100% this. To each their own, but I'm giving my kids their inheritance at 30 with the plan to leave little when I'm gone. I'd like to see what they do with it and be available to offer some guidance should they ask. I expect that a small financial windfall at 30 will be far more valuable to them than a large one at 60.
It's true that due to market cap weight, index investors are now highly concentrated in the magnificent 7, but that also holds true for US domestic equity as a portion of global equity.
Sure, you can use different strategies to hedge against this concentration risk, but then you are trying to outguess the market, making you no longer a true index investor.
I thought A Random Walk Down Wall Street and The Millionaire Next Door addressed both sides of the investing equation in an easily digested manner. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't gotten around to Jonathan's book yet, but it's in the queue!
Being a saver, while enviable, is a hard habit to break. Nobody reverses course overnight, it just feels wrong to start spending when you've been saving your whole life. Maybe loosen the reins a bit and try to spend a little more. For even more fortitude training, try spending some of your brokerage by trimming overweight positions while continuing to put money away in tax-advantaged accounts.
I'm going to second this notion, if only because you are currently in uncharted waters (meaning you don't know what you don't know). Join a gym then get a trainer to put together a program using equipment similar to what you intend to purchase. Eventually wean yourself off personal training then make friends with the people who work out in your same area, at the same time, on the same days. They'll be more than happy to give you pointers (or a spot) if you ask. Eventually you'll be armed with a program, proper technique, and the knowledge of what equipment you'll use consistently, hopefully reducing unnecessary purchases. Fitness is a lot like finance--it's mostly about consistency; a little knowledge plus discipline is all you really need for success!
The only potential problem with this plan is that purchasing an annuity at retirement means you'll have to liquidate a substantial amount of assets which would result in a large tax bill if those assets were in equities. If you kept an appropriate percentage in bonds and then liquidated that portion to purchase the annuity, that would probably work out better for you, tax-wise. The nice thing about having guaranteed income like an annuity is that sort of satisfies the fixed-income component of your portfolio and you can then invest the rest that much more aggressively. Just some food for <theoretical> thought!
Totally in agreement here. I think modern day life has left us unfulfilled and pursuing convenience only makes it worse. Try adding some easily overcome obstacles to your life, like grocery shopping at a different store or taking public transportation instead of driving one day. No need to do anything drastic!
Comments
100% this. To each their own, but I'm giving my kids their inheritance at 30 with the plan to leave little when I'm gone. I'd like to see what they do with it and be available to offer some guidance should they ask. I expect that a small financial windfall at 30 will be far more valuable to them than a large one at 60.
Post: Helping Adult Children
Link to comment from February 8, 2026
I found this article to offer some cautious insight: https://ofdollarsanddata.com/the-one-thing-my-worst-investments-had-in-common/
Post: Private Equity Investing
Link to comment from January 21, 2026
"Tilting"--I like that term! Definitely nothing wrong with that in terms on meeting your goals and managing risk. Good points both.
Post: Market Concentration in Index Funds
Link to comment from January 15, 2026
It's true that due to market cap weight, index investors are now highly concentrated in the magnificent 7, but that also holds true for US domestic equity as a portion of global equity. Sure, you can use different strategies to hedge against this concentration risk, but then you are trying to outguess the market, making you no longer a true index investor.
Post: Market Concentration in Index Funds
Link to comment from January 15, 2026
I thought A Random Walk Down Wall Street and The Millionaire Next Door addressed both sides of the investing equation in an easily digested manner. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't gotten around to Jonathan's book yet, but it's in the queue!
Post: Your two best investing books—and do you also keep an End-of-Life “family binder”?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
Being a saver, while enviable, is a hard habit to break. Nobody reverses course overnight, it just feels wrong to start spending when you've been saving your whole life. Maybe loosen the reins a bit and try to spend a little more. For even more fortitude training, try spending some of your brokerage by trimming overweight positions while continuing to put money away in tax-advantaged accounts.
Post: I accidently Coast FIRE’d. Can I stop saving?
Link to comment from January 2, 2026
I'm going to second this notion, if only because you are currently in uncharted waters (meaning you don't know what you don't know). Join a gym then get a trainer to put together a program using equipment similar to what you intend to purchase. Eventually wean yourself off personal training then make friends with the people who work out in your same area, at the same time, on the same days. They'll be more than happy to give you pointers (or a spot) if you ask. Eventually you'll be armed with a program, proper technique, and the knowledge of what equipment you'll use consistently, hopefully reducing unnecessary purchases. Fitness is a lot like finance--it's mostly about consistency; a little knowledge plus discipline is all you really need for success!
Post: The Flamingo Years: How to Lose Gracefully to a Ten-Year-Old
Link to comment from October 26, 2025
The only potential problem with this plan is that purchasing an annuity at retirement means you'll have to liquidate a substantial amount of assets which would result in a large tax bill if those assets were in equities. If you kept an appropriate percentage in bonds and then liquidated that portion to purchase the annuity, that would probably work out better for you, tax-wise. The nice thing about having guaranteed income like an annuity is that sort of satisfies the fixed-income component of your portfolio and you can then invest the rest that much more aggressively. Just some food for <theoretical> thought!
Post: A theoretical, simplified road to retirement income without a pension. I’ve learned it doesn’t exist.
Link to comment from June 21, 2025
Totally in agreement here. I think modern day life has left us unfulfilled and pursuing convenience only makes it worse. Try adding some easily overcome obstacles to your life, like grocery shopping at a different store or taking public transportation instead of driving one day. No need to do anything drastic!
Post: Runner’s High
Link to comment from October 15, 2022