Keen On Retirement

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected early retirement was on the rise. The broad challenges of globalization combined with shifting workplace dynamics had led to a wave of downsizing, buyouts, and sudden termination. COVID-19 is accelerating many of those changes to how, when, and where folks work, but it’s also had an immediate and devastating effect on employment.

When we ask our clients to describe their ideal retirement, two of the most common responses are “healthy” and “stable.” In our experience, most successful retirees find ways to align these two goals … and throw in a little fun as well. In fact, it seems that there may be a psychological connection between how we plan for our money and how we plan for our health.

Now that the SECURE Act has become law, it’s time for the follow-up we promised. Here are the key themes and specific provisions in the SECURE Act that my Keen Wealth team is studying right now:

But sustaining that can-do attitude can be really challenging once we settle back into our daily routines. Study after study has shown that most New Year’s resolutions fail in a matter of weeks. That can lead to feelings of defeat and even depression before the year has even begun.

Black Friday used to be a one-day event for all those power shoppers sleeping off their turkey dinners in tents outside the mall. Today, that quick sprint for a bargain TV or Tickle Me Elmo has turned into a two-month shopping marathon that many of us run from the comfort of our homes. I’ve been seeing Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers in my email and social media feeds since early November!

So on today’s show, we’re going to move from the high-level view of the economy down to the trenches here at Keen Wealth. These are the strategies we use for both our working and retired clients during volatile times.