The Means AND the Ends

The Means AND The Ends is the recognition that "getting there" is at least as important as where you're going. These posts are a curated collection of articles I've written as well as interesting finds that can be serious, humorous, and sometimes skeptical about investing and saving for retirement while being mindful that we must enjoy the ride all along the way.

Marin Voice: Focusing on power of human connection during pandemic – Marin Independent Journal

Health & Fitness, Lifestyle

Over the years, studies on the healing effects of human connection have grown tremendously.

We now know for a fact that people who have more social support tend to have better mental and physical health and live longer and happier lives.

In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that people with strong social ties tend to live longer regardless of their socioeconomic status, smoking, drinking, exercise, or obesity. The researchers, who studied nearly 7,000 Bay Area residents, also concluded that the mortality rate of men and women with fewer social connections was 2.3 and 2.8 times that of men and women who had more social ties.

Read the entire article: Marin Voice: Focusing on power of human connection during pandemic – Marin Independent Journal

Marin Voice: Focusing on power of human connection during pandemic – Marin Independent Journal Read Post »

Futuristic 1950s Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars could sell for $20 million – CNN Style

Lifestyle

A trio of rarely seen, futuristic concept cars from the 1950s are going up for auction at Sotheby’s, with an estimated value of up to $20 million.

The Alfa Romeo B.A.T. Concept cars — each with a distinctive sculptural shape that nods to fantasy and science fiction — are described by the auction house as “amongst the most spectacular and memorable automotive designs ever produced.”

Read the entire article: Futuristic 1950s Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars could sell for $20 million – CNN Style

Futuristic 1950s Alfa Romeo B.A.T. concept cars could sell for $20 million – CNN Style Read Post »

Morning Brew | Zombie nation

Industry

U.S. business applications went through the roof last quarter, according to a new report from the Census Bureau. Covidpreneurs filed more than 1.5 million applications for Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) in Q3, a 77.4% increase from Q2.

It’s not just a big increase from Q2…it’s also a big increase from last year (when there wasn’t a pandemic). In late September, business applications passed 3.2 million for 2020. At the same point in 2019, 2.7 million applications had been filed.

In fact, new businesses are being formed at the fastest pace in more than a decade, writes the WSJ.

Read the entire article: Morning Brew | Zombie nation

Morning Brew | Zombie nation Read Post »

Iceland Is Using Its Pandemic Downtime to Improve Its Roads, Parks, and Natural Wonders | Travel + Leisure

Lifestyle, Travel

With international leisure travel pretty much at a standstill, Iceland is using its pandemic downtime to make some major upgrades to its tourist infrastructure.

The Icelandic government is putting more than $12 million into improving roads, preserving popular sites, and revamping facilities at national parks, The New York Times reports. The government had already been planning to enhance its tourism infrastructure but decided to double down on its efforts as the pandemic has kept visitors away.

Read the entire article: Iceland Is Using Its Pandemic Downtime to Improve Its Roads, Parks, and Natural Wonders | Travel + Leisure

Iceland Is Using Its Pandemic Downtime to Improve Its Roads, Parks, and Natural Wonders | Travel + Leisure Read Post »

4 tips to navigate a 30-year retirement | Fox Business

Financial Planning, Retirement

Americans are living longer, which is a great thing, especially if you have the money to afford a nice, long retirement.

A new study released by Wells Fargo and the Stanford University Center on Longevity called “Planning for the 30+ Year Retirement,” finds that the average age in retirement has gone up from 13 years in 1960 to 18 years in 1990 to 20 years in 2020.

Read the entire article: 4 tips to navigate a 30-year retirement | Fox Business

4 tips to navigate a 30-year retirement | Fox Business Read Post »

Thinking of Changing Your Portfolio Because of the Election? Think Again.

Financial Planning, Markets

Are you tempted to change your investment strategy because of the 2020 Presidential Election? You’re not alone. In a recent survey, 45% of investors said they plan to make changes to their investments because of the election.

If history is any guide, this may not be a wise decision. For the past 12 presidential elections, the S&P 500 Index has generally been positive 90 days before and after Election Day.

Read the entire article: Thinking of Changing Your Portfolio Because of the Election? Think Again.

Thinking of Changing Your Portfolio Because of the Election? Think Again. Read Post »

At Oregon’s Big Table Farm, the Harvest Is a Feast | Food & Wine

Lifestyle, Travel

With the wildfires still raging in Oregon right now, we here at Food & Wine debated whether it was really the right time to run a story (which appears in our October print issue) about a happy communal dinner in the middle of Oregon wine country.

So we reached out to Clare Carver, who owns and runs Big Table Farm together with her husband Brian, for her take on the matter. She told us, “You know, in my community right now, I think people are really tired, but we’re all looking for joy, and this is a joyful story.

Read the entire article: At Oregon’s Big Table Farm, the Harvest Is a Feast | Food & Wine

At Oregon’s Big Table Farm, the Harvest Is a Feast | Food & Wine Read Post »

The ‘2020 Effect’ Is Stretching Retirement Income | Lake Expo Advertorials | lakeexpo.com

Lifestyle, Retirement

According to a recently released study conducted by the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, 2.9 million older workers ages 55-70 have left the labor force since March, putting these workers “at risk of having to retire involuntarily due to increased health risks coupled with decreased job prospects.”

Read the entire article: The ‘2020 Effect’ Is Stretching Retirement Income | Lake Expo Advertorials | lakeexpo.com

The ‘2020 Effect’ Is Stretching Retirement Income | Lake Expo Advertorials | lakeexpo.com Read Post »

6 Unexpected Sources of Retirement Income | Business | kenoshanews.com

Financial Planning, Lifestyle, Retirement, Social Security

Retirement should be your time to relax and enjoy life, without alarm clocks and meetings. Unfortunately, saying goodbye to your boss also involves saying goodbye to your paycheck.

If you haven’t already saved ample funds to a 401(k), IRA, Health Savings Account, or a regular old savings account, you may be nervous about making ends meet. Social Security certainly isn’t going to cover your lifestyle

Read the entire article: 6 Unexpected Sources of Retirement Income | Business | kenoshanews.com

6 Unexpected Sources of Retirement Income | Business | kenoshanews.com Read Post »

How to leave the U.S. and retire abroad

Retirement, Travel

These days, the idea of packing your bags and retiring to an exotic location might sound tempting.

While coronavirus restrictions have put a damper on travel, people are certainly planning, or at least accessing their options, for when the pandemic passes, said Dan Prescher, senior editor at the expat website International Living.

Read the entire article: How to leave the U.S. and retire abroad

How to leave the U.S. and retire abroad Read Post »

The wildest holiday requests from the super rich | CNN Travel

Lifestyle, Travel

Whether they’re arranging $300,000 private dinners with celebrity chefs or pop-up luxury campsites in the steppes of the northern Sahara, luxury travel agents and concierge services manage to make the impossible a reality.

Last summer, luxury concierge service Element Lifestyle secured the key to the Sistine Chapel so a New York family of six could open the doors and enjoy Michelangelo’s stunning artwork alone — an experience that cost roughly US$75,000.

Read the entire article: The wildest holiday requests from the super rich | CNN Travel

The wildest holiday requests from the super rich | CNN Travel Read Post »

You Can Book This Retro 1970s Time-travel Timeshare From Miller Lite for $96 Per Night | Travel + Leisure

Lifestyle, Travel

With vintage decor, classic ’70s games, and retro minibars stocked with old-school snacks and plenty of beer, the Miller Timeshare will give a few lucky visitors the grooviest end-of-summer vacation ever.

Miller Lite was introduced across the nation in 1975, and now, the beer brand is inviting fans to book this throwback home this September.

Read the entire article: You Can Book This Retro 1970s Time-travel Timeshare From Miller Lite for $96 Per Night | Travel + Leisure

You Can Book This Retro 1970s Time-travel Timeshare From Miller Lite for $96 Per Night | Travel + Leisure Read Post »

Video of the Day: The original steam car, Cugnot is a 250-year-old design

Lifestyle

Back in the days of three-cornered hats and powdered wigs came the earliest-known self-propelled vehicle, a bizarre steam-powered contraption first demonstrated in France and called the Cugnot.

The year was 1770 and the Cugnot was at the time a technological marvel using the greatest of wagon-building innovation.

Read the entire article: Video of the Day: The original steam car, Cugnot is a 250-year-old design

Video of the Day: The original steam car, Cugnot is a 250-year-old design Read Post »

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