The Retirement Rules of the Road are made up of 14 practices focused on providing a framework of behaviors and actions to pursue and sustain a retirement lifestyle for three or more decades. You will notice that the Retirement Rules of the Road do not mention financial market performance. Why not? Doesn’t everybody talk about performance? Yes, they do. This is what separates the Retirement Rules of the Road, it’s focused on real-life results and outcomes.

Performance chasing is similar to chasing contentment. If you’re not content now you will likely not be content down the road. The bar will always keep moving out further and further. Let’s stop the bar here and talk about what matters most.

In financial and retirement planning, behaviors and actions are the most likely path to real-life results. We live and have always lived in an expanding world. It’s everywhere: nature, society, wisdom, cities, technology, cost of living, homes, automobiles, etc. Because of this expansion, performance usually takes care of itself over time if left alone. This requires patience from investors. For certain, it’s not a linear move to the upside, but that’s the historical trajectory. While buy low, sell high is a catchy phrase, it doesn’t stand the test of time. The truth is no one has ever bought low and sold high consistently over time. Thankfully, neither is a prerequisite for accumulating wealth. Ultimately, it’s time in the market, not timing the market that counts.

My Dad has shared many pieces of wisdom with me over the years. One that I hear play in mind often is “Things may not always work out the way you want them to in the short term, but they always work themselves out.” Relax and go have fun with your family, friends and favorite activities, you’ll never get today back.

Take care,