Mahsa Tehrani, MD, a board-certified rheumatologist, said, “The number one predictor of whether or not you are going to live independently in your 80s and 90s is how well you can (physically) balance today.”1 Tehrani stressed that, besides building muscle mass, daily balance training is essential. Tehrani practices this herself as she brushes her teeth while balancing on one leg. (FYI: Two of the chief causes of why people move into assisted living are balance and mobility issues.)
A financial corollary can easily be deduced: The number one predictor of whether or not you are going to be financially independent in your 80s or 90s is how well you are managing your finances right now.
From Oliver Burkeman’s book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Burkeman stated, “The real measure of any time management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things.”
Here’s the financial corollary: The real measure of any money management technique is whether or not it helps you neglect the right things. Some people think budgeting is constraining. That may be true for some in the short run. However, in the long run, controlling your finances has just the opposite effect.
Debt is a bondage. Debt is paying for the past. Becoming debt-free is emancipating. Having your home mortgage paid off is totally liberating. Becoming debt-free allows you to concentrate your finances on the future. It’s creating dollars for the things you really want to do with your lifetime income.
What are the five most important words for financial success? Spend less than you make. That’s it. Don’t fall into the financial cancers of comparing and competing. Financial peace of mind and happiness will be the result.
Speaking of happiness, according to a national survey from Newsweek2, the top New Year’s resolution for 2026 was exercising more. The second was being happy. Here’s one way to focus on being happy and being healthy.
A headline from Psychology Today3 states, “Caring for Your Grandchildren Is Good for Your Brain: How caregiving, focus, and concentration can protect cognitive health as we age.” In other words, the study found that helping grandchildren boosts your brain.
Key points highlighted were:
– Grandparenting has been linked to stronger memory and verbal fluency. (Social Engagement)
– Cognitive benefits appear regardless of how often or what type of care is provided. (Frequency)
– Caregiving grandmothers showed less cognitive decline over time.
Elder John K. Carmack said, “Incidentally, grandparents should not underestimate their influence in the lives of their grandchildren.”4
When talking about investments, we often speak of Return on Investment or ROI.
With time, a most precious asset, we could speak of Return on Time or ROT.
The late Charles R. Hobbs, author of Time Power, once told me, “Money increases opportunities.”
Indeed, it does. However, the asset of time allows you to focus on what is truly important in your life. So there you have it. Healthy, Wealthy, & Happy!
1 Fox & Friends Weekend, Episode dated December 28th, 2025
2 America’s Most Popular New Year’s Resolution for 2026, December 26th, 2025
3 Psychology Today, Caring for your Grandchildren is Good for your Brain, Jeff Segal Psy.D., January 30th, 2026
4 Conference Talk, Elder John K. Carmack, United in Love and Testimony, April 1st, 2001
