Scott Gibson

Comments:

• Something to consider is the happiness you'd probably bring to your wife and kids if they had the opportunity to see you "extravagantly" treat yourself given your recent diagnosis. The inheritance would be nice but I'd much rather see my father/spouse have no limits to their enjoyment rather than have the money later.

  Post: My Spending Rules

  Link to comment from September 28, 2024

• First and foremost being born in the USA. Secondarily, the harder I worked the luckier I became.

  Post: Feeling Lucky by Jonathan Clements

  Link to comment from July 26, 2024

• At 68, protecting your healthiest retirement years from a significant hit to your portfolio if the conservative approach works for you makes a lot of sense to me. We could easily experience a Japan like situation and then what? I'm guessing at 102 you won't enjoy your money as much as you can now. I don't understand this mantra that one must be in equities to keep up with inflation as that assumes we won't experience a prolonged downturn. How one experiences and deals with higher prices is also very unique to each of us; the headline number is not my basket of goods.

  Post: Waiting It Out

  Link to comment from May 23, 2024

• Working longer so one doesn't "look back and rue the wasted time" of not working is something I've never read as one of the common regrets of those in their final days. There is so much life to live other than a job. To each their own though. I'm not willing to pass up great experiences, endeavors, anything I might choose and yes, fun, during my healthy years to ensure I can pay someone to change my diaper and tell me my name in my last years. It may be controversial but I'd rather check out before that happens. The goal is to live, not exist.

  Post: Long Odds

  Link to comment from May 4, 2024

• The rich may have benefits that elude most of us but that is such a small fraction of the population. It is important to recognize that there are endless examples from all kinds of backgrounds, education, family situations, races, religions, etc... of people who have created substantial wealth. There are about 24 million who have a net worth of one million or more and almost 90% of them are self-made. Some paths are more difficult than others but I'd be surprised if just about everyone can't find a person with a similiar set of circumstances to them that has made it happen. This great country provides opportunities. Warren Buffet was spot on saying you won the lottery being born in the US.

  Post: Aiming High

  Link to comment from March 7, 2024

• I'm another advocate of keeping things simple and just use an intermediate bond fund for my fixed income. An ongoing monthly distribution to spend, rebalance with cash and equities annually and done. I can't imagine any of these alternative strategies produce significantly better long term results but I do know for sure my needs are met and I'm happy. Hope all are reaching that goal with whatever they are doing.

  Post: Comfort Has a Cost

  Link to comment from March 3, 2024

• You had me at "freedom from worry". Once you've achieved that, you have a wide array of choices of how to live your life.

  Post: What Lies Beneath

  Link to comment from February 24, 2024

• Good article Jonathon discussing different points of view on the topic while not judging anyone about the choices they may make. Everybody has to decide what's important to them and then hopefully live that life. What's a meager existence to one person is more than enough for another while working at a job may be purposeful for some and pure drudgery for others. Too often these days we disparage those with viewpoints that don't agree with our own and that's just wrong.

  Post: Fire Meets Ice

  Link to comment from February 10, 2024

• Excellent article Ken. I think it would be beneficial for most people to put just as much emphasis on their friendship account as they do to their investment account. There is nothing more important than the people we have in our lives. Maintaining and growing those relationship requires the focus and effort you discuss.

  Post: Friend Request

  Link to comment from September 29, 2023

• Comparing yourself to anyone else regarding working hard, good luck, circumstances, health status etc... is absolutely pointless. We evaluate our own situation and make decisions from there. It's the only the life you'll ever get, live it the way you want.

  Post: My Car Journey

  Link to comment from September 2, 2023