Keen On Retirement

Is your brain getting the workout it needs to keep you mentally sharp in retirement? Medical science has established a pretty clear link between physical and mental health. According to Harvard Medical School, a variety of mental stimulation, paired with regular exercise and a healthy diet, can create new neural connections in your brain, regenerate new brain cells, and even protect the brain against the loss of cells in the future. The Mayo Clinic says that same mix of healthy living and thinking can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. And CogniFit Research recommends “brain fitness” as a means to maintain working memory, planning ability, focus, and the speed at which we process information. Consider mixing some of these brain-boosting activities into your retirement wellness routine.

Even for those of us who are looking forward to big celebrations with our loved ones, the holidays can be full of conflicting emotions. You might be feeling pressure to plan and host the "perfect" holiday party. Baking and shopping for everyone on your Nice List can be stressful. You might be worried about making it through just one family gathering without an argument. And if you are spending your holidays away from loved ones, loneliness could have you feeling less-than festive. One of these activities might help you beat those holiday blues, experience the joy of the season, and spread that goodwill to other people.

Among the many things that I’m thankful for this year – and every year – is the incredible team here at Keen Wealth Advisors. I wanted to open up my annual Thanksgiving post to give my team an opportunity to express their gratitude and share a little bit of their lives and work with our audience.

On today's show, we discuss the differences between estate planning and the comprehensive legacy planning that's part of our checklist-driven process at Keen Wealth.

As divided as Americans may be about a whole bunch of issues, it's heartening to see that we do still agree on the importance of giving back. According to recent reports, as America faced some of its toughest challenges ever in 2020, charitable giving rose 5.1% to a record $471.44 billion.

As much as we look forward to this time of year, the holidays aren't all merry and bright for everyone. Health concerns, transportation difficulties, and complicated schedules might be preventing some folks from spending time with loved ones this year. Others who are looking forward to the first "normal" holiday dinner in a couple years could be feeling the stress of all that planning and preparation. And for many families, this might be the first holiday meal with an empty chair at the table due to the loss of a loved one.