At our annual Holiday Breakfast in December 2019, we presented "Forecast 2020: Silence the Noise."

At our annual Holiday Breakfast in December 2019, we presented "Forecast 2020: Silence the Noise."

Presents? Check.

Tree? Check.

Decorations? Check.

Food and drink? Check.

A thorough review of your tax-loss harvesting options?

See, I knew you were forgetting something!

Believe me, I understand that your checklist for the month of December is probably spilling onto another page already. And it's not much fun to sit around the fire and think about filing taxes in April. But there's less than two weeks left to consider some moves that could have a major impact on how you wrap up 2019 and progress into 2020.

On our last episode of the year, we go through the important year-end planning decisions that you, your spouse, and your fiduciary advisor need to discuss before December 31st.

If I were to list some of the incredible things my good friend Joe Ratterman has accomplished in his life, the fact that he's a Guinness World Record holder might not even crack the top ten.

After a successful career in which he worked to improve competitive balance in the financial markets, Joe had earned the potential for an easy, carefree retirement. But his values, his faith, and his commitment to helping others wouldn't let him go dormant. Today, I consider Joe to be one of the leading humanitarians and philanthropists here in Kansas City. Joe is an inspiration to me, and to anyone looking for a way to make the second half of their life potentially more meaningful and fulfilling than the first.

On this very special episode, I'm honored to sit down with Joe Ratterman to discuss his views on the evolution of the financial markets, how his values informed some major business decisions, and what he's doing right now to help Kansas City's most vulnerable citizens.

Happy Medicare Season!

You might not be getting any Hallmark cards marking this Fall tradition, but I know your mailbox is stuffed with notices from insurance companies, health care brokers, and the US government. That's because the open enrollment period during which seniors can change their Medicare policies runs from now until December 7th. And even if you're planning on sticking with your current coverage for another 12 months, there are some important things about your coverage as well as your spouse's coverage that you should be considering before open enrollment closes.

On today's show, we tackle four of the most common Medicare questions we're fielding from clients at Keen Wealth right now. Hopefully this conversation will help you sort out the important notices about your health care coverage from the junk mail that belongs in your shred pile.

In this Market Update Webinar, Matt Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Keen Wealth Advisors, takes a look back at what happened in the third quarter of 2019 in the markets and in the economy. And even more importantly, Matt takes a look ahead at what may be in store for the remainder of the year.

Between 1992 and 2016, 56% of all workers age 50 and older were forced into an unexpected early retirement, according to a recent study by the Urban Institute and ProPublica. Some of these folks lost their jobs due to layoffs, corporate downsizing, and buyouts. Others decided to retire because of a pay cut or deteriorating conditions at their workplace. And still others retired due to health concerns or other personal issues.

Any time I see a statistic saying that something happens to 50% of retirees, that gets my attention. A number that big means unexpected retirement should be on everyone's radar as they move into the second half of their careers. Fortunately, my Keen Wealth team is familiar in dealing with this all too common issue. So, on today's show, we talk about the steps that we go through to help folks cope with unexpected early retirement and engineer a new path forward.

As regular readers and listeners know, I recently turned 50 and I do worry about the world that my generation is leaving behind for our children and grandchildren. If you get too caught up in chatter on cable news and social media, it can leave you feeling pretty scared and frustrated. And if you believe the stereotypes about the upcoming millennial generation, we're leaving some pretty serious problems in the hands of kids who are entitled, self-absorbed, and incapable of handling basic adult responsibilities - or so they say.

That's why I invited US Air Force Academy graduate, Second Lieutenant Matt Robbins on today's show. I've known Matt since he was a 15-year-old volunteer at my flight school. Today, at 22, he's working towards his Masters in aeronautical engineering as he begins his career serving our country. I think listening to Matt discuss his worldview, his commitment to service, and his pursuit of excellence is going to make you feel a heck of a lot more positive about how the next generation is going to reshape our world.

My listeners in the Kansas City area are going to love hearing Darcie Blake's voice again!

Darcie was a radio mainstay here for nearly 30 years as the morning show co-host on KUDL and as a host on WHB. After leaving KUDL, Darcie founded The Radio Dish, where she hosted her own show, and started her own advertising company.

On today's show, Darcie Blake sits on the other side of the desk to share some memories about her time on the air – from laugh-out-loud gaffes to some really serious events that she covered as a reporter. Then we discuss how Darcie and her husband handled the transition to retirement and what she's doing today to make this half of her life as fulfilling as the first.

"To all the clients I've worked with over the years, thank you for demonstrating that through hard work, character, and responsibility, it is possible to start from nothing and build a fulfilling retirement for you and your families."

That dedication opens my new book, "Keen on Retirement: Engineering the Second Half Of Your Life." It's a summation of what it is we do every day at Keen Wealth Advisors. But it's also my small way of recognizing what an honor it is to serve folks who are actively involved in their retirement planning. Most of our clients are self-made success stories who want to make their next chapter a success as well. They've built their wealth not by winning the lotto or inheriting a windfall, but through discipline, sacrifice, and commitment.

I appreciate the journey that these successful retirees have been on because it's very similar to my own. On today's show, I discuss how my personal history led me to a career in finance, why I decided to write this book, and what I hope readers will learn about engineering their best lives in retirement.