Time Is Not On Your Side

​It is insane to me that I am now 33 years old with a family and two kids.  It feels like yesterday I moved to the United States from Australia.  Last month marked 12 years since I moved to  the US.  I was 21 when I first moved and obviously as most people that age believe they are invincible.  There is no concept of time in your 20s.  You have in the back of your head that you have such a long life ahead of you.  I was not thinking about cherishing everyday.  Appreciating the opportunities that I had in front of me and the phenomenal people had around me.  Knowing that what I had achieved as a Hammer Thrower in Track & Field was something I could be proud of and being able to compete at the collegiate level in the US was a gift and shouldn’t be taken for granted.  Now all of a sudden I am 33 and I am looking back and asking where the time has gone.  

Time is the only thing that matters in our lives.  The question is how do we want to spend that time.  Do we want to work to live or live to work?  Do we want to spend our time creating experiences with who we care about?  Ultimately our time will come to an end and the question is will there by those voices in the back of your mind saying “what if” or “should of”.  

Let’s put time into perspective no matter what age you are reading this article.  According to the CDC in their 2017 Mortality Report the average life expectancy in the United States for males is 78.6 years old and for females it is 81.1 years old.  The average combined life expectancy between the two sexes is 78.7 years old.  These numbers might not surprise many of you, but let’s think about these numbers based on your current age and the percentage of time you are through your life assuming you will live to the combined average listed above.  Let’s break it down below:

20 Years Old - 25.4% through your life
30 Years Old - 38.2% through your life
40 Years Old - 50.9% through your life
50 Years Old - 63.6% through your life
60 Years Old - 76.3% through your life
70 Years Old - 89.1% through your life

I am 33 years old.  Assuming I live to the average combined life expectancy I am approximately 42% through my life.  This almost made my heart drop when you look at it in this context.  Obviously, I hope I am not just at the average, but holy shit I feel like my life is still in its infancy.  I only got married 5.5 years ago and have two young kids.  There are still things I want to get achieved and things I want to experience in my life.  This realization has given me a greater sense of urgency that I want to retire as early as possible so I can experience life with no restrictions.  However, in order to have these experiences and have freedom requires financial independence.  What things can my wife and I do now financially to put us in a position so we can have this independence and retire early and take advantage of everything life has to offer.  

I want to take you on this journey with me because I want everyone to have the same opportunity.  I want you to remember that time is all we have and nothing else matters.  I hope you can learn from me and vice versa on the financial investments and ideas that can bring us all one step closer to freedom.