In a recent article in the New York Times Jeff Sommer shares how professional stock pickers are doing.

“Each year, some investors manage to do it (beat the market), of course, but can they do it consistently? A new study of actively managed mutual funds by S&P Dow Jones Indices asked that question and came up with a startling result. It found that not a single mutual fund — not one — managed to beat its benchmark in either the U.S. stock or bond markets regularly and convincingly over the last five years.“

We don’t know when to stop.

At least, I sure don’t.

Sometimes, on the way home from work, I’ll swing by the grocery store, buy a pint of ice cream, and eat it.

That’s right. The whole thing.

Yes, I know. That’s a LOT of ice cream.

I’ve noticed that a very interesting thing happens when I do this:

Bite 1: Best thing in the world, ever.

Bites 2-10: Really good.

Bites 11-15: Good.

Bites 16-20: Meh.

Bites 21+: OK, now I’m sick.

I learned this lesson the first time I ate a pint of ice cream in a single sitting.

And yet, for some reason, I still occasionally repeat the experiment.

Of course, this phenomenon doesn’t only occur with ice cream. This is a well-documented economic principle called Marginal Utility, and, you guessed it, it applies to money, too.

Beyond a certain point, having more money will not lead to more security, freedom, and happiness.

Because security, freedom, and happiness do not come from more money (at least, not beyond a certain point). They come from knowing when to stop.

Last month, a few team members enjoyed dinner and a toast in honor of our Founder, Rick Hill, alongside his wife Lynn, to celebrate Rick’s milestone 80th birthday.

Friends and clients love knowing that Rick is part of the team. If you want to know why at 80, Rick is still helping people take the long view, Rick says, “I continue to be stimulated with my work duties and communicating with clients and prospects. I love the opportunity to continue interacting with the staff, whom I respect and enjoy being around. I find these relationships rewarding and energizing.”