Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s a privilege to be able to write to you on such an important day for family and friends.

I’m grateful to share even a small part of it with you.

I ordinarily stick to talking about the stock market and trading opportunities.

But I wanted to take a more personal approach today to focus on gratitude and the things that matter most.

And hopefully, it gives you a better understanding of where I’m coming from and my approach to the markets as well.

So today I want to share a few things I’m thankful for that may or may not surprise you.

#1: The Internet

This one may not come as a surprise. But it’s important to take a step back and think about how much the internet has changed our lives, mostly for the better.

For example, I’m able to live and work in rural Connecticut, just a few doors down from where my children live with their mother.

While I work long days — starting at 5:00 a.m. and ending around 9:00 p.m. — I have great flexibility.

This allows me to spend time with my children. Take them to school, do their homework with them, and participate in their school activities.

I also get to constantly interact with dozens of the great staff at Paradigm, as well as my vast network of Wall Street contacts.

And I get to consume a huge amount of information.

On a typical day, I read the majority of the news and business sections of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New York Post, Washington Post, and almost a dozen other websites.

I also get my fill of news about my home state of Arizona from the Arizona Republic and a few Phoenix Suns blogs.

I can do all of this from my desk overlooking our little road, called Saddle Ridge, which has just a dozen houses on the cul-de-sac.

I get to work with some of the smartest people in trading and publishing — all while living on the top of our forested hill and spending time with my kids.

This would have been unimaginable 30 years ago, so I am very thankful for this opportunity.

#2: Social Media

This one probably will surprise you. My view is that social media’s bad reputation is unjust.

It absolutely can cause a lot of problems and needs to be used in the right way. But isn’t that like so many other things in our lives?

My interactions on social media bring me incredible joy and connection.

I barely interact with political content. Instead, I follow creators I know are providing valuable insight, along with following my favorite sports teams and musicians.

The result is that my social media feed is filled with positivity and insight. My view is that much of social media is like a mirror; it reflects what you bring to it.

Most importantly, it allows me to stay in touch with family and friends that I would otherwise never hear from.

All of my immediate family has passed on, and the rest of my family and friends are spread across the country and the world.

Through social media, I am able to see what is happening in their lives and communicate with them.

So I am very grateful for the strong connections that never would have existed without social media!

#3: The Stock Market

This one will definitely not surprise you. But just think about how amazing it is to be able to participate in the stock market.

It’s the greatest intellectual competition in the history of mankind.

Think the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball of intelligence — both intellectual and emotional — all rolled up into one big league…

One where anyone on Earth is allowed to play against the best players in history.

If you succeed, you can make as much (or more) money than any of the most successful athletes out there.

And if you do it right, it’s something that you can do for the rest of your life.

There’s a reason that Warren Buffett is 95 and Charlie Munger lived to almost 100 years old. Keeping your mind engaged is key to well-being and longevity.

The stock market is an incredible opportunity and one that I am very thankful to have in my life.

#4: You

I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

Your support makes it possible for me to do this work, stay engaged with the markets, and be present for my family.

As I often say, it’s an honor and a privilege to share investing insights with you. I’m grateful to have you as a reader.

So thank you.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.