12-3-24: A 50-Year-Old Investor’s Thanksgiving Checklist

by Jason Bodner

December 3, 2024

Thanksgiving was really nice this year. I was surrounded by people I enjoy.

It was also the last day I could celebrate being in my 40s. My 50^th birthday came last Friday.

I don’t feel old, and I want to live a long time. As I age, I realize that life is less about accumulating stuff, and more about experiences, and who they are shared with. Living solitary works for some people, but most of us need to be around others. In fact, the secret to living longer turns out to be a simple formula.

• A healthy diet
• Regular physical activity
• Mental stimulation
• Stress management
• Strong social connections
• A sense of purpose within a community

This isn’t my own invention. There is a great documentary called Blue Zones by Dan Buettner. He investigates areas of the world where residents live significantly longer than everywhere else. Two such places are Okinawa, Japan and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Regions like these have the highest incidence of centenarians on earth. The “Blue Zone” keys to longevity are the six points listed above.

This can of course, be achieved by people from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds. But we live in a modern world. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re not part of a small farming village on a remote island. In our modern urban lives, we have modern needs, stressors, and digital lives that create isolation.

This leads me to think about money. Is having money one of the six keys to a long life? For me, financial success means I get to focus on what really matters: Enjoying the time I have – until it’s gone. I have found that a great way to get what I need to fund the life I want is by being a successful stock investor.

This is normally where I would launch into all the key insights my data provides about the stock market. I will indeed do some of that in a moment, but I want to stay focused on our philosophical excursion first.

Why do any of us work?

Naturally we want to provide for our families and have a better life. I am fortunate in that I do what I love to do for work each day. Many don’t, so they wish their work time would be as short as possible. Some also work just to pay for the things they love. Some love objects, like watches, big homes and cars. That brings joy and a sense of accomplishment. Me, I prefer spending my money on travel: making memories.

Whatever the motivation, the fact is, to quote a Police song: “We are spirits in the material world.” Money is a fact of life, so why not have as much as possible? A lot of people think that way, and it’s totally fine, but I try to focus first on the stuff that really matters – family, friends, making connections, having a sense of purpose, and staying healthy to enjoy all of that, since we can’t take it with us when we are gone.

I often think that when I am facing my final moments, I am certain I won’t ask someone to wheel in my watch collection, or my favorite car, so that I can see it one last time. Instead, I’ll want to see my family.

My dad once asked a gardener why he worked so hard for so little pay. He said: “I love that sun on me, and I ain’t never seen no hearse followed by an armored car.” Wise words from a happy man.

So, while the purpose of my work is to focus on how to make money in stocks, it also accomplishes all six parts of the six-point long-life checklist above… work is my (#3) mental stimulation. I love it. I also try to stay active (#2), riding a bike 4-5 times a week. I also try to eat somewhat healthy (#1). I also see friends often (#5), and times like Thanksgiving remind me of the power of family (#6).

Does it mean I will live longer? Who knows, but it does mean I have better stress management (#4).

So, take some time to call that person you’ve been thinking of. Take that scenic walk with a loved one. Take a chance and make a memory. Because, in the end, that’s all we will take with us: the memories.

In the meantime, we need to pay for our lives. Work is a must for most of us. (But investing can help).

So now, let’s dive into some data. From an investing standpoint, there is much to be thankful for…