Do you want to make smarter decisions about your money and your life? Do you want to make sure you have enough money to retire comfortably? Join Founder and CEO of Keen Wealth Advisors, Bill Keen, as we discuss money, life, and everything in between. Whether you're on your way to retirement or already there, these shows will educate and entertain you on your journey.
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August 26, 202656 min
Don't Let Outdated Money "Rules" Turn Your Retirement Plan into an Antique
"Save more than you spend" sounds like a timeless piece of money advice, as true today as it was two hundred years ago. But in the mid-1800s, many folks believed you needed to spend your money as soon as possible. In fact, saving too much back then could lead to financial ruin! That's just one example of how Americans' attitudes about money have evolved throughout history. But it's not just rules of thumb and hand-me-down wisdom that's changed. It's the nature of money and our relationship to it. On today's show, we welcome author Joseph S. Moore to discuss his new book, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn't), and the surprising ways five money philosophies have shifted over time.
August 12, 202644 min
Making Informed Mortgage Decisions for Your Retirement Plan
Housing is one of the biggest line items on just about any retirement budget. Whether you're still paying a mortgage, looking to escalate your payment schedule so you can retire debt-free, or thinking about relocating or buying a vacation home, where you live plays a significant role in how you spend your time, who you spend it with, and what your financial plan looks like. On today's show, we group together some common questions about managing mortgages that we've received from seniors in our Keen on Retirement audience.
July 29, 202643 min
Could Looking to Australia's "Super" System Help the U.S. Fix Social Security?
"Ute" (SUV), "chips" (French fries), "sunnies" (sunglasses), and "mates" (friends) are just a few of the slang terms I picked up earlier this year when the Keens visited our family in Brisbane, Australia. Another was "super," which is short for "superannuation." This mandatory savings program is central to Australia's retirement planning. And recently, President Trump floated the idea of implementing a similar program here in the U.S. On today's show, we discuss if taking some inspiration from our friends Down Under could provide a "super" solution to Social Security's looming insolvency and help more Americans build their nest eggs for retirement.
July 15, 202646 min
Coordinating A Couple's Financial Plan to Meet an Early Retirement Goal
Keen on Retirement listener "Joe" is 51 and his wife is 60. They are thinking about an early retirement before either of them turns 65. Joe wrote in asking about the best strategy for coordinating Social Security benefits around that retirement goal. Should they take his wife's benefits now? Delay benefits to keep their income low and make Roth conversions? And since they're both too young to collect Medicare, how will their Social Security benefits affect their Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies? The good news is that Joe and his wife are already thinking about the main topic of today's episode: when you pull one lever on your retirement plan, another piece adjusts. Working with a professional advisor can help you navigate these interconnected decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
July 1, 202644 min
Easing Financial Anxiety Around the Dollar, U.S. Debt, and Retirement
Are you feeling a little more anxious than usual about your money? Given everything that's happening in the world right now, that's perfectly understandable. What concerns me is the rising number of Americans who say that their money worries are nudging them towards high-risk speculation in crypto, meme stocks, and prediction markets. And what's even more concerning is that folks aren't taking massive money risks just because they want to get rich quick. They're afraid that their peers and some of the bedrock assumptions of our financial system are leaving them behind. Unfortunately, substituting a disciplined financial plan with speculative gambling rarely helps anyone catch up, let alone build wealth to secure retirement. On today's show, we try to ease some of this financial anxiety by answering three listener questions that touch on some very common money fears.
June 17, 202636 min
Avoid These Red Flags to Protect Your Money from the Latest Online Scams
Your phone buzzes with a text message that appears to be from your bank: "Did you authorize a purchase on your debit card at a local apparel shop today? Reply YES if you recognize this. Reply NO if you don't, and a fraud specialist will contact you." You reply, "No." A minute later, your phone rings. The man on the other end is calm, professional, and sympathetic. "I'm from the fraud department. I'm going to help you stop this unauthorized transaction. I sent a six-digit code to your phone. Just read it back to me." You do. He thanks you. The call ends. Minutes later, three transfers leave your bank account. You call your bank and manage to cancel one. But two transfers totaling thousands of dollars are gone permanently. And because you voluntarily provided the man on the phone with that six-digit code, the bank is likely not liable for your loss. This is a hypothetical example of what the FBI calls "takeover fraud." But the reality is that scams like this are targeting more and more seniors every single day. On today's show, we review the latest data from the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report and some best practices that can help keep your money and personal info safe.
June 3, 202637 min
Preparing Your Loved One to Manage Their Inheritance and Protect Your Legacy
Are you ready for the Great Wealth Transfer? Financial analysts estimate that older Americans will pass on as much as $124 trillion of personal wealth to their spouses, heirs, and charities over the next 25 years. And, unfortunately, much of that wealth won't survive for another transfer. According to one study, 42% of heirs fall back to their pre-inheritance net worth in about 12 months. Meaning that, due to poor planning or poor fiscal discipline, the money is gone. Whether you're a senior fine-tuning your legacy plan, a potential beneficiary, or a caregiver who might be tasked with settling a loved one's estate, folks have to plan ahead to make sure that wishes are honored and wealth is preserved, potentially for generations to come. On today's show, we discuss some best practices for managing inheritances at both ends of a family's wealth transfer and taking a generational approach to comprehensive financial planning.
May 19, 202642 min
Can This "Sandwich Generation" Couple Retire in 10 Years?
"Tom and Linda" are a married couple. They're both 55-years-old. Tom works as an operations manager for a regional manufacturer, and Linda works in corporate finance. They are both targeting retirement at age 65. Complicating that 10-year runway is a situation that's becoming more and more common among Tom and Linda's generation: they're "sandwiched" between taking care of Linda's parents, who are in their early 90s, and their 25-year-old son, who is still living at home with them. On today's show, we explain how comprehensive financial planning can help couples like "Tom and Linda" manage complex, multigenerational family variables while maintaining progress towards their retirement goals.
May 6, 202645 min
Caring for Your Parents, Your Community, Your Happiness, and Your Retirement
Feeling happy? That could be because spring has finally sprung here in the Midwest. Or, more specifically, it could be because you're part of the Keen Wealth audience right here in Overland Park! A recent report by WalletHub ranked the 182 "Happiest Cities in America." The researchers evaluated 29 "key indicators of happiness, including depression rates, income growth, and average daily leisure time." Fremont, California topped the list, and half of the top ten were cities in sunny California and Arizona. But the Midwest had a strong showing, too. Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota both made the top five. And coming in at number six was ... Overland Park, Kansas! While it's certainly gratifying to see well-deserved recognition for our city, I've always felt grateful to be living and working here. Yes, the reasonable cost of living, centrality for travel to other parts of the country, and variety of outdoor activities are all wonderful. But the sense of community here is really special. My team at Keen Wealth experienced that firsthand recently when the Keen Wealth Foundation and Charitable Impact Committee, led by my wife Carissa, had the honor of serving as the entertainment sponsor for "Kids Night Out," a massive gala that raised $3.5 million for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Taking care of each other, in our communities and in our homes, is one of the most direct ways that a financial plan can boost your spirits. On today's show, we answer questions from two listeners who are thinking about how different generations of Americans can help each other enjoy more security and happiness in retirement.
April 22, 202647 min
How Can You Protect Your Purchasing Power Against Inflation and Higher Taxes?
It's "a tradition unlike any other." The $1.50 pimento cheese sandwich. Every year at the Masters, you'll hear TV commentators wax nostalgic about what makes the world's most famous golf tournament unique: the course, the history, the cell phone ban. And those sandwiches, which, at the very first Masters in 1934, cost just $0.30. If the pimento and cheese had kept pace with the rate of inflation since then, today it would cost $7.50. But the $1.50 price tag has stuck since 2003. Other than Costco hot dogs ($1.50) and Arizona Iced Tea ($0.99), there aren't many other examples of products whose prices have stayed flat over time. In the past couple of years, we've all had to cope with costs that have risen a little faster than we're used to, not just at the grocery store but at the pump and on our utility bills. As we discuss on today's show, protecting your nest egg against inflation and other variable costs is an important part of a comprehensive financial plan, especially once you retire.
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