Keen On Retirement

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.

As we wrap up graduation season, I know parents and grandparents are dealing with a whole bunch of emotions: pride, excitement, sadness, relief, hope, and concern. And as you experience all these feelings, you may feel moved to do what you've always done throughout that child's life: help. But whether we're talking about major life milestones or financial market volatility, that intersection of emotion and money can be a very tricky place to navigate. Today's generosity could have significant long-term consequences that might hold your adult child back from real adulthood and dent your retirement plans. Make sure you and your spouse discuss these issues and work out a plan that will truly support adult children without sacrificing your other financial goals.

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.

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.

Folks reach out to Keen Wealth for all sorts of reasons, at all different points in their lives. We talk to young couples just starting out who want to put themselves on a path towards financial security. New retirees want to feel secure about transitioning away from work. Older seniors come to us looking to secure their legacies and make life a little easier for the next generation. And, sometimes, a person realizes they've been receiving bad financial advice, and they're hoping my team can help them clean up the mess. On today's show, we discuss some warning signs that the person managing your money might not be putting your best interests first, as well as how Keen Wealth's comprehensive process can restore your confidence in your financial planning.

"Jim" (66) and "Karen" (64) both retired in the last six months. Jim has an IRA with $900,000, and Karen has a Roth IRA with $300,000. They inherited a brokerage account with $600,000 and a cost basis of $500,000. They have $100,000 in an emergency cash fund. Jim is receiving his Social Security benefits of $2,600 per month. He also has a pension of $1,800 per month. Karen is planning to start receiving her Social Security benefits at 67, for $1,900 per month. Their total net worth is $2.7 million. And now, just months into their retirement, Jim and Karen are wondering if they retired too soon. Do they need to jump back into the workforce to protect their financial plan against current market volatility? On today's show, we analyze "Jim and Karen's" situation in the context of our broader economic moment and comprehensive planning principles. I hope this case study will help anyone who's close to retirement gain some perspective about whether market movements should affect your short-term or long-term financial goals.