A Few Useful Finds for Life After Work — Issue #6

Hi from Stefan,

Welcome to the sixth issue of this biweekly newsletter.

Nothing in this newsletter is sponsored or written for compensation.

What is the best protection against an AI bubble?

Burton Malkiel writes in the Wall Street Journal that index funds are the best protection — even when the market is highly concentrated as it is today.

Long-term care costs are rising faster than general inflation

A new study from AARP reports on rising LTC costs. Median private room nursing home care was nearly $130,000 in 2024, with higher costs in high-cost states and for higher-quality care.

Many people find for their circumstances that self-insurance is more cost-effective than an LTC insurance policy.

One product request I’ve heard repeatedly is the desire to incorporate a legacy goal into the plan. In practice, that same pool of assets often serves a dual purpose: a reserve for uncertain late-life expenses (like long-term care), with whatever remains becoming a legacy.

I’m working on a way to model this explicitly, treating it as a legacy/reserve target rather than a fixed bequest.

What I’m reading

The book 1929, by Wall Street Journal and CNBC journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin. A fascinating history of the run-up and aftermath of the great stock market crash that still shapes our thinking about market risk. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author.

What I’m watching

The Night Manager, a thriller based on John Le Carré’s novel about a hotel night manager recruited by British intelligence to infiltrate the network of an international arms dealer. The first season came out in 2016. Season 2 was just released.

Warmly,
Stefan Sharkansky, PhD
Founder of The Best Third