Why Healthy Lifestyles Go Hand in Hand with Retirement Savings

October’s early gains kept the engine humming, even as tech took a pause.

The quick scan: U.S. markets ended Friday on a mixed but steady note. The S&P 500 and Dow held near record highs while the Nasdaq cooled slightly. Despite ongoing policy noise, investors kept momentum alive heading into the first full week of Q4.

S&P 500: +0.06% to 6,715.35 — a minor lift, enough for another record close.
Dow Jones: +0.17% to 46,519.72 — defensives carried the load as industrials firmed up.
NASDAQ: –0.28% to 22,780.51 — tech slipped, trimming the week’s earlier gains.

What’s driving it: With the U.S. government shutdown delaying key economic data, investors turned to earnings sentiment and rate expectations. A softer tone from Fed officials and optimism about future cuts helped steady nerves. Still, the rotation out of high-flying tech into defensive names hints that traders are getting selective.

Bottom line: The indexes remain near all-time highs, but cracks in sector strength suggest a more uneven market underneath. For L-Plate Retirees, it’s a time to stay diversified, avoid crowding into single themes, and keep long-term positions steady while short-term traders chase headlines. likely to stick around — and retirees eyeing withdrawal rates should take note.

How Health and Wealth Intertwine

The scoop: A recent Manulife Singapore survey revealed a striking link: people who watch their diet, exercise regularly, and monitor their well-being are often the same ones diligently saving and investing for retirement. The motivation is clear — they understand that serious illness later in life can devastate not just health, but finances too.

More than half of the 1,000 respondents said they watch their weight daily, choosing food with less salt, sugar and fat, while 44 per cent own gadgets to monitor blood pressure and heart rate. Cholesterol levels top the list at health screenings, often dictating whether someone rewards themselves with a rare feast or sticks to a stricter regime.

Younger Singaporeans in particular are connecting the dots. Among those aged 25 to 34, nearly 70 per cent put extra effort into eating well and exercising, spurred by social media chatter about financial freedom. About 90 per cent in this group also believe that savings are essential to both mental and physical well-being, while 40 per cent said they are motivated by the desire to live with dignity and without chronic illness in their later years.

Yet the survey also uncovered big blind spots. Many workers lack critical illness or life insurance, assuming that employer group policies are enough. In reality, such coverage rarely provides emergency income if illness or disability stops someone from working. A full 65 per cent of respondents had no critical illness cover, and 85 per cent had no disability protection, leaving them and their families exposed.

Caregiving also emerged as a significant threat to retirement savings. About two-thirds of respondents support their parents financially, with more than half paying for the bulk of their parents’ expenses. Many admitted dipping into savings or working longer to cope, a heavy burden that risks leaving their own retirements underfunded.

The lesson is blunt but necessary: every generation must plan for its own needs first before thinking of legacies. For Singaporeans, CPF Life remains a cornerstone — providing up to $3,300 monthly for life, ensuring that members can support themselves without passing the financial strain to their children. As the survey notes, living longer is only a blessing if we stay financially, physically and mentally healthy enough to enjoy those extra years.

Actionable Takeaways for L-Plate Retirees:

• Discipline spills over. Good health habits and money habits reinforce each other — start small and let discipline in one area strengthen the other.

• Insurance gaps matter. Don’t rely only on employer policies; get critical illness and disability cover for real protection.

• Put yourself first. Plan to cover your own needs before thinking about leaving a legacy, so your children aren’t forced to step in.

• Secure lifelong income. If you expect to live longer, build income streams (like CPF Life) to age with dignity and independence.

• Balance is key. Don’t over-restrict your diet or your finances — focus on consistent, sustainable choices that last.

Your Turn:
Do your health habits today reflect the same level of discipline you bring to your finances?
Are you adequately insured for critical illness or disability, or are you depending on employer policies?
How can you better prepare to cover your own retirement needs so your children won’t have to step in later?

👉 Hit reply and share your thoughts — your answers could inspire fellow readers in future issues.

If these wellness notes help, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-fi ☕ — call it my daily vitamin for keeping this newsletter healthy.

Resource:
Super Investors’ Club (SIC) — monthly membership subscription that aims to
make learning about investing more hands-on and accessible to individuals on a mission to become financially free. Join here.