In four of the last five presidential elections, the Democratic and Republican candidates were separated by just 5% of the popular vote. And, in two of those four elections, the winner of the popular vote lost the Electoral College. So, while there’s a lot of anxiety surrounding just how close next month’s election might be, it’s worth noting that our country has made it through some very tight races in recent years. Moreover, if you dig a little deeper into the framework that our Founding Fathers designed, you’ll find some extra layers of contingency planning that can guide us through some complicated election scenarios and ensure that our government keeps functioning. We hope that by talking through three of these election scenarios on today’s episode, we’ll help dispel some misconceptions, alleviate some worries, and provide some advice on how to keep the next month in U.S. politics in perspective when you’re thinking about your financial plan.

Keen on Retirement

Setting the Record Straight on Three Election Scenarios

Nearly seven months later the Covid-19 situation remains very fluid. Infection and hospitalization numbers are stabilizing in some states and picking up in others. One constant has been the inspiring work that health care professionals and scientists are doing to help the sick and keep moving forward on a vaccine. I want to make it clear that no one at Keen Wealth claims to be a doctor or an epidemiologist. But during major events that affect our clients’ lives, we do take it upon ourselves to stay on top of the latest developments. We want to be able to provide information that folks can trust. We also want to be on the lookout for any issues that could potentially impact our clients’  financial plans. On today’s show, we discuss what our research and conversations with health care pros are telling us about the timetable for a Covid-19 vaccine. At the top of this episode, I also share a quick alert from the FBI about a telephone scam that’s making the rounds.

When Can We Expect a Covid-19 Vaccine?

During the pandemic, we’ve talked quite a bit about potential positive outcomes of this unprecedented experience. One plus that I’ve noticed recently is that more people do seem to recognize the importance of having a financial plan, whether they’re just starting the process or refining some details with their fiduciary advisor in light of all that’s happened this year. On today’s episode, we discuss 5 important areas where a financial plan can help keep your money in sync with your family’s needs, even when the unexpected happens.

5 Ways to Sync Your Financial Plan with Your Family’s Financial Needs

In this webinar, Bill Keen and Matt Wilson welcome back Washington insider Greg Valliere for a conversation about the state of the U.S. economy in 2020 as well as a preview of the upcoming presidential election. Some of the topics Greg Valliere discussed with Bill and Matt include: The U.S. economy and the outlook for interest rates. The surging budget deficits and the impact on markets. Prospects for tax changes in the next two years. Are trade disputes over? Important election factors – turnout, the pivotal issues, the key states, etc. How the markets may react to a Trump re-election – or a win by the Democrats. Geopolitical hot-spots – the Mideast, Asia, Brexit, etc. 

Silencing the Noise: What You Should Know About the Upcoming Election

Whenever the market experiences significant volatility you're likely to see "gold bugs" swarming your social media and cable news feeds. Investing in a commodity like gold that we perceive as "stable" sounds appealing when other investments, like stocks, seem unstable. And it's true that the price of gold has risen in 2020 as the economy continues to adjust to Covid-19. But as we discuss on today's podcast, adding gold to your portfolio is not a surefire way to mitigate risk. And folks who move their assets out of the markets in order to buy gold could be making a long-term mistake.

Is the Road Through Covid-19 Paved with Gold?

So much of our focus this year has been on Covid-19 that you might have missed a major milestone that we passed recently. We are now less than 100 days away from what promises to be a very contentious and impactful presidential election. The economic side of the debate has started to take shape now that former Vice President Joe Biden has released some new tax proposals. Of course, any presidential policy pitched on the campaign trail has to be taken with a grain of salt. And in my experience, folks tend to overestimate the impact that any one president can have on the economy, sometimes to the detriment of their long-term planning. Still, it’s worth examining how a President Biden might affect the economy. So, on today’s show, we dig into the Biden tax proposals and also discuss what market history tells us about presidential elections, the markets, and your nest egg.

What Impact Could a Joe Biden Presidency Have on Our Economy?

In this webinar, Matt Wilson, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Keen Wealth Advisors, will cover a macroeconomic update of the markets, plus the key things we are watching right now and our outlook for the rest of 2020. Some of the topics Matt covers in this webinar include: The best quarter for stocks since 1998. Update on Covid-19. What the leading indicators are telling us. Is the market disconnected from the real economy? Why are stocks recovering? Our outlook for the remainder of 2020. 

Are the Markets Out of Touch with Our Economy?

More often than not, the skills and processes that make folks successful in one business work in other businesses as well. I think that’s a big reason why Keen Wealth Advisors has been able to establish such a strong relationship with the engineering community in Kansas City and around the country. Engineers respond to our checklist-driven planning process because they use the same kind of diligence in their own work. And we love working with folks who are hardworking, curious, and dedicated to following through on a plan. Another skill set that will position you to succeed just about anywhere: strong communication. My guest today, Anthony Fasano, was rapidly advancing at a civil engineering firm when he realized that the best engineers had mastered more than just math and design. Anthony founded the Engineering Management Institute, which provides career and personal development resources for engineers. Anthony is also the author of Engineer Your Own Success, Seven Key Elements to Creating an Extraordinary Engineering Career, and the host of The Engineering Career Coach Podcast, which Forbes cited as one of the 15 Most Inspiring Podcasts for Professionals. Like my recent appearance on Anthony’s podcast, this episode will definitely appeal to the many engineers and employees of engineering firms whom we’re proud to work with at Keen Wealth. But the ideas that Anthony zeroed in on could get anyone thinking about skill sets that will help you further your own career, make a midlife career switch, or start your dream company once you retire.

Anthony Fasano on the Skills That Helped Him Engineer a New Career Path

The May 2020 jobs report could mark a turning point in our country’s struggle to get back on its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic. While some experts were bracing for up to 7 million more lost jobs, instead we got a pleasant surprise: 2.5 million jobs added and a 1.4% drop in unemployment. The markets responded very favorably to this news. But with so many people still out of work and so many communities still struggling, it can feel like Wall Street and Main Street are way out of sync. So, on today’s show, we dig into some high frequency data that I think can help improve our perspective on where our economy is really moving.

What High Frequency Data Tells Us About Economic Recovery From Covid-19

Recently I had the honor of participating in a video conference with CEOs and small business owners in the greater Kansas City area where we shared our perspectives on how to reopen our local economy safely and effectively. The organizer of that call was our region’s advocate at the Small Business Administration, and my guest today, Adrienne Vallejo Foster. Adrienne is currently running for Congress in the Third Congressional District of Kansas. She's a former mayor who also served as Executive Director of the Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission in Kansas. One of Adrienne’s current responsibilities is to assist in the Opening Up America Again initiative by gathering feedback from small businesses in our region so that we have a voice in the decision making happening right now in Washington, D.C.

A Frontline View of Opening Up America Again

Last week’s job numbers have had a big impact on this week’s main topic of discussion: reopening. Communities around the country are starting to establish guidelines that will, hopefully, allow more folks to get back to work while also keeping the spread of COVID-19 in check. In the meantime, folks who are hurting are starting to get some relief via extended unemployment benefits and federal tax rebate checks. Others are weighing new options created by the CARES Act, including coronavirus-related distributions (CRDs). If you’re thinking about using your retirement assets to navigate the pandemic, you’re definitely going to want to listen to our discussion on how CRDs may help.

New Coronavirus-Related Distributions Could Help Folks as the Country Begins Reopening

I’m really happy that clients and other friends of Keen Wealth have continued to ask us questions about their financial planning over the past month or so. Those questions tell me that even as we’re dealing with all of the uncontrollable stresses surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, folks are keeping at least one eye on the things they can control. There is still business to be conducted, bills and taxes to pay, and both short and long-term plans to make. And as an essential business, Keen Wealth has been able to make a smooth transition to our new health and safety realities so that we can stay available to our clients when they need us the most. On today’s show, we go back to the mailbag to answer some questions we’ve received lately about oil prices, 2019 tax deadlines, and how the 2020 CARES Act affects the 2019 SECURE Act.

Negative Oil Prices, Tax Day in July, and Getting Our “Acts” Together

We’re getting our first small glimpses of light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel this week. Spread of the disease could be peaking. The markets are starting to look a bit more stable. And our political and health care leaders are in the very early stages of discussing how and when to reopen businesses. Still, I know we’re all dealing with a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, both in our personal lives and when we step back to take in the big picture. On today’s show, we check in on the current state of the markets and the economy, while also answering three of the most common questions that Keen Wealth clients and friends have been asking us over the past couple weeks.

Answering Three Common Listener Questions Sparked by COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic continues to make recent market swings difficult to follow. Are the markets recovering or not? Are we still bearish or heading back to bullish? And what do these movements mean for your retirement planning? Today’s episode is another up-to-the-minute look at the current economic situation.

Making Sense of Recent Market Movements and How the CARES Act Affects Your Retirement Planning

We’ve all just gone through one of the most tumultuous weeks in recent American history – not just for the financial markets, but for how we live our everyday lives. So we’re releasing this podcast episode a little earlier than usual so that you can get our latest take on the coronavirus situation and the broader economic picture.

Coping with Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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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Keen on Retirement

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