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Did you know that 46% of today's 65-year-olds can expect to live past 90? With exciting longevity breakthroughs on the horizon, we might live a lot longer than we expect. But will we be financially prepared for a long life?
At Savvly, we believe a long life should be celebrated, not feared. That's why we built the Longevity Benefit — designed to help investors build potential income for the later years of retirement, so that a long life becomes a financial opportunity, not a risk.
Because we embrace longevity here at Savvly, we'll dive into the secrets of the Blue Zones and explore how their insights can be applied to help improve our own lives.
Originally published: May 31, 2024
In recent years, a concept has caught the eye of researchers and health enthusiasts alike: Blue Zones. These are regions in the world where people live significantly longer than average, often reaching 100 years old while maintaining active, healthy lifestyles. But what makes these areas so special, and what can we learn from them about longevity?
Blue Zones were identified by Dan Buettner and National Geographic as part of a global research project to uncover the secrets of longevity. These areas are characterized by a high number of centenarians (people who live to be 100 or older) and low rates of chronic diseases.
The five regions identified as Blue Zones are:
The people living in these five Blue Zones share several lifestyle habits that contribute to their extraordinary longevity. So, what are these habits? They're as simple as doing house chores by hand or by sipping a glass of wine on a regular basis. Dan Buettner groups these themes for us in the image below.
A common thread among Blue Zones is a diet primarily based on plant sources. Residents consume a significant amount of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, with meat typically eaten in small amounts. In Okinawa, for instance, the traditional diet includes sweet potatoes, green vegetables, and soy products, with minimal processed food and sugar. In Italy and Greece, it's not uncommon for folks to drink a glass of wine every night. The key here is eating and drinking everything in moderation.
Rather than engaging in intense exercise routines, inhabitants of Blue Zones incorporate physical activity naturally into their daily lives. This includes doing chores by hand and opting for mechanical tools instead of using automatic tools. It also means walking, gardening, and yard work. This consistent, moderate physical activity is a cornerstone of their lifestyle.
Strong social connections are another key feature of life in Blue Zones. These people often have close-knit family ties, partnerships — both old and new, robust support networks, and frequent social gatherings. Such social structures of "the right tribe" provide emotional support and a sense of belonging, which are crucial for mental and physical health.
People in Blue Zones have routines to unwind and shed stress, which is important as chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems. Many also have strong faith and believe there is more to come in the afterlife. Finally, having a sense of purpose is common among the residents of Blue Zones. This "reason to live," often referred to in Okinawa as "Ikigai" and in Nicoya as "Plan de Vida," has been shown to contribute to longevity by providing a positive outlook and driving daily activity.
The lifestyles of Blue Zones offer valuable lessons on how to enhance our health and increase our lifespan. Incorporating more plant-based foods into our diet, increasing our daily physical activity in enjoyable and sustainable ways, fostering stronger community ties, managing stress, and finding a personal sense of purpose can all help mimic the successful longevity seen in Blue Zones.
Whether you're looking to overhaul your lifestyle or make small adjustments, the lessons from Blue Zones can help guide you toward a longer and healthier life — and Savvly can help make sure you have the resources to make it through those years.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit is designed to help investors build potential income for the later years of retirement. It is not insurance, not a guaranteed product, and not FDIC insured. Learn more at savvly.com/disclosures.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making retirement planning decisions.
Disclosures
The information on this page is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as investment, legal, or tax advice. It is designed solely to illustrate how longevity-linked investment benefits may work under certain assumptions. Actual results will vary. All illustrations, examples, and case studies are hypothetical and are intended to demonstrate potential scenarios — not to predict or guarantee actual outcomes. They do not represent the performance of any individual investor, portfolio, or account.
Key Assumptions Used in the Illustrations
Life expectancy and mortality projections are based on the most recent Social Security Administration (SSA) tables available at the time of simulation.
In the event of death or early withdrawal, hypothetical scenarios assume that investors who exit early, or their estate in the event of death, may receive 75% of the lesser of the initial investment or current market value, plus 1% for each full year the account was active. Case studies assume standardized market growth of 8% annually and do not incorporate unexpected market volatility, inflation, changes in interest rates, or changes in an investor's personal circumstances.
Simulations may assume a 3% annual early withdrawal rate prior to payout or death. All figures shown are net of fees. No forecast, projection, or hypothetical return should be relied upon as a promise or representation of future performance.
Past performance is not indicative of future results. The 8% annual market growth rate used in illustrations is a standardized assumption for modeling purposes only and does not represent the historical or expected performance of any specific investment. Note that early or voluntary withdrawals by other participants can affect fund performance and the size of distributions, and that a higher-than-expected number of participants reaching payout milestones may reduce the per-participant benefit received.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit is not a bank product, not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, not a guaranteed or insured investment, and not insurance. Investment values may decline.
Savvly's Longevity Benefit may not be suitable for all investors. Eligibility to invest is subject to qualification requirements and not all investors will be eligible. Investors should carefully consider their investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial situation before investing. See savvly.com/disclosures for current eligibility criteria, fees, risks, withdrawal terms, and fund assumptions.
This content is published by Savvly, Inc. Savvly has a financial interest in the products described and this content should not be interpreted as independent financial research or analysis. Investors should carefully evaluate their own circumstances and consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment decision.
