Freedom Requires Health
April 2025
Letter to Our Clients
“The healthy human has a million wishes. The unhealthy wish has only one.” I was hiking in the hills of the Santa Monica mountains as part of a luxury week health reboot some four years ago and our ‘sherpa’ whispered this to me. I can’t seem to remember a good joke, but I will never forget that statement.
The easiest trap to fall into money is to believe it will provide you freedom. But what is freedom without health? If you are immobile, bed-bound or unable to feel good in your body, you realize that the definition of wealth must also include health.
My attention is drawn to the high cost of cognitive decline and reduced mobility. Last fall I went to the American Conference of Lifestyle Medicine and was stopped in my tracks by another statement by an expert speaker: “Cognitive decline begins in your 50’s, not your 80’s.” How you eat, move, relate to other human being, sleep and so on will impact your mental clarity both today and in the future.
If there is one thing we are concerned about for our clients is the loss of mental faculties.
Here is a fact: It costs a good deal of money to be healthy in the United States. And it costs even more money if you are not healthy.
This letter is monumental for us at Conscious Wealth because it is the first time we are speaking directly about health and how it is a pillar of Conscious Wealth. Today we begin the exploration of how your health impacts you wealth. And your wealth can impact your health. Such a big topic, right? So big I have trouble knowing where to start.
I think it is best to start with myself as an example. Maybe you can learn from my recent explorations on moving my primary care physician model from an annual physical to a pro-active highly tracked engagement. I am building out my personal health care regime much like we manage assets. In order to do this, I need to find a different model and begin interviewing doctors. Here is what I found as I interviewed doctors to help be my health advisor:
The first doctor I went to got a failing grade on empathy and bedside manner. Right from the get-go he told me what I felt and also told me what I believed about health (such as reducing animal proteins as a personal lifestyle choice) was misguided. He used all the words and quoted all the thought leaders on medicine and event old me I could well over 100. But incidentally, he never asked if that was a goal of mine. I guess I don’t need to tell you that was a no.
The second doctor I met was an MD in internal medicine and offered a concierge practice. That meant I could pay up to $1000 a month to have varying levels of access to this doctor and his network of doctors. As I discovered, many concierge practices are similar to my previous model, but with more access to traditional medicine or medicine 1.0 that cures sickness. Plus I felt like the model provided way more service than I needed. Thankfully, I don’t need a doctor on speed-dial. I just want someone to make sure I am healthy and being proactive about my health.
The third doctor I met had a specialty in Integrative Medicine but was not a MD but an ND. That means went to Neurpathic Medical School – much different than a Medical School. They may very likely follow the evidence-based approach to established medicine and also seek answers in the alternative medical approach. What I have found is that an Integrative Medical practician is willing to be more experimental. They are more likely to follow bio-hacking trends and other alternative medicines to some of the thorniest issues. I also find that you can lose a lot of money chasing solutions here. I was not against this, but seeing that I am not sick at this time, thank God and knock on wood, I wanted to start with the least invasive approach.
The final doctor I consulted with was board certified MD in Lifestyle Medicine and Family Medicine. She take a holistic evidence-based approach to medicine, and as the title suggests, looks at ways you live your life that impact your health. Sure, she said she can offer me supplements, but only if I need them. She is not an influencer nor does she have a line of vitamins to sell me. I don’t have to sign-up for a concierge medicine and most importantly, my hope is she won’t try to talk me into taking a cold plunge. So I am building out a plan to track my health in a similar way I track my financial wealth with this doctor.
So thus begins my journey of tracking my health as part of my wealth; and giving it the attention it is due.
A caveat here is that I am make big generalizations here, but hope my experience serves as a guide. Included at the end of the note are some official definitions in this somewhat nuanced world.
Stay tuned to the newsletters and other communications for more educational information; as we explore ways to stay healthy, detect disease early and maintain mental clarity. Because all of this is cheaper and feels worlds better than treating illness or merely buying a long-term care policy.
With gratitude,
Brandon Hatton
President, Chief Investment Officer
Glossary of Fields of Health and Medicine by American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine A system of medical practice that emphasizes diagnosing and treating disease using conventional, evidence-based therapeutic measures such as drugs or surgery.
Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Healthcare approaches not typically part of conventional medical care or that may have origins outside of usual Western practice.
- Complementary medicine refers to non-mainstream approaches used alongside conventional medicine.
- Alternative medicine refers to non-mainstream approaches used in place of conventional medicine.
Functional Medicine An individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. It considers genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors to create personalized treatment plans.
Integrative Medicine A medical approach that combines conventional healthcare with complementary health practices, such as acupuncture, yoga, and probiotics, with an emphasis on treating the whole person rather than just one organ system.
Lifestyle Medicine A medical specialty that applies therapeutic lifestyle interventions to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It focuses on six pillars: a whole food, plant-predominant diet, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections.
Mind-Body Medicine A field that recognizes the interconnectedness of mind and body and explores how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence health. It emphasizes the body's natural healing capacity and self-responsibility in health and healing.
Preventive Medicine A medical practice focused on promoting health and preventing disease, disability, and death. It integrates medicine, social sciences, economics, and behavioral sciences to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
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Letter to Our Clients
“The healthy human has a million wishes. The unhealthy wish has only one.” I was hiking in the hills of the Santa Monica mountains as part of a luxury week health reboot some four years ago and our ‘sherpa’ whispered this to me. I can’t seem to remember a good joke, but I will never forget that statement.
The easiest trap to fall into money is to believe it will provide you freedom. But what is freedom without health? If you are immobile, bed-bound or unable to feel good in your body, you realize that the definition of wealth must also include health.
My attention is drawn to the high cost of cognitive decline and reduced mobility. Last fall I went to the American Conference of Lifestyle Medicine and was stopped in my tracks by another statement by an expert speaker: “Cognitive decline begins in your 50’s, not your 80’s.” How you eat, move, relate to other human being, sleep and so on will impact your mental clarity both today and in the future.
If there is one thing we are concerned about for our clients is the loss of mental faculties.
Here is a fact: It costs a good deal of money to be healthy in the United States. And it costs even more money if you are not healthy.
This letter is monumental for us at Conscious Wealth because it is the first time we are speaking directly about health and how it is a pillar of Conscious Wealth. Today we begin the exploration of how your health impacts you wealth. And your wealth can impact your health. Such a big topic, right? So big I have trouble knowing where to start.
I think it is best to start with myself as an example. Maybe you can learn from my recent explorations on moving my primary care physician model from an annual physical to a pro-active highly tracked engagement. I am building out my personal health care regime much like we manage assets. In order to do this, I need to find a different model and begin interviewing doctors. Here is what I found as I interviewed doctors to help be my health advisor:
The first doctor I went to got a failing grade on empathy and bedside manner. Right from the get-go he told me what I felt and also told me what I believed about health (such as reducing animal proteins as a personal lifestyle choice) was misguided. He used all the words and quoted all the thought leaders on medicine and event old me I could well over 100. But incidentally, he never asked if that was a goal of mine. I guess I don’t need to tell you that was a no.
The second doctor I met was an MD in internal medicine and offered a concierge practice. That meant I could pay up to $1000 a month to have varying levels of access to this doctor and his network of doctors. As I discovered, many concierge practices are similar to my previous model, but with more access to traditional medicine or medicine 1.0 that cures sickness. Plus I felt like the model provided way more service than I needed. Thankfully, I don’t need a doctor on speed-dial. I just want someone to make sure I am healthy and being proactive about my health.
The third doctor I met had a specialty in Integrative Medicine but was not a MD but an ND. That means went to Neurpathic Medical School – much different than a Medical School. They may very likely follow the evidence-based approach to established medicine and also seek answers in the alternative medical approach. What I have found is that an Integrative Medical practician is willing to be more experimental. They are more likely to follow bio-hacking trends and other alternative medicines to some of the thorniest issues. I also find that you can lose a lot of money chasing solutions here. I was not against this, but seeing that I am not sick at this time, thank God and knock on wood, I wanted to start with the least invasive approach.
The final doctor I consulted with was board certified MD in Lifestyle Medicine and Family Medicine. She take a holistic evidence-based approach to medicine, and as the title suggests, looks at ways you live your life that impact your health. Sure, she said she can offer me supplements, but only if I need them. She is not an influencer nor does she have a line of vitamins to sell me. I don’t have to sign-up for a concierge medicine and most importantly, my hope is she won’t try to talk me into taking a cold plunge. So I am building out a plan to track my health in a similar way I track my financial wealth with this doctor.
So thus begins my journey of tracking my health as part of my wealth; and giving it the attention it is due.
A caveat here is that I am make big generalizations here, but hope my experience serves as a guide. Included at the end of the note are some official definitions in this somewhat nuanced world.
Stay tuned to the newsletters and other communications for more educational information; as we explore ways to stay healthy, detect disease early and maintain mental clarity. Because all of this is cheaper and feels worlds better than treating illness or merely buying a long-term care policy.
With gratitude,
Brandon Hatton
President, Chief Investment Officer
Glossary of Fields of Health and Medicine by American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Allopathic (Conventional) Medicine A system of medical practice that emphasizes diagnosing and treating disease using conventional, evidence-based therapeutic measures such as drugs or surgery.
Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) Healthcare approaches not typically part of conventional medical care or that may have origins outside of usual Western practice.
- Complementary medicine refers to non-mainstream approaches used alongside conventional medicine.
- Alternative medicine refers to non-mainstream approaches used in place of conventional medicine.
Functional Medicine An individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. It considers genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors to create personalized treatment plans.
Integrative Medicine A medical approach that combines conventional healthcare with complementary health practices, such as acupuncture, yoga, and probiotics, with an emphasis on treating the whole person rather than just one organ system.
Lifestyle Medicine A medical specialty that applies therapeutic lifestyle interventions to prevent, treat, and often reverse chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. It focuses on six pillars: a whole food, plant-predominant diet, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections.
Mind-Body Medicine A field that recognizes the interconnectedness of mind and body and explores how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors influence health. It emphasizes the body's natural healing capacity and self-responsibility in health and healing.
Preventive Medicine A medical practice focused on promoting health and preventing disease, disability, and death. It integrates medicine, social sciences, economics, and behavioral sciences to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
