The traditional retirement age in America is around the age of 65. David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire, has a number that makes that date almost irrelevant: 63. This is the current health expectancy in America.
That statistic absolutely stunned me. The average American has an illness or disability that impacts their quality of life before they retire.
As I’m getting older, the topic of longevity is of particular interest. With more than a dozen active members in their 70’s, I’m truly inspired by what is possible when you allow the compound effect to build your health and your wealth.
This post is focused on bridging the gap and achieving a more desirable state of longevity.
What Is The Difference Between Health Expectancy And Life Expectancy
Health expectancy is the average age someone develops an illness or disability serious enough to shape the rest of their life. Life expectancy is the average age to which someone is projected to live. The current health expectancy in America is age 63 and the current life expectancy is 76. According to David Bach, that 13 year gap puts America at 72nd in the world.
In a recent interview with Ed Mylett, David Bach called it tragic that people wait until 65 to start enjoying this season of life because their physically healthy years have already retired. If you’re reading this, chances are this isn’t how you envisioned your longevity.
Bach noted this is actually trending worse. Life expectancy isn’t racing toward the triple digits some headlines might lead you to believe. It’s sitting at 76 which is the lowest it’s been in twenty years, and lower still for men than women.
I wrote about this gap in more detail here if you want the research on metrics that are indicative of your overall healthspan versus lifespan.
Home Ownership For Your Body
In the interview, Bach advocated for home ownership. While there are currently several different takes on this from other personalities in the financial space, Bach referenced a glaring statistic.
Homeowners in America have roughly 43 times the net worth of renters.
According to Bach, the average renter sits under $10,000 and the average homeowner over $430,000. Every mortgage payment chips away at debt and builds equity and 15 to 30 years later, that equity is a number most renters never see. Mylett adds that even after repairs and taxes, a home is the only financial investment you actually get to live inside.
The other investment you get to live inside is your body. At the time of this post, you can change homes but you can’t change bodies. Your health works on the same curve. The person who trains two or three times a week for decades isn’t doing anything heroic in any given week. They’re making the deposit and building equity like it’s home ownership for their physical body.
Every session is a payment against decline. It doesn’t feel like much on any single Tuesday, the same way one mortgage payment doesn’t feel like home equity. Avoiding regular training is like being a renter in your own body. If you’re not exercising, you’re just keeping the lights on until the rent comes due.
How Genetics Impact Longevity
Far too many people believe that their longevity has more to do with genetics and family history. When you assume the outcome is predetermined, it absolves you of the responsibility to take action.
A 2016 review in Immunity & Ageing put the genetic contribution to human longevity at roughly 25%. Harvard’s research lands in the same range.
This means that 75% of how you age sits in decisions you’re already capable of making. The same recommendations Bach has for building ordinary millionaires without needing a six-figure income apply to your health. You simply have to make the regular payments with strength training and conditioning.
Conclusion
The idea of living longer in a poor state of health isn’t very attractive. The growing gap between our health expectancy and our life expectancy in America is concerning. However, you don’t have to accept your fate and become another statistic. You sit in the driver seat for building your health and your wealth. Take an active role in investing for your longevity.
