Faith, Patience, and the Joy of Letting Things Percolate
When I was younger, I believed in fast things. Fast cars (mine was a rusting Chevy, but I believed in the idea). Fast decisions (usually regretted). Fast investments (don’t ask me about my brief fling with a penny stock in 1983).
But retirement has changed me. These days, I believe in slow things: long walks, afternoon naps, and most of all, compound interest.
Compound interest is the drip coffee of finance. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t arrive instantly, and it takes a little patience. But given time, it creates something rich, steady, and quietly satisfying.
The Coffee Ritual
Every morning, I shuffle to the kitchen, scoop grounds into the old drip machine, and wait. Not long, mind you—just enough time to remember why I came into the kitchen in the first place.
At first, the pot just sputters and gurgles. But slowly, steadily, it fills. Drip by drip, it builds into something warm and reliable.
And that, my friends, is compound interest.
At first, it’s boring. It doesn’t seem like much is happening. But over years—decades even—those little drips grow into something far larger than you imagined.
Why It Feels Like Watching Paint Dry
People get impatient with compounding. They want fireworks, not drips.
The truth? Compound interest works best when you leave it alone. The more you poke at it, the more you’re tempted to tinker—and tinkering usually costs you money.
It’s like standing over your coffee pot, tapping your foot and muttering, “Come on, come on!” The pot doesn’t care. It brews on its own schedule. So does compounding.
Uncle Larry’s Sermon
I once had an uncle who swore by compounding. Every Thanksgiving, while the turkey cooled, he’d corner me and whisper, “Let it grow, kid. Don’t touch it. Compounding is magic.”
At the time, I thought he was eccentric. But by the time he passed, his modest savings had quietly snowballed into enough to put several kids through college and still buy a fishing boat.
He didn’t day-trade. He didn’t subscribe to 12 newsletters. He just brewed his financial coffee every day, drip by drip, and let it compound.
Retirement and Patience
By the time we’re retired, we don’t have 40 years ahead of us. That’s fine. Compounding still matters. Even reinvesting dividends for a decade can double what you earn.
And besides, patience is the one asset retirees have in abundance. We’ve survived recessions, bear markets, and neighbors recommending crypto. Waiting a little longer for steady growth? That’s easy.
Lessons From the Drip
- Don’t rush it. Brewing coffee and building wealth both punish impatience.
- Small gains add up. A penny here, a dividend there—it all compounds.
- Trust the process. You don’t need to stir the pot. Just let it drip.
Closing Thoughts
Compound interest isn’t dramatic. It doesn’t throw parties or light up the sky. But quietly, drip by drip, it builds something remarkable—just like that pot of coffee on your kitchen counter.
So pour yourself a cup. Take a sip. And remember: in investing, as in life, the slow stuff is often the most rewarding.
Adapted from my book Life Goes On: Financial Comfort Food for Retirees, available now on Amazon in both eBook and paperback. It’s my humorous, heartwarming guide to finding peace of mind in retirement investing.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.