The Single best investment I ever made (And It Wasn’t the Markets)

Written by: Brad Pedersen

In 1991, I made a financial move most advisors would have warned against; I cashed in all $400 worth of my Canada Savings Bonds.

At 19, I was a broke college student; ambitious, driven, and just trying to survive. To cover tuition and basic expenses, I juggled three jobs; working on a road crew during summers, cleaning offices, and bagging groceries at Safeway on evenings and weekends. On top of that, I ran a couple of scrappy side hustles; collecting and selling used golf balls from local golf course ponds (sneaking in after hours with my mask and snorkel), and operating a wood delivery business using my dad’s equipment and an endless supply of trees from the backwoods where we lived.

I did all this while going to school because my father had instilled two guiding values in me; curiosity and hard work. That combination created a hunger; not just to make ends meet, but to grow, build, and create something meaningful. Sensing that, my dad handed me a copy of a book: The Richest Man in Babylon. Written as a fable, the book did an incredible job of helping explain the first principles around growing financial wealth.  I became captivated by the idea of wealth-building; and the discipline, consistency required to unlock the power of compound interest.

With my new-found knowledge and whatever small amounts I could spare, I began investing. Canada Savings Bonds were one of my first steps. It wasn’t a lot, but it was the start of a mindset that would shape how I approached growth; financially and personally, for decades to come.

A Shift In Focus

While studying to become a chiropractor (like my dad), I met a girl named Kelly. From the moment I saw her, I was hopelessly smitten. The only problem; she was already in a relationship; with a tall, athletic guy who was captain of the college basketball team. He was a formidable rival, however I’d heard that their relationship was on shaky ground and I sensed an opportunity to step in.

Determined to stand out, I put my creativity to work. I’d surprise her at her work with fresh grapefruits (her favorite fruit) and custom bouquets (all perks from working part-time at Safeway). I also planned dates that were imaginative and adventurous.

Slowly, the compound effects of my affectionate investments began to pay off. She was warming up, but still hesitant. Several weeks later, I learned she was heading home to Manitoba for the Christmas break.  I decided it was time to make a bold move and send her a gift that would both surprise her and make it clear on my intentions.  

I went shopping to look for options.  I wandered past a storefront decorated for the holidays and spotted a giant plush reindeer in the window. It was part of a display and wasn’t for sale, but after some persistence and creative negotiating, the shopkeeper agreed to let it go for $400.  The problem is I did not have $400 cash…however that was the exact amount of the value of my bonds

I went home and labored over the decision whether to cash in my Canada Savings Bonds; the ones I had carefully tucked away after reading The Richest Man in Babylon. I took a deep breath and decided it was a good trade.  My head told me I was making a terrible financial decision; but my heart told me this was an investment that might change my life.

I bought the reindeer, had it shipped across the country, and hoped it would land not just in her hands; but in her heart.

It did.

The arrival of a giant box with a massive plush surprise, didn’t just delight Kelly, it also left a lasting impression on her family and particularly her mom.

The Real ROI: Relationships Over Returns

Some might wonder what those Canada Savings Bonds would be worth today?

I wondered too and did the math. If I’d held onto them until now, it would have amounted to about $1300. Not a big return, but still demonstrating the power of compound interest over time. The way I now see it is that I simply chose to move that money into a better investment that would ultimately give me a return that was infinitely more meaningful across every dimension of my life. 

I often tell people that the single most important decision they’ll ever make, when it comes to living a life of fulfillment, is who they choose as a life partner. More than career moves or financial wins, this one relationship shapes the depth of your joy, the level of your satisfaction, and the meaning you create along the way. It’s not just a personal investment; it’s the foundation that will influence everything else.

Kelly didn’t just become my wife. She became a co-creator, sounding board and chief investment partner for building our life together. This has included our businesses, parenting, relationships and personal growth; her wisdom and intuition have proven time and again to be the most accurate north star I could ever hope to have.

Several years later, one piece of advice she gave me at a key inflection point in my career would change the trajectory of our financial future.  It was a particularly painful moment where I found myself entangled in a business conflict with partners who weren’t aligned in my values or vision. I was stuck; grasping for legal resolution, fighting for what I felt was mine and expending time, money, and energy.

It was at that moment when Kelly looked me in the eye and said something that broke through the anxiety of the moment:

“Brad just choose to let it go and move on. They get the best of your worst as they get only your past and none of your future.”

That one statement stopped me in my tracks and forced me to reconsider and ultimately to recalibrate.  It was what I needed to hear, and it is when I chose to let go and choose to control only what I could control and simply start again. With that one choice, a door opened that led to a level of financial freedom I could’ve never have engineered through my sheer force of will or discipline in savings.

It adds even deeper meaning to the choice I made all those years ago; to cash in my $400 in Canada Savings Bonds. Not all returns are created equal, and in this case, the ROI has been exponential; not just financially, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and most profoundly, through the unforgettable experiences and memories we’ve created together.

As I reflect, it is the proof that: our relationships are our greatest assets. Any time you trade a financial asset to invest in a meaningful relational one, you’re making a wise decision with the best long-term returns. 

Real wealth isn’t about what’s in your bank account; it’s about who’s beside you when it’s empty, and when it’s full.  You can earn millions and still feel bankrupt if your relationships are empty. Conversely, you can be financially stretched but still relationally rich; which I know first-hand as I’ve lived through that more than once during my tumultuous but rewarding founder’s journey. 

Final Thoughts: Reflect and Realign

This coming week Kelly and I will celebrate 31 years of marriage, with the image above taken from the day we got engaged.  As I reflect back, the plush reindeer cost me $400; however, the return on that investment? 

Truly priceless!

I am not against ambition and building financial investments. It is important to plan and to build financial wealth, however, it can never be the sole focus of how we define our wealth. The truth is, in the context of living a wealthy life, relationships will always matter more than finances. 

That is not just my opinion, that is scientific fact, proven from the recent Harvard Study of Adult Development; the longest-running longitudinal study on human happiness.  Researchers found that the single greatest predictor of health, happiness, and longevity wasn’t career success or bank balance; it was the quality of your relationships; especially those that were intimate and supportive. 

That is why I am confident that the best investment I ever made wasn’t financial; it was relational. It was trading my bonds for that stuffed reindeer that opened the door to a love story and a life that has become my greatest source of wealth; by every definition that truly matters. 

In the words of Rick Warren: “The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.”

So this week ask yourself: 

What investments am I making today?  

Are those investments giving me the greatest possible life returns? 

Where could I use my financial resources to build more relational wealth?  

♻️ Share with someone who needs to see this today!

And follow Brad Pedersen and Vijay Krishnan for more stories and reflections like this.