dennis mccain
  • Home
  • Investing
    • Dividend Kings
    • Div Aristocrats
    • Div Champions
    • Business Dev Cos
    • Monthly Dividends
  • Options
    • Weekly Options

Investing

Ideas and Strategies on Investing.

Previous Articles

Retirement is a Waste of Time

3/6/2018

2 Comments

 
Some of the most popular articles on the net these days are articles on how to retire at 50, 40 or even as young as 30. The idea is that as soon as an investor can accumulate the minimum amount of income (usually in the form of dividends) to support a minimal lifestyle, he should drop out and live a self centered, self absorbed life of laziness and consumption.  Basically the life of a bum. 

​When I see these articles I wonder who in the world were they written for and just who would really want to live a meaningless life of sitting on park benches for hours at a time in the middle of the day? But then perhaps I just don't understand or appreciate what this idea of retirement means to this younger generation. If retirement to this next generation means leaving behind that creative and productive part of my life for a life of self-centeredness, massive consumption, and laziness, then this younger generation doesn't understand the concept of retirement. 


Picture

​As a member of the Baby Boom generation I couldn't wait to turn 16 so I could apply for and obtain a good paying job. It was all part of that process of growing up and it was the means by which I got those things in life that my parents wouldn't or couldn't buy for me. A "real" job meant the end of mowing grass and shoveling snow for other people for money. It meant I was growing up and entering into the adult world. It meant I was beginning to make something out of my life and hopefully the beginning of a wealthy life. And most of all it was liberating.

Attending undergraduate and graduate schools were the next steps in the building process. It was the stepping stone to a career and to obtaining my goal of a lifetime of employment. It was suppose to be the realization of an academic dream to put meaning into my life. With that Master's Degree in hand I found that career I had longed for and I immediately began that lifelong journey of building a life of accomplishments and fulfillment. This wasn't something that happened overnight and it wasn't something I was willing to jeopardize or abandon. That career became the basis by which I built a life. A life and career that became so inseparable that they became one and the same. I built a life and changed from a kid that simply consumes to an adult that builds and creates. My career was something I studied for in college, it's something I was trained to do, and over the years it's become interwoven and critical to my entire life. 

I didn't create this life simply to give up on it half way through. My plan was never to do the minimum and stop. My plan was never to give up just as I hit my stride simply because it was possible. The purpose has always been the building and the creating. To do anything other than what I have done would be to abandon my inner drive. Maybe this is just the result of my middle class background or my midwest personality. Maybe it's simply the way my parent's imprinted their values on me when I was young. Regardless, it's who I am. And at this point in my life the things that retirees do simply do not interest me. Maybe someday they will but it'll be years from now when I'm very, very old.
"The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off."
-- Abe Lemons, College Basketball Player and Coach
Now, even in my 60s, I'm still unwilling to give up that desire and willingness to build and create. Retirement to me means an end to the creative and productive part of my life and a return to the consumerism and consumption of my youth. It seems like such a waste of life's God given talents to simply stop contributing and live a life that's carefree and meaningless when I'm physically able to still do so much more. I just don't see retiring. Ever. 

When this current career is over I'll surely find another career. And then another and another, if necessary. It's the work that makes up your life that gives meaning and purpose to your life. And all the dividends in the world can never do that for you. 

Those dividends may be able to provide me the financial freedom, independence and security that's necessary to pursue my dreams and goals but they'll never be the goals themselves. It's all about work, careers, trading and investing. It's never been about the money. It's always been about living a meaningful and positive life.


2 Comments
Janet Gardei
2/23/2019 06:53:55 pm

Well stated. New career, new adventure...the journey continues

Reply
Robert M. Arrendell
2/21/2020 02:55:11 pm

Great words of wisdom. I am 41 and am looking forward to this next half + of my life... to do what God created me to do. We are made with so many gifts and talents that need to be shared with the world. Way to not be a flash in the pan, Dennis! I am inspired by your words. I think it's important for us to be life long learner's. I am a teacher, but these past two years, I've started to learn about investing. I plan on learning something new (career-wise) every 5 years for the rest of my life. I have a coworker who decided to do that from the age of 16, when he found out that he had diabetes type 1. He is a barber, mechanic, math teacher, computer technician, tile expert, and a few more things. Thanks for being a part of my five year journey of learning with investing.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Print Friendly Version of this pagePrint Get a PDF version of this webpagePDF

    Picture

    Author

    I am an Individual Investor with specific interest in long term growth and then enhancing my returns with income from dividends and derivatives. I don't recommend stocks to anyone (it's a good way to lose friends) and no one reading this should misinterpret my blog as a recommendation for any type of investment. I am writing this solely for myself and my kids.


    RSS Feed


    Picture
    Top 100 Blogs for Dividend Investors

    Picture
    Follow Me on StockTwits!



    Dividend Growth Stocks
    Dividend Growth Investor


    Picture
    I'm on Seeking Alpha too!

    Archives

    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
    4 Month INDU Chart
    Dividend Ex-Dates
    Bidness Etc
    SharpCharts Voyeur
    StockCharts.com

    FINVIZ
    Seeking Alpha
    BDC Reporter
    Roadmap2Retire
    DivHut
    Dividend Growth Investor

    Dividend Yield

    Stock Market Mentor
    Chart Swing Trader
    Dividend Announcements
    IBD TV
    Stocks to Watch Today
    Dividend Detective

    DISCLAIMER
     I am not a licensed investment adviser, and I am not providing investment advise for you on this site. Please consult with an investment professional before you invest your money. Any opinion expressed here should not be treated as investment advice. I am not liable for any losses suffered by any party because of data or information published on this blog. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. Unless your investments are FDIC insured, they may decline in value.

    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.