SAN ANTONIO. The Bogleheads – ardent fans of low-cost index investing – set another record for their annual meeting this year. The head count approached 600, a new record after last year’s record in Minneapolis.
We’ll never know, of course, exactly what caused the record.
- Was it the fact that index investing continues to crush managed investing with its high-fees and related poor performance?
- Or was it the River Walk and margaritas?
Probably a mix of both. But we’ll have a better idea after next year’s meeting in Las Vegas.
How can I say that with confidence? Easy. Bogleheads like facts and data, not rumors, risk and chance. Like a meeting of business journalists in Las Vegas long ago, few raised their hands when asked if they would be going to the blackjack tables while there.
As your Failed-at-Retirement columnist, I went to be on a panel discussing Social Security, Medicare, spending in retirement and measurements of longevity.
Why longevity? Simple. While a picture of our entire population indicates death around age 80, you get Longevity 2.0 from age 80 to 95 easily by having more education, a somewhat higher income and minimally (not obsessively) taking basic care of yourself.
Go to these links to read recent Substack posts related to this topic:
https://couchpotatoman.substack.com/p/retirement-20-another-life
https://couchpotatoman.substack.com/p/the-many-stages-of-retirement
https://couchpotatoman.substack.com/p/its-2025-whats-your-tax-bracket
You can also find the same posts on my archival website: www.scottburns.com
In due course, you’ll be able to see videos of the entire conference. All worth watching!
One of the really nice things about Bogleheads is that they enjoy a good laugh along with serious discussion. While talking about how difficult it is for accomplished savers to spend money once retired, for instance, there was broad laughter when I pointed out that not spending was about more than habit.
Some of us don’t travel much because we stay home to care for our aging dog. Our aged Shih Tzu spent years training my wife and me to respond to her every signal. She’s not about to let us run loose now. Lots of laughter and identification, not to mention similar stories from others.
We may also be surprised by the voter feelings that will force future changes in health care. Here’s a sign. After a lengthy and complicated discussion of tax changes and how they would affect Medicare next year, I asked a rude question of the audience.
“How much longer will you continue to tolerate all this BS?”
The immediate response was a long burst of applause.
That tells me that politicians of both parties need to start reading their voter crowds a lot better than they have for the last few decades. We’re tired of paying more for health care than any other nation while receiving poorer care, no care or facing bankruptcy. Other nations do better. We don’t even need to innovate to improve our health care and longevity. We just need some careful imitation.
Want to get a sense of what this group is all about? Here’s where to go to read and see more:
- Learn about the Bogle Center here: https://boglecenter.net/about/
- View the 2024 Conference here: https://boglecenter.net/2024conference/ \
- If you aren’t already familiar with Morningstar and Christine Benz, check here: https://www.morningstar.com
- and here: https://www.morningstar.com/people/christine-benz
- Start reading William Bernstein here: https://www.efficientfrontier.com
- Start reading Allan Roth here: https://daretobedull.com
I could go on, but that’s a good start. Dive in!
And don’t forget: The first and easiest step to making a better world is to be kind to a stranger and give them something to smile about.
This information is distributed for education purposes, and it is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement of any particular security, product, or service.
Photo: Scott Burns, 10/19/2025: Early morning view of the River Walk
(c) Scott Burns, 2025