Happyness – The Only Goal that Matters

Amar Pandit , CFA , CFP

March 22, 2022 | 6 Minute Read

“What’s the one thing that you would want for your children and family?”

I have asked this question to thousands of families and also to myself over the last 17+ years.

Invariably the answer is the same – “I want my child to be happy. I want my family to be happy.”

No one has ever told me that I want my child to get a 20% return on her/his investments or money. Don’t believe me. Try the question out. Just try it out.

I doubt you will say anything other than a version of “I want my child/family to be happy.”

However, at the same time, most seem to find it difficult to translate “I want my child/family to be happy” into real goals that matter to them.

Rather we co-opt other people’s goals because it’s very hard to get clear about our own goals.

You hear a friend talking about the killing he has made by investing in start-ups. You now want to invest in start-ups.

You hear your wealthy neighbour brag about his stock picks, so you think you should pick up stocks.

You hear a slick salesman saying his Portfolio services are being used by the who’s who of India and you now want to make this investment. You want to belong to this special club.

This is because we learn what we want by watching other people. First, by seeing what our parents, siblings and peers want, followed eventually by what people on social media want. There is even a term for it – Mimetic Desire (more on this in a future post).

You forget that you and only you, are You. And for that reason, the only goal that matters when it comes to you and your family is simply your own. Not Anyone else’s. Your version of happiness is simply your version of happiness. In short, the only goal that matters is Yours.

I wrote this post yesterday, March 20th,2022 – the International Day of Happiness. This is the day 5 years ago, where we made a promise to ourselves– that we will help you find your version of happiness (= Happyness) and guide you to live the life you have imagined with your money.

I assure you that I know the spelling of Happiness. But the “I” in HappIness focuses on “I” whereas the “Y” in Happyness focuses on YOU.

Happyness means living a life true to what’s really important to You (for the only goal that matters is Yours).

Happyness is making an Orthopaedic Surgeon Richer by becoming a pilot and flying the skies for himself.

Happyness is enabling a family to take weeks off for that long-cherished European vacation.

Happyness is helping someone realize they have Enough – so they don’t HAVE to WORK for Money.

Happyness is guiding someone to make a difference in this world with their money.

Happyness is helping someone sleep well at night and never ever worry about money.

Our biggest source of Happyness comes from making a real (and happy) difference in your Life and living the promise that we have made ourselves and to you.

And I hope we are staying true to the promise.

Let us know how we are doing.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you.