Keen On Retirement

What's the biggest threat to the long-term security of your retirement plan? Many seniors would answer, "The economy," or "The markets." And that makes sense. No matter how much you try to control your screen time, financial news will always make a big impression on how you feel about your money. But as nerve-wracking as market fluctuations can be in the moment, in the long run, they continue trending upwards and generating positive returns for most investors. That's why a truly comprehensive plan should be prepared to manage not just market fluctuations, but more personal and less obvious threats that can erode a senior's wealth over the course of a 30-year retirement. The next time you meet with your advisor, discuss how your plan protects you and your money against these five threats:

At Keen Wealth, we don't just want seniors to make it to retirement -- we want them to set themselves up to enjoy it! And achieving that all-important goal takes more than just hitting a "number" or buying the perfect beachfront condo. According to a recent study by Fidelity, 72% of retirees say that their retirement is "going as planned." These seven practical, actionable steps will help you join their ranks when you're ready.

By the time it works through Congress to President Trump's desk, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill will probably have a few different details, and a different name. But the version of the bill that recently passed in the House gives us a fair indication of where tax policy could be headed for the next few years. On today's show, we discuss the current version of the 2025 tax bill, potential changes that Congress might make, and potential ways this bill could affect your financial plan.

As we discussed on a recent podcast, converting money from a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA could be a beneficial move this year due to ongoing market volatility. But that's not an automatic decision. Everyone's retirement plan and goals are different. Everyone's situation in life is different. And while a well-timed Roth conversion can help folks save money now and build wealth in the future, you shouldn't be thinking about a conversion as a lifesaver that's going to support you through some turbulence all by itself. In fact, here are several scenarios where a Roth conversion could hurt your retirement plan more than it helps.

According to recent data, 62 has become the new 65. This generation of healthier, more active, more connected seniors wants to start enjoying their Golden Years as soon as possible. But there's one reason why age 65 is still a major marker on a retirement timeline: Medicare eligibility. Early retirement can also trigger some critical decisions about the best time to start claiming Social Security benefits. Let's look at five items on Keen Wealth's early retirement checklist that we use to help seniors bridge the gap to Medicare and Social Security.

With about a month until Tax Day on Tuesday, April 15th, you should, ideally, have all your financial documents collected. It might be a good idea to check in one last time with your financial advisor before you send your 2024 data to your CPA or start plugging away on your favorite tax software. But as you put a bow on last year, it's important to keep an eye on the future, especially for retirees. Cracking open your nest egg and sequencing how and when you use your assets and benefits is a complex process. Decisions you make today can affect your lifetime tax liability, the lifestyle you can enjoy during your Golden Years, and your legacy planning. On today's show, we use this combination of short-term and long-term perspective to tackle some listener tax questions and explain how the Keen Wealth Advantage can help you feel more confident about how taxes fit into your comprehensive planning.