industry. Bogle founded Vanguard back in 1974, and one of the very first products they offered was revolutionary: a mutual fund that tracked the S&P 500. Before Vanguard, it was nearly impossible for an individual investor to monitor and invest in the 500 top companies that the Standard and Poor’s index tracks and weights based on performance. Bogle’s fund created a new way for investors of all sizes to tap into the wealth-building power of the markets that other firms have been emulating and refining ever since. On today’s show, we dig a little deeper into how indexing works in 2019, the differences between passive and active investing strategies, and the key things you need to know if you’re thinking about adding an index to your portfolio.

If you’ve started to receive 2018 tax info from your financial institutions and can already feel a sense of dread building, let me try to put a more positive spin on this process. At Keen Wealth, we like to remind clients that, to some extent, taxes are a problem of prosperity. Sticking with disciplined savings and investment strategies, even during volatility, could help generate wealth and security for your family in the long run. Taxes are just part of the price tag that comes with achieving that dream retirement scenario. However, there are mistakes that you could make when you’re filing taxes that can add up to a bigger bill than necessary, especially if you miss out on a particular strategy or deduction. On today’s show, we discuss how to avoid four common tax preparation mistakes, possible ramifications of the new tax laws, and why meeting with a fiduciary advisor shouldn’t feel like spending time in a jail cell.

At our 21st Annual Holiday Breakfast in December 2018, we presented "Forecast 2019: Anticipating Change." You can listen to Matt's presentation in this podcast, or you can watch full video of the presentation, including data slides, at KeenonRetirement.com.

At our 21st Annual Holiday Breakfast in December 2018, we presented "Forecast 2019: Anticipating Change." You can listen to Bill's introduction in this podcast, or you can watch full video of the presentation, including data slides, at KeenonRetirement.com.

The stock market has recently been acting like that old saying about the weather, “if you don’t like it today, just wait for tomorrow.” The past few months have been very bumpy in the stock market. Down big one day, up big the next, rinse and repeat. With this bumpiness, we thought it would be a good idea to kick off the 2019 edition of Keen on Retirement by discussing the current state of the markets, how today’s volatility compares to historical norms, and how our planning process helps clients stay on course through turbulent stretches.

‘Tis the season here at Keen Wealth! While folks are wrapping up their holiday shopping and party plans, we’re helping clients put a bow on their 2018 finances. This time of year I’m always moved and inspired by how many of our clients are looking outside of themselves, using the assets they’ve worked so hard for to improve our community and help those in need. On today’s show, we discuss how charitable giving factors into your year-end tax planning preparation. A little forethought and some guidance from a financial professional can help you maximize your generosity – which could make a big difference in another person’s life this holiday season. According to experts, giving could give your own health and happiness a big boost as we head into the new year.

As we discussed earlier this year, 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the IRA and the 20th anniversary of the Roth IRA. For decades, Americans have been using these investment accounts to take control of their retirement planning and provide their families with favorable wealth building vehicles. The Roth in particular has become extremely popular thanks to its tax-free accumulation. And, as more and more seniors are working in retirement, the ability to keep making contributions for as long as you’re earning income is attractive as well. Both the traditional and the Roth IRA have been around long enough now that many of our clients at Keen Wealth are coming to us with questions about how to bequeath these assets or provide an inheritance to their families. Inheriting assets can have a big impact on year-end tax prep, so we thought it would be a good idea to devote today’s episode to this topic. If you have inherited an IRA, or believe you may soon, you still have a few weeks to think about the following key

Health care was on the minds of many voters during the mid-term elections, and I suspect this will continue to be a hot-button issue. Thanks to advances in medicine, technology, and standards of living, people are living longer and more active lives. However, with increased life expectancy comes higher health care costs and higher insurance premiums that you’ll have to account for longer into your retirement – especially if you’re a woman. Nevertheless, most of us are going to reach a point where we just cannot take care of our basic needs without a little additional help. On today’s show, we’re giving our listeners an important overview of long-term care: who needs it, for how long, what Medicare does and doesn’t cover, and how to make sure your financial plan keeps you safe and comfortable throughout the later stages of your retirement.

“Are we going to be OK?” I know some folks are asking themselves and their fiduciary advisors that question after a turbulent month for the markets. We’ve discussed both current and historical reasons for October’s volatility – which again, I have to stress, was perfectly normal and no cause for panic. But I understand that technical and theoretical analysis are cold comfort right now if you’re retired and depending on your investments to support you for the rest of your life. So on today’s show, we’re going to move from the high-level view of the economy down to the trenches here at Keen Wealth. These are the strategies we use for both our working and retired clients during volatile times.

Last week I tried to provide some calm perspective on the recent fluctuations in the markets. Again, in summary: the corrections we’re experiencing right now are perfectly normal, and not nearly as scary as some of the headlines would have you believe. One of the main factors that’s contributing to this volatile October is the pace and expected duration of the Federal Reserve’s current rising interest rate cycle. As you probably read, President Trump wasn’t very happy with the Fed, and a lot of folks on Wall Street weren’t either. So why the rate increase? If our economy is on track for yet another positive year, why did the Fed make an adjustment that tends to spook investors and slow things down? On today’s show, we’re following up on last week’s news to break down how changing interest rates affect the economy and various investment vehicles. Hopefully this discussion will help folks understand what the Fed’s move really says about where the US economy is as 2018 draws to a close.

As much as we caution investors against making knee-jerk reactions to the news, your investments and your long-term planning don’t exist in a vacuum either. That’s why when I attend conferences like the Barron's Top Independent Advisors Summit or the Schwab Impact Conference, I like to come back with a report that I think will be beneficial to my clients and listeners. It’s just another way that we at Keen Wealth try to give the folks we work with a comprehensive financial-planning experience. Matt Wilson and I recently travelled to Washington, D.C. for a series of briefings organized by my friends at CEO Coaching International. And yes, on the one hand, it seems like the tumult in Washington and the coming midterm elections could have serious implications for things like tax planning, estate planning, and even health care. But I also came away from these discussions feeling a bit more hopeful about our country’s politics than I have in quite some time, and I remain bullish on our economic outlook for the res

I suspect that a month or two from now, your inbox and social media feeds will be full of year-end tax-planning checklists and advice articles. But one of our mantras at Keen Wealth is, “get out ahead of issues as early as we can.” So on today’s show, we help our listeners get a jump on year-end tax planning. If you put off addressing these important items, you’re not just wasting time. You could be losing money.

The US economy has experienced some incredible gains over the last 40 years. Our GDP (the size of our economy) has tripled. The S&P 500, when you include reinvested dividends, has risen more than 9,000%. Since the 1980s, average household income in the U.S. has risen by one-third after inflation. Couple all that tremendous economic growth with the huge advancements we’ve made in health care and technology, and it goes without saying that people are much, much happier today than they were a few decades ago. Right? Wrong! According to many surveys and studies, the overall happiness of people in the US has flatlined even as we’ve seen so much improvement in our standard of living and quality of life. The level of financial satisfaction people report has actually dipped a bit, despite the stock market’s long-term upward trajectory. To be sure, media scare tactics and the 24/7 financial news cycle keep folks more on edge about their money than they need to be. But the data also shows that increased return on i