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What the Happiest Retirees Know: 10 Habits for a Healthy, Secure, and Joyful Life
The bestselling author of You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think and host of Money Matters reveals the 10 essential habits for a rich, rewarding, and blissful retirement.What does it take to have a truly happy retirement? Is it money? A mortgage-free home? An active social life? A long-lasting marriage—or maybe a new one? Finance expert, author, and radio host Wes Moss asked more than 2,000 of the nation’s happiest retirees to find out—and their answers may surprise you. Through a series of revealing surveys, Moss noticed a pattern of distinct, recognizable habits that the happiest retirees shared, from the simplest of lifestyle choices to the smartest of financial strategies. These are the kinds of habits anyone can develop—the perfect road map to a healthy, secure, and joyful retirement—sooner.Whether you’re already retired or just starting to make plans, these 10 simple actions and attitudes can make a profound difference in every aspect of your life. The book is packed with hard-won wisdom and invaluable advice on how to make little changes now that will have the biggest impact later. It’s filled with proven ways to develop smarter habits Money (“Think river, not reservoir”); Family (“Get your kids off your payroll”); Housing (“Live mortgage-free”); Investing (“Be a tomorrow investor”); Spending (“Be pound wise—so you can be penny foolish”); and much more. With these 10 transformational habits, you can stop obsessing over money, stay socially connected, and start enjoying your new life—as the happiest retiree on the block.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
105 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 30, 2023
Overly simplistic, incredibly repetitive - seemed like more of a vanity project designed to build up his investment practice.
February 15, 2022
Not a whole lot of new information here, and to be honest, not a whole lot of expertise. Mostly just rehashed information from more prominent authors. The whole book could have been summed up nicely in 1 chapter.
November 25, 2021
I heard the author of this book interviewed on the October 27, 2021 episode of the Stacking Benjamins podcast. His approach to retirement planning was interesting to me because it seemed to go beyond the cut and dried numbers and investments to broader characteristics that he sees in his happily retired clients.
One topic that piqued my interest was the author's statement that the happiest retirees have their mortgage paid off or nearly paid off. This seemed very different from what I have been hearing from other personal finance experts who usually look at just the math and say that investments will outperform today's low mortgage rates and therefore advocate carrying the mortgage while putting more money into investments. This felt very relevant to me so I actually bought the Kindle version of this book to read more. (Result: The author sees that his clients' happiness levels go up proportionately as they get closer and closer to their mortgage payoff.)
The author uses vignettes about different (possibly composite or somewhat fictionalized?) retirees to highlight the types of activities happy retirees are engaged in and the types of choices they are making well before their retirement to set the foundation for a happy, engaged, and connected life in retirement. The people appear a little larger than life or not quite real, but the stories do make it clear that in addition to good financial planning, there are a lot of other choices that contribute to happiness in retirement. Getting and staying connected and having at least 3 close friends, having healthy relationships with adult kids (close but not too close), being physically active, having 3 or more "core pursuits" (aka serious interests or Hobbies with a capital H), travel, faith (but not too much!).
I am glad I read the book because it has given me a different way to think about the many choices that I am making now to contribute to life-long happiness.
One topic that piqued my interest was the author's statement that the happiest retirees have their mortgage paid off or nearly paid off. This seemed very different from what I have been hearing from other personal finance experts who usually look at just the math and say that investments will outperform today's low mortgage rates and therefore advocate carrying the mortgage while putting more money into investments. This felt very relevant to me so I actually bought the Kindle version of this book to read more. (Result: The author sees that his clients' happiness levels go up proportionately as they get closer and closer to their mortgage payoff.)
The author uses vignettes about different (possibly composite or somewhat fictionalized?) retirees to highlight the types of activities happy retirees are engaged in and the types of choices they are making well before their retirement to set the foundation for a happy, engaged, and connected life in retirement. The people appear a little larger than life or not quite real, but the stories do make it clear that in addition to good financial planning, there are a lot of other choices that contribute to happiness in retirement. Getting and staying connected and having at least 3 close friends, having healthy relationships with adult kids (close but not too close), being physically active, having 3 or more "core pursuits" (aka serious interests or Hobbies with a capital H), travel, faith (but not too much!).
I am glad I read the book because it has given me a different way to think about the many choices that I am making now to contribute to life-long happiness.
January 26, 2023
Very optimistic view. recommend this book to all the 20 + 30 somethings to think ahead and start planning.
January 5, 2025
Easy and important. I liked the purely anecdotal, non-financial advice here.
April 7, 2022
A quick and easy read, I found this book to give more comfort than actionable advice. It it pretty much a blending of The Millionaire Next Door with Moss' previous book You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think, except that Moss' survey doesn't seem nearly as rigourous as Millionaire Next Door.
When I read this the message I took away was to relax and worry about my family and friendships because we don't need as much money as we think. Personally, I think this is the wrong call. The popular 4% withdrawal rate (4.5% recommended here!) seems too high to me because there is too high a chance of running out of money before death. With lifespans increasing it is very plausible to need money until reaching 100 years old for todays retirees, and the longer we live the greater the chance that we run into financial crises that result in drawing down assets during a time they are worth little.
When I read this the message I took away was to relax and worry about my family and friendships because we don't need as much money as we think. Personally, I think this is the wrong call. The popular 4% withdrawal rate (4.5% recommended here!) seems too high to me because there is too high a chance of running out of money before death. With lifespans increasing it is very plausible to need money until reaching 100 years old for todays retirees, and the longer we live the greater the chance that we run into financial crises that result in drawing down assets during a time they are worth little.
May 6, 2022
I don't disagree with what he says but I didn't get much new out of this book. He talks about focusing on dividend stocks for income instead of bonds. Finding fulfilling things to do (core pursuits is his term) during retirement is important.
February 23, 2022
Sound advice, despite the hokey writing
May 8, 2024
Just ok read, nothing special, although some patterns found in happy vs unhappy retirees were interesting.
March 15, 2025
I thought this book was amazing. It had so many practical insights and suggestions. I will gift it to friends that plan to retire soon.
June 19, 2024
This book isn't entirely wrong. It contains something thoughtful observations about how to live your life in retirement. Unfortunately, it isn't all that insightful and it's HIGHLY repetitive. This is basically a newspaper article put in book form in order to make money. I'm glad I didn't pay money for it.
A lot of his prescriptions are so obvious as to be laughable: be financially secure, be smart about your money, be active, have pursuits, have friends, travel. "Live near your kids" seemed obvious to me but seems like it might not be part of more standard advice. Don't support your grown kids, or support them less, is probably the most controversial, though I see his point.
The biggest problem with the author's approach is his blind trust in his data and his ignoring of (or ignorance of) the complications of correlation and causation. In many ways this is like the studies you see every few months showing that people who drink expensive liquor, or attend museums or the opera, or own BMWs, live longer. All of these are obviously just stand-ins for wealth. People with more money are more likely to do those things. No one can lengthen their life by upgrading the quality of their liquor or buying a sports car.
Some of the author's prescriptions make as little sense as that: having an adult kid at home for example. While I don't doubt that it's good advice to foster independence in one's children and that retirees with independent kids are generally happier, I am very doubtful that for any given couple, having a child stay home actually makes them unhappy. It's much more likely that a high proportion of stay-home kids have problems of one sort or another, which likely correlate with other problems that make people unhappy.
Also, considering that he gives financial advice, I found his advice to pay off your mortgage to be stupid being malpractice. I should pay off a 2% loan with funds that are currently returning 20% in the stock market? All because he argues that no mortgage gives "peace of mind???" This is such bad advice as to be offensive. 20% returns on my money give me "peace of mind". It's not like your house is free once it's paid off anyway; you still need to pay taxes and insurance....
The most interesting takeaway from his research was that after a certain amount, he thinks more money doesn't make people happier. I hope he's right about that!
A lot of his prescriptions are so obvious as to be laughable: be financially secure, be smart about your money, be active, have pursuits, have friends, travel. "Live near your kids" seemed obvious to me but seems like it might not be part of more standard advice. Don't support your grown kids, or support them less, is probably the most controversial, though I see his point.
The biggest problem with the author's approach is his blind trust in his data and his ignoring of (or ignorance of) the complications of correlation and causation. In many ways this is like the studies you see every few months showing that people who drink expensive liquor, or attend museums or the opera, or own BMWs, live longer. All of these are obviously just stand-ins for wealth. People with more money are more likely to do those things. No one can lengthen their life by upgrading the quality of their liquor or buying a sports car.
Some of the author's prescriptions make as little sense as that: having an adult kid at home for example. While I don't doubt that it's good advice to foster independence in one's children and that retirees with independent kids are generally happier, I am very doubtful that for any given couple, having a child stay home actually makes them unhappy. It's much more likely that a high proportion of stay-home kids have problems of one sort or another, which likely correlate with other problems that make people unhappy.
Also, considering that he gives financial advice, I found his advice to pay off your mortgage to be stupid being malpractice. I should pay off a 2% loan with funds that are currently returning 20% in the stock market? All because he argues that no mortgage gives "peace of mind???" This is such bad advice as to be offensive. 20% returns on my money give me "peace of mind". It's not like your house is free once it's paid off anyway; you still need to pay taxes and insurance....
The most interesting takeaway from his research was that after a certain amount, he thinks more money doesn't make people happier. I hope he's right about that!
February 13, 2025
3.5 Stars
Wes Moss surveyed a number of retirees and reported the results, dividing the group into "Happy" (HROB--happiest retirees on the block) and "Unhappy" (UROB--unhappiest retirees on the block).
While he tells you there is no one size fits all solution, there are a number of key takeaways from the book that can increase your odds of happiness in retirement. Some of the better ones were:
* obtain a liquid wealth of at least $500K. Less than this probably isn't enough, more has diminishing returns.
* live near but not with your adult children. Get them launched, married, and visit regularly for maximum happiness.
* get involved with a group (church is good for faith, giving back, and social connection)
* have 3 or more "core pursuits." These are hobbies but more serious. This is probably the best takeaway from the book.
* House should be paid off before or shortly after retirement
* Income should come from multiple "streams" as opposed to a single "reservoir."
* Marrieds are happier, and even a single divorce doesn't overall seem to negatively impact retirement happiness, but two or more does reduce happiness.
* Master the middle financially. Don't hoard, but don't be a spendthrift. Generally spend less than your means, but don't obsess over every penny.
* Prioritize health--activity and diet.
This book is far from scientific and the conclusions are at best correlation, not causation, but it gives a good framework for consideration to prepare for a "happy" retirement.
Wes Moss surveyed a number of retirees and reported the results, dividing the group into "Happy" (HROB--happiest retirees on the block) and "Unhappy" (UROB--unhappiest retirees on the block).
While he tells you there is no one size fits all solution, there are a number of key takeaways from the book that can increase your odds of happiness in retirement. Some of the better ones were:
* obtain a liquid wealth of at least $500K. Less than this probably isn't enough, more has diminishing returns.
* live near but not with your adult children. Get them launched, married, and visit regularly for maximum happiness.
* get involved with a group (church is good for faith, giving back, and social connection)
* have 3 or more "core pursuits." These are hobbies but more serious. This is probably the best takeaway from the book.
* House should be paid off before or shortly after retirement
* Income should come from multiple "streams" as opposed to a single "reservoir."
* Marrieds are happier, and even a single divorce doesn't overall seem to negatively impact retirement happiness, but two or more does reduce happiness.
* Master the middle financially. Don't hoard, but don't be a spendthrift. Generally spend less than your means, but don't obsess over every penny.
* Prioritize health--activity and diet.
This book is far from scientific and the conclusions are at best correlation, not causation, but it gives a good framework for consideration to prepare for a "happy" retirement.
March 23, 2025
What intrigued me: I watched The Money Guys interview Wes Moss where they discussed this book at length. I want to sabbatical and retire happily!
What I liked: Love all the data and the actionable tips. The sections on core pursuits and social connections were particularly interesting. I also like how he confirmed that you don't need to do all of there habits to be happy, but the more you do the more likely you are to be happy.
What I didn't like: I skimmed over the parts about kids and going to church weekly. I would assume that the retirees they surveyed were born in a more conservative time when there was less of a choice about getting married, having kids, and going to church. I think it will be interesting to see how the HROB landscape shifts as more Gen X and Millennials retire. There are all kinds of way to live a life.
Favorite quote: "David ... I suspect a guy like you has the money thing figured out. Can I give you some advice? Don't wait to travel. Don't wait until you're our age and lose your health. You're in your fifties. You can work from anywhere. You should travel now, while you still can." p. 205
What I liked: Love all the data and the actionable tips. The sections on core pursuits and social connections were particularly interesting. I also like how he confirmed that you don't need to do all of there habits to be happy, but the more you do the more likely you are to be happy.
What I didn't like: I skimmed over the parts about kids and going to church weekly. I would assume that the retirees they surveyed were born in a more conservative time when there was less of a choice about getting married, having kids, and going to church. I think it will be interesting to see how the HROB landscape shifts as more Gen X and Millennials retire. There are all kinds of way to live a life.
Favorite quote: "David ... I suspect a guy like you has the money thing figured out. Can I give you some advice? Don't wait to travel. Don't wait until you're our age and lose your health. You're in your fifties. You can work from anywhere. You should travel now, while you still can." p. 205
February 28, 2025
This book may not have tremendous insights, but I found the summaries to be easy to understand and follow, e.g., the commonalities of the HROBs (Happy Retirees on the Block vs. UROB). These are my biggest takeaways:
1. Have at least 4-5 Core Pursuits throughout your life that you started BEFORE retirement
2. Have at least 4 friends (beyond family) you rely on
3. Help your adult children (Ages 18-19) become financially independent of their parents soon after they graduate from college
4. Your income/spend ratio per month must be > 1.
5. Stay married. You are allowed 1 Mulligan (1 divorce).
6. You travel at least twice a year (Stay-cations DO NOT COUNT! You have to get away!)
7. You have 2-3 children.
8. At least 50% of your children live within reasonable driving distance.\
9. The happiest HROBs do NOT downsize their homes, making room for family and grandchildren to visit.
1. Have at least 4-5 Core Pursuits throughout your life that you started BEFORE retirement
2. Have at least 4 friends (beyond family) you rely on
3. Help your adult children (Ages 18-19) become financially independent of their parents soon after they graduate from college
4. Your income/spend ratio per month must be > 1.
5. Stay married. You are allowed 1 Mulligan (1 divorce).
6. You travel at least twice a year (Stay-cations DO NOT COUNT! You have to get away!)
7. You have 2-3 children.
8. At least 50% of your children live within reasonable driving distance.\
9. The happiest HROBs do NOT downsize their homes, making room for family and grandchildren to visit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
Wes Moss lists 10 "habits" (more like "characteristics") of the happiest retirees, which he derived from a very non-scientific survey he conducted. It's a good light read that is best interpreted within its limitations and contexts. There are plenty of reader demographics for which this book will be a complete "miss". If you're in the middle to lower-upper class and are reasonably planning for retirement, this book might stir some ideas that are beyond the non-financial aspects of retirement happiness.
April 18, 2023
This book helps you think through not only financial readiness but also activities, family and social relationships, whether or not to move — basically 10 key areas to consider when you are planning or entering retirement.
For me, it helped me move forward. I had saved consistently since I started working full time in my teens. Then I lost half of it to my spouse of 37 years. I was having an emotionally challenging time deciding to spend some money. This helped me think through what I wanted and why. I also helped me appreciate the direction I was taking with my life in retirement.
For me, it helped me move forward. I had saved consistently since I started working full time in my teens. Then I lost half of it to my spouse of 37 years. I was having an emotionally challenging time deciding to spend some money. This helped me think through what I wanted and why. I also helped me appreciate the direction I was taking with my life in retirement.
June 15, 2024
Fairly typical information--not much new revealed here.
He claims things as facts based on his research, but then as he lays out the details he just picks on a few client stories as his evidence. That isn't research, or at least that isn't the research I'm used to reading about (with hundred or thousands of people interviewed and statistical rigors being applied). There are better books that cover this subject--such as "How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free" by Ernie Zelinski
He claims things as facts based on his research, but then as he lays out the details he just picks on a few client stories as his evidence. That isn't research, or at least that isn't the research I'm used to reading about (with hundred or thousands of people interviewed and statistical rigors being applied). There are better books that cover this subject--such as "How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free" by Ernie Zelinski
October 9, 2023
I did not finish this book.
It had a bunch of exceptional advice except I don't qualify. I just retired but I don't have half a million dollars saved up for retirement. That is Wes Moss's magic number.
Not that the book can't help me. I need to be ed-u-ma-cated about various way people use to extend their savings. The small amount I saved still needs to last the rest of my life.
It had a bunch of exceptional advice except I don't qualify. I just retired but I don't have half a million dollars saved up for retirement. That is Wes Moss's magic number.
Not that the book can't help me. I need to be ed-u-ma-cated about various way people use to extend their savings. The small amount I saved still needs to last the rest of my life.
May 19, 2025
This was meh. No new information was shared, and that's ok...but it was written for married people with kids, and had misleading information (i.e. the resveratrol in one glass of wine improves heart and muscle strength as much as one hour in the gym). It was a quick read, and reinforced much of what I'm already doing.
January 29, 2026
Very simplistic financial estimates that neglected taxes in most instances. While the premise of happiness as the goal makes sense, the book went back to old, basic 4% or 4.5% withdrawal strategies and did not mention spending curves as you age or reflect on the probability of your money running out over time.
March 1, 2022
Looking toward retirement? It’s never too early. Whether you’re in your 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s, this book is a must read. Based on extensive research, Wes demonstrates how to be happy as you move into your golden years.
December 15, 2022
Of the 30 things Wes Moss said are important for retirees to have, I already knew about 15. The other 15, while surprising, made me happy I picked it up. Sometimes it's nice to have a reminder that you can spend money on yourself and have fun.
July 13, 2023
Sophomoric at best
This book might be good if you know nothing about retirement and I found a few small nuggets of insight on life post work but most of this book was very simplistic for my needs.
This book might be good if you know nothing about retirement and I found a few small nuggets of insight on life post work but most of this book was very simplistic for my needs.
January 26, 2022
Easy read with great ideas!
February 27, 2022
Good data driven material, but a bit repetitive.
April 10, 2022
Great advice
I very much enjoyed the points made. Our 30 year old generation need to read and start budgeting. Even at 45, it's not too late, just not as rewarding.
I very much enjoyed the points made. Our 30 year old generation need to read and start budgeting. Even at 45, it's not too late, just not as rewarding.
April 15, 2022
It's so engaging that i finished it in less than 24 hours.
The book was so insightful and it is a good guideline.
It's dynamic, everything is dynamic, as it shall be.
The book was so insightful and it is a good guideline.
It's dynamic, everything is dynamic, as it shall be.
July 10, 2022
Great book. I believe everyone within 10 years of retiring should learn the information in this book.
July 17, 2022
To much Fluff
The entire book has about 5-10 pages of real content, repeated ad nauseum to make into a book. This is at best a long blog post worth of material.
The entire book has about 5-10 pages of real content, repeated ad nauseum to make into a book. This is at best a long blog post worth of material.
August 6, 2022
Life changing. It’s embarrassing how much this info is stuff my sisters have been saying for years, but Moss made me feel hopeful and confident instead of the shame and guilt my sisters dole out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews