What A Heart Attack Taught Me About Life—and Investing

At the start of 2022, a near-death experience reminded me just how fragile and fleeting life can be. So, as we close out the year, I can’t help but feel gratitude—for my family, my friends, my career, and my beating heart.

In January, I was surfing with a friend at a reef break in Hawaii about a half mile offshore when I felt a sudden acute heartburn and tightness in my chest. Letting it subside a bit, I then paddled back to shore. When I got back to the house and put my surfboard on the front lawn, a wave of crippling pain washed over me, and I couldn’t breathe. It was as if someone grabbed my heart with both hands and squeezed with all their might.

I remember lying on the ground, my arms starting to go numb. My wife rushed outside and asked if we needed to go to the hospital. The answer was clear.

On the 15-minute drive to the emergency room, I drifted in and out of consciousness, repeatedly banging my hands and legs against the car door and dashboard to keep my blood moving. I kept telling myself I had one job in that moment: “Just stay awake, just stay awake.”

Minutes after being admitted, the cardiologist told me I’d suffered a major heart attack. They detected a massive blockage in my coronary artery (a condition called STEMI) and immediately took me into the lab.

Thankfully, I survived.

In the wake of such an event, many people share that they have a long period of reflection. My experience has certainly been no exception. I realize that two important elements in many people’s lives are their health and financial well-being. As I learned this year, the underlying principles guiding me to the best possible outcomes are remarkably similar.      

Life is unpredictable. So are the markets. Preparation doesn’t prevent volatile events, but it certainly helps you get through them more smoothly and recover more productively. I couldn’t predict a heart attack, but I’ve spent my life essentially preparing for one (without knowing it of course). I’m hyper-focused on my physical and mental well-being. Doctors told me my years of discipline around wellness probably saved my life.

When things went a little sideways, I didn’t overreact emotionally or physically in the moment, which would’ve exacerbated the problem. I controlled what I could, which was essentially staying calm and trusting my body would allow me to effectively get through the trauma with the help of capable doctors. I believe a clear parallel exists between doctors who see patients through their health experience and advisors who see clients through their financial experience. And it’s important for us to understand that we have the ability to meaningfully impact our health and financial well-being through our own deliberate preparation and discipline.

For many of us, the holiday season is a time to be introspective and spend time with loved ones. And after the past few years, I know many of us will be relishing time together and holding each other extra tight this year.