Keen On Retirement™

On October 14th, the Social Security Administration announced the highest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) since 2023: a 3.6% benefit increase for 2027. That's about an additional $900 for an average retiree over the course of next year. Any extra support for retirees is good news. But Social Security's annual COLA announcement is also an annual reminder that there's more to managing retirement than how big your nest egg is. Your cash flow and investments have to account for various fluctuations in the economy to maintain your purchasing power and secure your preferred lifestyle for decades to come. On today's show, we discuss COLA, the latest inflation data, and the distinct roles that interest rates, bonds, and stock returns play in a comprehensive retirement plan.

If there's one thing that successful people are good at it's ... continuing to succeed! You've done well because you've always kept your eye on the next target, whether it's a bigger promotion, a more comfortable house, or more money to save and invest for your family's future. In financial services, we often call these prime working years the "accumulation phase." High achievers who want more from life go get it. They work hard, top off accounts, and diversify their assets until ... Well, until what? Until you've hit your number? Until the kids have moved out and you and your spouse can focus on retirement? Until you're financially independent and don't need to work anymore? Affluent folks who don't think about what their money is for often find themselves stuck in the accumulation phase far longer than they need to be. So, if you already have a million or two or more waiting for retirement, it might be time to stop earning "more" money and start doing more with the money you already have.

Election cycles can stir up some intense emotions. And while everyone is entitled to have their individual beliefs, as well as causes and candidates that they support, there's one area where we all need to draw a very strong line: between our politics and our money. In the run-up to any election, folks across the whole political spectrum ask the Keen Wealth team the same questions. If Candidate X wins: Will the economy go under? Will inflation and interest rates destroy my nest egg? Are my taxes going up? Should I get out of the market and move to cash? History tells us that the feelings folks have around these kinds of questions don't typically move the markets. But following your feelings every other November can lead to some devastating financial moves that may be impossible to recover from. On today's show, we discuss how to keep your retirement plan insulated from the political noise during the midterms.

Every day in retirement presents a new set of choices. After all, once you don't need to work, you're in charge! A full day at the golf course? Absolutely. A spontaneous weekend getaway with your spouse? Why not? Grabbing coffee with friends, or sitting at a table solo to enjoy a good book? It's up to you. And if you don't like how today turns out, you can always make different choices tomorrow. However, there are some choices in retirement that don't come with easy do-overs. And the less reversible a decision is, the more important it is to think through all of your options and make the right choice the first time. Let's look at where some key retirement decisions fall on the reversibility spectrum.

The leaves are changing. Sweaters are coming out of closets. Ghosts and monsters are popping up in neighborhood yards. And the Social Security Administration is about to announce the cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. That's why October can be one of the spookiest – and most dangerous – months for seniors. Any time the government makes major announcements about Social Security or Medicare, fraudsters spring into action: texts, phone calls, emails, social media messages, "warning" seniors that they need to "activate" their benefits or make an "emergency" transfer to avoid theft. Another group of scammers, knowing that many seniors are preparing for a lonely holiday season, offer false promises of companionship ... "If you can just send money to help me pay the rent this month." The financial toll of these crimes is heartbreaking. According to the FBI, folks 60 and older reported almost $8 billion in losses to scams in 2025 – a 60% increase from the previous year. On today's show, we discuss how fraudsters try to bypass logic by targeting emotions and review some actionable steps you can take to protect yourself from the latest scams.

What's on your bucket list for retirement? Globe-trotting vacations? Long afternoons on the golf course or in your fishing boat? Relocating to a beachfront condo or a cozy cabin in the woods? That vision can motivate years of saving and planning. But the retirement you enjoy may look different from the one you first imagined. A good financial plan doesn't lock you into one version of retirement. It gives you room to adjust as your life changes. As I've discussed throughout this six-part blog series on The Adaptable Retirement, you don't need to predict exactly what will make you happy in retirement. You need a plan that helps you evaluate and support changing priorities.