Keen On Retirement

Last week’s job numbers have had a big impact on this week’s main topic of discussion: reopening.

As our country starts reopening, it’s become clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is going to be one of those generational “before and after” moments. Just like travel and public security were never the same after 9/11, COVID-19 is going to change how we gather in public, how we assess and prepare for new viruses, how our children and grandchildren learn, and how companies of all sizes do business.

I’m really happy that clients and other friends of Keen Wealth have continued to ask us questions about their financial planning over the past month or so. Those questions tell me that even as we’re dealing with all of the uncontrollable stresses surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, folks are keeping at least one eye on the things they can control

“How are you?” I bet I’m not the only one who’s stumbled over that question recently when I’m talking on the phone, video chatting, or answering emails. It’s rarely been so tough to answer such a simple question! I’m OK in the sense that my family and my Keen Wealth team are all healthy and continue social distancing. I’m OK in the sense that we have enough food, enough toilet paper, and enough on demand entertainment.

We’re getting our first small glimpses of light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel this week. Spread of the disease could be peaking. The markets are starting to look a bit more stable. And our political and health care leaders are in the very early stages of discussing how and when to reopen businesses.

Far below the concerns we’re all feeling for our nation’s health care system, the millions of unemployed workers, and the strength of our economy, there’s a growing list of smaller ways that Covid-19 has negatively affected our lives. I sure wish I could be tuning into Royals games right now, but will there even be baseball this year? Is the NBA going to finish its season?