Keen On Retirement™

Election cycles can stir up some intense emotions. And while everyone is entitled to have their individual beliefs, as well as causes and candidates that they support, there's one area where we all need to draw a very strong line: between our politics and our money. In the run-up to any election, folks across the whole political spectrum ask the Keen Wealth team the same questions. If Candidate X wins: Will the economy go under? Will inflation and interest rates destroy my nest egg? Are my taxes going up? Should I get out of the market and move to cash? History tells us that the feelings folks have around these kinds of questions don't typically move the markets. But following your feelings every other November can lead to some devastating financial moves that may be impossible to recover from. On today's show, we discuss how to keep your retirement plan insulated from the political noise during the midterms.

Every day in retirement presents a new set of choices. After all, once you don't need to work, you're in charge! A full day at the golf course? Absolutely. A spontaneous weekend getaway with your spouse? Why not? Grabbing coffee with friends, or sitting at a table solo to enjoy a good book? It's up to you. And if you don't like how today turns out, you can always make different choices tomorrow. However, there are some choices in retirement that don't come with easy do-overs. And the less reversible a decision is, the more important it is to think through all of your options and make the right choice the first time. Let's look at where some key retirement decisions fall on the reversibility spectrum.

The 2026 news cycle is spinning at a dizzying pace. Technology is rapidly upending how we work and live. With midterm elections on the horizon, our leaders in Washington are sharpening their visions for the future and policy proposals. And geopolitical tensions across the globe are giving investors something new to react to -- and worry about -- on a daily basis. On today's show, we unpack some of the major stories we're monitoring and give you a clear-eyed perspective on the current economic outlook.

Figuring out "the perfect time" to retire is only partially a financial decision. After all, if the second half of your life was just about money, then no one would ever stop working and earning. But when your retirement timeline intersects with major economic uncertainty, it's understandable that the money side of the equation might start to feel a little more important. News headlines blaring words like DOWNTURN, INFLATION, and RECESSION can overwhelm plans you've been making for years, and the goals you've been dreaming about for decades. It's at these uneasy moments that the true value of a comprehensive financial plan shines through. Right now, most folks who are willing to stick with their plan and work closely with a trusted advisor should be able navigate some turbulence and stay on course for a secure retirement.

"Sam" is 58 and he retired at the end of the first quarter of 2024. His wife, "Alice," is 65 and still working as a paid caretaker for the couple's son with special needs. Sam has $400,000 in a Roth IRA, $2 million in a traditional IRA and they have $400,000 in a joint taxable account. In 2024, Sam earned $75,000 and Alice earned $20,000. And, like so many couples in their age range, Sam and Alice want to know if their nest egg is ready to support them as they prepare for retirement. On today's show, we use Keen Wealth's comprehensive planning process to help "Sam and Alice" analyze their financial situation and identify some key decisions they'll need to make to keep their money and their lives in sync.

If there's one thing we know that the financial markets like, it's certainty. And since the 2024 presidential election was settled overnight -- rather than the weeks it took to count votes in 2020 -- the markets have reacted to the certainty of our new political reality with very strong returns. But as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, there are still many lingering questions about how the economic vision he laid out on the campaign trail will or won't materialize. On today's show, we explore some of President-elect Trump’s policy proposals and how they could affect your retirement planning.