re: Questions for 50+ folks...

Don't spend time regretting everything. Regretting doing what you didn't do, bucket list, things you did do but shouldn't have, just stop, for any age. My dad spent his 60s and early 70s regretting not taking mom to Europe. Guess what, he finally took her last year, in his mid 70s. They had a blast, knowing him probably enjoyed it and took it more in, than he would have in his younger years.

The taking care of yourself and investing is a no brainer, that's more of a habit, we all know we should do that. Put a max you can spend on your phone, I give myself 1 hour a day, not counting phone calls, to spend, and that's probably too much. If you're on your death bed stop regretting, think about the times you had fun and loved and were loved, and appreciate that.

I spent my 30s being hard on myself as a dad and husband, co-worker, etc. I spent my 40s regretting that Now in my 50s it's just whatever and I'm much more at peace. Looking back I was a great dad, husband (overall) co-worker, but I couldn't see it at the time b/c of my back then drinking habits (feeling guilty for doing it) smoking cigs, cussing all the time, etc. Now I shake my head and laugh about it. But there were sooooo many good memories from my 30s and 40s, my oldest daughter just mailed me a letter for early Father's Day about how much she appreciates me and how much I mean to her. I wouldn't have believed any of that 15 years ago.

Also, learn the proper way to use commas, not sure I have that down yet.

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Questions for 50+ folks...

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Less than 1/2 a year away. Yikes.

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At your age, what advice would you give yourself when you were in your 30's?

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Not everything requires a response, nor is everything an emergency. When responding, respond logically, and not emotionally.

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Wisest thing you did in your 30's?

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Had children.

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Biggest regret from when you were in your 30's?

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I made plenty of mistakes in my 30s and those mistakes caught up to me.

But in saying that, life goes on. Life can get better, but first, all of us must to the work to make ourselves better, because it's truly up to us to figure it out on our own.

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The 401k stuff is #1. I

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This is so true. Dad the Civil Engineer with only a single Econ 101 class always matched to the company contribution maximum. He did that from the day he found out about the matching until the company went from being publicly traded stock to privately held family business.

In the 80’s when Citgo was owned by the Southland Corporation (founders of 7-11) and they took the company private, Dad received the 2nd highest payout in the corporation running a close 2nd to the Pres/CEO.

The long term investment of like 4%/yr was instrumental in my parents retiring with more $ than they could conceive of spending.

1) Spend more time with my children.
3) Not spending more time with my children.

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1.) At your age, what advice would you give yourself when you were in your 30's?

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None, part of wisdom comes from having skin in the game and sometimes pain and suffering are the best teaches in life.

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2.) Wisest thing you did in your 30's?

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Did it all my life, so not just limited to my 30's. Have friends and family (and not the social media kind) in ALL ages as wisdom comes from many ages if you are open and paying attention.

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3.) Biggest regret from when you were in your 30's?

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None. What I often thought of as regrets when I was younger were just life lessons I was not learning from yet.

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I'll hang up and listen

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Listening is a great advantage, especially to wisdom before it is gone

Find who you are and be true to yourself than to be a sheep

Tell those you love often (hugs are good too) as no life is permanent

Anger and blame are the young man's burden, free yourself while you are still young

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3.) Biggest regret from when you were in your 30's?

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1. Buy gold when it hit the market at just under $36 an ounce in 1970.

2. Got divorced from wife #1

3. Marrying wife #2

Expensive designer clothes in the end are such a giant waste of money. I could probably retire a couple of years early on what I spent on stupid clothes that went out of fashion in my 20s. Not saying don't buy high quality clothes, I'm saying don't buy a polo shirt that's $100 because it has a label on it when you could get something just as nice and long lasting for half the price.

1.) At your age, what advice would you give yourself when you were in your 30's?
Keep doing everything you're doing, but don't marry someone with whom you can't be 100% yourself.

2.) Wisest thing you did in your 30's?
Began contributing a larger percentage towards my 401k.

3.) Biggest regret from when you were in your 30's?
Not staying in close contact with my parents, both of whom died suddenly.

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Side question: Anyone achieved significant personal growth after age 50? Are you a much different person at 60/70 than you were at 50?

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I’m almost 63 now. I had two close work friends die within a couple of months of each other when I was 56.

They were both on bad shape but their deaths were unexpected and made me get right physically and health-wise.

Within 18 months my primary care physician (who’s ten years younger than me) was envious of my numbers.

I’ve never been on any medication for heart, mood, or metabolic issues.

When you get right physically and heath-wise, it’s easier to control the rest of your life.

I hope a Boeing door doesn’t fall out the sky and bonk me on the head.