On November 28th, Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger died at age 99. Munger and his partner, Warren Buffett, became billionaire sages whose words reverberated throughout the markets. Their appearances at Berkshire's annual shareholder meetings were appointment viewing for many financial professionals. And while Charlie's "Mungerisms" often served as a succinct counterpoint to Buffett's more loquacious commentaries, the two were almost completely in sync on how they thought about work, investing, and philanthropy.

On today's show, we reflect on the lives and legacies of these two business icons and discuss what lessons investors and seniors can learn from their phenomenal success.

When we fall behind on our holiday shopping lists, there are usually some last-minute deals and expedited shipping options that can help us catch up. But if you fall too far behind on your annual financial planning checklist, you might miss out on some important rule changes or time-sensitive strategies that could impact your retirement next year. Based on the questions we've been fielding lately from Keen on Retirement listeners and readers, I'm glad that so many folks are making time during the holiday hustle and bustle to think about some important issues and get a jump on their 2024 financial planning. On today's show, we discuss popular questions about next year's tax brackets, a controversial video about retirement withdrawals that's been making the rounds on social media, and how seniors should be planning for long-term care.

Being grateful can be hard work.

The media bombards us with so much bad news, and our lives are so full of everyday stresses that it's easy to lose sight of all the good things we have going for us. And when we're really low, gratitude might even feel a little out of reach.

However, as we discuss on today's show, intentionally incorporating gratefulness into your daily routine can create a positive mindset that improves all aspects of your life, from your health and your relationships to your financial planning.

One of the reasons my team at Keen Wealth puts so much care into personalizing our comprehensive planning process is that there's no one path to a successful retirement. Yes, we often incorporate some tried-and-true strategies and tools, like diversification, downside volatility protection, and Monte Carlo simulations. But as we discuss on today's show, even professional financial advisors have to sort through a wide array of options to help folks find their optimal plan. When you're managing your finances on your own, those options can be overwhelming and, in some cases, a little dangerous for your money.

After discussing four listener questions, I'd also like to share some exciting personal news and thank my alma mater, the University of Central Missouri.

The comprehensive financial plans we design at Keen Wealth factor in every piece of available information to help folks plan for what we know is coming and prepare for the unexpected. While recent events at home and abroad are raising some new questions, we did learn some important answers last week that will help folks get ready for 2024.

On today's show, we discuss listener questions about Social Security, Medicare, Ukraine and Israel, and year-end financial planning.

This year's annual Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15th to December 7th. Whether you're already on Medicare or about to claim your benefits for the first time, seniors need to make sure they get the care they need at a price that fits with the rest of their comprehensive financial plan.

On today's show, we answer listener questions about Medicare Open Enrollment to help you get ready for this important part of your annual planning process.

In a recent survey, non-retired adults told investment firm Schroders that they will need approximately $5,000 per month "to enjoy a comfortable retirement."

But is that really enough?

Maybe!

Studies and surveys like these make for eye-catching headlines, but they skimp on the details. For example, where are these retirees planning on living? $5,000 per month is going to go a lot further in, say, Kansas City than it will on the coasts.

When are these folks planning to retire? If it's before 65, are they factoring health care premiums into that $5,000?

What about Social Security? Mortgage payments? Long-term care insurance? An annual travel budget to have a little fun?

These are the kinds of conversations and details that help my team at Keen Wealth arrive at something more reliable and personalized than a number: a comprehensive financial plan. The four case studies we discuss on today's show will give you a better idea of how that process could help you improve your plan for retirement.

It's worth celebrating just about any time our leaders on both sides of the political aisle can meet in the middle. But seniors in Kansas City should all be smiling now that, starting in 2024, they'll get to enjoy a little bit more of their Social Security benefits. Thanks to a broadly bipartisan vote, Missouri is set to become the 39th state to make Social Security payments exempt from state taxes.

Of course, that also means many folks in our audience will have to factor in a new variable when they're deciding when to take Social Security. Luckily, Matt Wilson, Keen Wealth's Chief Investment Officer and President, recently hosted a comprehensive webinar on Maximizing Social Security Benefits that you can rewatch on our website. Today, we're going to discuss some follow-up questions Matt received from attendees.

Today marks the third time I've had the honor to welcome retired FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza to our podcast.

In his 20-plus-year career, Jeff investigated cybercrime, fraud, organized crime, human trafficking, and terrorism. Jeff is now a regular on TV news, including CNBC, the Fox News Channel, "The Today Show," and "Good Morning America." He's the author of two books and has spoken around the globe and in 49 states, including lecturing at Princeton and Harvard Universities.

On this episode, Jeff offers several actionable steps that folks can take to secure their online info and steer clear of the latest scams.

Plus, I'm thrilled to announce that, for the first time since the pandemic, Jeff is once again teaming up with Keen Wealth Advisors for a live Cyber Security Conference on October 7th at the Overland Park Convention Center.

On today's show, we answer a request from a Keen on Retirement listener who's been reading Garrett B. Gunderson's popular book "Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths That Are Destroying Your Prosperity." You might have seen some of Gunderson's thoughts about alternative financial strategies passed around online, especially among folks who are skeptical about the markets and the government's role in economic policy. But while there's certainly no one way to create a financial plan, most investors who steer clear of "sacred cows" like investing in a diversified portfolio and funding their retirement accounts could be killing their chances of a secure retirement. Below are several of the points we discuss.