Keen on Retirement

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.

Generally, on Keen on Retirement, we don't like to discuss proposals that are floating around in Washington. There's so much politicized chatter in our newsfeeds every day that we prefer to wait until the facts get separated from the fiction, all the dust settles, and a new law is actually put into effect.

But we're making an exception on today's episode for the SECURE Act of 2019, which passed the House back in May and is currently kicking around in the Senate. The discussion surrounding the House version of the bill gives us some important insights on what the government is thinking about your nest egg and the future of retirement planning.

I talk a lot in my blogs and podcasts about understanding how to separate the news from the noise. 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 second 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.

Picture this:

You're not feeling well, so you go to the doctor. There's a great medication for what's ailing you, but the doctor won't give it to you. The reason that medication wasn't prescribed is that the company that makes that medication doesn't pay your doctor. Instead, the doctor gives you another medicine that he says is a "suitable" replacement. After taking the "suitable'' medication for a while you try to schedule a follow-up appointment. The doctor informs you that he's not obligated to check in to make sure that the medicine prescribed is working.

I know this scenario sounds farfetched. But believe it or not, this is essentially the kind of agreement that millions of folks have with their financial professional!

On today's show, we talk about how to make sure "pay to play" scenarios aren't impacting your financial planning. We also discuss some important questions you should ask potential advisors to make sure your best interests are protected.

"If only I'd gotten in early on Amazon twenty years ago …"

It's easy to slip into this kind of thinking when you read about the biggest companies in the world achieving a trillion-dollar valuation. Once upon a time, you could have bought that stock for peanuts, and today you'd be sitting on a fortune!

That's why some folks clamor for a seat on the hype train when companies like Uber and Lyft announce their IPOs. These investors are afraid of missing out on another golden ticket.

But as we discuss on today's episode, investing in an IPO isn't as easy you might think. And the return on investment often isn't as great as the hype train would have you believe.

We've talked many times on this podcast about the most effective ways to use your time and money to create real, lasting happiness. One of the great joys of my life has been working with Angel Flight Central, a volunteer organization that provides free transportation to folks whose medical and financial needs make commercial travel impossible.

I was so honored when Angel Flight appointed me to its board earlier in the year. Working with their leadership team to further the group's mission has let me put my love of flying and business background to their highest possible uses. Angel Flight has also given me the great pleasure of working with an extraordinary group of devoted and big-hearted folks, including my guest on today's podcast, CEO and Executive Director Don Sumple.

On this special episode of Keen on Retirement, Don talks about his transition from a successful broadcasting and media career to running a nonprofit organization. We also explore Angel Flight's mission and how Don views retirement. Hopefully, this conversation will give you a new perspective on how reaching out into your community can make any stage of your life more rewarding.

We're always happy to hear from Keen on Retirement listeners! On this week's show, we're answering a question from Chuck in Los Angeles that we've also been fielding from some of our clients at Keen Wealth:

Hi Bill,

I looked through your podcasts in search of one dealing with reverse mortgages. From what I have seen in the L.A. Times, this can be an important subject for retirees. I was hoping you would consider doing a podcast on this. Apparently, a reverse mortgage can make or break a person's financial situation and/or that of a survivor depending on the several options connected with them.

So, what exactly is a reverse mortgage? What are the options that Chuck alludes to in his question? And is Magnum, P.I. giving you good advice in all those TV ads you've been seeing?

In my experience, the folks who have the most positive financial outcomes are often the ones who are the most engaged in the planning process.

Now, that doesn't mean I expect my clients to become expert portfolio managers! But if you're working with a fiduciary advisor who is paying close attention to the issues of the day, you're likely to feel more at ease about your investment strategy and more confident about reaching your long-term financial goals. That's why educational seminars and webinars are such an important part of the Keen Wealth mission.

And that's why I'm excited to bring you this special Market Update webinar presented by Matt Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Keen Wealth Advisors, and a frequent guest on my Keen on Retirement podcast.

In his presentation, Matt touches on some topics that I know are on your mind right now, including:

• Stock market trends
• The current economic environment
• Federal reserve policy
• Volatility in Q4 of 2018 and Q1 of 2019
• Our outlook for the remainder of 2019

I really appreciate all the clients and friends of the firm who took time out of their day to attend Matt's webinar.

Whether you want to review this presentation again or are checking it out for the first time, you can click below to watch the video, listen to the audio as a podcast, or read the transcript.

Stay tuned to Keen on Retirement for information about upcoming events!

"If something happened to me, what would happen to my family?"

I know this question is on the minds of many of the clients at Keen Wealth. It's also the question that inspired my guest on today's podcast, Polly Bartle Blomquist, to transition from family law to elder law and estate planning.

"After I had kids, I realized the gravity of parenting," Polly remembers. "Really, families did not know the process by which to ensure that their families were protected, and I became passionate about that. I learned everything that I could possibly learn and then went out on my own and started practicing estate planning."

On today's show, Polly shares her expert tips for preserving wealth, protecting your best interests, and creating a legally durable legacy plan that will honor your last wishes.