Matt Wilson, Keen Wealth's Chief Investment Officer and President, recently hosted an excellent webinar on Tax Planning Through the Four Stages of Retirement. In addition to providing a thorough overview of the tax issues that seniors should be prepared for, Matt also wanted to remind folks that the best time to ask questions about retirement is before you retire.

And I'm glad that several of our webinar attendees took Matt up on that offer!

On today's show, we discuss three follow-up questions to Matt's webinar that touch on not just taxes but also the value of working with a financial advisor on a holistic plan for retirement.

According to the most recent available data, the IRS collected $5.1 trillion in taxes in 2024. Just ten years earlier, it collected $3.1 trillion.

We all grumble about paying the government this time of year. And gathering all our forms and statements while we're in the middle of a partial shutdown isn't going to make Tax Day 2026 any more pleasant. But those trillions are also signs of a healthy economy that continues to grow and generate wealth, which is good for your long-term financial planning.

Still, just because the government needs our tax dollars to provide essential services doesn't mean you should pay one dollar more than you're legally obligated to pay -- this year, next year, or over the course of your lifetime.

On today's show, we discuss some trends and best practices for both tax planning and tax prepping and why I believe

When was the last time you checked your penny jar?

If it's looking a little emptier than usual, that might be because we're in the middle of a penny shortage!

The U.S. Mint has ceased production of the penny because the cost of making one ($0.0369) is now almost four times what it's worth as legal tender.

While this is yet another step towards a more digital, cashless economy, you might want to take a look at that jar before you bring it down to the bank. Having fewer pennies in circulation could drive up the value of some rare pennies, like the $2.4 million 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Cent!

With more and more of our financial lives moving online, it's becoming more and more important to stay vigilant against potential scams and stay current on the rules.

As we discuss on today's show, one wrong click could share valuable information with a crook or trigger some unintended tax consequences – especially if you're managing your money solo.