Bob’s Journal for 12/22/22

The Holiday Conundrum

Most years from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, my wife, Elaine, and I like to watch a lot of the classic holiday movies and shows.

We watch something when we want to instead of when someone’s broadcasting it, so I used to record them and now mostly track which streaming services they’re on. We watch both the black-and-white classics, as well as some of the more recent ones.

A thread in most of the movies is that money, professional or business success, and similar measures, ultimately aren’t what really make life satisfactory or successful. Spiritual life, relationships, experiences and doing things for and with others matter more in the long run.

I came across a quote from actor Ethan Hawke. Speaking of the overdose death of his friend and fellow actor, River Phoenix, Hawke said, “People think getting what you want will make you happy, but a sense of self, purpose and love don’t come from the outside.”

In one of the lesser-known holiday classics, “It Happened on Fifth Avenue,” a homeless man imparts his philosophy and life lessons to the world’s second-richest man throughout the movie, without realizing he’s talking to the world’s second-richest man. Gradually, the wealthy man realizes his priorities and outlook should change.

At the end as he watches the homeless man walk away, the second-richest man in the world says to his wife, “There are richer men than I.”

My focus in Retirement Watch, the Spotlight Series, Bob’s Journal, and other work is retirement finance. I want to help you improve and maintain your financial independence and security. But I also remind my readers that being financially secure doesn’t guarantee retirement success.

It is important that you plan and manage the non-financial aspects of retirement. You need fulfilling relationships and social contacts, activities to keep your mind engaged and learning new things, and a sense of purpose.

I explain this in detail in Chapter 15 in my new book, “Retirement Watch: The Essential Guide to Retiring in the 2020s.”

In 2022, I’ve enjoyed bringing to you the latest news, insights and strategies regarding every aspect of your retirement finances. I’m looking forward to continuing this in 2023, and I expect there will be important new developments during the year for me to analyze and report to you.

Elaine and I thank each of you for being part of the rapidly growing Retirement Watch family and are grateful for your support and kind comments during the year. We also appreciate the great team supporting us at Eagle Financial Publications.

We hope each of you has a happy and fulfilling New Year.

Bob’s News & Updates

My next book will be “Retirement Watch: The Essential Guide to Retiring in the 2020s.” The official publication date is Jan. 3, 2023. You can make a pre-publication order or learn more about the book by clicking here and here, respectively.

Take a look at my 2021 book, “Where’s My Money: Secrets to Getting the Most out of Your Social Security.” It has received mostly five-star reviews on Amazon for telling you clearly what your benefit options are in different situations and how to determine the best choice for you. You can find it on Amazon.com or Regnery.com.

The number of regular viewers for my Retirement Watch Spotlight Series continues to increase. You should sign up because I make in-depth presentations of key retirement finance topics. You can watch these online seminars from the comfort of your home or office at times you choose. To learn more about my new Spotlight Series, click here.

A recent five-star review of my book, “The New Rules of Retirement” on Amazon.com said, “A complete retirement guide! One of the best books on this topic!” Click for more details about the revised edition of “The New Rules of Retirement.”

If you’re interested in my books, check my Amazon.com author’s page.

I’m a senior contributor to the Forbes.com blog. You can view my contributor page here.