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8 Ways to Live Well in Your Middle Years

Our mantra at NorthStar Capital Advisors is Plan Well. Invest Well. Live Well.

Here are eight terrific insights on how to live well in your middle years distilled from former NPR reporter Barbara Bradley Hagerty’s new book, Life Reimagined – The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife.

1. Aim for long-term meaning rather than short-term happiness, and you will likely find both
Aristotle suggested as much when he talked about eudaemonia, or the good life: striving with a purpose — raising terrific children, training for a marathon — rather than setting your sights on immediate pleasures, such as enjoying a good meal or a day at the beach. It’s also the best thing you can do for your mind and your health.

2. Choose what matters most
Clayton Christensen at Harvard Business School describes the eroding effect of short-term decisions — specifically, doing the activity that brings you immediate gratification (such as work) and putting off harder but ultimately more fulfilling activities (such as investing in your marriage and children).

3. Lean into fear, not boredom
Most of us become competent at our work by our 40s, and then we have a choice: Play it safe or take a risk. Howard Stevenson, also a professor (emeritus) at Harvard Business School, believes the greatest source of unhappiness in work is risk aversion — which leads to stagnation and resentment. “Ask yourself regularly: How will I use these glorious days left to me for the best purpose?”

4. “At every stage of life, you should be a rookie at something”
This insight comes from Chris Dionigi, a Ph.D. in “weed science” and the deputy director of the National Invasive Species Council (that kind of weed). He believes trying new things and failing keeps you robust. Always have something new and challenging in your life, he says, “and if that something is of service to people and things you care about, you can lead an extraordinary life.”

5. Add punctuation to your life
Young adulthood offers plenty of milestones: graduating from college, starting a career, getting married, having your first child. But Catharine Utzschneider, a professor at the Boston College Sports Leadership Center who trains elite middle-aged athletes, says midlife is like “a book without any structure, without sentences, periods, commas, paragraphs, chapters, with no punctuation. Goals force us to think deliberately.”

6. A few setbacks are just what the doctor ordered
Bad events seem to cluster in midlife — losing a spouse, a marriage, a parent, your job, your perfect health. But people with charmed lives — zero traumas — were unhappier and more easily distressed than people who had suffered a few negative events in their lifetime. According to resilience research, some setbacks give you perspective and help you bounce back.

7. Pay attention: Two of the biggest threats to a seasoned marriage are boredom and mutual neglect
The brain loves novelty, and love researchers say a sure way to revive a marriage on autopilot, at least temporarily, is to mix things up a bit. Go hiking, take a trip to an undiscovered land.

8. Happiness is love. Full stop
This observed wisdom comes from George Vaillant, a psychiatrist and researcher who directed Harvard’s Study of Adult Development for several decades. Vaillant found that the secret to a successful and happy life is not biology. It is not genes. It is not social privilege or education. It is not IQ or even family upbringing. The secret to thriving is warm relationships. Oh, then there’s this happy coda: Second chances present themselves all the time, if you’ll only keep your eyes open.

Source: NPR

Thank You for 12 Years!

Twelve years ago today we launched our financial advisory practice framed upon three starkly beautiful motivations:

To do good
To do well by doing good
To be happy doing well by doing good

Helping families articulate, plan out, and live their great lives is a noble mission that we take up with unyielding energy and commitment.

Stars pivot around the North Star above Maunakea Observatory, Hawai’i

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who’ve helped us on our journey. From the early clients who trusted us from the get go to our friends and family who’ve lent their support in more ways than we can list here. We would not be where we are without each and every one of you.

It has been an exciting and educational journey. As we look back, here are a few things we have learned.

Time is the key, not money. When we meet with prospective clients approaching retirement, universally they express regret that they didn’t get organized and motivated about finances until late in their professional lives. “I wish I would have found you 20 years ago” is the common refrain. Money is a commodity. Time is the precious resource.
Inertia is the enemy. “If you do the same thing you’ve always done, you will get the same thing you’ve always gotten.” Whatever path you are on, look up to the horizon to see where it leads. If you do not like where you are headed, you must pull up the stakes and change direction…NOW!
All successful investing is goal-focused and planning-driven. All failed investing is market-focused and performance-driven. All successful investors are continuously acting on a plan. All failed investors are continually reacting to the markets.

As we look forward to the next few decades of serving our clients and our community, know that we are constantly working to provide a superior client experience. It’s our firm conviction that planning can be the key that unlocks incredible potential for the good of our clients, their families, and their communities.

We look forward to all the future has in store.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Chris Mullis, Ph.D.
on behalf of the NorthStar team

What Buffett Wouldn’t Do and You Shouldn’t Either

People often look to Warren Buffett, one of the greatest investors of all time, for guidance what to do. But what about the opposite? The Oracle of Omaha has a great list of “no-goes” enumerated in this Bloomberg article:

Investing:

Don’t be too fixated on daily moves in the stock market (from Berkshire letter published in 2014)

Don’t get excited about your investment gains when the market is climbing (1996)

Don’t be distracted by macroeconomic forecasts (2004)

Don’t limit yourself to just one industry (2008)

Don’t get taken by formulas (2009)

Don’t be short on cash when you need it most (2010)

Don’t wager against the U.S. and its economic potential (2015)

Management:

Don’t beat yourself up over wrong decisions; take responsibility for them (2001)

Don’t have mandatory retirement ages (1992)

“Don’t ask the barber whether you need a haircut” because the answer will be what’s best for the man with the scissors (1983)

Don’t dawdle (2006)

Don’t interfere with great managers (1994)

Don’t succumb to the attitudes that undermine businesses (2015)

Don’t be greedy about compensation, if you’re my successor (2015)

Source: Bloomberg

Index Card of Personal Finance Essentials

Simplicity is a great foundation and powerful foil to unnecessary complexity. University of Chicago professor Harold Pollack champions this approach to personal finance and dashed out this index card to make his point.

We work with our clients to go above and beyond the common sense, but it’s built upon a strong foundation of essentials similar to Dr. Pollack’s.

Financial Advising Jedi?

Although the recently released “Solo” is losing money for Disney, the older Star Wars movies have some positive money perspective. Ryan Neal has a great piece on “Star Wars” lessons for financial planning. Here are some excerpts and adaptations to help you answer the perennial question, Is my financial advisor a Jedi Master?

The Power of Holistic Planning

As young Skywalker’s advisor, Obi Wan Kenobi teaches him that the Force, an energy field created by all living things that binds the galaxy together, is the source of his power. For financial advisors to truly unlock their potential, they need to have a holistic view of their clients’ financial lives, as well as a mastery of investment strategy. By understanding how various accounts, needs and goals all connect together, an advisor can be a truly powerful guide for their clients.

Sticking to the Plan

While Luke is a neophyte just learning the ways of the Force, Han Solo is a hardened skeptic, disregarding advisors like Obi Wan Kenobi and instead preferring the lifestyle of a risk taker, which has led him to real problems with debt. When Luke gets distracted by Solo’s taunts, Kenobi reminds him to trust in his plan instead of making knee-jerk reactions. While things get rocky along the way, Luke eventually reaches his goal of becoming a Jedi Knight. It’s a good reminder for when the markets get rough: Trust in the plan, mitigate short-term emotional reactions, and focus on long-term goals. Han may call it luck, but advisors know there’s no such thing.

The Quick and Easy Path Leads to the Dark Side

We learn more about the Force in the 1980s’ “Empire Strikes Back,” when Jedi master Yoda teaches Luke about the Dark Side. Like a good advisor, he tells Luke that chasing instant gratification, like investing heavily in a hot stock, can lead to ruin. When Luke ignores the advice, he’s almost defeated by Darth Vader. Yoda reminds us that patience is key with investing, not adventure or excitement.

Know Your Advisor’s True Value

Though his investment strategy might be questionable, Han Solo does understand value. Luke is shocked when Solo initially discloses his fees to pilot them across the galaxy in the Millennium Falcon. Luke says he could buy and pilot his own starship for less, but Obi Wan Kenobi knows expertise can command a fair price and even offers to spend more to ensure results. It turned out that Luke didn’t know flying through hyperspace from dusting crops, and Solo’s experience came in handy.

It’s Not Just About Money

Though Han Solo told Princess Leia that he doesn’t care about her or the rebellion, he becomes a true hero after he realizes that there’s more to life than money. Advisors are worth more than just allocating assets and providing returns; they can be even more valuable to clients by helping them navigate important milestones in life, like buying a home, sending kids to college, and retiring comfortably. Remember what Leia told Han: “If money is all that you love, then that’s what you’ll receive.”

Don’t Judge by Appearances

“Judge me by my size, do you?” Yoda may be small, but his power with the force is great. Similarly, many investors often think bigger is better and don’t realize that small boutique firms can provide superior guidance.

Source: WM

Class of 2018: Financial Advice That will CHANGE YOUR LIFE

The following is a brief excerpt from the commencement address by Dr. Chris Mullis to the graduating class of Providence Day School on May 31, 2013. The full text of Dr. Mullis’ speech, that includes career advice, financial guidance, and a few pearls of wisdom, can be found here.

At my investment advisory firm, we developed complex computer algorithms and use them to manage our clients’ investment portfolios. But the basic steps you need to take to manage your own money well are deceptively simple. First, live within your means and avoid being caught up in rapid lifestyle inflation. You will not live like your parents when you first start out. Second, save and invest your money wisely. Let me elaborate on this point.

Wealth accumulation depends on three factors: how much you save, the rate at which your money grows, and how long you save. That last factor, time, is very, very important. There’s an urban legend that Albert Einstein once said that compounding interest is the most powerful force in the Universe. That quote is likely misattributed but the message is spot on. If you save $5,000 a year for 40 years and earn 8% annually, you will eventually have $1.3M. But if you delay starting for merely 5 years, your results after 35 years will be only $860k. That 5-year delay preserved $25k of short-term capital but ultimately cost you >$400k in the long run. Time is the most powerful lever in the machinery of investing. Nothing else comes close to it.

So what do you need to do? Start saving and investing right out of high school regardless of how hard you think it hurts or how unpleasant the tradeoffs. Even if you set aside only 5% of your paycheck starting out, do it to get into the habit of saving. Delaying getting serious about investing until my 30s was a significant financial mistake on my part. No one ever sat me down and explained how important it is to start investing early. Now that we’ve had this little talk, you’ll never be able to say that no one told you.

The Retirement Pyramid

Riffing off the widely-seen-but-rarely-followed food pyramid, advisor Tony Isola created the retirement pyramid. Remember how this works — you want to do a lot of the stuff at the bottom of the pyramid and very little to none of the high-level stuff. Follow this guide to be wealthier and healthier!

10 Questions That Will Help Define Your Investment Philosophy

To define your investment philosophy, consider these key questions:

What are your core investment beliefs?
Do you understand your philosophy and why you believe in it?
Do you know the potential risks?
Does it suit your personality and individual circumstances?
Will your philosophy help you follow whatever strategy you implement?
What constraints are necessary for turning your philosophy into a portfolio?
What will you own and why will you own it?
What will cause you to buy or sell?
What will cause you to make changes to your portfolio over time?
What types of investments or strategies will you avoid?

Source: AAII

Financial Free Lunch?

Barry Ritholtz lays bare the myth…

Deep down inside, you already know this: There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, financially or otherwise.

Of so many free lunches, this is the hard truth:

You are not going to win the lottery.
Hot stock tips are worthless (the only exceptions are those especially costly tips that will get you sent to federal prison).
You are not going to buy an iPad from one of those deal sites for $3.
No, you are not likely to buy in early to the next Apple or Netflix, and if you do, you are unlikely to hold it long enough.
No, you are not going to make $10,000 gambling at fantasy sports.
You (or your kid) are not going to be the next Michael Jordan or Adele.
The odds are radically against you finding the mutual fund manager or stock broker who is going to make you fabulously rich.
Indeed, the odds are against you stock picking, market timing or investing in a venture fund, private equity fund or hedge fund that, over the long haul, is going to outperform a simple index fund.

Source: BR

How to Succeed and have a Long and Happy Life

Legendary banker Richard Jenrette passed away last week at the age of 89. In his desk he left a hand-written note listing his 24 rules to succeed in finance and life. The note titled, “What I Learned (How to Succeed and have a Long and Happy Life),” was shared at his memorial service in Charleston, SC:

Stay in the game. That’s often all you need to do – don’t quit. Stick around! Don’t be a quitter!
Don’t burn bridges (behind you)
Remember – Life has no blessing like a good friend!
You can’t get enough of them
Don’t leave old friends behind – you may need them
Try to be nice and say “thank you” a lot!
Stay informed/KEEP LEARNING!
Study — Stay Educated. Do Your Home Work!! Keep learning!
Cultivate friends of all ages – especially younger
Run Scared — over-prepare
Be proud — no Uriah Heep for you! But not conceited. Know your own worth.
Plan ahead but be prepared to allow when opportunity presents itself.
Turn Problems into Opportunities. Very often it can be done. Problems create opportunities for change — people willing to consider change when there are problems.
Present yourself well. Clean, clean-shaven, dress “classically” to age. Beware style, trends. Look for charm. Good grammar. Don’t swear so much — it’s not cute.
But be open to change — don’t be stuck in mud. Be willing to consider what’s new but don’t blindly follow it. USE YOUR HEAD – COMMON SENSE.
Have some fun – but not all the time!
Be on the side of the Angels. Wear the White Hat.
Have a fall-back position. Heir and the spare. Don’t leave all your money in one place.
Learn a foreign language.
Travel a lot — around the world, if possible.
Don’t criticize someone in front of others.
Don’t forget to praise a job well done (but don’t praise a poor job)
I don’t like to lose — but don’t be a poor loser if you do.
It helps to have someone to love who loves you (not just sex).
Keep your standards high in all you do.
Look for the big picture but don’t forget the small details.

This is good advice for anyone!

Source: Bloomberg

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