Several months ago, I attended an investment dinner. The host was unique and engaging, and later he sent me his book. Below are excerpts based on it (link).
What the Happiest Retirees Know: 10 Habits for a Healthy, Secure, and Joyful Life (2021) by Wes Moss—host of the radio show Money Matters—identifies the key habits that lead to a fulfilling retirement. Moss emphasizes that happiness in retirement goes well beyond money, highlighting the importance of family, housing, faith, health, and social connections. It's based on both his own research and that of others.
The book outlines ten core habits of what Moss calls Happy Retirees on Balance (HROBs):
Moss stresses that while financial security provides a foundation, it’s not enough on its own. Happiness in retirement also comes from relationships, community, hobbies, volunteering, and purpose—all of which create a richer and more joyful life.
What the Happiest Retirees Know: 10 Habits for a Healthy, Secure, and Joyful Life (2021) by Wes Moss—host of the radio show Money Matters—identifies the key habits that lead to a fulfilling retirement. Moss emphasizes that happiness in retirement goes well beyond money, highlighting the importance of family, housing, faith, health, and social connections. It's based on both his own research and that of others.
Key Habits for a Happy Retirement
The book outlines ten core habits of what Moss calls Happy Retirees on Balance (HROBs):
- Net Worth – The “enough” point. In 2021, Moss’s research found that happiness tends to rise once retirees have at least $500K in liquid net worth. Adjusted to today (2025), that figure is closer to $750K. Beyond that, additional wealth doesn’t significantly increase happiness.
- Family Habits – Get your kids off the payroll, but stay close: retirees are happiest when 50% or more of their children live nearby.
- Home Habits – Live mortgage-free. Retirees within five years of paying off their mortgage are four times more likely to be happy. In 2021, the average HROB home cost about $600K; today, it’s closer to $800K. HROBs typically don’t downsize until much later in life, or unless circumstances force them to. They recognize that kids and grandkids will want to come visit and stay over.
- Faith Habits – Believe, give, and do good. Weekly churchgoers are 1.5x more likely to be happy, but even attending twice a year is enough to cross into the “happy camp.”
- Social Habits – Build strong connections. On average, HROBs have 3.6 close social groups, compared to 2.6 for unhappy retirees.
- Health Habits – Stay active and mindful. Many “core pursuits” involve movement—the “ings”: running, biking, hiking, dancing, etc.
- Investing Habits – Think long-term. HROBs favor dividend-paying stocks for steady income, sometimes supplementing with bonds or pensions.
- Love Habits – Marriage matters. Happiness tends to drop by the third marriage.
- Curiosity Habits – Pursue passions. Happy retirees average 3.6 hobbies or “core pursuits,” while unhappy ones have fewer than 2.
- Spending Habits – Follow the dynamic 4% rule for withdrawals, adjusting as needed to avoid running out of savings.
Moss stresses that while financial security provides a foundation, it’s not enough on its own. Happiness in retirement also comes from relationships, community, hobbies, volunteering, and purpose—all of which create a richer and more joyful life.
unless you are extremely risk averse.
