Food for thought

Observations on life, Retirement 2 comments

Ask Me a Tough One by Jonathan Clements

Go to main Forum page » you will find very interesting comment and discussion including mine. An interesting personal exercise.

AUTHOR: Jonathan Clements on 4/18/2025

I’m not expecting readers to answer all eight of the thorny questions listed below. But I’d love to hear your thoughts on one or two.

  1. What in your past or about your personality explains your investment risk tolerance?
  2. What uses of money—giving it away, saving it, specific purchases—bring you the greatest joy?
  3. Would you be okay financially if U.S. stocks had a 0% total return over the next 10 years?
  4. If you’re still working, what would it take for you to leave the workforce with a sense of satisfaction? If you’re already retired, did you leave the workforce feeling like you’d been a success?
  5. What would you consider enough money, or will you always want more?
  6. What would give your retirement a sense of purpose, or will you be happy simply to meander through each day? If you’re already retired, what’s been the biggest contributor to your happiness?
  7. Who will look after you when you can’t, how will you pay for your care, and is there a risk that the cost will deplete your savings?
  8. Will your heirs be happy with the estate you leave behind—not just its value, but also the ease of settling your affairs and dealing with your possessions?

2 comments

    1. What uses of money—giving it away, saving it, specific purchases—bring you the greatest joy? Nothing. Always too conservative.
    2. Would you be okay financially if U.S. stocks had a 0% total return over the next 10 years? Yes but no longer due to inflation, risk of loss of purchasing power.
    3. If you’re still working, what would it take for you to leave the workforce with a sense of satisfaction? If you’re already retired, did you leave the workforce feeling like you’d been a success? One more significant contribution or loss of good health.
    4. What would you consider enough money, or will you always want more? Have enough, but never work for free except for church.
    5. What would give your retirement a sense of purpose, or will you be happy simply to meander through each day? If you’re already retired, what’s been the biggest contributor to your happiness? Health of children, in all ways, their happiness.
    6. Who will look after you when you can’t, how will you pay for your care, and is there a risk that the cost will deplete your savings? Will have to pay, have enough to do so.
    7. Will your heirs be happy with the estate you leave behind—not just its value, but also the ease of settling your affairs and dealing with your possessions? Yes, and more importantly, the lessons learned, family stories and traditions.

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  2. I’m 50, divorced w/ no next of kin. So I keep working to save for retirement. I did inherit money from dad when he died & it’s doing ok. But my biggest fear is the US losing standing in the world. If the Fed ends & the dollar stops being the reserve currency, I fear for those of us the govt doesn’t care about. There are a lot of single/divorced women that the govt would just like to see die.

    I will have a pension after working for the state (IL) and guaranteed health insurance but if the federal govt really screws up even that could end. For now, the VA pays for my meds & an annual check up. But I don’t trust the feds to continue providing VA services to vets. I love my new pcp at the VA. When I was at John Cochran in January to visit the women’s clinic, they were all scared. I don’t blame them.

    My risk tolerance has been med growth. Eveything at Stifel is in mutual funds in a mix of stocks & bonds. I have a deferred comp program through work (no match) that is the same. I just keep adding to it. And pray. Let the market even itself out in the end. Or at least that is what it’s always done – til we got a moron in the WH.
    I pay bills & donate money to local charities – food bank, Boys & Girls Club. The ones that aren’t local are the ones that I have experience with, like EIU Foundation & Women in Military Foundation. My grandparents lived thru the depression. My dad’s family even kept a hardware store open in town so I know what it’s like to come from saving/hoarding food type of prep in case of a rainy day. I was just hoping it wouldn’t come. Last year was the first time I donated to political campaigns in a big way. But the small amount of money I gave wasn’t enough to buy a president.
    I’d be ok if stocks weren’t losing money and the dollar hadn’t stopped being the reserve currency. If we were just treading water that would be ok. Right now my faith is in Jerome Powell. He’s one that knows what he’s doing.
    I’d like to retire. The house will be paid off soon. As far as when, by the retirement calculator at the state I can retire at 56 with the Rule of 85 (age + years of service). Depending on my health & the economy, social security & the job I have then I’ll probably think about it. Right now I work from home so that’s better than going into the office. More than likely I’ll probably keep working as long as I find some joy in the people because my boss is a bitch & she isn’t going to get better. FYI – I work in HR. When I stop working my plan is to volunteer with the organizations I like, people I like, maybe go back to school or get a simple job as a teacher’s aide (my BS is in Education). There’s no way I’d teach in this environment so I don’t want to get an updated license. And I would definitely get more political. It’s going to take all of us to fix this country.
    Having more is always a good idea. Enough is being able to pay the bills & keep the lights on.
    I’m going to get more politically active. We have to fix this country. The generations before me screwed it up. It’s time to fix it.
    no idea – we’ll see
    charities are getting a check – they’ll love it. Considering the federal govt keeps cutting funding they will need it.

    Anne

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