What I Watch
MANY FINANCIAL planners say you shouldn’t look at your investment portfolio too often because it may prompt you to make poor decisions based on short-term stock market performance. I try to follow this advice, even though it would be easy for me to take a peek, because we have almost all our money with Vanguard Group.
Ever since we consolidated our investments, I’ve noticed a change in my wife’s attitude toward money: Rachel is more willing to spend. Maybe it's the visual of having one large balance at Vanguard, rather than smaller balances spread across multiple financial institutions, that makes her feel more financially secure. It becomes clearer to her how much money we really have when it’s parked in one spot.
What about me? Although I don’t look at my portfolio too often, there are four other things I pay close attention to.
1. My Social Security deposit. Around the seventh of every month, when my Social Security is scheduled to be deposited, I check to see if it’s been posted to my account. Then I log that payment on a spreadsheet to track the total amount I’ve received. I don’t track my wife’s benefit, just mine.
I waited until age 70 to take Social Security. I’m approaching 74 and, so far, I’ve received $176,750. I don’t really know the significance of this number or why it’s so important to me.
My friend Art also waited until 70 to take Social Security. About a month later, he was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer. Could that be the reason I track the total benefits I’ve received? Perhaps. I'm concerned about not reaching my breakeven point, which is around age 81.
Yet that shouldn’t be my focus. After all, the main reason I delayed my benefit is to provide a larger income stream later in life, when there’s a risk of Rachel and me running out of money.
Thanks to delaying, not only do I get a larger initial check, but also a larger dollar amount in annual cost-of-living increases. Those increases compound over the years, resulting in exponential growth that could give us significant income down the road. Remember, although all recipients got the same 2.5% inflation increase for 2025, the actual dollar amount is based on the amount of your benefit.
2. My credit card balance and transactions. Every time I charge something, I look at the Citi app on my smartphone to make sure the amount charged is correct. It’s easy to do. The app has a snapshot feature where I can see the transactions without logging in.
Another reason I keep close tabs on our primary credit card: I found if I keep the balance under $2,000, my FICO score is higher. I’ll usually make multiple payments during the month to keep it below the desired amount. It seems to work. My current FICO score rose to 816 because my credit utilization ratio—how much I owe creditors relative to how much credit I have available—is so low.
The other day, we were purchasing some vinyl windows for our house. The window manufacturer had a special financing promotion: no money down, no monthly payments and no interest for 12 months. Since I froze my credit because my personal information was compromised, I had Rachel apply.
The sales representative was surprised at how fast Rachel’s credit application was approved. “I’ve never had anyone approved that quickly,” she said. I wasn’t surprised. My wife’s FICO score is 840.
We’ll probably pay off the windows as soon as they’re installed to our satisfaction. We both hate owing money.
3. My blood pressure. Why is it so important to monitor your blood pressure? Because it’s a silent killer that often goes undetected until it causes harm. More Americans die from heart disease than any other illness.
My best friend Jeremy died of a heart attack. Maybe all his drinking caught up with him. My longtime coworker John also died from one. Could all those burgers and fries from the lunch wagon have caught up with John? Who knows?
I know that, at my age, I’m at more risk of dying from heart disease. My mother did. I check my blood pressure a few times a week at home, where I feel I get a more accurate reading than during a one-time visit to my doctor’s office. When I go to see the doctor, my blood pressure is usually high. I have what they call white-coat hypertension.
When I check it at home, it’s usually below the recommended level of 120 over 80. I keep a log on my smartphone of my blood pressure readings by date and time of day, so I can easily show my doctor. Based on the reading in the doctor’s office, I’d probably be on unnecessary medication.
4. My daily steps and distance walked. I try to walk seven miles a day. My father walked a lot. In fact, I take the same route that he used to walk.
I didn’t realize how much walking meant to him until his final days. When he was in hospice care, he still wanted to go for his daily walk. We told him it was too dangerous because he didn’t have the strength. He said, “How can I get better if I don’t walk?”
I’m like my father. I believe walking can make my life better. I’m hoping all those steps will lead to a longer, healthier life.
Dennis Friedman retired from Boeing Satellite Systems after a 30-year career in manufacturing. Born in Ohio, Dennis is a California transplant with a bachelor's degree in history and an MBA. A self-described "humble investor," he likes reading historical novels and about personal finance. Follow Dennis on X @DMFrie and check out his earlier articles.
Ever since we consolidated our investments, I’ve noticed a change in my wife’s attitude toward money: Rachel is more willing to spend. Maybe it's the visual of having one large balance at Vanguard, rather than smaller balances spread across multiple financial institutions, that makes her feel more financially secure. It becomes clearer to her how much money we really have when it’s parked in one spot.
What about me? Although I don’t look at my portfolio too often, there are four other things I pay close attention to.
1. My Social Security deposit. Around the seventh of every month, when my Social Security is scheduled to be deposited, I check to see if it’s been posted to my account. Then I log that payment on a spreadsheet to track the total amount I’ve received. I don’t track my wife’s benefit, just mine.
I waited until age 70 to take Social Security. I’m approaching 74 and, so far, I’ve received $176,750. I don’t really know the significance of this number or why it’s so important to me.
My friend Art also waited until 70 to take Social Security. About a month later, he was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer. Could that be the reason I track the total benefits I’ve received? Perhaps. I'm concerned about not reaching my breakeven point, which is around age 81.
Yet that shouldn’t be my focus. After all, the main reason I delayed my benefit is to provide a larger income stream later in life, when there’s a risk of Rachel and me running out of money.
Thanks to delaying, not only do I get a larger initial check, but also a larger dollar amount in annual cost-of-living increases. Those increases compound over the years, resulting in exponential growth that could give us significant income down the road. Remember, although all recipients got the same 2.5% inflation increase for 2025, the actual dollar amount is based on the amount of your benefit.
2. My credit card balance and transactions. Every time I charge something, I look at the Citi app on my smartphone to make sure the amount charged is correct. It’s easy to do. The app has a snapshot feature where I can see the transactions without logging in.
Another reason I keep close tabs on our primary credit card: I found if I keep the balance under $2,000, my FICO score is higher. I’ll usually make multiple payments during the month to keep it below the desired amount. It seems to work. My current FICO score rose to 816 because my credit utilization ratio—how much I owe creditors relative to how much credit I have available—is so low.
The other day, we were purchasing some vinyl windows for our house. The window manufacturer had a special financing promotion: no money down, no monthly payments and no interest for 12 months. Since I froze my credit because my personal information was compromised, I had Rachel apply.
The sales representative was surprised at how fast Rachel’s credit application was approved. “I’ve never had anyone approved that quickly,” she said. I wasn’t surprised. My wife’s FICO score is 840.
We’ll probably pay off the windows as soon as they’re installed to our satisfaction. We both hate owing money.
3. My blood pressure. Why is it so important to monitor your blood pressure? Because it’s a silent killer that often goes undetected until it causes harm. More Americans die from heart disease than any other illness.
My best friend Jeremy died of a heart attack. Maybe all his drinking caught up with him. My longtime coworker John also died from one. Could all those burgers and fries from the lunch wagon have caught up with John? Who knows?
I know that, at my age, I’m at more risk of dying from heart disease. My mother did. I check my blood pressure a few times a week at home, where I feel I get a more accurate reading than during a one-time visit to my doctor’s office. When I go to see the doctor, my blood pressure is usually high. I have what they call white-coat hypertension.
When I check it at home, it’s usually below the recommended level of 120 over 80. I keep a log on my smartphone of my blood pressure readings by date and time of day, so I can easily show my doctor. Based on the reading in the doctor’s office, I’d probably be on unnecessary medication.
4. My daily steps and distance walked. I try to walk seven miles a day. My father walked a lot. In fact, I take the same route that he used to walk.
I didn’t realize how much walking meant to him until his final days. When he was in hospice care, he still wanted to go for his daily walk. We told him it was too dangerous because he didn’t have the strength. He said, “How can I get better if I don’t walk?”
I’m like my father. I believe walking can make my life better. I’m hoping all those steps will lead to a longer, healthier life.
Dennis Friedman retired from Boeing Satellite Systems after a 30-year career in manufacturing. Born in Ohio, Dennis is a California transplant with a bachelor's degree in history and an MBA. A self-described "humble investor," he likes reading historical novels and about personal finance. Follow Dennis on X @DMFrie and check out his earlier articles.The post What I Watch appeared first on HumbleDollar.
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