Keen On Retirement

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.

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, MO 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.

As retirement closes the chapter of your life as a full-time worker, it opens a new chapter in your relationship with your spouse. Retirement can be a time for couples to reconnect with each other, strengthen bonds, explore new opportunities, and grow together. And now that you’re both free from the time constraints of working and raising a family, you can spend your time sharing activities you've always loved, as well as discovering new passions that could take retirement in surprising directions. I often recommend that new retirees start with a blank sheet of paper or a blank calendar and try to build out what a day, week, month, and year of their ideal retirement would look like. Here are some ideas you can use to fill in all those blocks with fun, fulfilling, and lasting memories.

Retirement will close an important chapter in the story of your life. But it also opens a brand-new chapter where you might be able to write stories that you've been dreaming about for decades and others that you've never imagined. Let's talk about how the power of personal storytelling, combined with the support of a comprehensive financial plan, can shape retirement into your vision of happy ever after.

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.

Seniors who aren't looking forward to retirement usually have more on their minds than just a job. In my experience, reluctant retirees are often struggling with a loss of identity. They're asking themselves complicated personal questions like, What am I going to do all day? What is my purpose at this next stage of life? Who am I if I'm not an engineer, or a doctor, or an executive? Reflecting on these issues and discussing them with friends, family, and your financial advisor ahead of retirement can help you approach this transition from a more positive place. Let's talk about some of the challenges around identity that retirees should be preparing for as well as some of the exciting opportunities you have to look forward to.