What Investors Are Most Thankful for This Year

In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, we recently asked Morningstar.com readers to share with us some of things for which they're most grateful.

Many readers put their family and friends, as well as their health, at the top of their lists. A lot of respondents, too, mentioned how grateful they were to have extra money to set aside for savings and investing--in particular, many said they felt truly blessed and fortunate to be comfortable in retirement, or well on their way to retiring on schedule.

Many readers said they owed a debt of gratitude to their families, and especially their cherished parents, for teaching them the importance of saving, investing, and staying out of debt.

Other users mentioned being thankful for having been introduced to the philosophies and writings of investing experts. Others mentioned their appreciation for specific investment strategies or vehicles that have served them well, or even simply having the discipline to stay the course during lean times.

All things considered, it seems investors have quite a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Below are some excerpts from the discussion. To read the full comment thread and weigh in yourself, please click here.

'The best investment advice I received was the example my mother set.' Many readers (such as newhandle, quoted above) said that they owed thanks to their family, and especially their parents, for teaching them financial responsibility, whether through the example of paying their bills on time, or through prudent saving and investing, or both. "Every month you sit down and pay your bills. No gimmicks, no games--you pay what you owe so debt collectors don't come a' calling," said newhandle.

"I'm thankful that I got to watch my mom invest and pay bills at the kitchen table and then at her desk in her 'office' built off of her kitchen in the home that she designed and built as her resources began to build," said PatrickBr. "All of this interspersed with family life. I got a chance to learn investing young, take highly protected risks and cushioned losses, and learn that it is all just life. Nothing special. Nothing to be feared or exalted. That persistence is well rewarded."

"So thankful I had parents who taught me the value of money and insisted that I earned what I got," said mailload.

Likewise, HikerNC mentioned being thankful for "the people who inspired and shaped me, either by example or through their words." First on this reader's list: "My father, because he taught me to live beneath my means and to save a portion of my earnings."

"I am most thankful for experiences. They have been my greatest teacher," said riskaware. "In particular, it was my great grandmother who taught me simple, fundamental principles for a good life. She explained that I should always try to do my best. Work hard. Don't lie. Regarding money, I should save some, spend some, and give some away to those who need help. This Irish immigrant inspired me by how she lived and loved."

"I am thankful for my parents who taught me to work hard, save, and invest in yourself," said ThePill, who noted that this was "the best advice I ever received."

Likewise, retiredgary gave thanks to "my parents, who taught me prudence, thrift, and the importance of working." Finally, reader Shadesofgreen said: "As the youngest son of Depression-era born parents who grew up with very little, I learned how to live and have fun on the cheap. I am also thankful for getting started in investing in my mid-20s, once I landed my first full-time job. I'm also thankful that my wife and I are now positioned to retire when we chose to not because we have to and be able to work because we want to."

'I am so thankful to be able to retire.' Many respondents said that they were thankful that they had the means to retire. In particular, several readers who were already in retirement noted how thankful they were to have not only their health and their family, but also the means to be able to spend their Golden Years in meaningful ways.

For instance, mlott1 is thankful for "being able to retire at age 56 and leaving a crappy job situation." This reader added: "I love being retired. Been retired and loving it since October 2011."

Reti59 echoed mlott1's sentiments: "I am so thankful to be able to retire. Have prayed about it often, to retire early and in good health. I just have to thank God," this reader said.

Retired at 48 said: "With a portfolio larger than I started with in retirement ... guess I can thankfully declare victory ... made it!"

Juris2 is thankful "that I've retired in solid financial condition, with enough of a reserve to be able to enjoy the above-listed things. I'm thankful that I was required to save and invest 15% of my salary each and every month for more than 40 years. And I'm lucky to have been able to work that long at a job that I liked (most of the time)."

"I'm thankful that my former employer made generous contributions to my profit-sharing plan, which allowed me to take an early retirement," said molokoeo. "Today, I'm blessed with the financial freedom and time to enjoy the things that really matter in life."

Reader wilbodave said: "I'm thankful that for whatever reason about 15 years ago I became interested in investing and learning about managing my portfolio. My balance isn't anything to brag about, but reading the articles about how many people my age and older have so very little set aside for retirement, I feel aglow knowing that I'm not one of them, and that I woke up in time and probably will be OK when I retire."

Reader C F S gave thanks for "allowing me to retire in good health, with good pensions and with a good retirement portfolio."

Finally, Nightrider mentioned being grateful for good health, being comfortable in retirement, prudent investments, and a close-knit family. "I couldn't ask for more," this reader added. 'Writers and commentators ... who have taught me about investing' Many respondents said they were thankful for guidance and lessons learned from investment experts. Other readers said they were grateful to have found educational resources that helped them learn about investing.

Reader Taylor Larrimore recalled that 16 years ago, he listed some things he was thankful for on the Morningstar Discuss forum. "On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, I made a post on this forum thanking Mr. Bogle for helping ordinary investors like myself." A few days later, Taylor got an exciting surprise when the Vanguard founder sent a letter in response.

PTinGA said: "My employer changed to a new 401(k) plan--offering more than 50 mutual fund choices. In order to figure out how to set up that portfolio, I bought a Morningstar Premium Membership. That's how I began learning the basics of mutual fund investing. I am thankful to the Morningstar contributors, analysts, and forum members for sharing their research and insights."

"I am thankful to my local library, which has lot of finance-related books. I read almost 90% of those books," said uroy007.

HikerNC mentioned being thankful for "Jack Bogle, because he proved that an investment firm really can put the interests of the investor first, thereby helping me achieve market returns by keeping costs low." This reader also mentioned "many others (including John Templeton, Louis Rukeyser, Marty Zweig, Bob Brinker, and numerous Bogleheads) who shared wisdom."

Likewise, retiredgary is thankful for "writers and commentators such as Peter Lynch, Harry Browne, Louis Rukeyser, and many others who have taught me about investing."

"Thanks also to John Bogle, Rick Ferri, and Larry Swedroe; their writings guided me through stormy waters," said C F S.

'The index fund concept'

Some readers (such as

rossinator

, quoted above) mentioned specific investing strategies and products. "Most of my equity exposure is in

"ETFs," said sagebrush.

"I'm most thankful that I was lucky enough to stumble onto a financial mentor in 1980 who steered me toward

stillers

.

Fixed-income closed-end funds were mentioned by a few readers. Capecod said, "I'm extremely thankful that the best fixed-income CEF portfolio managers learned how to use interest-rate swaps," a sentiment with which dlshelton99 agreed.

Yogibearbull

, who is most thankful for improving health, also said, "I wish my five favorite fixed-income closed-end funds (

'I am thankful for bear markets.'

Finally, a few readers, such as

PTinGA,

said they were thankful for bear markets. Being disciplined and staying the course during downturns has ultimately proved beneficial for these investors.

"Rebalancing and continuing to invest into the teeth of the October 2007 to March 2009 and March 2000 to October 2002 pullbacks has significantly enhanced my returns," agreed DG99999.

"Finding the Vanguard Diehards on Morningstar and the subsequent bear market," said cudaman.