The Shocking Retirement Hack That Has Nothing to Do With Money (SB1697)

9 snips

Jun 18, 2025

Guest

Rebecca Davis

Guest

Pete Davis

Pete and Rebecca Davis, filmmakers and civic advocates behind the documentary 'Join or Die', delve into how community connections can redefine retirement. They discuss why joining clubs and groups may be vital for long-term well-being, even more so than financial assets. Their insights reveal how loneliness impacts health and the surprising benefits of investing in social networks. Listeners will discover the power of personal connections and unexpected paths to fulfillment, challenging the conventional views of success in retirement.

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INSIGHT

Clubs Build Democracy Skills

Clubs teach democratic skills like public speaking, meeting management, and conflict resolution.
They connect diverse people, breaking down stereotypes through meaningful interaction.

INSIGHT

The Value of Social Capital

Social capital means that social networks have tangible value like physical and human capital.
Investing in connections boosts productivity and mutual help beyond individual skills or tools.

INSIGHT

Why Club Membership Declined

The decline in club membership began before the Internet and worsened due to generational and cultural shifts.
Each generation joins less, accelerating social isolation trends even in a digital age.

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What if the most important part of your retirement plan had nothing to do with your 401(k), IRA, or stock portfolio? In this episode of The Stacking Benjamins Show, Joe Saul-Sehy and OG are joined by filmmakers Pete Davis and Rebecca Davis, creators of the thought-provoking documentary Join or Die. They explore how community connection, not cash, may be the ultimate retirement strategy.

Drawing inspiration from the late political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), the Davises reveal why joining groups—book clubs, church choirs, rec leagues, neighborhood associations—might be more essential to your long-term well-being than your asset allocation.

Together with Joe and OG, they unpack the data behind social decline, the healing power of showing up, and what the film Join or Die teaches us about leading a richer life beyond the numbers. Of course, Mom’s Neighbor Doug pops in with trivia that proves he belongs (at least to this show).

Whether you’re on the path to retirement or simply looking for deeper purpose, this episode will make you think differently about how you stack your most valuable resource: time.

Why joining a club may be just as critical to retirement as saving for it
What Join or Die reveals about America’s shrinking social networks
How loneliness affects physical and financial health—and how to fight it
Why your “portfolio of community” might be the highest-yield investment you ever make
Ways to build meaningful connections now—even if you don’t feel like a “joiner”

Pete and Rebecca Davis share behind-the-scenes stories from making Join or Die
Joe and OG reflect on what gives life meaning after the 9-to-5 ends
Surprising data on the link between social capital and financial confidence
Doug delivers a trivia challenge about famous clubs (and less-famous neighbors)

📚 Resources & Mentions:

🎥 Join or Die documentary by Pete and Rebecca Davis
📘 Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
🎙️ Pete Davis’s book: Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing

👟 Your Challenge This Week:
Sign up. Show up. Speak up. Whether it's your local book club, PTA, pickleball team, or town council meeting—belonging starts with one yes.

💬 “Retirement planning isn’t just about money—it’s about meaning.”
Tune in and learn how to build a life you won’t want to retire from.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https:;//stackingbenjamins.com/join-or-die-documentary-pete-rebecca-davis-1697

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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