Lifespan vs Healthspan Explained

Your health may well be the most important investment you ever make, and the earlier you start, the better your outcomes are likely to be. In this episode, Ben Felix is joined by Ben Wilson, Portfolio Manager and Head of M&A at PWL Capital, who steps in as today’s co-host to unpack why decisions about exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being matter just as much as financial ones. They draw clear parallels between compounding wealth and compounding health, showing how small, consistent habits can add up to lasting benefits. 

Choosing an exercise routine, healthy diet, or financial plan is less about quick fixes and more about finding an evidence-based approach you can stick with over time. Along the way, Ben Felix shares his personal health story with cancer, and the two Bens break down the four pillars of health before reflecting on how relationships and resilience play into long-term happiness. The episode also tackles an essential financial planning topic: the questions every client should ask about their advisor’s succession plan. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation that connects the dots between living well and planning wisely!

Key Points From This Episode:

(0:00:00) An introduction to Ben Wilson and an overview of today’s topics.

(0:02:01) Breaking down OneDigital’s $7 billion recapitalization (and why it’s a good thing).

(0:08:26) Recapitalizations explained: liquidity, valuations, and continuity.

(0:15:08) Introducing the main theme: investing in health like investing in wealth.

(0:19:30) An update on Ben Felix’s cancer story and the importance of early health checks.

(0:21:13) Investing in your lifespan and your healthspan by building healthy habits.

(0:29:35) Four pillars of health: exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being.

(0:33:39) Similarities between strength training and saving for retirement: both build reserves.

(0:39:34) Debates surrounding nutrition and enduring principles that are broadly agreed on.

(0:44:44) The importance of good sleep and how to build good sleep habits.

(0:47:46) Why investing in mental health and relationships is so valuable.

(0:52:06) The ripple effect: how sleep, nutrition, exercise, and relationships reinforce each other.

(0:54:04) Key questions to ask about your financial advisor’s succession plan.

(01:08:44) After show segment: listener review, west coast meetups, and 2026 meetup plans.

Links From Today’s Episode:

Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p

Rational Reminder on iTunes —https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582.

Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/ 

Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/

Rational Reminder on X —https://x.com/RationalRemind

Rational Reminder on TikTok— www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder

Rational Reminder on YouTube —https://www.youtube.com/channel/

Rational Reminder Email —info@rationalreminder.ca

Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/

Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix

Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/

Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/

Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore

Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/

Ben Wilson on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wilson/

Books From Today’s Episode:

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity — https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/

The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward — https://www.amazon.com/Power-Regret-Looking-Backward-Forward/dp/B098VRLZ2H

The Ripple Effect — https://www.amazon.com/Ripple-Effect-Sleep-Better-Think/dp/1443436933

Papers From Today’s Episode:

‘Trends in Health Equity in the United States by Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Income, 1993-2017’ — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2736934

‘Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing’ — https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2707428

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).