To sum up, quite a lot.
Back in the 1930’s, Harvard researchers started a study on Happiness. What creates it, what makes us happy. That sort of thing.
You can google it if you choose to. The web address to a great Ted Talk is at the end of this post. But you can view the results of the study here as well: The secret to happiness? Here’s some advice from the longest-running study on happiness - Harvard Health: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
So, what’s the secret to happiness? What makes us happy?
Relationships. Close ones, like the one with your spouse, kids, friends, and colleagues.
It turns out that being isolated is soul crushing. It darkens the mood. Think of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Think of the kids that went to school every day and then all of a sudden didn’t.
Think of the lost memories and experiences that never happened during that period.
Do you think happiness was lower? I would venture to say yes.
Why are we talking about it on a financial blog? Because it’s a huge part of not working anymore. It’s a huge part of what you get from working that needs to be replaced when you are no longer working.
Here is the web address to the Ted Talk:
https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
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Alex Bishop, CRPC®, MS, is a Private Wealth Advisor and Franchise Owner with Bishop Financial Partners, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC in Huntersville, NC. He specializes in fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 22 years. To contact him, www.ameripriseadvisors.com/alex.h.bishop, 704.896.9985.
The views expressed here reflect the views of Alex Bishop as of March 7, 2023.These views may change as market or other conditions change. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Ameriprise Financial and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, will not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not account for individual investor circumstances.
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