Different strokes for different folks. For us, I will take the S&P 500 over any 20 year period, rather an annuity. To me the cost of an annuity is too high, as an annuity is an Insurance product. If you are disciplined, you can make a steady withdrawal from your fund. Compounding is your friend, and inflation is the killer. Annuities provide protection for those that cannot do it on their own.
Excellent article. You made the right decision. I do the same thing every time I buy a car. Just like you I hate debt, hate monthly payments, and if I put the money in a stock or index, my luck I will lose more money than to just pay it off. Well done as we both like to sleep at night.
Great question and article. Our portfolio is like this:
5 ETF's, mostly S&P500 Fidelity and Vang, & QQQ 75%
Mag 7 12%
Cash 13%
As an Electronic Engineer I put my money where my mouth is, and it is working, over weight in Electronics. My best stock ever in Apple and accounts for 6% of all Equities. I went for 40 years trying to pick the right stocks, about 50, now down to 10 along with my ballast ETF's. This is working for me. No bonds, using cash in Internet Banks.
Mark great article, and for sure you made the Best and Right decision. I had the same goals after college, work do all the extras get noticed and up to the C-suite. I actually made the change early on, FAMILY was my goal. I went to work early but came home to be on time to have a family dinner. With my determination I rose through the system. Someone one of my hires beat me out at the VP level. Then they decided to downsize me. After leaving I went to be on my own, worked for another person I hired that started his own company, and competed with my original company. My pay commission only! Worked from home from 1994 to 2024. My family life as good as can be, 3 graduated children from college with advanced degrees, all with families on their own, and all thriving. Six wonderful grandchildren, all graduated as well. Life is better than Good. So happy for you Mark, that you saw the light at the right time. Oh, I tripled my salary, my bonus. Sometimes life works.
Sure it is a difficult choice. My wife urged for us to review CCRC's, and of course I said, naw we want to stay in our wonderful new home of 6 years that we built, it had everything we could wish for, with great neighbors. So we looked at 5 places in 2021, then again after my cancer was causing issues, in 2022 five more places. Number 10 was the winner, and since we found our dream apartment we gave them the cash to move in on July 1, 2022. CCRC's to me are like a cruise ship with no waves and it never leaves port. Activities for everyone, maintenance free, Dining is great, and only one bill to pay besides rent, that is your smartphone. But the big difference is 300 plus people to share your stories, and that makes up for living in your own home. It is a tough call, but I assure you, it is much better than you think. Then of course, the CCRC can take care of you with assisted living, memory or nursing if needed. It is not for everyone, but it is for many, we have 234 apartments and there is a waiting list to get in, it must be pretty good, eh! More good news, my cancer is stable.
Thanks Adam for another thought provoking article. We appreciate each and every one, and we continue to learn the human spirit of investing. Keep them coming and thanks.
Comments
Thank for this great article. The trick is to utilize every aspect of your life. Nice work, and it appears you like and enjoyed every minute.
Post: Lessons Learned Along the Way
Link to comment from June 27, 2026
Different strokes for different folks. For us, I will take the S&P 500 over any 20 year period, rather an annuity. To me the cost of an annuity is too high, as an annuity is an Insurance product. If you are disciplined, you can make a steady withdrawal from your fund. Compounding is your friend, and inflation is the killer. Annuities provide protection for those that cannot do it on their own.
Post: Automatic Income stream? How important to you?
Link to comment from June 27, 2026
Thanks Adam for another thoughtful article. Keep them coming.
Post: Investment Wisdom
Link to comment from June 27, 2026
Excellent article. You made the right decision. I do the same thing every time I buy a car. Just like you I hate debt, hate monthly payments, and if I put the money in a stock or index, my luck I will lose more money than to just pay it off. Well done as we both like to sleep at night.
Post: Leverage
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Thanks for sharing this real story, Andrew. I learned a lot. Keep these great articles coming. Sorry for your loss.
Post: What Addiction Couldn’t Take: My Sister’s Story
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Great question and article. Our portfolio is like this: 5 ETF's, mostly S&P500 Fidelity and Vang, & QQQ 75% Mag 7 12% Cash 13% As an Electronic Engineer I put my money where my mouth is, and it is working, over weight in Electronics. My best stock ever in Apple and accounts for 6% of all Equities. I went for 40 years trying to pick the right stocks, about 50, now down to 10 along with my ballast ETF's. This is working for me. No bonds, using cash in Internet Banks.
Post: What’s in your portfolio ?
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Great article, always nice to learn about Bonds.
Post: Bonds vs. Bond Funds
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Mark great article, and for sure you made the Best and Right decision. I had the same goals after college, work do all the extras get noticed and up to the C-suite. I actually made the change early on, FAMILY was my goal. I went to work early but came home to be on time to have a family dinner. With my determination I rose through the system. Someone one of my hires beat me out at the VP level. Then they decided to downsize me. After leaving I went to be on my own, worked for another person I hired that started his own company, and competed with my original company. My pay commission only! Worked from home from 1994 to 2024. My family life as good as can be, 3 graduated children from college with advanced degrees, all with families on their own, and all thriving. Six wonderful grandchildren, all graduated as well. Life is better than Good. So happy for you Mark, that you saw the light at the right time. Oh, I tripled my salary, my bonus. Sometimes life works.
Post: Risk Adjusted: The Family Ledger
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Sure it is a difficult choice. My wife urged for us to review CCRC's, and of course I said, naw we want to stay in our wonderful new home of 6 years that we built, it had everything we could wish for, with great neighbors. So we looked at 5 places in 2021, then again after my cancer was causing issues, in 2022 five more places. Number 10 was the winner, and since we found our dream apartment we gave them the cash to move in on July 1, 2022. CCRC's to me are like a cruise ship with no waves and it never leaves port. Activities for everyone, maintenance free, Dining is great, and only one bill to pay besides rent, that is your smartphone. But the big difference is 300 plus people to share your stories, and that makes up for living in your own home. It is a tough call, but I assure you, it is much better than you think. Then of course, the CCRC can take care of you with assisted living, memory or nursing if needed. It is not for everyone, but it is for many, we have 234 apartments and there is a waiting list to get in, it must be pretty good, eh! More good news, my cancer is stable.
Post: Close to Everything I Need
Link to comment from June 20, 2026
Thanks Adam for another thought provoking article. We appreciate each and every one, and we continue to learn the human spirit of investing. Keep them coming and thanks.
Post: Pricing the Future
Link to comment from June 20, 2026