Andrew Hallam - Balance: How to Invest and Spend for Happiness, Health, and Wealth

Balance is one of the best personal finance books youll ever readbecause its so much more than that. Andrew Hallam has written an insightful guide to spending and investing money, not to impress others but to build a life of satisfaction and significance.

Daniel H. Pink , #1 New York Timesbestselling author of When, Drive, and To Sell Is Human

Decades ago, Andrew Tobias gave us The Only Investment Guide Youll Ever Need. Its still a good read. But Balance, by Andrew Hallam, ups the game and takes us many steps further. Balance gives us a complete, modern context for the role of money and investing in our lives. Beneath a rich collection of anecdotes and stories, this short book provides a depth of research into the realities of investing and the errant relationship between money and happiness.

Scott Burns , personal finance columnist and creator of the Couch Potato Portfolio

Entertaining and well-written yet solidly rooted in science, Balance offers a fresh look at what it means to be truly successful in life.

Marta Zaraska , bestselling author of Growing Young: How Friendship, Optimism, and Kindness Can Help You Live to 100

In Balance, Andrew Hallam describes what it means to be successful. And its not what you might expect. If you want a healthy mindset with respect to money, health, relationships, and purpose, youll learn a lot from this humorous, impressively researched book.

Leon Logothetis , bestselling author of The Kindness Diaries

A must-read! Balance is a remarkable road map for overcoming the greatest challenge in life: finding happiness. You will learn, laugh, and be inspired by the personal stories and the science revealing the intersection of wealth, health, and happiness. Andrew Hallam is the best friend who tells you the truth about money, and youll be wealthier for it. Equal parts investing smarts and wellness savvy, this rare book tells you how to have it all. A flat-out great read.

Kerry K. Taylor , founder, Squawkfox.com

Balance is a must-read, filled with humorous stories and scientific, evidence-based tips. Andrew Hallam explains how to spend and invest your money to maximize life satisfactionfor you, your children, and your grandchildren. I highly recommend it.

Larry Swedroe , co-author of Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement; chief research officer, Buckingham Strategic Wealth

If youre feeling baffled by how to approach money in a post-pandemic world, spend a few hours with Andrew Hallam. His new book, Balance, offers a master class in how to invest wisely, but it goes well beyond the normal stocks and bonds stuff. It offers a wise meditation on how to think of money as part of your larger life plan. Whether youre a multimillionaire entrepreneur or a fitness buff living in his car by choice, youll find insights here that can reshape both your portfolio and your priorities.

Ian McGugan , investment editor, Globe and Mail

Imagine there was a multiverse where the most content, satisfied, happiest future version of yourself traveled back in time to give you the blueprint to lead a fulfilling life. Thats this book.

Preet Banerjee , financial educator, YourMoneyDegree.com

Andrew Hallam isnt just a fabulous personal finance writer. His book Balance invites us to go deeper to consider one of the oldest, most important questions of all time: How should I live my life? The right questions matter, and Andrew knows which ones are worth asking.

Adrian Juric , filmmaker and psychotherapist, Vancouver Walk & Talk Therapy

In Balance, Andrew Hallam offers a simple and sensible approach for a secure and satisfying life. He provides a guide to achieving financial success, while promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book that I will strongly encourage my young adult children to read.

John S. Woerth , former chief spokesperson, Vanguard

Low-cost index funds may be the smartest investment for most people, but they wont tell you how to live a good life. Andrew Hallams excellent book, Balance, will.

Benjamin Felix , portfolio manager, head of research and client education, PWL Capital

Copyright 2022 by Andrew Hallam

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For a copyright license, visit accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.

Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

This book is for educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional financial advice. Additionally, the author does not claim to be endorsed by, nor does he endorse any product, business, firm, organization, or trademark contained in this document.

Cataloguing in publication information is available from Library and Archives Canada.
ISBN 978-1-77458-075-2 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-77458-076-9 (ebook)
ISBN 978-1-77458-077-6 (audiobook)

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Edited by Amanda Lewis
Copyedited by Lesley Cameron
Proofread by Alison Strobel
Cover design by Peter Cocking
Interior design by Jennifer Lum
Ebook by Bright Wing Media
Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens
Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books
Distributed in the US and internationally by Macmillan

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andrewhallam.com

This book is dedicated to everyone whos brave enough to dance to the beat of their own drum.

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have.

Buddha

I f I had asked, Why do you not want to pee your pants? they would have given me the same stare.

I was speaking to a group of high school students at an elite private school. Most of their parents had Ivy League ambitions for their kids, as if Harvard, Yale, and Stanford were parachutes in a crashing plane. So my opening question rattled them: Why do you want to do well in school?

After a long pause, one of the students said, We want to get into a good college.

I then asked, Why do you want to get into a good college?

Several students replied, So we can get a good job.

The rest of the conversation went something like this:

Why do you want a good job?

So we can be successful.

Why do you need a high-paying job to consider yourself successful?

As their teacher, I supported their Ivy League ambitions. But I learn a lot by asking why, and I hoped my students would too. Whether Im talking to students, corporate CEO s, or a ripped person at the local gym, I ask a lot of questions. Arent you glad youre reading this book and not stuck on a train with me?

My friends sometimes take advantage of this quirk. They might ask, Andrew, why does that guy with the giant fish hook in his cheek have a purple butterfly tattooed on his back? Can you go and ask?

Heres what Ive learned from asking why. When I ask people why they want to do something, buy something, achieve something, or help someone, the responses varyat first. But when I continue to ask Why... ? the answers begin to sound the same.