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TLDR: Ignorance, discipline and luck led me here.
My financial advisor told me 19 years ago, just before the GFC started, that investors are defined by their actions during long periods of market downturn. He was right.
By the end of 2009, I knew some people who were cleaned out, some that touted their wisdom for not investing in the market, some that kept declaring that dead cat bounces were indications of market recovery and dumped lumps in, and some that just shrugged and kept with the program (true tested Bogleheads).
Luckily, I was just ignorant and didn't know what else to do with a year of untaxed $ from a deployment AND an early inheritance in December of 2008. Maxed 2 years worth of IRA deposits, opened a 403b, and paid off 1/2 my mortgage. Oh, and bought a nice coffee maker. I think it was German made...anyway...
Didn't even know how to log into my accounts to check until 2020. Then in Jan of 2025, I logged in to my accounts to get forms for tax prep and thought, "Ya know, I'm getting older and should probably diversify into other things like bonds and gold." (I was 100% growth equities at the time). Shifted 25% into t-bills and 15% into gold and silver. Once again, falling bass ackwards into success.
Well, it's Jan of 2026 and I finally figured out which kind of investor I am. Willfully ignorant, disciplined-ish, and lucky (looks like bravery, but it is not...at all). However, realizing that luck runs out and I'm too old to ignore my investments, I'm thinking about shifting 100% into TDF this year. Thoughts?
I guess the moral of the story is, a true Boglehead would have probably ended up with similar results, but on purpose.